USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Picturesque Hampshire : a supplement to the quarter-centennial-journal > Part 23
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Since 1864-a period of twenty-five years-the First National has paid to stockholders in dividends an ag- gregate of $1,070,000. No more convincing evidence could be desired of the excellent financiering and con- servatism that marks its management. The banking- house at the corner of Main and King streets was erect- ed expressly for this institution at an outlay of $40,000, and is of brick with ornamental front, mansard roof 42x50 feet in dimensions, three stories in height, and provided with fire and burglar proof vaults, secured by chronometer locks and all modern improved safeguards, while safety deposit boxes are furnished to those who desire them and a convenient private room is furnished for the convenience of those desiring to adjust their papers and accounts, or ent coupons. The present offi- cers of the bank are as follows: President, A. L. Wil- liston ; cashier, F. N. Kneeland ; teller, E. C. Miller; book-keeper, C. A. Clark ; clerk, C. H Tneker; directors A. L. Williston, L. J. Warner, J. C. Hammond, B. E. Cook, Jr., of Northampton; Chas. Cook, of Hadley ;
This bank for many years occupied a building nearly op- posite its present quarters, on the other side of the street and it was in that building that the famons bank robbery occurred when the institution lost over a million dollars, most of which, however, was subse- quently recovered. The sound financial condition of the institution is shown by the appended official report, dated Oct. 2, 1890:
107
PICTURESQUE HAMPSHIRE.
ball. This is the second national bank established in Northampton, and was chartered May 21, 1864, with $100,000 capital stock, since increased to a quarter mil- lion dollars. Luther Bodman, ehosen president at the time of organization, continned in that position until 1887. W. C. Robinson was the first cashier, succeeded in 1865 by Lewis Warner, who was in 1887 promoted to the presidency, F. A. Macomber assuming the duties and responsibilities of cashier. The bank building, a handsome three-story brick structure with ornate iron front and mansard roof, was erected in 1874 at a cost of $28,000, and is in all respects an attractive, com- plete and commodious edifice, elegantly appointed, and well suited in every way to the purpose for which it was designed.
The Hampshire County National enjoys, as it deserves, the unbounded confidence of the community and a generous share of public patronage, the result
It may be of interest, historically, to know that the Hampshire county bank was originally started in the second story of Clarke block, over the store now occu- pied by Hadley, Cowing & Drury. The capital was then $100,000. Luther Bodman, Esq., of Conway was the prime mover in the enterprise. In December of its first year the bank was found to have become so popular that it was deemed advisable to double the capital stock and the following year another increase was made, making it $250,000, at which figure it has since remained.
The first board of directors consisted of Luther Bod- man, James C. Arms, Dr. James Dunlap and Dea. Wm. Stoddard of Northampton, Wm. H. Diekinson of Hat- field, Hiram Nash of Williamsburg and Josiah Allis of Whately. On the death of Mr. Allis in 1866, the late Gen. Enke Lyman was chosen his successor, and this was the only change in the board for eleven years. When the present building was opened to the public,
BANKING-ROOM OF THE FIRST, NATIONAL BANK.
of a policy which, while eminently careful and conser- vative, is yet quite liberal toward all enterprises founded upon a sound basis and having for their object the transaction of a legitimate business. The value of such an institution to a progressive business center like Northampton can hardly be over-estimated, more espe- cially when conducted in the interest of the general public and not exclusively for the enrichment of the stockholders. The past career of the Hampshire County National is ample guarantee of continued liberality toward all worthy enterprise of a local character. Operations cover the usual ground of deposits, individ- ual and corporate; loans, discounts, drafts, collections, etc. The flourishing condition of the institution is shown by the subjoined report to the comptroller of the currency, October 2, 1890:
RESOURCES.
Loans and aiscounts .$620,415.14
Overdrafts, secured and unsecured. 2,872.89
U. S. bonds to secure circulation
50,000.00
Stocks, securities, judgments, claims, etc. 20,900.00
Due from approved reserve agents 75.479,81
Due from other national banks .. 6,757.57
Banking house. furnitures and fixtures 35,000,00
Current expenses and taxes paid 6,339.46
Checks and other cash items.
3,329.58
Bills of other banks
7,451.00
Fractional paper currency, nickels and cents.
294.22
Specie.
26, 87.78
Legal tender notes.
23,398.00
Redemption Iund with U. S. treasurer (five per cent. of circulation.
2,250.00
Total
.$880,575 45
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in $250,000.00
Surphis fond.
50,000.00
Undivided profits
19,974.56
National bank notes outstanding. 45,000,00
Individual deposits subject to check ... 479,436.48
Demand certificates of deposit. . 31,389.52 510,826.00
Due to other national banks 4,774.89
Total
.$880,575.45
in 1875 it was conceded by all to be the handsomest bus- iness block front in the city, and after the lapse of fifteen years there yet remains to be built the building which, in the architectural lines of its front eleva- tion, will surpass it in beauty.
The Hampshire savings-bank, advertised elsewhere, is an offshoot of this bank, and was established in 1869.
In common with our other banking institutions, the Hampshire county national bank corporation has greatly improved its always handsome property, and has abou as convenient banking-rooms as any in this vicinty. Lately made improvements, however, were completed too late to admit of an illustration in these pages, and we are forced to be content with an engraving of the exterior of the building occupied by it the last fifteen years (near the post-office on Main street) and a likeness of the genial president, Lewis Warner, who has just com- pleted his first HAMPSHIRE ZY NA quarter century of service with the bank. The direc- tors are Josephus Crafts, Merritt Clark, M. W.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
P. M. Wells, of Whately ; L. D. James, of Williamsburg ; D. W. Wells, of Hatfield ; H. G. Knight, of Easthamp- ton. Letters of credit and foreign drafts are furnished on short notice, and bank cheques for merchants and travelers available in all European cities and other parts of the world, are constantly on hand.
The First National does a strictly legitimate banking business in deposits, loans, discounts, collections, domestic and foreign exchange, etc., and is perfectly sound and responsible, as will be seen by the appended report to the comptroller, dated Oct. 2, 1890:
RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts. .$853,878.96
Overdrafts ..
2,096 04
U. S. bonds to secure circulation.
50.000.00
Stocks, securities, judgments. claims.
112,900.00
Due from approved reserve agents.
39,673.47
Dne from other national banks.
36.00
Die from state banks and bankers
1,343,68
Real estate, furniture and fixtures
30,000.00
Other real estate.
2.715.97
Current expenses and taxes paid.
2,896.45
Checks and other cash items.
2.454.88
Bills of other banks
3,404.00
Fractional currency, nickels and cents.
359.24
Specie
25,532.50
Legal tender notes
1,000.00
Five per cent redemption fund with U. S. treas 2.250.00
Total.
$1,130,541.19
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in $500,000.00
Surplus fund
125,000.00
Undivided profits
22,956.75
National bank notes outstanding .. 45,000.00
Individual denosits subject to check 344,465.31
Demand certificates of deposit. 47,444.59
Due to other national banks 15.674.54
Bills payable.
30,000.00
Total $1.130,541.19
Hampshire County National Bank.
Jackson, Lewis Warner, W. H. Dickinson, J. E. Clark, H. A. Kim-
LEWIS WARNER, ESQ., PRES. OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY BANK
108
PICTURESQUE HAMPSHIRE
Dry Goods Emporium of J. E. Lambie & Co.
The accompanying illustration gives to our readers a view of a portion of the interior of the large dry goods emporium of J. E. Lambie & Co. Seven years ago J. E. Lambie came to this city and embarked in the dry
be pretty apt to visit the new and handsome headquar- and depth of 100 feet. The place contains a large, com- ters occupied by Robert E. Edwards, on Pleasant street. They certainly could not do better, for they will find a genial and experienced dealer ready to please them. Mr. Edwards, who bears the name so honored in this locality, is a native of Chesterfield and has friends all
A SECTION OF INTERIOR OF J E, LAMBIE & CO'S DRY GOODS EMPORIUM.
plete assortment of kitchen, dining-room, parlor, bed- room, hall, library, and office furniture in cheap, medium, and fine goods manufacture, all being arranged in first class order. There is also a desirable assort- ment of upholstering goods, drapery and shades. As a furnishing undertaker Mr. Edwards performs all the responsible duties at- tached to this branch in an entirely sat- isfactory manner. He has a fine hearse and employs about ten hands. Mr. Ed- wards is a native of Massachusetts, his birthplace being Chesterfield. He em- ploys both the cash and installment systems in his business and offers the most reasonable terms.
J. J. Raleigh, Undertaker.
A good undertaker must necessarily be a man of knowledge as to what is fit and just in matters of final obsequies. He should be a man of tenderness of spirit and great sagacity in discerning what is appropriate under varying cir- circumstances. The house of J. J. Raleigh, whose establishment is located at 200 Main street, has for years been widely and pleasantly known through- out Northampton and its suburbs, for the general satisfaction he always gives to those who patronize him. He always carries a supply of all varieties of coffins, caskets, robes and trimmings, belonging to his profession ; also promptly filling orders for special caskets and for pre- serving bodies and as an embalmer he has no superior. He makes entire arrangements for funerals, furnishing coaches, hearse, chairs, etc. The many facilities and accomplishments are duly appreciated, and his services are specially valued by the people. He is just the man needed when the shad- ow of death falls upon our homes. Mr. Raleigh stands high in social and business circles for his strict honor and integrity, and has always identified himself with any movement conducive to the good and welfare of his fellow-citizens,
goods trade in the store formerly occupied by E. G. Southwick & Co., which was at that time one of the largest establishments in the city.
With a determination for success, if honesty and fair dealing would achieve it, the firm rapidly gained friends, popularity and a rapid increase of trade, so that larger quarters were soon needed, and during the year 1886, an addition of 25x28 feet was built on the rear of their store, thus giving them what certainly seemed room enough for a dry goods store in a city of this size. But again increasing trade demanded more room and Messrs. Lambie & Co. decided upon further enlargement and as a result a large brick structure was added to the main store, giving them a room of 50x90 feet, which in connection with the original store gives them 7000 square feet of floor room for their extensive business, and does not inelnde two large basements, used for duplicate stock, making by far the largest store of this kind in western Massachusetts, the entire length of this great establishment being nearly 200 feet.
The interior of the new store is finished in the natural color of light wood, with black walnut trim- mings, which in addition to many large lighted windows give to this store what is so often neglected in many establishments of this kind, and that is good light. The upper floors are supported by handsome gilded iron columns and the entire store is heated by the hot water system.
The south side of the new part is devoted to dress goods, trimmings, silks, cloaks, furs, etc., while on the opposite side is the large and well arranged millinery department, which is one off the leading features of the business. The linen, domestic and underwear depart- ment ocenpy one side of the original store and on the other hosiery, cotton underwear, and the large notion department. During the busy season the firm employ about 25 clerks. It is justly with a feeling of pride that this energetic firm point to their successes as the result of courteous treatment and honest dealing and the pub- lie can rest assured that they will ever receive cordial welcome when they visit Lambie's dry goods house.
Robert E. Edwards-Furniture Dealer and Undertaker.
When the people come to the shire of the county to trade and want anything in the furniture line they will
over Hampshire. The business of this establishment was originally founded in 1880, by J. H. Searle, in the Father Mathew Society building on Center street. The firm next became Searle & Edwards, Mr. Edwards succeeding to the sole proprietorship in 1884. The bus- iness is now located on Pleasant street, occupying a three story brick building, having a frontage of 25 feet
STE
FURNITURE ROOMS
FURNITURE |R.E.EDWARDS. UNDERTAKING.
w.ctu
Commercial Endowment Association.
One of the popular corporations of this city is the Commercial Endowment association, chartered April 26th, 1890, under the laws of this Commonwealth. It pays endowments of #500 at the expiration of four years from the date of certificate of membership, and sickness and accident benefits of $20 per week. This organization seems to have embodied the good features of other associations of the kind, and to have eliminated those which are objectionable; con- seqnently its standing is first-class, and second to none in the field ; its membership showsa strong and healthful growth, and covers a class of men whose reputations are of the best in the communities where they reside. The managers of this corporation are careful, prudent, and experienced business men, and as a result of their labors we expect to see the Com- mercial Endowment association stand at the head of the column in prosperity and without a rival.
PICTURESQUE HAMPSHIRE.
109
RAIL ROAD S' EAM MILLS FLOUR GRAIN JEAL. FEEL,
LIMECENE PLASTER
BRICK YARD AND WORKS OF BROWN & BAILEY.
Brown & Bailey, Brick-Makers and Builders.
Messrs. Brown & Bailey own and operate one of the oldest brick-making properties in the county-the plant formerly occu- pied by Porter Nutting, Esq., on the road to the village of Flor- enee in Northampton. Over two million of brick were turned ont by them the past year and over forty hands are almost con- stantly employed, requiring a pay roll of $3500 a month. New machinery has lately been added and the firm are now ready to make fine pressed brick, while their regular run of brick is the best of its kind in appearance and durability. Mayor Jeremiah Brown is the senior member of the firm and Chief Fire Engineer Bailey is the junior.
M. L. & M. W. Graves' Elevator and Grist-Mill.
Lack of space prevents our speaking of the enterprising Graves Bros.' plant as we should like to. The engraving speaks for itself, and shows the structure originally erected by Thayer &
Springfield
Pending & Binding
46/
Company:
The Springfield Printing and Binding Co.
In closing a work of this kind it is a matter of fairness simply to give credit to all parties for their share in it and we believe all have been mentioned but the Springfield printing and binding company, who do the press work on "Picturesque Hampshire." They deserve mention for this and it is herewith accorded. All the type was set and engravings arranged in The Journal office, but that rare faculty of handling paper and ink to secure the finish observable in such a work as this is the gift of the com- pany named. The building occupied by them on Harrison avenue, Springfield, shows in the above engraving.
Sergeant in 1865. Messrs. Graves pur- chased the property in 1875 and under their management great improvements have been made They make special- ties of flour, meal, corn, oats, mill feed and masons' supplies.
HENRY A. KIMBALL.
ELEVATOR AND GRIST. MILL OF M. L. & M. W. GRAVES.
Kimball & Cary, Coal Dealers.
Henry A. Kimball, the founder of the business under the above firm name, came to this town and started here in business in 1879. The first two years he was ostensibly in company with Mr. French of New Haven, but Mr. Kimball did all the business here. In 1881 Frank W. Cary was taken as a partner and he attended to the retail business, while Mr. Kimball began to cultivate the wholesale field, which he has brought to cover a large area of territory, as he controls the trade in certain kinds of eoal from Spring- field to St. Johnsbury, Vt. The business of the firm now amounts to half a million dollars a year and is constantly increasing. The firm occupy the River road building near the railroad tracks, which appears in the engraving on this page, and as the senior member of the firm has been a man of considerable local prominence as a representative of the people in the Legislature we give herewith his portrait. Mr. Kimball, before coming to Northampton, was a resi- dent in the state of Connecticut, being born at Windham, in 1842. In 1869 he served a term as representative to the Legislature of that state and afterwards was in the service of the N. Y., N. H. &. H. R. R. as clerk, conductor, general freight agent and superintendent. In 1878 he resigned to come to Northampton, where his popularity has been such that he has been elected as aforesaid, besides holding various positions of trust, such as director in the electric light company and the Hampshire county bank and trustee in the Hampshire savings-bank. Mr. Kimball's popularity was further shown this month by his election as State Senator in the Berkshire-Hampshire district, on the Democratic ticket, he running 400 votes ahead of his ticket in Northampton.
WOOD & COAL.
AUN DRY!
BUILDING OCCUPIED BY KIMBALL & CARY,
110
PICTURESQUE HAMPSHIRE.
Machinery for Modern House Construction.
Like everything else, the machinery used for the rapid construction of modern honses has been greatly simplified within a few years. Outside of the masonry and plaster-work, the building of an ordinary frame tenement-house has been reduced from the work of months to a matter of a few days, and this largely by the aid of new and perfected machinery in the produc- tion of the monldings, mortises, tennants, and all the detail, which is generally a matter of more or less delay or slow work.
To obtain a correct and comprehensive idea of the perfection of the machinery brought to the aid of the
Next we noticed a movable saw for dado heads and grooving, as well as sawing at angles. A 24-ineh planer and edger saws, gang-saws, and swing-saws were in- spected next. Then there was a peculiar saw for saw- ing blind slats, which makes a second's work of sawing both ends and leaving the necessary projection in the center for the mortise. The self-feeding rip-saw seemed to have quite an appetite and took in all that was given it and the machine for sawing shingles seem- ed to be making itself useful. A small and very simple little machine, hardly larger than an ordinary seal stamp, was that which drove the staples into blind-slats and strung them together in readiness for hanging; another machine was for tennanting blind-slats, another
LUMBER, SASH, DOOR AND BLIND FACTORY OF JOSEPH HEBERT, NORTHAMPTON,
modern carpenter and house-joiner, one should visit the extensive lumber works formerly used by the Riverside lumber company, but which are now owned by Joseph Hebert and to which he has added thousands of dollars' worth of intricate machinery, so that now it is the most complete establishment of the kind outside of the great lumber or wood-working centers of trade.
A visit to the place recently, was one of great inter- est to a Journal reporter, and gave new ideas as to the facilities now at hand for the development of the build- ers' art in Hampshire connty. Mr. Hebert has thirteen acres of ground at his disposal, and we expect to see every square foot of it in use within a few years. The buildings comprise the mill proper, the large lumber sheds, a paint shop, barn, forge-house, office and a neat little tenement.
A spur track from the Consolidated road leaves material at the sheds, and a large part of the grounds are covered with huge logs from different sources of local supply. The "raw material" goes into the prim- itive saw-mill, which every one is familiar with-the big circular saw made familiar by the story of the bear, who, sitting on the movable trucks which slowly approached it, obligingly put himself out of the way of means of danger to the scared backwoods mill-owner, by vigorously hugging the whirling disk of steel, as he approached and touched it.
Mr. Hebert's saw-mill is much like any other saw-mill, but down stairs, on the first floor, are the beauties of mechanism which hew from the slabs of rough log those myriad forms of carpenters' and joiners' art which make the modern house. Here we found a four and ten- inch square moulding machine which makes any pattern of that size. It has top and bottom and right and left attach- ments, thus moulding on all sides of the timber, if necessary, in one operation.
A large, heavy machine, near by, is a surfacer, weighing about 8000 pounds and it planes four sides at once.
Almost every one has seen the common band-saw and more than one man has been made unpleasantly acquainted with the buzz-saw. This article and the varie- ty moulding machines are no "respectors of persons" and had "just as lieve take a fellow's finger off as not."
Here is a machine for putting in window-pulleys and tennanting. It will do all this work for the windows of an ordinary tenement house in one hour, where it formerly took days.
tennanting doors. A door relisher seemed true to its name, for it made an oblong mortise and ate up the wood necessary thereto "in a jiffy." Other ma- chines were a sash dovetailer, sash and door moulder, with "shimer head,"one for rabbeting blinds and beading joints, which also JOSEPH HEBERT. grooves sash, being a combination machine. To one who has never seen the machine which bores a square hole, its operation is interesting. Seemingly the bit is square, but the round hole is bored first, while almost identieally the sharp edge of the square piece enters the hole and chips out the corners. This, however, is only about a three- quarter inch hole. Larger machines on the same prin-
ciple, we understood, were not made. A large dry kiln is a feature of the establishment, and therein we saw quartered oak and other valuable woods. An 80 horse power engine furnishes power and heat.
From the enumeration of machines it may readily be seen what it would seem hardly necessary to announce in so many words-that this establishment is ready to turn out every artiele of wood and joiner work required in house building, including superior doors, sash, Venetian and panel blinds, general inside finish for buildings, and dressed lumber of every description, both soft and hard, filling bills for local delivery or shipment to all points at short notice, in the best style, and at reasonable figures. It is a most important item to the material interests of Northampton, be- cause it saves freight on a great quantity of work which has heretofore been done out of the city and cheapens considerably the cost of building. Mr. Hebert deserves liberal support and substantial encouragement for his enterprise.
Besides his factory near South street, Mr. Hebert has other buildings on Hawley street, near the depots. where will be found complete lines of choice Canadian and Michigan pine, spruce, and hardwood lumber in all desirable dimensions, together with sash, doors, blinds, lath and shingles in great variety and of the best quality. Mr. Hebert's premises on Hawley street are quite commodious, and his storage capacity ample, his sheds being three stories in height, adjoining which is a large three-story brick structure lighted by gas, heated by steam, and occupied as a carpenter shop and office.
The necessity as well as convenience of having at hand ample supplies of rongh and dressed lumber and other materials is recognized by all interested in building operations, and the dealer who carries the largest and best stocks is sure of a liberal patronage. Therefore Mr. Hebert, with his present complete outfit, is in position to make the most favorable terms to intending builders. He does an extensive business as eontractor and builder, employing over ninety hands, and is prepared to make prompt and reasonable estimates on carpenter work of every description. He is of Canadian birth.
Among the important works of Mr. Hebert may be mentioned the building of the town hall at Enfield, the Lilly library, Congregational chapel, the barn for the late Mr.'Kyle, at Florence ; the Burnham-Capen school gym- nasium, the Wallace and Clark houses on Smith college grounds, Dickinson Hospital, new Northampton national bank and sehoolhouses on King, William street and at Leeds. At Holyoke Mr. Hebert is now building a new Catholic church. In building manufactories Mr. Hebert had a considerable share, having built Lamb's wire mill, the grist mill adjoining, Leonard & Co's new silk mill, Foote & Warner's button shop, Crystal emery wheel works, brush works for the Florence Mfg. Co., building for the Florence Machine Co., and an office building for the Belding Bros.
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