USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Old-time Fairhaven; erstwhile Eastern New Bedford, Volume I > Part 8
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Mr. Eldredge, it was said, was the only person on William street who lived in the house he built. In this house, if we mistake not, Mr. Norman M. Paull was born. The house was removed at the time that the Fuller house was renovated.
Mr. Samuel H. Eldredge, of Fairhaven, and Miss Eunice M. Bassett of New Bedford, were married on March 17, 1829. Mrs. Eunice, wife of Samuel H. Eldredge, died in Fairhaven on Christmas Day in 1851, aged 44. Mr. Kelley S. Eldredge died in 1891.
Joseph Millett, who had been in business for thirty years, was proprietor of a meat market located in the ell appended to Phoenix Block on the north. Many remember that his business was purchased by Joseph B. Peck sixty years ago. This ell was an afterthought, and did not belong to the original renovation of the old church for business purposes. Under the date of November, 1858, we find this statement : "The Phoenix Hall Association contemplates an extension of their building to accommodate another store on the lower floor and office on the second. The first floor now has four stores, postoffice, and hairdresser's room." The Phoenix Hall annex was built, one- story, and here, at the time that the notice was signed, Joseph Millett was in business.
James S. Robinson was carrying on the grocery business at the old stand of Rufus Allen at the northwest corner of Middle and Union streets. The complete day books of the store for six years, from 1871 to 1876, inclusive, are before us.
Alfred Nye was proprietor of a grocery store located in the basement of the house at the south west corner of Washington and Main streets, opening for the first time on March 4, 1857.
S. S. Swift & Co. at this time was conducting a grocery store at the southwest corner of Main and Bridge streets.
Old Stand of Rufus Allen. - Middle and Water streets were, in the early days, the locations of most of the stores of Fairhaven village. On the northwest corner of Middle and Union streets
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1
stands one of the oldest houses in town. In the basement of this house, with the entrance on Union street, was a store which was open to the public for many years. As one entered, through the double doorway with glass in the upper portion of the doors, now hidden from the passers-by by wooden storm doors, he could espy on the west and north walls the ancient shelves, counter, running north and south, and bins where the merchandise of those days was dis- played. The old-type, high desk of counting-house design stood on the west side, with the office cushioned armchair nearby. The books of the customers together with the day-book, ledger, etc. of the pro- prietor, were in the alcoves of the old desk.
When was all this? All within the memory of some of Fair- haven's old gentlemen. James S. Robinson was proprietor. Capt. Robinson, as we well remember, lived for years in the house directly opposite the old Savings Bank. There were Harriet, his third wife, and five children, viz., James S., Jr., (Tootle) Anna, Girard, Mary and Thomas.
Early in August 1941, we inquired of Mr. Walter F. Beetle, now in active business although then 84 years of age, whether he was clerk or bookkeeper for James S. Robinson at this very store under consideration. Under the date of August 18th, Mr. Beetle wrote that due to a four-day visit to Fairhaven, the answer to my inquiry had been delayed. Mr. Beetle continued. - "Yes, I kept books for Capt. Robinson but cannot give the exact date, but will say that I was at- tending the high school at that time; must have been about 1874. While in Fairhaven, have shown my friends from Pittsburg, Pa., the Birds, the old desk which one can see through the window."
If Mr. Beetle peered through the window (southwest) only, little did he dream that in the right hand compartment of that desk, very near that window, there had stood since that period, 67 years ago, the very ledger into which he, a boy of 17, carried the accounts of the customers, nearly all of whom have long since passed away. This ledger of 550 pages, has on the flyleaf this : "Walter F. Beetle, Fairhaven, December 15, '74." Mr. Beetle's estimate of the year was absolutely correct.
Fairhaven Drug Stores, etc. - Forty-five years ago there was issued a four-page folder headed : "Banquet Hall, Fairhaven, Mon- day Evening, April 8, 1901." Its purpose was to set before the peo- ple this announcement : "AKIN CLASS. Musicale and Social, Phoenix Orchestra, Akin Class Chorus. Male Quartette. Soloists :
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Harold E. Reynolds, Baritone; Dr. William C. Macy, Bass. Ice- cream, Cake and Home-made Candy for sale."
The remainder of the folder was taken up by the printed pro- gram of the evening and the advertisements of various Fairhaven stores and business houses. Although the year 1901 was compara- tively recent, note the number of proprietors and persons who are not living today. The Fairhaven Institution for Savings advertised under the names of George H. Taber, president ; C. D. Hunt, vice- president ; C. H. Morton, treasurer. J. A. Orton & Co., Undertakers and Embalmers, 60 Main street; E. W. Forrest, Stoves & Ranges, Plumber, Tin and Sheet Iron Worker, No. 71 Main street; A. L. Braley, Newport Bicycles, Repairing and Sundries; Fresh Cream Cakes, Fairhaven Bakery; NOTICE! A fine line of Stationery at S. P. & S. H. Wilcox's two stores; H. L. Wilson, Groceries, Grain and Hay, Bridge street; J. C. Tripp, Insurance, Real Estate, Coal ; Nice Large Oysters for 30 cents, Lawton's Fish Market, 52 Middle street ; High Grade Groceries, S. S. Bumpus, 41 Center street ; Artistic Paper Hangings, Herman H. Hathaway, 133 Main street ; Choice Meats and Vegetables, E. S. Whiting, 42 Center street ; C. F. Delano, Plumbing, Tinning and Heating, Shoe Factory Building ; Good Printing, Eagle Printing Co., 39 Green street ; H. L. Card, Ice- cream and Sherbets, Phoenix Block; Bicycle Shoes, Dahl's, 40 Center street. Last but not least, we note the picture and verses contributed by Levi M. Snow, Phoenix Block, as the first on the list of adver- tisers. He wrote: "Go to Snow's and then you'll find, Medicines of every kind; Cures for all your pains and aches. Coughs and colds and La Grippe shakes."
In the year 1900, renovations of the Drug Store, northeast cor- ner of Main and Center streets, took place. The two entrances, one on Main and the other on Center street, were forever closed, the door- way on the corner being installed instead. During the renovation, the old front windows, through which you and I have many a time peered within to view the large glass receptacles or containers, filled to the brim with brilliantly colored liquid, the sign of the ancient Drug Stores, were taken out. These windows are still in existence, doing splendid service in a small workshop which the writer enters from time to time.
The old meeting house itself received renovations in 1853. Up it skyward went, taking a quarter turn, landing a bit nearer the cor- ner with stores, to be let, beneath. Since that date this store at the
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Four Corners, now developed into a modern pharmacy, has had several proprietors.
Perhaps a summary of Fairhaven Drug Stores will be appre- ciated. Before the advent of the modern drug store, drugs and medicines were dispensed by the local physicians. Dr. Mayhew, physician and surgeon, advertised on May 25, 1826, to do this.
Under the date of December 3, 1830, we find that Doctors Miller and Shaw advertised sales at their Apothecary Shop. Under the date of March 14, 1842, an advertisement in part read: "THIS DAY OPENED IN FAIRHAVEN, a new Drug and Chemical Store," etc. (Signed) Z. S. Sampson, Main street, Fairhaven. This might have been the apothecary shop which stood immediately north of Fountain Hall. The building now stands in Center street, and after having had many occupants, became the headquarters of Days' Electric Shop.
Under the date of February 3, 1853, Mr. F. W. K. Nye adver- tised : "NEW DRUG STORE IN FAIRHAVEN," his, being the former shop of Dr. Jeremiah Miller, on Union street. Dr. Miller died June 5, 1852, aged 64. The stores in Phoenix Block now being ready for occupancy, the block having been dedicated in September, 1853, Mr. F. W. K. Nye, as a druggist, evidently considered a change of business location advisable, for in April, 1854, he was located in the Phoenix Block.
Fairchild & Taber next were proprietors, and after them came James I. Church, in 1855, selling out to his clerk (for ten years) Levi M. Snow, in 1876. Then on January 1, 1910, the Browne Pharmacy succeeded Mr. Snow, who died in 1915, in his 74th year.
At least two drug stores we have omitted, namely that estab- lished by Mr. Fred L. Breed, at 58 Main street, in July 1899, and another in the Richmond Block in 1860, owned and conducted by Horatio W. Richmond. Mr. Richmond was conducting business in Fairhaven in 1851, perhaps earlier, possibly in the store vacated by Mr. Sampson.
When Mr. Church sold his Drug Store to Mr. Snow, he left in the back shop a half ounce bottle of oil labelled, "Five thousand dollars worth of Oil." It still remains there (May 1880). The oil was all that Mr. Church received from a $5,000 investment in oil stocks at the time of the old-well mania.
Early Merchants Advertised. - In the Star of 1879, during'the first year of its existence, we find the following townfolk advertising :
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Eben Akin, Jr., Pekin Ducks' Eggs; Bisbee Bros., Cigars, To- bacco, Pipes, Billiards, Pool, Peanuts, Lessons on Violin and Banjo ; A. D. Bourne, Tomato Plants; Henry L. Card, Oysters, Papers, Candy, Cigars; Centennial Shoe Store, Cor. Union and Water streets; Jabez Delano, Jr., Picture Frames ; Eldredge Bros., Gro- ceries ; John G. Ellis, Groceries; Obed F. Hitch, Groceries ; Charles A. Johnson, Plumber, Steam Fitter, Tin and Sheet Iron Worker; Leavitt & Taber, Groceries ; Joseph Millett, Meat Market ; Robinson's Alopecial Hair Dressing Room; Roland Smith, Horse Shoer; L. H. Stoddard, Harris' Tea; S. S. Swift & Co., Groceries; B. Taber & Sons, Ship and Sign Painters; E. T. Taber, Strawberry Plants ; James Taber, Fish Market, Mill Bridge; James H. Taber, Fair- haven Express; Tappan's Real Estate Agency ; James D. Vaughan & Son, Upholsterers; E. S. Whiting, Meat Market; Mrs. A. P. Willcox, Dry Goods ; H. F. Wilde, Groceries ; Tappan &,Co., Lamps, Chimneys, Wicks; L. M. Snow, Druggist; Seth E. Stevens, Meat Cart.
CHAPTER VI
Early Industries
Straw Hats. - The manufacture of straw hats and bonnets be- gan in 1801. It became impossible to purchase imported bonnets, and necessity caused the lady to manufacture one for herself. This industry flourished in Wrentham, Franklin, Medway, Walpole, Bel- lingham, Sharon and Foxboro, all in Norfolk County, then filtering into Bristol County, and locally centering at Oxford Village. The Oxford industry must have been the first, or one of the first of its kind in Bristol County, for Bartholomew Taber, continuing the trade established by others, was advertising for an apprentice to the straw hat making industry more than a century and a quarter ago.
Comb Manufactory. - More than a hundred years ago the fol- lowing advertisement appeared: - "TO TANNERS. The sub- scriber having recently established a COMB MANUFACTORY in Oxford Village (Fairhaven), wishes to purchase all the neat's Horns that may be taken off in this vicinity, for which he will pay the highest price in cash. Any person having a quantity of HORNS on hand to dispose of, by directing a line to the subscriber, will receive im- mediate attention. (Signed). Levi Barnard, Fairhaven, January 4, 1821."
Candle Making. - The manufacture of spermaceti candles began, on a small scale, prior to the Revolutionary War. Fair- haven entered upon the candle-making business more than a century ago. Two buildings, of stone construction, were, in our boyhood days, pointed out as homes of this industry : one of these still stand- ing on Fort street, was afterwards occupied by the American Nail Machine Company ; the other stood, until 1896, at the head of Middle street, north of Washington street. An interesting pack of letters, dated 1833, 1835, etc., addressed to Capt. Jabez Delano who occu- pied the latter building, pertaining to the purchase and sale of oil and candles, has been in our possession for nearly sixty years.
Mr. Lewis S. Judd was treasurer of the New Bedford Candle Company, in 1866. Hervey Tripp was agent. On Friday, Aug- ust 29, 1866, Judd & Bartlett commenced the manufacture of paraf- fine candles on Water street, Fairhaven, in the building vacated by Albert Sawin, under the name of New Bedford & Ohio Oil and
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Candle Company. In 1871, Judd, Allen, & Bartlett manufactured paraffine candles in the Sawin building. This building now stands on the north side of Union wharf. Mr. Judd died in April, 1898, aged 70.
Brass Foundries. - Research forces the past to divulge its secrets. Some time ago we learned that Joseph W. Webb, who advertised under the date of July 18, 1832, had established the Brass Founding and Coppersmith Business in the south part of Fairhaven. Some may recall the Brass Foundry that stood on the property of J. P. Winslow, on Main street, north of the residence of William F. Nye, and on the same side of the street. This was about seventy- five years ago.
The Standard gives us, under the date of Friday, March 20, 1874, the following : - "THE OLD BRASS FOUNDRY BUILD- ING, in Fairhaven, has for a number of years been occupied in part by the railroad company for making the brass castings used by the Fair- haven Branch and New Bedford railroads, and since the consolida- tion of the Roads to Mansfield that class of work for the whole line is transferred to this foundry, and it is not improbable that the castings for the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Road may be made here, thus considerably reviving the old business. The building is of stone, and adjoins the shops of the Railroad Company." This was probably the copper and brass foundry of Nathan Church.
The Cotton Mill. - The original foundry building on the north- east corner of Laurel and Union streets was built in 1843 and used for a Cotton Mill. Fish and Robinson's lumber yard was at the southwest corner of Chestnut and Center streets with the office at the southeast corner of Center and Laurel streets.
In the Standard of June 28, 1850 we read : - "The Cotton Fac- tory in Fairhaven closed last week." Fourteen years after its con- struction this building was for sale, being advertised as follows: - "COTTON MILL AT AUCTION. April 30, 1857, at 2 P. M., on the premises, if not sold at private sale. Acushnet Mill with machinery - 2,000 spindles, 42 wide iron looms, etc. Nearly new. All the machinery usually found in a cotton mill for immediate use. Inquire of Wilson Pope."
Granular Fuel Mills. - In 1858, Capt. Isaiah West manufac- tured and sold Granular Fuel at the mills, corner of Main and Bridge streets. Twelve bushels of this fuel were sold for one dollar. It served for kindling coal fires and for summer use, being
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cut into pieces not in excess of four inches in length and used in place of charcoal.
The Granular Fuel Mill was sold at auction on February 11, 1861, the owner being about to leave town.
Center Street Cooper Shop. - In the early days, every whaling port had its cooper shops. These, for the most part, were located near the water, e. g., the one on the Old South wharf in which Fair- haven's first newspaper was published; another north of Eldredge lane ; others on Union wharf and on Water street, and still others in- land. Here is one of the last-mentioned type.
Many can visualize the building which stood on the south side of Center street, between William and Walnut streets, and recall that Dr. George Atwood used it as one of his several barns. This building belonged, a century ago, to the A. Swift estate, and Dr. Atwood married Miss Henrietta E. Swift, daughter of Asa Swift, in 1855.
But before our remembrance, this building was a cooper shop as we note by the following: - "COPARTNERSHIP. The sub- scribers, having entered into copartnership under the firm and style of Hatch & Allen, take this opportunity to inform the public that they have taken the Cooper's Shop on Center street, formerly occu- pied by the late Franklin Hatch, where they are prepared to carry on the Coopering Business, and a share of patronage is solicited, for which they will feel grateful. (Signed) Henry F. Hatch, Wil- liam W. Allen. Fairhaven, July 6, 1858." Franklin Hatch died in Fairhaven on April 6, 1858 aged 46. Henry F. Hatch died in May, 1914, aged 76.
Cotton Mill Becomes Iron Works. - Through the efforts of Horace Scott, the superintendent of the Fairhaven Branch Railroad, a large iron foundry, under the name of The Boston and Fairhaven Iron Works, was established in 1862.
With additions to the Cotton Mill, the dimensions of the Iron Works became 192 feet by 120 feet.
Under the date of Tuesday, April 26, 1864 the Mercury printed the following: - "AT WORK. The Fairhaven Iron Works went into operation last Tuesday, and have turned out some very hand- some work. The establishment is admirably designed, and prom- ises to be a complete success. There is work enough engaged to keep twenty-five men busy for six months to come."
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Thus about seventy-five years ago, and more, The Boston and Fairhaven Iron Works occupied the southern half of the square bounded by Center, Laurel, Union and Chestnut streets.
Oil Companies. - Oil companies were springing up like mush- rooms. In 1861, "The Fairhaven Rock Oil Company" erected a building near, Caesar's Hill for the purpose of refining oil. Under the date of April 6, 1861, we find: "PETROLEUM. The Fair- haven Rock Oil Company manufacture from the oil wells of Pennsyl- vania, Superior Illuminating Oil. It is not explosive, gives out no offensive odor, is the cheapest and most powerful Illuminator now in use. It burns in all kinds of kerosene and coal oil lamps. Orders promptly executed. Fairhaven Rock Oil Company."
Under the advertisement of November 7, 1862, we read that "The Fairhaven Rock Oil Company, on leased land, was for sale by auction, November 17th, with the advice that further information could be had of William M. Irish, on the premises." This was sold to F. R. Whitwell, Jr. for $2,950.
At 7:30 o'clock, on the evening of January 7, 1862, the main building of the Empire Rock Oil Company, of Fairhaven, situated on the line of the railroad, was entirely consumed by fire. Mr. George Jones and B. Ewer, Jr. were in the works at the time, the former escaping with a scorched face. The Company was com- posed of William P. Handy and B. Ewer, Jr. The storehouse and contents were saved. Reconstruction followed. This later build- ing was taken down in 1866, and rebuilt on Handy's wharf.
. The Keystone Oil Works, on the line of the Fairhaven Branch Railroad, cars loaded directly from shed, thus saving carting, only one year old, was for sale in May, 1862.
The cooper shop adjoining the Petroleum Oil Works of F. R. Whitwell, Jr., in Fairhaven, together with a number of empty casks, was destroyed by fire on the afternoon of Thursday, April 9, 1863. Loss, $700-$1,000. No insurance.
On January 4, 1864, the North Star Oil Works, in this town, on the line of the railroad, with cars loaded directly from the shed, was for sale.
Then, under the date of Wednesday, May 12, 1869, we read : "THE NORTH STAR OIL WORKS, in Fairhaven, have been sold to Messrs. Thayer & Judd, who will demolish them, and remove the machinery to their paraffine factory on Rotch wharf, New Bed- ford."
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American Nail Machine Company. - Farming, whaling and manufacturing, in turn, absorbed the interest of the people in gen- eral, the last-mentioned industry being pictured as follows: "FAIR- HAVEN. Å meeting of citizens of Fairhaven was held on Thurs- day evening (August 9, 1860) to take into consideration the sub- ject of establishing some manufacturing enterprise in that place. R. W. Dexter was chosen chairman, and W. M. Irish, Secretary. A committee of six, consisting of H. A. Church, Edmund Allen, Francis Stoddard, Wilson Pope, Isaiah West and George F. Tripp were chosen to take the whole matter into consideration, and report at a future meeting. The attendance was good, and much interest was manifested."
Up to this time very little of a manufacturing nature had been established in Fairhaven. Isolated instances, can be cited, such as the Granular Mills, etc., but these were on a small scale. In 1843, however, Fairhaven had its Acushnet Mill or Cotton Mill at the north- · east corner of Union and Laurel streets. Then burst forth the en- thusiasm mentioned above. The American Nail Machine Com- pany purchased the Rodman property on Fort street in 1864.
The Water-Line Collar Factory. - On that northwest corner of Washington and Middle streets, stood the double house of Stephen Weed, just north of which was the Proctor property. On the north- east corner, more than three quarters of a century ago, stood the building, consumed by fire in May 1876. On the site of this build- ing, William N. Alden built, in June 1877, a barn which, years later, was converted into a dwelling house. Now let us read of a visit to this corner by a representative of the "Standard" which printed, un- der the date of Thursday, August 30, 1866, the following :-
"THE WATERLINE COLLAR FACTORY, corner of Washington and Middle streets, Fairhaven, is doing a good business, the determination of the proprietors to make none but the best quality of collars and cuffs creating a great demand for their manufacture. We passed through the factory a few days since, and were much pleased with the simplicity and rapidity of the machinery which turns out paper collars as fast as our grandmothers could set stitches in the old style linen ones."
New England Embroidery Company. - Seventy years ago there was inaugurated a new industry, about which we read, in the Daily Standard of 1878, as follows: - "An industry, in Fairhaven, which has not created much public stir, but which still has given em- ployment to rising thirty girls all through the past winter, is that
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of embroidering and making slipper vamps or fronts. The estab- lishment is called the New England Embroidery Company, and the proprietors are Messrs. L. H. & W. C. Stoddard. The business is located in a modest appearing two-story wooden building on the east side of Water street just south of Center.
New Manufactory: - In the year 1872, Mr. Robert H. Taber, known to many through business or church relationship, came from New York to New Bedford. The next year he leased rooms in the old grist-mill and cotton factory buildings at Smith Mills, North Dartmouth, for the manufacture of the "monitor coffee pot." His business increased to such an extent that, in September 1873, he installed a waterwheel of sixteen horsepower.
We find Mr. Taber carrying on business in the old bake shop of the Buttricks, located on West Church streets, in 1879. In the following year, he removed to the Hamlin, or the Sawin building, then on the west side of Water street, between Center and Union streets, but now on Union wharf. He remained here until 1887 when he removed to 87 Main street, formerly occupied by Ebenezer Akin, Jr.
In 1881 orders were issued requiring lights on all small craft in the harbor during the evening. Robert H. Taber's manufactory was busy making boat lanterns as a result of this edict.
Robert H.Taber employed workers at home. Bundles of wire came from the factory; this wire was wound into spirals, or better, coils, perhaps four feet in length; then cut into separate or double rings ; afterwards distributed to those who wanted to do home work, thus providing pin money to the ambitious members of needy fam- ilies. A small square board with nails of specified distances and two pliers made up the necessary tool equipment of the workers. These rings, brought home, were returned to the shop as perfect pot- chains, sold everywhere. These pot-chains resembled a section of a medieval hauberk.
As this building was razed, he removed in 1895, to the lower floor of the abandoned shoe factory on Main street. The following year he removed to New Bedford, carrying on business on Acush- net Avenue. In 1898 Mr. Taber removed to California where he died in 1913 aged 80.
Chaise Manufactory, Bake Shop, Carriage Shop, Paint Shop .-
Some may be interested in facts concerning a Main-street land- mark, namely, the paint shop belonging, until recently, to Mr. A.
.
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EARLY INDUSTRIES
Leonard Bliss, now No. 107, or, fifty years ago, as No. 163 Main street. Mr. Bliss purchased this property in November 1917, of Harriet S. Phillips, widow, of Providence, R. I., and others. (It was on February 8, 1872 that P. Henry Phillips of Philadelphia and Miss Hattie E., daughter of Robert M. Simmons, were married). This land and building purchased by Mr. Bliss was formerly the property · of Mr. Simmons, and here the latter carried on business, the build- ing being designed on the map of 1855 as "Carriage Shop."
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