USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 11
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The following information concerns Lawrence industries in general :
The American Woolen Company employs more help than any other industrial unit in New England, and is the largest manufacturer in the world of carded woolen and worsted cloths for men's wear. It had its
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beginning in Lawrence. This great corporation was conceived and founded by its present president, William M. Wood.
The Arlington Mill of today is one of the largest in Lawrence. It employed, in 1919, 6,500 men and women, and its buildings cover an area of twenty acres. Its floor space equals two and one-half million square feet. This corporation is capitalized at $8,000,000. It was the first cor- poration to pay its employes weekly, a system the law now requires. When running on full time, the pay-roll here amounts to $115,000 weekly. The company consumes one million pounds of wool weekly. It produces weekly 450,000 yards of worsted fabric and 275,000 pounds of worsted yarn. The plant has 117,000 worsted spindles, 2,700 looms, 118 combs and 150 cards. This company was the first in America to produce the making of black alpacas, mohairs and brilliantines. This corporation had its beginning in 1865. Its first capital was $200,000, and its quar- ters were in the old Stevens piano case factory, on Spicket river. In 1866 the structure was burned, but in 1867-68 was rebuilt and the capital increased to $240,000. From time to time the business of this mill has required new and better buildings, both in Lawrence and Methuen. In 1896 a noteworthy departure was the erection of a worsted top mill, which is devoted entirely to carding and combing wool for the use of the spinners. In 1917 the cotton business connected with this plant was sold to the Acadia Mills. In 1905-06 this corporation expended a mil- lion dollars in the erection of several new brick factory buildings. One of these structures, the top-mill, is a huge building measuring 110 by 758 feet, and the whole is four stories in height. John T. Mercer is resi- dent agent.
The Everett Mills produce goods famous the country-over-ging- hams, shirtings, and denims. This is the home of the "Everett Classics." This company was incorporated in 1860, by Charles W. Cortwright, Sam- uel Batchelder and James Dana. Its building, erected in 1909-10, is said to be the largest cotton mill under one roof in existence. It has twelve acres of floor space and is six stories high. It was assessed at almost two million dollars in 1919. Here are consumed a quarter of a million pounds of wool weekly, and the production amounts to 1,170,000 yards of cotton goods. There are 143,296 spindles and 4,680 looms in operation. The factory gives employment to 2,000 people and the weekly payroll amounts to $34,000. Herbert W. Sears is president of the corporation.
The Acadia Mills, formerly the cotton department of the Arling- ton Mills, were established in April, 1917, on a two million dollar capital. They are located in both Lawrence and Methuen. This plant consists of five brick mill-construction manufacturing buildings, covering an area of almost 200,000 square feet. Here are made combed cotton yarns, mercerized, bleached and dyed. The yarns are delivered to the trade in skins, cones, tubes, quiller cops and warps. The finished product amounts to 200,000 pounds weekly. Eleven hundred operatives here find employment, and the weekly pay-roll is $20,000. William Whitman is president of this prosperous company.
The Monomac Spinning Company was established in Lawrence by William Whitman in 1910 for the manufacture of French spun worsted and merino yarns; was incorporated in 1913 and capitalized at $1,200,- 000. The actual floor space is five and three-quarters acres. The mill produces 3,000,000 pounds of merino and worsted yarn on the French system annually. There are 350 operatives and a pay-roll of about $7,500 weekly. Connected with the equipment is a Cooper-Corliss con-
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densing steam engine of 1,450 horse-power; a cooling pond, 125 by 200 feet, is maintained for condenser purposes.
The Katama, a recent addition to the industries of Lawrence, is a part of the Whitman corporation, and was established in 1916 with a $500,000 capital, soon increased to $1,500,000. It employs 300 opera- tives, and has a pay-roll of upwards of $6,000 weekly. The principal products are tire duck woven from Sea Island cotton yarns. During the World War the government used all of its products. No danger here, for every loom is run by a separate electric motor. There are no more modern equipped mills in the United States than the one just described.
The Wright Manufacturing Company, makers of cotton and mohair braids, had its origin in a small way in 1854. It was incorporated in 1873, and had a capital of $60,000. A. S. Wright was' superintendent. Today it has grown to be a large concern. The shoe trade here secures much of its supplies in braids used in the shoe business. Ninety-five per cent. of all button shoe companies use the patented braid made in this mill. The output is about 20,000 gross yardage a week. The plant has 1,800 braid machines, and at full capacity 300 people are employed.
The George E. Kunhardt Corporation was established in 1886, and had formerly been known as the Lawrence Woolen Company. It manu- factures men's wear woolens and worsteds, and uniform cloths, having a weekly output capacity of 40,000 yards; 50,000 pounds of wool are used each week; 700 persons are employed and the weekly payroll is $15,000. George E. Kunhardt is president of the corporation.
The Lawrence Duck Company was established in 1853 as makers of cotton duck; weekly output, 100,000 pounds; employes, 600; weekly pay-roll, $9,500.
The United States Worsted Company, established in 1908, makes worsted and woolen men's wear and dress goods; weekly output, 140,000 yards; employs, 1,500; weekly pay-roll, $27,000.
Pemberton Company, established in 1853 (present company formed in 1860, after the fall of the original mills), manufactures cotton goods and flannels, tickings, awnings, and shirtings; weekly output, 70,000 pounds ; employes, 600; payroll, $7500.
Walworth Bros. (Inc.), established in 1895, makers of dress goods and men's wear; weekly output, 19,000 yards; employs 275 people; pay- roll, $3,500.
In addition to the more important industries in Lawrence in 1920-21 may be named briefly the following concerns:
A. G. Walton & Co., established 1916, makers of misses' and chil- dren's Mckay's shoes ; weekly output, 35,000 pairs; men employed, 600; pay-roll, $10,000.
Lewis Scouring Mill, established 1870; wool scourers and carbon- izers; weekly output, 800,000 pounds; employes, 475; weekly pay-roll, $10,000.
Emmons Loom Harness Company, established 1866; largest manu- facturer in country of loom harness and reeds; weekly output, 12,000 shades of harness and 1,200 reeds weekly; employes, 200; weekly pay- roll, $3,500.
Alfred Kimball Shoe Company, established 1900, makers of men's shoes ; weekly output, 2,500 pairs; employs 350 persons, and the weekly payroll is $6,000.
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Farwell Bleachery was established in 1886; incorporated to bleach, dye and mercerize cotton piece goods; weekly output, 1,000,000 yards; employs 350 persons ; pay-roll, $5,000.
Merrimack Paper Company, established in 1895; manufacturers of all kinds of paper; weekly output, 125 tons; employs 275 people; weekly payroll, $5,000.
J. W. Horne & Sons Co., established in 1871, makers of paper mill machinery; each year produces enough machinery to equip four com- plete paper mills ; employs 120 men; pay-roll is $3,000 weekly.
The Plymouth Mills, manufacturers of fibre rugs and matting, was established in 1906 on a $325,000 capital. Today the plant covers 80,000 square feet, with a boor space of 240,000 feet. It uses each week 100,- 000 pounds of wool, cotton, jute and paper, and finished product amounts to 75,000 square yards. Three hundred persons are employed and the weekly pay-roll is about $5500.
The Archibald Wheel Company was established in Lawrence in 1871 ; manufacturers of vehicle wheels of all kinds for both horse-drawn and motor wheels; weekly output varies from 4,000 automobile wheels to 1,000 of larger and more expensive types; employs 127 men in Law- rence plant, 46 at Guilford, Connecticut, 150 in southern mills; weekly pay-roll, (Lawrence), $3,000.
The Champion-International Company, one of the largest industries in Lawrence, turns out a larger quantity of coated paper than any other paper concern in the world. It makes a specialty of high grade surface coated papers, which are used in many of the leading periodicals in this country. This was first established in 1853-54 by William Russell and his sons. It was an incorporated company after 1854, under the name of Russell Paper Company. In 1898 it was changed to the International Paper Company, and in 1902 the present corporation was formed. The Champion Card and Paper Company's mill at East Pepperell, Mass., and the purchase of the paper and pulp mills of the International Paper Com- pany were consolidated. The weekly production capacity of these mills is one hundred tons. Six hundred men are here employed, with a pay- roll of $12,000 at this date. This company is capitalized at $650,000. The present head of the concern is George Fred Russell, of the third generation of Russells connected with the industry.
There are numerous lesser factories and shops producing useful wares, and shops doing a machine repair work (twenty shops of last named), paper mill machinery, steam engines, pumps, mill supplies, fire department trucks, boilers, bobbins, spools, shuttles, cement, stone, marble products, iron, brass, copper and tin work, wood products, rugs, chemicals and soaps.
The Acadia Mills, which were formerly the cotton department of the Arlington Mills, were acquired by purchase in April, 1917. The plant consists of five brick mill construction manufacturing buildings, together with the necessary storehouses, engine and boiler houses, re- pair shops, etc. The buildings cover a ground area of 192,522 square feet. The floor space in square feet is divided as follows: For manu- facturing, 495,942 square feet; for storage, 146,190 square feet; miscel- laneous, 17,442 square feet; total, 659,574 square feet. The plant is located on the Spicket river, adjacent to the Arlington Mills, and with
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the exception of one corner, which is in Lawrence, is located in the town of Methuen. There are 1,250 operatives employed, who are for the most part of American birth.
This concern manufactures combed cotton yarns in all counts from 3's to 100's. The entire product of these mills consists of processed yarns; that is, yarn carried beyond its natural condition through the pro- cesses of mercerizing, bleaching or dyeing. The yarns can be supplied both gassed and ungassed. The process of mercerizing not only pro- duces a beautiful silk-luster, but also decidedly improves the cotton in roundness and strength, in working qualities and in adaptability to fine dyeing. The Acadia Mills have elaborate installations to protect the bleaching process. A laboratory system is devoted entirely to testing the water, which enters the establishment after passing through a series of filtration beds, to the end that throughout the working day it shall be impossible for any water to pass into the processes unless it is chemically pure for its purpose. Maintenance of perfect equality of shade is of immense importance to users of dyed yarns. The Acadia Mills are organized with particular care, and have every facility for achieving uniformity, from the handling of the dye to the final examina- tion of the dyed yarn in the put-up. Good dyes, specialized knowledge and modern equipment, are demanded, and the Acadia Mills possess all of these. The gray yarns processed by the Acadia Mills are spun by them or are products of the Whitman Company group, made under the same rules of manufacture. They are all of special quality for mercerizing, and thus all the Acadia processed yarns, even if unmercerized, have higher quality than ordinary yarns. The twist used is a particular twist adopted after long experiment for gaining the maximum of luster and brilliancy. The importance of eliminating knots, slubs, and other imperfections from these yarns, which are used in the more expensive manufactures, has led to an exceptional development of machinery and organization for this one purpose alone. Elasticity in Acadia mercerized thread yarns, due to the Acadia twist, gives it unusually favorable run- ning qualities. It represents a silk twist more nearly than any other thread yarn on the market, and is of maximum strength. These yarns are delivered to the trade in skeins, cones, tubes, quiller cops and warps.
The finished product per week amounts to 200,000 pounds. The officers of the corporation are: William Whitman, president; Ernest N. Hood, treasurer; Frank C. Chamberlain, clerk; William A. Pedler is the resident agent of the mills. The selling agents are William Whitman Company, Inc., with offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chi- cago.
The Monomac Spinning Company was established by William Whit- man in 1910 for the manufacture of French spun worsted and merino yarns. The company was incorporated in 1913, and now has a capital of $5,000,000. The officers of the corporation are William Whitman,
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president; Ernest N. Hood, treasurer; Frank C. Chamberlain, clerk; Walter M. Hastings, resident agent.
The plant, which consists of two modern mill construction brick buildings, together with the power plant and storehouse, is located on South Union street in South Lawrence. The manufacturing floor space amounts to almost eleven acres, while another acre and a half of floor space is devoted to storage. When Mill No. 2, which was erected in 1920, is completely equipped and running, the number of operatives em- ployed will be in the neighborhood of 1,000. The equipment comprises about 83,000 mule and frame spindles and all necessary preparatory and finishing machines. The power plant consists of a Cooper-Corliss con- densing engine, 1450 h.p., and an Allis-Chalmers turbine of 2000 k.w., together with a boiler plant of eight 300 h.p. Heine boilers.
The Monomac Spinning Company is a worsted-yarn mill, producing single and ply-yarns, both in all worsted and merino, in counts ranging from 10's to 60's. These yarns are all drawn and spun on the French system. The machinery for this purpose is the best existing in either America or Europe, having been made by the acknowledged leaders in French spinning equipment. The installation of mule and ring-spinning frames and of finishing machineries is as ample as any in the western hemisphere.
In true merino yarn manufacture the best merino yarn is made from blends of cotton and wool that have been combed. The yarn throughout its length is a uniform product, with the wool dominating. It is a standard product of quality, with its own great value, among which is the manufacture of underwear that will shrink less than if made from pure worsted. Peruvian cotton of high rough grade is more nearly like wool than any other vegetable fibre now known to com- merce, and is the kind of cotton used by the Monomac Spinning Company in making its "Merino yarns." Monomac Merino yarns may be dyed without showing weakness.
The Monomac worsted and Merino yarns are put up for the knitting trade on cops and cones, and for weaving on dresser spools or in skeins. Both worsted and merino yarns are made in various mixes, as desired. The mill has a reputation for single warp yarns and for single yarns for tops for rubber shoes where an extremely level yarn is required. The Monomac Spinning Company makes uniformity of quality one of its big rules of manufacture. A user will find any given Monomac product the same in quality next year, or the year after next, as it is now. If it can be improved, it will be. It will not be permitted to deteriorate.
Hygiene, cleanliness and light are maintained for the equal benefit of workers and product, and the latest facilities for correct temperature and humidity assure unvarying conditions for the work in all stages of progress. The entire production of the Monomac Spinning Company is sold by William Whitman Co., Inc.
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Mercantile interests is a subject well treated in the following contri- butions to this chapter :
It is only a matter of seventy-five years since the Lawrence dam in the course of construction looked upon its first merchant, Amos D. Pills- bury, who in the year 1846 sold, or we might rather say peddled, boots and other articles that were needed by men engaged in building the dam.
After the town was established, one of the first dry goods dealers to come to Lawrence and open a store was Artemus W. Stearns, who was born in Hill, New Hampshire. He opened a store on Amesbury street in 1846. In 1854 Mr. Stearns erected the building at 309 Essex street, and removed there when it was completed. The building on Essex street, which he enlarged in 1887, presented at that time one of the finest fronts on the street. Mr. Stearns was a bright and energetic merchant, confining himself strictly to the sale of dry goods. He was well known and highly respected in the trade, and was considered one of the most trustworthy of the New England merchants of that time. He passed away at a good old age in 1896, and four years after his death the busi- ness was sold to Robertson Sutherland & Company. The name of this concern was later changed to A. B. Sutherland Company, who still oc- cupy Mr. Stearns' original Essex street store as a part of their present department store.
To a stranger who steps off a train at the North Lawrence Station, it is hard to realize that Essex street, extending seven-eighths of a mile, with both sides built up with as fine an array of store fronts as any city and now one of the most beautiful business streets in New England, was part of a cow pasture only seventy-five years ago. There has been a steady improvement from year to year in the building all along the street, but in some sections the development has been more marked than in others. In the early days the trading center was nearly all along the north side of Essex street, for most of the south side was not built up extensively until recent years. What is known as the lower or eastern end of the street was looked upon fifty years ago as the best trading cen- ter, but the western end from Lawrence street to Hampshire street has grown rapidly, and now Lawrence has a longer trading area than almost any city of its size in the Eastern States.
About 1860 Andrew Sharpe established a dry goods business east of Appleton street, which he sold out in the '70's to Simpson & Oswald. A few years later Simpson & Oswald removed to larger quarters, and Mr. Sharpe again entered business on his own premises, where he con- tinued until his death in 1900. In 1901 the business was sold and the name of A. Sharpe & Co. disappeared from Essex street. James C. Stuart was associated with Mr. Sharpe in partnership for a number of years, but this partnership was dissolved before the death of Mr. Sharpe, when Mr. Stuart opened a store on his own account next door to A. Sharpe & Co., where he continued until 1902. He is still living at a good old age.
Simpson & Oswald, who purchased the business of A. Sharpe & Co., and later removed to larger quarters, were the pioneers of the de- partment store in Lawrence. They occupied the block at the corner of Essex and Appleton streets. A few years later Mr. Simpson associated himself with his brother, James Simpson, and Mr. William Crawford, and removed to Sixth Avenue, New York. There they built up one of the leading department stores in New York City, known for many years
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by the name of Simpson, Crawford & Simpson. On Mr. Simpson's re- moval to New York, Mr. Oswald acquired his interest, and the business was successfully continued under the name of William Oswald & Co., until, in 1894, it was sold to Reid & Hughes. Mr. James J. Hughes, who came to Lawrence to manage the business, was one of the most energetic and up-to-date merchants of his time. He improved the store and de- veloped a very prosperous business. He had a pleasing personality, was well liked-a fine, all-round gentleman. In ten years Mr. Oswald again acquired the business, and Mr. Hughes removed to Boston, to own and manage a larger business than he had in Lawrence. Upon the death of Mr. Oswald, a few years later, the business again came into the posses- sion of Reid & Hughes Co., under which name it is still conducted, but controlled and managed by L. E. Bennink, who has lived up to the repu- tation of his predecessors.
In the Sweeney block, east of Appleton street, about the late '70's, a dry goods store was opened by Campbell & Dow, which afterward be- came Campbell & Taylor. After a few years Mr. Campbell left for a larger field, in the then rapidly rising city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On removal there Mr. Campbell established a fine business, and died a few years ago, leaving a considerable fortune. Mr. Taylor moved to North Adams, but did not meet with success equal to that of Mr. Camp- bell. Another dry goods dealer who had a store for many years next door to Mr. Stearns was S. F. Snell. He sold his Essex street business about twenty-five years ago and removed to Broadway, where he con- ducted a store successfully until his death. Another merchant who pros- pered in Lawrence was R. M. Cross; he occupied the store in the block on the north side of Essex street, between Pemberton and Appleton streets. His name is still identified with that business, The Cross Dry Goods Company.
Still another successful merchant who opened a store in 1858 on Essex street was Byron Truell, later removing to the block between Pemberton and Appleton streets, adjacent to R. M. Cross. Mr. Truell was active in business until about 1902, when he retired. He was a capable and shrewd merchant. He came to Lawrence from northern Vermont, and opened business for himself at an early age. He was iden- tified with the political affairs of the city and State, serving several times on the governor's council. When Mr. Truell retired, he was re- puted to be one of Lawrence's richest men. He is still alive, takes active interest in church work, and has a very high appreciation of the Repub- lican party, with which he has been identified since its formation.
One of the first men's clothing dealers was Captain William R. Spalding, born in Milton, New Hampshire. He came to Lawrence in 1846 and continued business until about 1890. His store was east of Jackson street, in what is today considered not one of the best locations for that line of business. Another early clothing dealer was James M. Fairfield, a keen and energetic merchant. He acquired considerable property on the north side of Essex street, between Amesbury and Hamp- shire streets. Most of his property he disposed of before his death. One of the later merchants was William H. Gile, who conducted a cloth- ing business with much success for twenty-three years in the Sweeney block. In 1908 he sold to R. H. Suggatt, his junior partner, and retired. tired.
Perhaps the most successful clothing merchants that Lawrence has had were the Bicknell Brothers, who established a business west of Hamp-
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shire street. £ Mr. Edmund Bicknell, the younger brother, was actively associated with everything that pertained to the advancement of Law- rence. He had different methods of doing business from most of the
other merchants. His way of advertising was particularly unique and attractive. The two brothers were very successful, and when they died left a large amount of valuable property in and around Lawrence.
In the grocery business there were several successful merchants, of whom Joseph Shattuck comes to mind especially. He at one time con- ducted a store with his brother Charles, on Broadway, later removing to the building occupied by the gas company on Essex street. Mr. Shat-
tuck retired from business over twenty-five years ago. He was presi- dent of the Bay State Bank and also of the Essex Savings Bank for many years, and at his death left a large fortune.
Mr. James R. Simpson was another of the fine high-type merchants of our city. He engaged in ventures outside of his business, in which he was invariably successful, and at his death left a large estate. Daniel Jordan, who died recently, over ninety years of age, was another fine type of merchant, highly respected and well liked in the community.
One of the early traders was John C. Dow, who opened and con- ducted for several years a book and stationery store, subsequently chang- ing it to crockery and glassware. He conducted this business where the Boston & Lowell station now stands, until the time of his death. John Colby was one of the early dealers in the book and stationery line, and had the pioneer book and stationery store of Lawrence.
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