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 42
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In 1890 a new company was organized, known as the Hersey Man- ufacturing Company, which took in the meter company and the general business of the Hersey Brothers. The Messrs. Hersey were placed at the head of the new company, with James A. Tilden as general manager and Henry D. Winton as assistant manager. Since 1896 Francis C. Hersey, Jr., has been connected with the company.
The Messrs. Hersey have been well known in South Boston for more than fifty years, and have occupied prominent positions in the city government, and in the banks and railroads.
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
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JENNEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, E and West First Streets.
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THE JENNEY MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, another of the old establish- ments of South Boston, is still flourishing and prosperous. The officers of the company, Ber- nard Jenney, president, and Walter Jenney, superintendent, are well known throughout the district, where they are recog- nized as leading citizens. The treasurer, Ed- ward J. Dilla- way, a resident of Malden, and connected with the firm since 1869, is one of the prominent oil merchants of New England, and respected throughout the trade. It is no exaggeration to say that South Boston never had a more loyal or public spirited resident than Bernard Jenney. In the refining of petroleum and the manufacture of burning oils,, this company oc- cupies a leading position in the business world,
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
and it is also distinguished as being one of the very few that were not absorbed by the oil trust.
Isaac and Stephen Jenney established the business at 50 State Street in 1812, and the refining of petroleum was begun in 1861, when the business was carried on by Bernard Jenney and his brother, Fran- cis H. Jenney, under the name of Stephen Jenney & Co. In 1884 the Jenney Manufacturing Company was incorporated.
The works of the Jenney Manufacturing Company are located at the corner of E and West First Streets. The oils manufactured here have a world-wide reputation, being of the very highest grade of ex- cellence. The works have a capacity of more than 500 barrels of oil a day.
Bernard Jenney, a native of Boston, has been a resident of South Boston since 1837. Early in his youth he was engaged in the manu- facture of chemicals, and afterward of a burning fluid, composed of a mixture of camphene and alcohol. Although never aspiring to public office, Mr. Jenney has been prominent in the affairs of the district, and has a wide acquaintance among its residents.
Walter Jenney is a native of South Boston and was always in the employ of his father. He graduated from the Bigelow and the English High Schools, and continued his education at the Institute of Tech- nology, graduating in the class of 1877.
THE S. A. WOODS MACHINE COMPANY, occupying large buildings on Dorchester Avenue, at the foot of D Street, is another of the old
TORAG
WOOD WORKING MACHIN
S A. WOODS MACHINE COMPANY, Dorchester Avenue, near D Street,
established manufacturing companies, the original business having been started in 1854, on First Street, near E Street, when the firm consisted
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
of S. A. Woods and Solomon S. Gray, under the name of Gray & Woods. For five years this partnership continued, and from 1859 to. 1873 the business was conducted by Mr. Woods. In the latter year the business was incorporated, and has so continued ever since.
In the manufacture of wood working machinery this company has attained a world-wide reputation, and from a small beginning a large. establishment has grown .. The company has more than: fifty patents for devices and improvements in woodwork machinery and nearly one hundred medals have been awarded by industrial exhibi- tions. In 1866 the works re- moved to the present location. The present officers of the. corporation are S. A. Woods,. president, Frank F. Woods,. treasurer and manager.
S. A. Woods, a native. of Farmington, Me., is de- scended from intercolonial. ancestry, and was educated. in the district school of his native place and at the Farm -- ington Academy. When twenty years of age he began work as a carpenter. In later years he removed to South Boston, representing the district in the Common FRANK F. WOODS. Council in 1869-70 and 1871. He is a member of several leading organizations of the city.
Frank F. Woods was born in South Boston and educated in the public schools and at the Highland Military Academy, Worcester. He entered his father's employ in 1876, and advanced rapidly from the bench to his present position. He was a member of the Legislature from Ward 15 in 1888, and is now a member of numerous leading organizations.
Fred A. Cheney, secretary of the corporation, has been in the employ of the company many years, and has gained his promotions by perseverance and attention to duties.
MURPHY'S CORNER is rapidly getting to be the centre of trade in the peninsular district. William H. and James J. Murphy, brothers, and their sister, Miss M. A. Murphy, are proprietors of one of the:
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
largest dry goods stores in the district, located at the corner of FF Street and West Broadway. Its features are the thirty or more de- partments on one floor, prices no higher and often much lower than
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MURPHY'S 411
William H. Murphy. MURPHY'S- BETHESDA BUILDING; F Street and West Broadway.
James J Murphy.
these asked for similar goods in the city stores, best quality and greatest variety of articles, and, above everything else, what is so much appreci- ated by shoppers, courteous and attentive salespeople. From a small store opened in 1895, at 383 West Broadway, with but one clerk, this establishment has grown to its present immense proportions, employing nearly fifty clerks.
The trio comprising this firm are well known. It was in 1900 that they moved to the present location and the business has since in- creased, so that at times it seems as if still more space would have to be secured. The store is well arranged and the stock comprises every- thing that a well-equipped dry goods and gentlemen's furnishing es- tablishment should have. Thousands of South Boston and Dorchester people are regular customers, and they have patrons from elsewhere, and a large business by mail.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
FALVEY BROTHERS COMPANY BUILDING, corner West Broadway and F street, is one of the most prominent in South Boston, both for its mag- nificent appearance and for the extensive business carried on there. It is known as the "Falvey Building" and its four floors and basement, each containing 12,000 square feet, give an idea of its size. This
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FALVEY BU LDING -{J. F. and W. H. FALVEY.) West Broadway and F Street.
floor space is utilized by the many departments, including dry goods, millinery, cloaks and suits, furniture, carpets and draperies, house fur- nishings, boots and shoes and other departments. It is a complete de- partment store at the very doors of South Boston's residents, and can supply all wants, great or small.
JAMES H. CORNEY & Co., probably the largest dry goods dealers east of Dorchester Street, located at the corner of M and East Fourth
Streets, occupy the entire first floor of that building. Nov. 1, 1883, Burns & Corney started business at 83 O Street, where they remained until De- cember, 1889, when J H. CORNEY & CO. M and East Fourth Streets. the store corner of N and East Fourth Streets was occupied by James H. Corney, Mr. Burns ceasing to be a member of the firm. The business increased rapidly until, in November, 1901, the store was moved to its present location.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
JOHN M. SULLIVAN, dry goods merchant, at 441 West Broadway, started in business in South Boston, Sept. 28, 1889, and in 1895 was obliged to enlarge his establishment. His store is now 75 x 35 ft. and contains a complete stock. Mr. Sullivan is one of the most reputable merchants in South Boston.
QUIGLEY & PRAY, furniture dealers, at 276 West Broadway, started in business at that place, in 1882, with a floor space of 20 x 60 ft., and they now occupy five times that area. Messrs John l'. Quig- ley and James E. Pray were formerly employed by leading upholstery and furniture houses in the city, and have a thorough knowledge of their business.
JOHN P. QUIGLEY.
JAMES E, PRAY.
John P. Quigley was born in South Boston, Oct. 27, 1833, and has always lived in this district, being one of the best known of its citizens. He was an iron moulder by trade, but in 1873 went to work for Jeremiah Carey, corner of Broadway and C Street, where he learned the furniture business, and in 1882 formed the partnership with Mr. Pray.
James E. Pray was born on a farm in Waukegan, Ill., Oct. 25, 1850, came to Boston with his mother when nine years of age, and at 12 entered the law office of E. S. Traynor. He then learned the upholstery business. Beginning in 1875, and for two years, he was connected with the fire alarm department under John F. Kennard, MINITURE - - CARPE after which he went to work for John H. Pray Sons & Co., remaining five years, and then formed the partnership with Mr. Quigley. He was elected to the Leg- islature of 1887 and served on the important committee on claims. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., Royal Arcanum, Knights of P F. CAREY'S STORE. F Street and West Broadway. Columbus, A. O. H., and an honorary member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He is married, has five children, and lives at 60 G Street.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
P. F. CAREY, dealer in furniture, carpets, rugs and similar house furnishings, is located at the corner of F Street and West Broadway. The building is a new and magnificent three story structure, the entire Hoor space of which is used for the display of the extensive and varied stock of the establishment, and it can unhesitatingly be stated that no other district of Boston has a store of a like size devoted to this particular line.
No other firm has any better reputation than that of P. F. Carey, either for quality of goods sold, or its manner of doing business. Mr. Carey owns and controls his own factory, and also conducts another ex- tensive furniture and carpet store in the city proper, at 727 Washing- ton Street.
THE JAMES ELLIS COMPANY, furniture dealers, at the corner of Broadway and B Street, is one of the oldest established in the district, having formerly been conducted by A. G. Neary, and later by C. H. Robinson. In 1884 Mr. Ellis joined partnership with Mr. Lewis, under the name of Ellis & Lewis. The partnership was later dis- solved. Mr. Ellis conducted the business alone for many years, and recently it was incorporated as the James Ellis Co.
THE MURRAY & TREGURTHA COMPANY, builders of yachts and launches, gasoline engines, Tregurtha water tube boilers, steam en- gines, etc., are located at 340 West First Street, where their works cover two acres and have a water front of 250 feet. This company was incorporated in 1900 under the laws of Massachusetts, succeeding the firm of Murray & Tregurtha, which was established in the year 1887, locating originally on High Street, in the city proper, and re- moving to South Boston in 1891. The directors of the company, MURRAY & TREGURTHA LAUNCH. Messrs. John A. Murray, James Tregurtha and George E. Tregurtha, are practical men of long experience, and their product has attained an excellent and wide-spread reputation, not only throughout the United States, but also in foreign countries.
THE GEORGE LAWLEY & SON CORPORATION, East First Street, was founded by George Lawley. In 1866, with his son, George F. Lawley, he was in business in Scituate, and in 1874 they were induced to move to South Boston. This company built the famous cup de- fenders, " Puritan," " Jubilee " and " Mayflower," and during the pres- ent year, 1901, the well-known Lawson boat, " Independence." They also built the torpedo boats " De Long " and " Blakely." About 300 men are employed during the busy season.
THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE, whose plant occupies the entire third floor of the new Potter building, corner of West First and Colton
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Streets, is one of the landmarks of American journalism. From the smallest beginning, as the Bostonian, in 1894, the National has grown to be all that its nanie implies. Its enormous circulation is truly national in scope, its list in Texas, for instance, being only second to that in Massachusetts. The National is one of the great news mag- azines which have come to be of the feature of periodical journalism within the past half decade, and belongs in the same class with McClure's, Review of Reviews and The World's Work. Like all suc- cessful publishing enterprises, it has had to carve out a path of its own. Its practical sentiment, as its name implies, is patriotism ; and in Joe Mitchell Chapple, the publisher, who was born in Iowa, and is still under 35, we have a type of the progressive, patriotic, American business man of cultural tastes. The National printing plant is one of the best in Boston, consisting of five new Miehle presses of the highest standard of perfection, and a complete outfit for the production of finest printing and binding. The National probably prints more interesting pictures of the people who are doing the world's work than any other
periodical in America. The late President Mckinley was a friend and constant adviser of the magazine; Senator M. A. Hanna is one of the leading contributors ; President Roosevelt, Admiral Dewey, and other leading members of the administration, are its patrons and friends. The National employs a force of 65 employees at its South Boston plant, where the entire publication is manufactured from start to finish.
THE EDISON ELECRIC LIGHT COMPANY, occupies a 15-acre lot on the old Harrison Loring property on East First Street, near L Street. Formerly the Boston Electric Light Company, the building consists of two main bays, divided by a fire wall. From this station two varieties of currents are furnished, the high tension three-phase current, which is fed to one sub-station located near Park Square, and another to a network of circuits extending through the business portion of the city.
Other large establishments and manufactories of the district are the American Sugar Refining Co., on Granite Street; Factory Build- ings Trust, a series of large buildings on A Street, occupied by wool merchants; the Walworth Manufacturing Co., on East First Street, near O Street ; the Perkins Machine Co., on K Street, just beyond East First Street ; the Robert Bishop Co., manufacturers of cotton and woollen goods on West Sixth Street ; the William P. Stone & Co. Car- riage Works on West First Street, near B Street ; R. Esterbrook's Sons Iron Works, corner of West First and C Streets; George H. Lincoln Iron Foundry on Alger Street; Howard Iron Company, Dorr Street ; the Long Machine Co., East First and L Streets; F. E. Atteaux & Co., manufacturers of colors and chemicals, on West First Street ; Shales & May, furniture manufacturers, corner of Dorchester and Newman Streets, and Farwell Bros., kindling wood manufacturers, Dorr Street.
SOUTH BOSTON OF THE FUTURE.
INTRODUCTION.
By
JOHN J. TOOMEY.
T HE prosperity, happiness and contentment of a community de- pends. in a large measure, upon the loyalty of its people, the trust- worthiness of its public servants, its own natural advantages, health- ful location, the procuring of needed improvements and benefits, general comforts at home, in school and in church, a fervent Christian feeling, and. above all, a firm belief in and the practice of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. The people of a district, themselves, make the reputation of that section, whether it be good or bad; therefore upon the residents depends the good name of their community.
South Boston has had a glorious past, of which it may well be proud. No other section of the city of Boston can point to so much accomplished, such a general spreading of good feeling, and particu- larly love for their own home, as can the people of the peninsula dis- trict. Its location, almost entirely surrounded by water, with the greater part of the district highlands, free from swampy land, cool healthful breezes in summer and well protected in winter, and its numerous other natural advantages have ever stood by it in making South Boston an ideal residential section. It was this that led its founders to locate here and which afterward was responsible for the rapid growth in pop- ulation. At the present time, 1901, South Boston includes nearly one- eighth of the entire population of Boston, and it is steadily growing.
To the loyal, thoughtful, industrious, ambitious residents of the disrict, the idea is ever foremost "What is the future of South Boston ? "
South Boston's future, in a measure, is in the hands of the people themselves. It behooves each and every resident of the district to be true to himself and to his own home place. South Boston has nothing to be ashamed of. Its criminal record has always been small, in fact, there is not a district of the entire city that has had such few court cases or arrests for crime or criminal offences. South Boston is largely a religious community. More than three-fourths of the entire population are constant attendants of some church, and that the district has twenty houses of worship is sufficient evidence of this fact. The people are an educated people and the schools are largely attended.
For the future it is necessary that the people pride themselves in doing good for their district. " He who lives for himself alone, knows not how to live," is the truest of sayings, and if the people of our com-
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
munity will only endeavor at all times to make happy the lot of their less fortunate neighbor, then, truly indeed, will their own lives be the happier.
From a religious, social, educational, political and business stand- point, in fact from every point of view, the future of South Boston is bright, and the prospects are for even a more prosperous and happy people and community. Let each one do his or her share in aiding the district to reach this utopian state, and our community will enjoy then, what it so much deserves, peace and contentment.
SOUTH BOSTON NEEDS GREATER UNITY OF PUBLIC SPIRIT. By REV. ROBERT J. JOHNSON, (Rector of the Gate of Heaven Church.)
T THOUGHTFUL men agree that the greatest social problem in America is how to gain better conditions for the mass of the people living in our large cities. Every census that is taken tells us that our population is setting cityward, with a tide that shows no sign of turning. According to the census taken in 1890, 18,000,000 persons were living in American cities and towns having 8,000 or more inhabitants. From the census of 1900, it appeared that about 25,000,000 persons were living in such cities and towns. Taking Massachusetts separately, we find that the population living in cities in 1900 was 2, 1 32,623, as against 1, 564,- 931 in 1890. In other words, three-quarters of all the people of the old Bay State are city dwellers. Boston increased the number of her inhabitants from 448,000 in 1890 to 560,000 in 1900 - a gain of 25 per cent in ten years ; and of these 560,000 people, 68,000 - very nearly one-eighth of the whole number - are living in South Boston.
In Boston the very densely populated areas are found in different parts of the city,-a preferable condition as I think ; but South Boston leads them all in the number of inhabitants in proportion to its area. This means that all the problems involved in improving the living con- ditions of the great body of city-dwelling people are more pressing in the South Boston district than in any other.
We cannot expect or hope to maintain, a high standard of morals and manners among people who are living under depressing and demor- alizing physical surroundings. But we must not look wholly or mainly to the city government or to its building laws, or to the health authorities, to improve the character of our tenement houses. We must also call to our aid the work of the philanthropist, which be- gins where that of legislators and public officials ends.
As in other cities, so in ours, better homes for the working peo- ple will be realized only when our Boston capitalists come forward,
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animated by public spirit enough to invest large sums of money in building superior tenement blocks, with all up-to-date improvements, and then to let them at moderate rentals, that will yield not over five or six per cent profit. There ought to be no "slums" in any city-certainly not in Boston.
Concurrently with well directed efforts to improve the general character of our tenement houses, constant attention should be given to the proper maintenance and policing of parks and breathing spaces; and from time to time, as opportunity offers, small parks should be added in the crowded parts of the district. We should also develop all the resources of our extensive water front, by creating more recrea- tion piers for the use of our people in summer. Our bathing grounds should be better policed and regulated, and more bathing facilities afforded in other sections.
Having improved the management of our beach we should go on and provide more playgrounds for the children and furnish them with every appliance for healthful exercise. We must not forget that the numbers of our working people are steadily increasing, and we must take care that our provisions for their outdoor needs in the way of places of recreation and otherwise, are also increased.
If I were asked to name the first and most essential thing to be secured in South Boston in order that the above mentioned improve- ments may be brought about, I should answer, a broader and more alert public spirit- the sinking of all party lines and the rallying of all our citizens in support of local aims and objects for the benefit of all. I do not mean to suggest that party feeling or religious differences are stronger in South Boston than in any other part of the city, or than in the average American community. I am glad to say that I think this is not so. On the contrary, there is a commendable degree of concord among our citizens of all classes, based upon mutual respect for one another's divergent religious and political opinions ; Catholics and Prot- estants, Republicans and Democrats dwell together in our district on very amicable terms, and yet, I believe, there is room for a more posi- tive unity of spirit, a more effective co-operation to obtain local advan- tages and improvements, in which we are all equally concerned, no matter what party ticket we prefer on election day, or what church we attend on Sunday.
A very gratifying example of the kind of local unity that I have in mind, was seen quite recently when the clergymen of all denomina- tions and citizens of all parties and classes came together and presented a solid front of opposition to the proposal to license a promiscuous dance hall and show house at the entrance of our noble Marine Park. It was recognized that here was a proposition that meant harm to us all ; that menaced the good order of the entire community ; that boded evil to all our homes; that threatened to expose our women
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and growing children to daily and nightly scenes of vulgarity and de- pravity. We all felt that it was a danger against which we could not afford to make a disunited or half-hearted fight - and so we stood to- gether and said "No" with that earnestness, emphasis and effectiveness which always commands attention and carries the day. The lesson of that occasion ought not to be lost upon it. It teaches us that South Boston's people have only to cultivate harmony of spirit and purpose, and formulate their reasonable wishes for any worthy local object into a demand, in order to have it complied with. It is difficult for state legislatures and city councils to deny the petition or disregard the protest of an entire district. Therefore it seems to me we cannot do anything better for South Boston than to promote by every proper means the sinking of all political and class lines whenever it is possible, and thereby to gain something for the common good of our district and all its inhabitants.
Some of the things that we want for the general good of South Boston and her people we can get only from the city government ; such, for instance, as the building of those streets long ago laid out by special commission, street widening, new and improved bridges, park and water front improvements, and the like. Other things that are needed to advance South Boston we must get by the initiative and en- terprise of our own citizens. But, howsoever, these changes come, it is first of all necessary to sink all differences and forget all divisions, and to make the 68,000 people of South Boston one body, one mind, and of one purpose, in support of whatever local measures of progress are plainly desirable for the whole district.
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