USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Picturesque Hampshire : a supplement to the quarter-centennial-journal > Part 22
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102
PICTURESQUE HAMPSHIRE.
ESENTATIVE
ASTHAMPTON MANUFACTURERS
REPR
The factory is located on the line of two railroads, viz., the Connecticut river and the New York, New Haven & Hartford, with spur track running from the main road right to the door of the factory, making the facilities for receiving supplies of stock and shipping goods as complete as could be desired.
Easthampton is an especially eligible site for the manufacture of elastie webs because here is located the famous Easthampton Rubber Thread com- pany's works, producing immense quantities of superior thread especial- ly adapted to the purpose, and proba- bly this fact had mueh weight in influeneing George S. Colton to remove hither from Connecticut in 1887, and to ereet his fine new briek mill of two stories, 40x100 feet, heated by steam, fitted up with all the modern improve- ments, inelnding twenty-six looms, 200 braiders, two spoolers, three warpers, two pullers, and the twenty-five horse power steam engine. Mr. Colton was born at Shelburne, Vt., is a practical master of his ealling, and a shrewd, enterprising business man.
About 100 hands find employment with him and the products consist, in detail, of shoe goring, suspender, truss and garter web and elastie corset lacing, though shoe goring is the leading spe- cialty, which is disposed of to the trade in this line all over the country; the Subjects of the Portraits - HON. H. G. KNIGHT, JOSEPH W. GREEN, JOHN MAYHER, E. T. SAWYER, E. H. NEW- MAN, GEORGE S. COLTON. truss and garter web, in which an immense business is done finds a market all over the United States and Canada. An important fact and one well worthy the consideration of the trade is that Mr. Colton receives his supplies of rubber fresh every day from the mill. This is a very essential item in the production of this class of goods, and we think will be readily appreciated by those familiar with such require- ments. Mr. Colton is the sole owner and superintends all the manu- facturing at the factory and also the selling of the goods, and all commu- nlcations should be addressed to him at the factory. It is needless in a notice like this to describe the various methods and steps by which he has been enabled to reach the present superiority of product. Prac- tical skill conscientiously applied and diligently watched have been un- ceasingly brought to bear until the product has attained a uniformly good quality.
Mr. Colton has an excellent reputation, in common with his brother manufacturers of Easthampton, and the increasing demand for his goods testifies to the quality of his work.
The fact that Mr. Colton has personal supervision of every depart- ment of his factory should be mentioned however, as those who desire
perfectly firm, durable and generally trustworthy goods, such as are used in surgical and orthopedie appliances, will consider this a point of interest to them, to say the least.
Easthampton Rubber Thread Company.
Rubber thread is used for a variety of purposes, but priuei- pally in the manufacture of elastie fabries, suspenders, garters, surgical and orthopedie bandages, suspensories and many other useful articles.
The Easthampton Rubber Thread Company was incorporated in 1864, and the plant and appurtenanees represent a eash invest- ment of $200,000. The factory building, 50x200 feet, three stories in height, is of brick, heated by steam and provided with all requisite appliances for the prevention aud extinguishment of fire. The machinery equipment is of special design and construction, has never been duplicated, and is said to be the most compre- hensive, ingenious, effective and valuable for the purpose in the world. For obvious reasons a description is omitted. Fifty-five hands are employed, and the output, pronounced superior to that of any similar establishment on either side of the Atlantic, is
ELASTIC FABRICS MILL OF GEORGE S. COLTON, AT EASTHAMPTON.
in constant and increasing demand by manufacturers of elastie net goods every- where. President Ford is a native and resident of New York, where he is engaged in the manufacture of rubber shoes and boots. He succeeded C. Meyer in his present position, in the spring of 1888. General Manager Sawyer, born in this state, has been connected with the company for the past eighteen years.
Glendale Elastic Fabrics Company.
The Glendale Vulcanized Rubber Co. was incorporated April 15, 1863 and its plant situated at Glendale village, a suburb of Easthampton. This branch of the manufacturing was afterwards removed to Easthampton. The Glendale Elastie
PHOTO ENG LO.N'Y,
WORKS OF THE EASTHAMPTON RUBBER THREAD COMPANY.
103
PICTURESQUE HAMPSHIRE.
Fabrics Co. was in- corporated on July 1, 1867. The in- crease of the plant has been constant ever since, especial- ly during the past ten years, under the present manage- ment. The fabrics made by this corpo- ration include any desired style of goods that can be woven or braided with vulcanized rub - ber thread as a basis for the elasticity of the same. The prin- eipal product today is elastic goring, made under the Greenmoore patent, this webbing being superior in all points needed for use in first-class Congress shoes.
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WORKS OF THE GLENDALE ELASTIC FABRICS CO., EASTHAMPTON.
Next in import- ance is the narrow fabries department, where an infinite variety of garter and loose webs are turned ont. Lastly is the cord and braid department, where braided fabrics containing rubber thread are made. The total annual product is rising one half million dollars at present, with a capacity large enoughi to far exceed this in times of sharp demand.
The officers of the company are Dr. Samuel T. Seelye, Pres. ; Jos. W. Green, Treas. and Manager, who are also directors, with E. T. Saw- yer, John Mayher, J. Howard Ford, Henry G. Hubbard, Edwin Wallace. This company has distributing stores at 130-132 Bedford St., Boston, and at 74 and 76 Worth St., New York, and are agents for the Russell Mfg. Co., Middletown, Conn., and the Hopedale Elastic Fabries Co. of Hopedale, Mass.
The Nashawannuck Mfg. Company.
This is one of the oldest of the Easthampton manufacturing con- cerns, having been organized April 8, 1850, with Samuel Williston as president and E. H. Sawyer as clerk, who were the original stockhold- ers, along with Edward Smith and H. G. Knight. The amount of cap- ital stock was then $60,000, all paid in, and the growth of the corpo- ration may be imagined from the fact that it now has a capital stock of $400,000 and seventy stockholders.
The buildings comprise a main factory which shows in the engrav- ing on this page and which is a continnation of five buildings, all of brick, 370x42 feet, and a separate factory in which all the finishing is done; in this some one hundred and fifty hands are employed, and at the other over three hundred more find employment. The equipment of machinery represents everything that mechanical skill and inventive genins has devised to expedite the work. Suspenders have always been the leading specialty with the company, and in
MAIN' MILL OF THE NASHAWANNUCK MFG. CO.
this alone the yearly output reaches about 400,000 dozen pairs, and in value some- thing over three-quarters of a million dollars. This company was the first in this country to use Goodyear's patent vulcanized rubber in woven elastic goods.
It is the largest suspender manufactory in the world, but besides the mannfacture of suspenders an extensive business is done in elastic frills and webs. The trade has been doubled in twelve years, but is not confined to any section and embraces the large jobbing honses all over the United States and Canada, the company maintaining a sales-room in New York city at 74 and 76 Worth street and selling all their own goods through their agent stationed there. The present officers of the company are :
President-M. F. Dickinson, Jr. Treas. and Manager-E. H. Newman. Manufacturing Agent-G. H. Leonard. Selling Agent at New York-E. D. Candee.
Valley Pump Company.
This company manufactures steam and power pumps, from the small boiler feed up to the large horizontal duplex, capable of dis- charging one thousand gallons per minute. They manufacture all their own castings, both of iron and brass, and with the excep- tion of the heavy crank shafts, which are used in the large crank and fly-wheel pumps, do their own forging. Their work is first-class in every respect, as the proprietor is a mechanic of over forty years' experience.
A picturesque illustration of the works will be found at the left.
VALLEY PUMP CO.
WORKS OF THE VALLEY PUMP CO., EASTHAMPTON.
104
PICTURESQUE HAMPSHIRE.
C. A. MAYNARD'S HOE AND SHOVEL FACTORY.
Maynard's Hoe and Shovel Works.
The engravings on this page, excepting that of the Porter Lathe, represent what is now one of the picturesque objects in the city the hoe and shovel works of C. A. Maynard, with a few of its products. This factory was badly injured by fire, in 1886, and will probably never again be built in its old form, but Mr. Maynard's busi- ness is increasing so that enlargement must soon be had on the ground floor. The factory is always running full, turns out the highest priced goods in America, and gives the most value for their cost.
THE PORTER LATHE.
Portar Machine Works.
Jonathan E. Porter, the founder of these works, at Hatfield, started in a small way eight years ago, np-stairs, in the building now occupied by C. S. Shattuck. The present building was constructed three years ago, when the business had grown considerably, and this year further growth compelled the erection of a forty-foot addition, making the main factory 152x35 feet. To give some idea of the growth of the business it is only necessary to say that in May, 1887, the works employed 11 men; in May, 1889, 18 men, and in May, 1890, 28 men, while last month there were 33 men on the rolls.
The works make a lathe for turning iron, a superior machine, an engraving of which is shown above ; it is a standard article in all machine shops, and the company have a great many orders booked ahead for this best pattern of all.
CARMINAROS
ATTAVNAS
AHATHIT
CAMAYNARD HUELS SADE S
CAMAYNARDA NILS SPADES
ZA MAYNARDS wMAL & SPADES
SOME PRODUCTS OF C. A. MAYNARD'S HOE AND SHOVEL WORKS.
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105
PICTURESQUE HAMPSHIRE.
Pansy Park and Its Octogenarian Owner.
Among its industrial enterprises Hampshire county may boast several fine poultry breeding farms, one of the Montague Bros. at Hadley, and others elsewhere, while the largest flower and seed farm in the county has been flourishing some years in the northern part of Belchertown. L. W. Goodell, son of Asahel Goodell, has been manager of the enterprise, since he was twenty-one years old, and started the work which lie himself projected.
Asahel Goodell, Esq., however, owns Pansy Park and the buildings contignous thereto which appear in the engraving on this page. The place consists of a traet of three hundred acres laid ont with a diversified collection of flowers, and takes its name from the original flower tract of greatest promi- nence. It is one of the pleasantest loca- tions amid some of the most charming and picturesque scenery in the region, alternating with hill, dale and valley, pleasant walks and shady groves. On the farm are grown annually acres of flowers, of almost every shade and hne that the imagination can conceive or the eye perceive. In the lakelet or aquatic garden may be seen water plants from the four quarters of the globe ; lilies of the rarest beauty and loveliness, red, white, pink and blue, and other colors. The park is "a thing of beauty and a joy for- ever" -- a world's fair in itself, but com- paratively few Hampshire people know the attractions of the place, the fame of it having gone abroad more generally, like that of the prophet withont honor in his own country. Yet hundreds of people on the east side of the Connectiest river visit Pansy Park every year and admire its beauties, which make it by far the most attractive place in the region. In the summer season, of course, the Park is to be seen at its best, when the flowers are in bloom, and any one making the visit will be well repaid. The ; grounds are situated about four miles from Am- herst college, on the main road to Belcher- town center, one mile from Pansy Park railroad station on the New London North- ern and Central Mass, railroads. The place has been thoroughly advertised all over the country, and flower seeds as well as the matured plants are furnished in great quantities from it. The specialty, however, is flower seed growing, and the younger Mr. Goodell's success is largely attributable to the material and general facilities which his father has rendered him, coupled with the former's energy and perseverance, for abont twenty years. L. W. Goodell, the now established and well-reputed florist and seedsman, has recently bought a farm adjoining his father's, on which he grows flowers, vegetables, etc., as well.
It is partly the purpose of this article, however, to describe the owner of Pansy Park, a really remarkable man, who can be justly taken as the subject for moderate eulogy in a work of this kind when it is well understood, as in his case, that wealth and powerful personal influence have nothing to do with it.
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Probably before this work shall have been fully completed or distributed to its patrons, (Nov. 22, 1890) Asahel Goodell, the subject of this sketch, will have attained the age of eighty years, an age not often reached by a man in full possession of most of his faculties. Barring a very little difficulty in hearing, Mr. Goodell is yet quite a vigorous personality, and he is often seen about the county, looking after his business interests.
He was born in Belchertown Nov. 22, 1810. His father was Moses Goodell and his mother Susannah Pettingill, and the family, bearing an always honored name, has
lived for three generations on the present homestead. As a lad Asahel Goodell showed unusual eagerness for knowledge and devoured with avidity the contents of the one weekly county newspaper of that time. Later he became its correspondent and for forty-five years wrote for that and other county papers. Articles from his graphic pen were furnished the public press, in favor of the present location and the building of the Massachusetts agricultural college from the infancy of the project to its completion, and full occupancy of it by the faenlty and students. He detailed comprehen- sively the advantages to be obtained by students and farmers, from the establishment of such an institution,
SECTION OF PANSY PARK AND RESIDENCE OF ASAHEL GOODELL AT BELCHERTOWN.
ASAHEL GOODELL, ESQ.
and we can now see that he was right. He was a local correspondent of the Hampshire Gazette, the North- ampton Free Press and Amherst Record for several years, but it was his general writings, to these and other papers in different parts of the country, under the familiar signature of " A. G.," that attracted the most public attention, and these often took the form of predictions concerning public men and measures in this and other countries of the world, which almost invaria- bly turned out to be correct. Mr. Goodell diselaims the mysterious source of prescience which is supposed to inspire the oracular utterances of a seer, and says that he based his judgment and opinions upon certain well-established principles of human con- duct and the teachings of history in relation to them. He has predicted who would be the successful candidate and elected as the next president of the United States, long before the election day occurred, after the respective parties had put in nomination their candidates, from Andrew Jackson, in 1832, to the present time, 58 years, and his predictions proved true with two exceptions-John C. Fremont in 1856 and James G. Blaine in 1884. During the darkest hours of the late civil war, in 1863, when foreign powers , were openly predicting and covertly working for the success of the sonth, Napoleon III placed Maximilian on the throne of Mexico by the aid of French bayonets, upon the pretence of wishing to unite the Latin race, and against the pro- test of our government, because it was against the Monroe doctrine. Mr. Goodell then predicted the down-fall of Napoleon within ten years and seven years later that emperor surrendered his sword to the late Emperor William of Germany, the sword being now kept as a trophy of war in a museum and the once proud and haughty French emperor dying an exile in a foreign land. The fate of Maximilian is well known. "A. G." (Asahiel Goodell) was a true patriot and lover of all mankind and consequently, when the anti-slavery strug- gle came on he advocated the canse of the slave. Mr. Goodell's first vote was for An- drew Jackson for president in 1832. In 1840 he supported Harrison. The two great national parties, the whigs and the demo- crats, were both wedded to slavery, and in 1842 he was one of three out of 400 voters in Belchertown who voted for the anti- slavery candidate for representative to the legislature. The three were laughed at and ridiculed by their whig and demo- cratic brethren and Mr. Goodell predicted on the occasion of this vote, in the pres- ence of his town's-people, that the three and those who would go with them would elect the president of the United States within twenty-five years from that time, and they elected Abraham Lincoln, eight- een years after he made the prediction, on the very same principles that he voted for in 1842. He was a free-soiler in 1848 and when the republican party was organ- ized in 1855, he joined it and has ever since been a good and zealons republican. Mr. Goodell wrote many valuable and patriotic letters during the late war and the recon- struction period, to Senators Sumner and Wilson, who were his personal friends and he never lost faith in the triumph of the republic.
Mr. Goodell has always been an ardent friend and advocate of our public schools, colleges and literary and scientific institu- tions of every kind, as well as most objects for the betterment of mankind. He was one of the best and most successful writing masters in this section of the country, for twenty-five years, and in his early man- hood was a great and extensive traveler throughout the country, in his professional business, more or less, later on. He has held various local offices in his native town
106
PICTURESQUE HAMPSHIRE.
and was appointed justice of the peace by Gov. Briggs in 1849, holding the office ever since.
Is this plain, matter-of-fact tribute too much to be paid to such a character as that of Asahel Goodell? We think not. It seems just as sensible to say a few good things of men living as of men dead, especially when, in old age, an instructive example is furnished to the rising generation and added respect obtained for gray hairs, the crown and glory of age when an honorable and upright life accompanies it, as in the present case.
Asahel Goodell's neighbors and friends gather on the eightieth recurrence of his birthday, in this sere and sober month of the year, to congratulate him upon his attainment to an honored old age in substantially full possession of all his faculties. As he walks down the vale of life, for the few remaining steps, we believe the tribute herewith given will be conceded to be no more than one justly due to the owner of Pansy Park, one of the oldest and best known of the anti-slavery pioneers in this county, and one who has followed the instincts of a true patriot and lover of his race, be they white or
black, rich or poor. We can perhaps close this article most fitly by quoting his own words in a recent article to the Hampshire Gazette:
"Of all that I have said or written, I have always kept in mind the truth. It is mighty and must prevail. Men may change-truth never. It is immortal. 'Truth crushed to earth shall rise again,' with untold Instre and beauty, and shine forever, like the stars in the firmament of heaven."
" Nothing good shall ever perish, Only the corrupt shall die. Such as men and angels cherish, Flourishes eternally."
Prominent Business Institutions.
The Northampton National Bank.
In its new banking-house on Main street, appropri- ately opposite the ("Old") First church, the "old" Northampton national bank corporation will undoubt- edly take a new lease of life. Its new banking rooms are probably the handsomest and most convenient of any in this section of the state. Engravings on this page give some idea of them, but a personal inspection will better acquaint the business public with their superior conveniences. First, the bank is now offering unusnal facilities in an inland institution of this kind, for the safe deposit of money, bonds and valnable articles generally, furnishing boxes in its vaults for this purpose of varying size, for from $5 to $40 a year.
Y.
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NORTHAMPTON NATIONAL BANK.
N
124
BANK
Two keys accompany each box, one furnished to the depositor and the other kept by the bank ; one is useless without the other, and the bank holds the " master- key," which can only be applied by the depositor after he has used his private key. Outside the banking counters are several small private retiring-rooms, self- locking only from the inside, where those having busi- ness with the bank can cut their coupons or place their papers and accounts in order leisurely, without attract- ing attention.
This institution, originally chartered under the State laws April 13, 1833, and reorganized as a national bank in 1865, has weathered safely the storms of well-nigh sixty years, and is more wealthy, influential and powerful today than ever before, its success and public
confidence in its stability being founded on the rock of integrity. At first the capital stock was $100,000, which was increased in 1837 to $200,000, and again to $400,000 when organized under the national banking act. The first president under the old regime was Eliphalet Williams ; cashier J. D. Whitney. Pres. Edwards has served for seven years and his ability is unques- tioned. Of Cashier Whittlesey it is hardly necessary to speak at length, as his energy. capac- ity and unerring judgment in monetary matters is recognized on all hands. The board of directors include, besides the president and vice president, such prominent citizens and business men as L. B. Wil- liams, H. R. Hinckley, William Skinner, John L. Otis, Frank N. Look, Charles N. Clark, and William M. Gaylord. Other prominent men have served in the past.
Northampton, capital $300,000; Joel Hayden, president ; W. B. Hale, vice president ; H. Roberts, cashier. On the death of Mr. Hayden in 1873, Mr. Hale was promo- ted to the presidency, Mr. Roberts continuing as cashier
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BANKING-ROOM OF THE NORTHAMPTON NATIONAL BANK.
RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts
$516,770.20
Overdrafts, secured and unsecured. 449.38
U. S. bonds to secure circulation.
100,000.00
Stocks, securities, judgments, claims, etc. 365,901.69
Dne from approved reserve agents ...
71,946.90
Dne from other national banks. 8,578.92
Dne from state banks and bankers. 27,612.28
Banking-house, furniture and fixtures
33,000.00
Current expenses and taxes paid. 10.93
Checks and other cash items. 2,626 41
Bills of other banks.
2,020,00
Fractional paper currency, nickels and cents
170.00
Specie ..
34.833.83
Legal tender notes ..
3,015.00
Redemption fund with U. s. treasurer, five per cent. of circulation
4,500,00
Total
$1,171,440.54
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in
$400,000.00
Surplus fund.
250,000.00
Undivided profils.
12,794.73
National bank notes outstanding.
88,500.00
Dividends unpaid.
10,252.00
Individual deposits subject to check
396,170.82
Demand certificates of deposit 1,281.34
Cashier's checks ontstanding. 188.84
Due to other national banks
12,252.81
Total
.$1,171,440.54
First National Bank.
The First National is the lineal successor of the old Holyoke (state) bank, founded in 1848, with John Clark president, Thomas Green eashier, and $100,000 paid up capital. A year later the capital was increased to $150,- 000, and in 1890 to $200,000. During the next fourteen years its career was one of unvarying prosperity, but finally, in 1864, it was decided to reorganize under the national banking act as the First National bank of
until his decease in September, 1880, when Mr. F. N. Kneeland succeeded to and has since performed the duties of that position to the satisfaction of all coneern- ed. The capital has been twice increased since reorgan- ization-in 1865 to $400,000, and in 1869 to $500,000, at which figure it still remains. The gentleman who now fills the chair of president, A. L. Williston, was born here, and is an enterprising, public-spirited citizen, con- neeted with numerons industrial and commercial enter- prises, treasurer of the Mount Holyoke seminary and college of South Hadley, treasurer of Williston seminary at Easthampton, and controls the manufacture of Pay- son's indelible ink. Mr. Kneeland is a native and life long resident of Northampton and has been for several years a commissioner of the sinking fund of the city of Northampton.
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