USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > South Boston > History of South Boston (its past and present) and prospects for the future, with sketches of prominent men > Part 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
444
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
was organized the following December. This same year Charles Dudley became captain of Mazcppa 17, and remained until Jan. 9, 1826, when he was succeeded by Richard Lock.
A new house was ordered built for Mazeppa 17, Jan. 6, 1829, and it was completed on April I of that year, and when finished a new engine with suction hose was provided. Three years later permission was granted this company to respond to fires in Dorchester.
In 1837 Perkins No. 16 was located in a building on Turnpike Road (Dorchester Avenue), and remained there until the erection of a building on the present site of Station No. 6, Broadway, which was constructed with a view to giving accommodations for the engine, a place of detention for prisoners, and an armory on the second floor, which was occupied for a time by the Mechanic Greys and was after- ward used for school purposes. When Perkins 16 went to its new quarters it was named Perkins No. 2.
In 1849 another engine was ordered for South Boston Point. No house, however, was provided for it, and, after being in waiting for a year, it was finally sold. In 1851 there were located, in all, 161 hydrants in South Boston. In this same year the appropriation for the fire alarm telegraph was secured.
The following year, 1852, there were many changes in the depart- ment and many companies were reorganized, among them being Mazeppa 17, which became known as Mazeppa No. 1, with Elijah H. Goodwin, captain; H. A. Bowles, assistant, and Alpheus Gleason, clerk.
In 1855 Mazeppa I went out of commission and a new engine was provided to take its place. Three years later a new engine house was built on East Fourth Street, between K and L Streets, and Engine No. 14 was located there, being named Spinney, after Alderman Spin- ney. A new company was organized with J. Chambers, captain; S. S. Lord, junior assistant, and G. W. Bail, clerk.
The biggest change in the department occurred in 1859, when steam fire engines were introduced. Engine No. I took old Ma- zeppa's place Dec. 19 of that year, in charge of the following company : Captain William H. Cummings ; Engineer A. H. Perry ; Driver Amos Cummings ; Firemen C. W. Cheney, Daniel Hallett, Robert Hender- son, Appleton Lathe, N. H. Tirrell, and George O. Twiss. Horse hose companies were introduced the following year and a new house was constructed on B Street, between Broadway and Athens Street, in which was located Hose 9.
Between 1861 and 1868 the names of the various companies were discontinued and they were known simply by numbers. In the latter year, however, the names were again adopted. September 17, of this ycar, Spinney 14 became Spinney 2, and the company was reorgan- ized with James Chambers, captain ; Daniel Weston, engineman ; J. B.
445
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Gault, fireman : Moses A. Jones, driver ; George W. Bail, E. H. Good- win, J. B. Lord, Wm. Rand. and David Smith, hosemen. June 28, 1861, a house was finished on Dorchester Street, for a hand hose com- pany, known as Bradlee No. 10.
The building occupied by Engine I, at Dorchester and Fourth Streets, was erected in 1868, and, as this was the year when names were again adopted, Engine I took the name of its predecessor the hand machine, which was known as Mazeppa 1. March r6, of this same year, districts were assigned the fire engineers.
In 1872, sixty-eight years after the annexation of South Boston to Boston, the equipment in South Boston was as follows :
Mazeppa, Steam Fire Engine No. I. House, Dorchester and West Fourth Streets. Engine built by Boston Locomotive Works. Organ- ized Dec. 19, 1859. Weight of engine, including hose carriage and 300 feet of hose as drawn to fires, 10,500 pounds. Capacity, 550 gallons per minute.
S. R. Spinney, Steam Fire Engine No. 2. House, East Fourth Street, between K and L Streets. Engine built by Amoskeag Manu- facturing Company, Manchester, N. H. Organized Sept. 17, 1860. Put into service August, 1860. Weight of engine, including 350 feet feet of hose as drawn to fires, 7,700 pounds. Capacity, 400 gallons per minute.
Walter E. Hawes, Steam Fire Engine No. 15. House, Fourth Street, near Dorchester Street. Engine built by Amoskeag Manufac- turing Company, Manchester, N. H. Organized and put into service December, 1869. Weight of engine, with hose carriage and 500 feet of hose as drawn to fires, 8,500 pounds. Capacity, 500 gallons per minute.
Lawrence, Hose Carriage No. 9. House, B and Athens Streets. Carriage built by Brigham, Mitchell & Co. Organized and put into service Nov. 1, 1860. Weight of carriage, including 500 feet of 2 1-2 inch hose and driver, as drawn to fires, 2, 120 pounds.
Bradlee, Hose Carriage No. 10. House, Dorchester Street, Wash- ington Village. Carriage built by Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, Manchester, N. H. Organized and put into service March 1, 1868. Weight of carriage, including 1,000 feet of 2 1-2 inch hose and driver, as drawn to fires, 2,500 pounds.
Hancock, Hook and Ladder No. 5. House, Fourth Street, near Dorchester Street. Carriage built by Messrs. Hunneman & Co. Organized and put into service March 3, 1870. Weight of carriage, in- cluding its equipment of 16 ladders, 2 fire hooks, 5 crotch-poles, 4 axes, 4 rakes, 4 guy-ropes, 6 ladder-dogs, 2 hammers and 2 lanterns, 5,500 pounds.
A new engine took Mazeppa I's place Sept. 17, 1872, and the fol- lowing year a new engine house was finished at Broadway and Dorches- ter Avenue, and Walter E. Hawes No. 15 was removed from Hancock
446
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Hook and Ladder No. 5's house, on Fourth Street, to the new structure. It was in this year, also, that the first fire boat, the William M. Fland- ers, was added to the department.
CHEMICAL 8 B and Athens Streets
-
HOOK AND LADDER 5. West Fourth Street, near Dorchester Street.
The most important event of the year 1873 was the establishing of a new fire department, through an act of the City Council Oct. 13, with Timothy T. Sawyer, Alfred P. Rockwell and David Chamberlin, com-
ENGINE 43. Andrew Square.
ENGINE 15. Broadway and Dorchester Avenue.
missioners ; William A. Green, chief engineer ; Joseph Dunbar, John Bartlett, Wm. H. Cunningham, Samuel Abbott, Jr., John W. Regan, George Brown, George C. Fernald, John Colligan, James Monroe, J. Foster Hewins, assistant engineers, and in charge of districts in the
447
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
order named, George Brown being in charge of District 6, which in- cluded " all that part of Boston known as South Boston."
The building now at the corner of Fourth and O Streets was con- structed during 1873, and Hose Company No. 12 was organized, consisting of nine men, in charge of John Brown, and both hose carriage and company went into commission at the same time.
During 1874-75 various improvements were made in the depart- ment, and the reports for those years show that some excellent work was performed. In 1876 the stalls for the horses were re-arranged, so that the animals could take their places at the apparatus by passing through the front of the stall, through swinging doors that opened by pulling a lever. In this way the horses did not have to back out and turn about , thereby saving some time. In this year the aerial ladder was introduced and a "self propeller " engine, which had a trial the previous year, proved to be a success. The Protective Depart- ment, which was organized and went into commission in 1875, received favorable mention, as did also the repair shop also started in 1875.
In 1877 an engine house was erected in Brighton, one on Mt. Vernon Street, Roxbury, and another at Egleston Square. The follow- ing year relief valves for shutting off the hose, without notifying the engineer, were introduced. Various improvements were made the succeeding year. In 1880 the bill for pensioning firemen was passed. In this year a serious fire occurred at 128 Gold Street, a house occu- pied by four families. Seven persons lost their lives.
The sliding pole, now in use in all the houses in the department, was introduced in 1881. In this year the Board decided that it would be too expensive to make all call companies permanent, as it would cost$157,580. In place of this it was favorable to making the com- panies of South Boston, East Boston, Roxbury and Charlestown perma- nent, which could be done at a cost of less than $20,000.
In 1882 Hose No. 12's house on East Fourth Street was fitted up as an engine house, and it then became Engine No. 2's quarters, and Hose No. 12 moved into Engine No. 2's old quarters, after they had been fitted up for such accommodation. Several of the houses were equipped with swinging harness, during that year, and the order com- pelling all companies to report on the floor at all alarms, also went into effect. A Greenleaf water tower was added to the department that year.
Hose wagons were introduced in 1883, and by the following year had so demonstrated their superiority over the hose carriages that a large number were added to the department. In 1885, Engine 2 and Ladder 5 were made permanent, and both houses underwent thorough repairs. In 1886 there were 33 fire-alarm boxes in South Boston. There were five fire bells in the district, as follows : Engine I, compo- sition, weight 2,911 ; Engine 2, composition, weight 800; Lawrence
448
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
School, steel, weight 3,400; Lincoln School, composition, weight 3, 1IO; Ticknor School, steel, weight 2,995. All of these bells are still owned by the city, but at present are not in use, having been disconnected several years ago.
---
ENGINE 2. East Fourth and O Streets,
-
ENGINE 38-39. Congress Street.
The office of fire marshal originated in 1887, and the patrol sys- tem was inaugurated that year. During January, 1888, there were 75 bell alarms, the largest number for a month in the history of the depart- ment. Chemical No. 8 went into commission that year.
1.1
V
COMBINATION TRUCK 4. East Fourth St., near L Street.
ENGINE I. Dorchester Street.
HORSELESS ENGINE 38. Congress Street.
In 1889 it was again urged that the South Boston companies be made permanent. An appropriation of $510,000 was granted that year to be expended in enlarging the department, which included the
449
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
erection of quarters for Engine 38-39 on Congress Street, and Engine No. 43 and Combination No. 3 in Andrew Square, including apparatus and equipment, besides $165,000 for a fire-proof headquarters. The following year work began on the Congress Street house. Pompier ladders were supplied to some of the hose wagons, and three-horse hitches were introduced that year.
Work on the Congress Street house continued during 1891 and in I 892 the double company went into commission. Work progressed on the house in Andrew Square. The site on Bristol Street was secured for fire department headquarters that year. Combination No. 2 took old Hose No. 12's house in May, 1893. That same year the new build- ing in Andrew Square was completed, and, March 3, the company went into commission. A request for a new ladder house for South Boston was made that year.
A wrecking wagon for the department was secured in 1894 and that same year $50,000 was appropriated for the construction of a new fire-boat. In 1895-96 no important changes or improvements were made. In 1897 the horseless engine, known as Propeller No. 38, took the place of Engine 38 at Congress Street and has been in use since that time.
The need of a ladder company in the vicinity of Congress Street was again urged in 1898, as many large buildings had been erected in that vicinity. A fuel house was established in old Hose No. 10 house on Dorchester Street and Combination No. 3 was installed in the house in Andrew Square that year. In 1899, an appropriation having been secured, plans were drawn for the new ladder house and a site secured on Pittsburgh Street for it. During 1900 and 1901 there were no important changes, with the exception of fitting engines and hose wagons with rubber tires. Electrical hose connections, by which hose- men can notify the engineer when to turn on and shut off water, were introduced at that time.
The names of district chiefs of South Boston (District 6) have been as follows : Thomas B. Warren, 1838 to 1840; John Green, Jr., 1840 to 1847; Brewster Reynolds, 1847 to 1849; John Davis, 1849 to 1851 ; James Wood 1851 to 1852 ; George G. Thom 1852 to 1856; George F. Hibbard, 1856 to 1859; George Brown, 1859 to 1882 ; S. P. Abbott, 1882 to 1885 ; John A. Mullen, 1885 to 1901 ; Edwin A. Perkins, 1901 to date.
The South Boston companies are in charge of the following officers : Combination No. 3, Lieutenant Michael Norton ; Combina- tion No. 2, Lieutenant John H. Murphy ; Chemical No. 8, Lieutenant Thomas J. Muldoon ; Engine No. 1, Captain Charles Ingersoll ; Engine No. 2, Captain John H. Ewers; Engine No. 15, Captain Charles P. Smith ; Engine No. 38-39, Captain Stephen J. Ryder ; Engine No. 43, Captain William Coulter ; Ladder No. 5, Captain Edward D. Locke.
450
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
The present equipment of District No. 6 (South Boston) is as follows : -
PUT IN SERVICE.
Combination No. 3 (Truck), Andrew Square, Chemical and Ladder, . . Combination No. 2 (Wagon), East Fourth Street, Chemical and ITose, .
January, 1898
May 1893
Chemical No. 8, B Street,
October 27, 1887 .
Engine No. 1, Dorchester Street,
April 1, .
1890
Engine No. 2, East Fourth and O Streets,
November, 1890
Engine No. 15, Dorchester Avenue and Broadway,
February, ·
1893
Engine No. 38 (Self-Propeller), Congress Street,
June,
1897
Engine No. 39, Congress Street,
June 14,
1901
Engine No. 43, Andrew Square,
March 3, 1893
Ladder No. 5, West Fourth Street, near Dorchester Street,
March 3,
1870
Ladder No. 18, Pittsburgh Street, .
There are six horse hose-wagons in the district, one for each engine house.
ASST. CHIEF JOHN A. MULLEN, B. F. D.
DISTRICT CHIEF EDWIN A. PERKINS.
Assistant Chief John A. Mullen, of the Boston Fire Department, was born in South Boston, June 2, 1850, and is a son of Michael and Bridget Mullen. He was educated in the public schools of his native place and later learned the trade of iron moulder. June 12, 1874, he was appointed a member of the fire department and was assigned to Engine 15, and Aug. 9, 1876, he was assigned to Engine 23. He was promoted to captain of Engine 15, Aug. 8, 1881, and was made chief of District 6 (South Boston), Aug. 20, 1885. He was promoted to second assistant chief of the department, Nov. 12,. 1897, and March 29, 1901, was promoted to his present rank, that of assistant chief, with headquarters on Mason Street. Chief Mullen married Miss Ellen M. Burke, March 4, 1878, and they have five children, William L., John A., Mary J., Helena and Gertrude. He is a member of the Firemen's Charitable Association. Firemen's Mutual Insurance Associ- ation, South Boston Council, K. of C., Ancient Order of United
45I
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Workmen and the Improved Order of Heptasophs. He resides at 476 East Fourth Street.
District Chief Edwin A. Perkins of the 6th district, B. F. D., is a son of Samuel P. and Annie R. Perkins, and was born May 11, 1855, at Belmont, N. H. He came to Boston in 1863 and was educated in the public schools, after which he learned the trade of carpenter. He entered the fire department and was assigned to Engine 21, in May, 1875. In December, 1880, he was transferred to Engine IO, and two years later was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In 1887 he was promoted to the rank of captain and assigned to Ladder 5. For four- teen years he was in charge of that piece of apparatus, when in March, 1901, he was promoted to fill the vacancy caused by the promotion of District Chief John A. Mullen, and has since been chief of District 6. Chief Perkins is married, his wife formerly being Miss Mabel D. Dut- ton. They have one son, Alfred E. Perkins. Chief Perkins is a member of the Boston Firemen's Relief Association, Firemen's Charitable Association, and the New England Order of Protection. He reside, at 93 Bird Street, Dorchester.
CHAPTER XIV.
INDUSTRIES AND OCCUPATIONS.
Former Industrial Activity - Reasons for the removal of manufactories and mills- Indications of a return of business enterprises and prospects of increased pros- perity-New buildings on the Commonwealth Lands-More local pride-Grow- ing tendency of citizens to trade in their own community-New and enlarged stores-Business in 1901-Classified occupations of the people in 1895-Leading business and mercantile establishments.
O NCE the scene and centre of busy thrift and industry, second to no other section in the entire United States, South Boston gradu- ally lost its factories and mills, ship yards and iron works, until, during the closing quarter of the 19th century, there was only a sem- blance of the former activity. The increased cost of freight and coal was largely responsible for this change, and the iron works and large factories either went out of existence or removed to states where coal could be secured at a cheaper price.
The district, however, seems to be, now, in the year 1901, the opening of the 20th century, on the very eve of another period of in- dustrial importance, and many are the indications that in a few years certain sections of South Boston will be transformed into buildings wherein again may be heard the clang of the hammer, and workingmen and workingwomen will be busy at the bench or in the shop. Remark- able changes have already taken place on the made land, between Fort Point Channel and the Reserved Channel, known as the Commonwealth Lands. This filling in was accomplished after a quarter of a century of work, flats reclaimed from tide-water comprising more than 200 . acres. Much of this territory has been sold, by the Commonwealth, to large manufacturing firms and corporations, and already there are nearly a dozen large buildings occupied by busy manufacturing con- cerns. An immense candy factory, three big concerns combined in the manufacture of all varieties of toothsome luxuries, has just been completed, and numerous other large establishments are projected.
In other sections of South Boston, also, buildings, for manufactur- ing purposes, are being erected and it is probable that certain sections of South Boston will be largely occupied by such industries, while else- where will be strictly residential communities and, as usual, the princi- pal thoroughfares, such as West and a portion of East Broadway, Dor- he ster Street and a few other streets will contain large stores and cmcantile establishments.
Business in the marts of trade has improved in recent years and there seems to be a stronger and a growing indication of the people to
453
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
trade at home. At one time many believed it was impossible to secure the best goods anywhere excepting in the large stores in the city proper, but the confidence of the storekeepers, shown by the enlarging of their establishments, the erection of new buildings and the increase in the number of stores, has increased the confidence of the people. All these are said to be paying fairly good profits and with the tendency of the people still growing toward the policy of spending money in their own community there are bright and prosperous times assured for South Boston. There are many evidences of the fact that the citizens realize more and more that a dollar spent in their own district means so much more benefit for that community.
The stores of South Boston sell almost everything that is pur- chesable from a paper of pins to a ton of coal, or any much larger commodity. The prices are everywhere reasonable and no greater than have to be paid for similar articles elsewhere.
An idea of the mercantile and industrial situation in the district may be obtained from the following statistics. The first group indi- cates the number of establishments in South Boston in each class of the leading trades in 1901, and the second group (taken from the 1895 census) indicates the occupations of all the people.
BUSINESS OF 1901.
Apothecaries
.25
Hardware Dealers.
6
Auctioneers
7
. Harness Makers 7
Bakers ..
64
Hatters. 3
Blacksmiths
IO
Horse Shoers. 13
Boat and \'acht Builders
2
Jewelers and Watch Makers 7
Boots and Shoes (retail)
18
Kitchen Furnishing Goods 6
Liquor Dealers (retail) 83
Machinists 12
Carriage Builders.
4
Cigars and Tobacco 12
Milk Dealers
14
Clothing (retail).
7
Milliners
24
Coal and Wood (retail)
14
Painters
24
Confectioners
14
Paper Hangers
5
Dressmakers .
30
Photographers
4
Fancy Goods
8
Printers
3
Florists . 8
Roofers
6
Fruit Dealers. IO
Stable Keepers ..
18
Furniture Dealers.
15
Stoves, Ranges, Etc. 5
Gas Fitters.
3
Tailors. .. .33
Grocers 182
Upholsterers. 7
Hairdressers 86
Variety Stores 83
CLASSIFIED OCCUPATIONS.
Comprising professions, trades or branches of business upon which South Boston people chiefly depend for support.
Taken from the Census of Massachusetts of 1895, prepared under the direction of Horace (. Wadlin, Chief of the Bureau of Statistics of Labor.)
Division of Classes.
Total. Male.
Female
POPULATION.
67,913 33,850 34,063
.
Dry Goods (retail)
22
Plumbers 8
Fish Dealers (retail).
Provision Dealers. .34
Carpenters and Builders .30
Masons, Colorers and Whiteners. 9
Brewers . 4
454
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
CLASSIFIED OCCUPATIONS -- Continued.
Division of Classes.
'Total.
Male.
Female.
GOVERNMENT EMPLOY.
National
176
176
State.
66
24
42
City
499
485
14
Army
1
I
Navy
9
9
PROFESSIONAL.
Religion
90
52
38.
Law
29
25
1
Medicine
90
83
7
Literature
45
31
14
Art
42
35
7
Music
85
47
38
Amusements
51
44
7
Education
225
19
206.
Science.
69
69
DOMESTIC SERVICE.
16,534
289
16,245
Boarding and Lodging
554
211
343.
Domestic Service (families)
935
78
857
Housewives and Housework
I 5,045
15,045
PERSONAL SERVICE.
(Such as clerks to professional men, nurses, matrons, janitors, washerwomen, etc.)
1,683
978
705
TRADES.
5,678
4,130
1,548
Merchants and Dealers
1,025
914
III
Salesmen and Saleswomen
1,598
1,005
593.
Accountants, Clerks, etc
1,798
1,165
633
Agents, Bankers, Brokers, etc.
284
280
1
Messengers, Porters, etc.
973
766
207
TRANSPORTATION.
3,676
3,661
15
Carriers on Roads.
2,751
2,747
4
Carriers on Steam Railroads
773
762
Carriers on Seas and Rivers
I 52
1 52
MANUFACTURES. (Including 32 leading industries.)
10,648
7,682
2,966
Artisans' Tools
41
41
Boots and Shoes
528
353
175
Boxes (paper and wooden)
90
13
77
Brick, Tiles and Sewer Pipe
41
41
Brooms, Brushes and Mops
68
33
35
Building. . .
1,864
1,864
Buttons and Dress Trimmings
88
7
Carriages and Wagons ...
I46
146
Clocks, Watches and Jewelry
35
29
6.
Clothing.
2,001
489
1,512
Cotton Goods
68
17
51.
·
726 .
405
321
751
695
56
8I
A
455
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
CLASSIFIED OCCUPATIONS - Concluded.
MANUFACTURERS -- Concluded.
Division of Classes.
Total.
Male.
Female.
Drugs and Medicines
S
4
1
Electrical Apparatus and Appliances
218
144
74
Food Preparations.
309
274
35
Furniture ..
250
228
22
Gas and Residual Products :
25
25
Glass
66
64
2
Leather
90
73
17
liquors : malt, distilled and fermented.
86
SI
2
Lumber
17
17
Machines and Machinery
8og
So8
I
Metals and Metallic Goods
1,007
989
Musical Instruments and Materials
166
166
Photographs and Materials.
33
29
4
Printing, Publishing and Bookbinding
1,130
694
436
Rubber and Elastic Goods
112
39
73
Saddlery and Harnesses
46
44
2
Shipbuilding
96
96
Stone .
125
125
Tobacco. Snuff and Cigars
215
1 66
49
Wooden Goods.
318
317
I
Woollen Goods
34
14
20
LABORERS.
3,206
3,202
1
Agriculture
37
37
Manufactures
791
791
All others
2.378
2.374
4
CHILDREN AT WORK.
(Children of ages 10 to 14, both inclusive, who both work and go to school, or who
work only.)
113
71
42
SCHOLARS.
1 2,400
6,127
6,273
Public schools
11,256
6,060
5,196
Private Schools
1.144
67
1,077
STUDENTS.
194
141
53
RETIRED.
804
504
300
UNEMPLOYED 12 MONTHS.
421
385
36
AT HOME.
(Children too young to be at school.)
9.098
4,575
4,523
Among the long established and reputable business establishments in South Boston are the following :
THE HERSEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, corner of E and West Second. Streets, is one of the few survivors of the old industries of the district. Although it is nearly fifty years since the works were estab- lished, it has had a prosperous existence and is now one of the busiest
456
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
and most flourishing companies for the manufacture of machinery in the city. Its works are large and it employs 150 men.
In 1859 Walter E. Hawes and Charles H. Hersey established the firm under the name of Hawes & Hersey, the business being limited to the building of steam engines and general machinery. Six years
:3931 7 33
HERSEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY. E and West Second Streets.
later Francis C. Hersey, who had been the firm's representative in South America, was admitted to the firm, and the business enlarged. In 1872 Mr. Hawes retired from the business, which was afterward conducted under the name of Hersey Brothers. The business had rapidly increased and manufactured patented machinery, including machines for making granulated cube and block sugars. Since then the establishment has manufactured improved machinery for refining salt, manufacturing soap and for making malt automatically. The manufacture of water meters was begun in 1885, when the Hersey Meter Company was established, and was very successful.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.