USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Taunton > Tercentenary of Taunton, Massachusetts, 1639 [to] 1939, June 4-10 > Part 4
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A few of the so-called "Betty" lamps had voyaged with the Pilgrims in the Mayflower. These were crude affairs with floating wicks which were later copied in tin and pewter. The burning- oil was furnished by the schools of small fish off-shore before whal- ing proved a major industry. Then Sperm-oil came into use, though the light it produced was feeble and "of an evil smell."
The open-wick lamps soon became absurdly inadequate for the growing community needs, but it was not until 1783 that a distinct advance was made in lamp mechanism, when the Argand burner was invented.
Various burning fluids, too, came and went before the advent of kerosene which was thought to be ideal. "Astral" lamps for the burning of whale oil, with their gorgeous prisms and decorative sconces were followed by an infinite variety of models for the use of kerosene.
While changes were taking place in interior lighting, innovations had long been apparent along the highways. It is difficult for us to believe in these days of "The Great White Ways" that two hundred years ago the setting sun left most of the New England towns in utter darkness. Now and then, some public spirited citizen made a pool of light at his gate by placing a torch or "lan- thorn" nearby. Larger communities like Boston had placed "fire- baskets" at street corners as early as 1690. About ten years later, almost every town had its night watchmen who made hourly rounds with their lanterns.
Little is known of Taunton's early ventures in street lighting, as many early records were destroyed by fire. We are sure, how- ever, that in the Civil War times, and earlier, the figure of the lamp-lighter came with the twilight, carrying his short ladder from post to post and kindling the feeble flames along his way. Later, concessions were granted to private individuals who lighted a limited number of streets with kerosene or naptha burners. Emery Fiel and John J. Nichols were among those engaged in such projects.
With the founding of the Taunton Gas Light Co. in 1853, gas was used immediately for lighting both the streets and homes.
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In fact, lighting the streets was an important part of this com- pany's business for more than fifty years.
In 1882, a group of business men formed the Taunton Electric Lighting Co. and in 1885, Taunton became civic-minded and seven arc-lights appeared at important corners. In 1897, the city of Taunton bought this generating plant and changed the name to the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant.
In retrospect, Taunton citizens have reason to be proud of the early development of its lighting system, and of the vision of the men who made it possible. Let us not forget, however, those simple folk of an earlier period, who by the gleam of their rush lights laid the foundations of our community on a basis of integrity and high ideals. May we, in the glare of a highly mechanized era, be worthy of our noble heritage. Alice Sproat Emery
Electric Lighting in Taunton
The City of Taunton first had electricity in September, 1882 when a group of local business men formed a corporation with a capital of $15,000., bought a wooden building on Mechanics Lane and installed generating equipment for the production of electricity for the operation of arc lights in stores. The directors of the first Taunton Electric Lighting Company were Mr. Daniel L. Mitchell, Marcus Dary, N. H. Skinner, A. Gilbert Williams, George Colby, Charles Rhodes, Dr. Nomus Paige, Marcus Rhodes and Col. Peter H. Corr. Mr. John E. Chace and Mr. Richard Furze were asso- ciated with the above men in the operation of the plant.
The first street lights were installed for the City in 1885, at which time seven lights were installed in important locations. Fire and flood were experienced in the late 1880's, but these did not deter the pioneers in the infant electric business.
In June 1897 the City of Taunton purchased the Taunton Electric Lighting Company for the sum of $125,000 and the name was changed to Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant. In 1902 a new generating station was erected on West Water Street at its present location. The men who served as managers on a term basis from 1897 to 1919 were :- Dr. Nomus Paige, Abner Coleman, Dr. Michael C. Golden, Leland D. Wood, Burton T. Mowry, David Berthiaume and Warren Lewis.
In 1919 the Plant was placed under the management of a Com- mission. Mr. George F. Seibel was appointed manager of the Plant. Since 1920 the financial and physical condition of the Plant has improved in a very material way. These improvements
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have reflected in more efficient facilities for generation, trans- mission and distribution, which extended the service to all of Taunton and also Raynham and Berkley. Rate reductions have made the service, which was a luxury to be enjoyed by a few in its beginning, an every day necessity on the part of every householder, commercial establishment and industrial enterprise. Mr. Seibel passed away in 1932. Chester F. Buckley, Assistant Manager, was promoted to fill the vacancy as manager. The facilities of the Plant have been further improved by the installation of high pressure generating equipment, the construction of an underground district steam system and the erection of a fine commercial build- ing on Weir Street. The building, which previously housed the first generating station in Taunton, now serves as the headquarters of the service department.
From its small beginning in 1882, when twenty-two customers were served with one, two or three arc lights, electric service in Taunton has grown to the point where 11,540 customers in Taun- ton, Raynham and Berkley were being served at the beginning of the Tercentenary Year. The annual volume of business in 1938 approximated $700,000.
The following public spirited men have served as members of the Electric Light Commission :- Mr. Joseph L. Anthony, John E. Welch, Albert R. White, Francis P. Callahan, James P. Whitters, Charles Cain, Jr., Richard Wastcoat, Edward M. S. Chandller, Willard A. Ormsbee, John F. Mulhern, Stephen F. Collins, Howard M. Poole and Walter H. Barker.
Bostock-Inman Electric Co. started in business October 15, 1917, specializing in house and factory wiring. All types of wiring installations as well as service and maintenance are capably handled by experienced workmen. Also, a full line of major ap- pliances are merchandised at their showroom at 72 Main Street.
TRANSPORTATION
The year following the arrival of the "Mayflower" Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins, the first white men to visit the land of Cohannet, now Taunton, came afoot. With the growth of the settlement from 1637 the patient ox waxed strong, for the town, then free from feverish rush, had use for the strength of the slow, prodding ox as well as the speed of the faithful horse. But the horse also increased in numbers and so it came to pass that at
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intervals along the main street, horse blocks with steps were in- stalled.
Transportation of the heavier products of factory, farm, and forest was by ox cart, this mode prevailing to a considerable extent up to and even after the time of the Civil War. The Bassetts and Lincolns of North Taunton, as well as other farmers living along the old road from Taunton to Boston, then known as the "King's Highway", trucked goods to and from both places. The carts drawn by four or more oxen could make the round trip in three or more days. Freight rates varied from four to five dollars a ton.
On many a morn before the Revolution, a yellow coach rumbled over the old Bay Road, conveying its owner, the opulent Loyalist Daniel Leonard, and Paine the patriot, to the sessions of the General Court. Over a century ago Taunton became the center for lines of stage coaches operated to all points of the compass by Jesse Smith. "Uncle" Jesse was the stage coach king of the Old Colony, if not of the entire territory south of Boston. What picture of an ancient village street would be complete without a chaise before the store or cottage door? The chaise has gone, yet man is still a slave to a conveyor which has undergone but slight change- the wheelbarrow.
By 1820, twelve vessels, all sloops save one, and none as large as fifty tons, were owned at the Weir. As many more were fre- quent visitors. It may be of interest to note statistics of the commerce of Taunton in 1834. At that time the annual im- portations were 5,830 tons of hard coal; 2,650 chaldrons of Virginia and other soft coal; 7,500 tons of bar, pig, and old iron; 690 tons of ore; 3,400 bars of copper; 300 tons of lead; 200 tons of zinc; 200 tons of drugs and dyestuffs; 12,000 bushels of salt; 122,000 bushels of grain; 13,550 barrels of flour; 1,000 hogsheads of mol- asses; 2,700,000 feet of lumber; besides two or three hundred thousand dollars worth of groceries. The annual exports were 9,000,000 bricks; 200,000 bales of goods; 450 tons of copper; 280 tons of lead; 200 tons of zinc; 17,500 dozens of shovels, 3,600 tons of nails; 300 tons of anchors and castings; 500 tons of iron hoops; and 750 tons of iron wire. About twenty schooners and sloops were engaged in the coasting business from Taunton to the prin- cipal towns in Rhode Island, and to New Bedford, Nantucket, New York, Albany, Philadelphia, and Richmond Va. During all these years Taunton not only employed but also built stage coaches, chaises, and carriages of all descriptions, as well as boats to sail the sea. In July 1836, "A new and beautiful schooner of 140 tons
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'burthen' named the General Cobb was launched from the yard of Mr. French at the 'Ware' village."
Then came the iron horse. Heralded as the harbinger of a new era, it so proved to be. On the Wednesday preceding the twentieth of July, 1836, a locomotive drawing two cars bearing a distinguished company arrived at the new local depot. The train which had left Boston about nine in the morning was met just before eleven by many leading citizens. On the return trip the eleven miles to the junction with the Boston and Providence Rail- road at Mansfield was covered in less than half an hour, over what was described as one of the best constructed roads in the country. The event was further commemorated by an exhibition of fire works in the evening. The novelty of a ride on the new railroad was so appealing that on three days a week for many weeks, ex- cursions to Mansfield and return immediately, were run at fifty cents per ticket. In 1840 the Taunton-New Bedford Railroad, built at a cost of $400,000, began to operate. Other lines to Fall River and Boston by way of Easton followed.
Transportation was now in evolution. Shipbuilding did not cease. The name of Taunton on the shelving stern of ships was familiar in all Atlantic ports. The zenith was reached in 1889. That year, while we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the found- ing of our town, the city of Bath was building for us four great vessels; the Tecumseh, John Paull, Marguerite, and Massasoit, all of which exceeded a displacement of 1,500 gross tons, each.
Levi Adshead operated a line of busses from Whittenton to the Weir from 1865 to 1871. On September 18, of the latter year the first horse car was run. Again in September 1893, the first electric car appeared and the last one was run to Whittenton by Mr. James H. Murphy in 1934. Mr. Murphy, who started driving horse cars in 1886, recalls the time when seventy-two horses were required to operate the local cars. The electric cars soon tapped every town on our borders except Berkley.
At present more than twenty-five large busses, numerous taxi- cabs, and over two hundred trucks of transportation companies serve the public requirements.
George A. Bosworth
The McCarthy Freight System was founded in 1876 by the late John J. McCarthy as a stage coach line, operating between North Easton and Brockton. It was a forerunner of the modern bus systems.
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Before the advent of the motor truck, Mr. McCarthy had stables in Brockton and North Easton where he maintained a livery and drayage business. At the time of the purchase of this companies first truck in 1915, the prominence of the horse in trans- portation had already commenced to decline. More trucks were subsequently added, and the radius in which the McCarthy Com- pany transported merchandise was extended to include Boston, Taunton, Providence, Fall River and New Bedford.
The year 1924 brought the purchase of the Clemens Teaming Company of Taunton and the removal of the company offices to Taunton, where it is at present conducting its business along with the general maintenance shops of the System. Ever increasing demand for truck transportation caused the extension of the company into Connecticut and New York where terminals are operated in all principal cities. The Byrolly Transportation Company of Waterbury, Connecticut, whose lines paralleled McCarthy's, was acquired in 1938, and the combined company is now one of the largest carriers in the North East, operating a fleet of over 300 truck and trailer units and maintaining 15 modern terminals.
Mr. George E. Bertucio is President, Charles F. McCarthy is Treasurer, and John J. McCarthy is General Manager and Chair- man of the Board.
City Cab Co.
14 Taunton Green
Robertson Motor Car Co. In 1880, JOHN W. ROBERTSON came to Taunton and immediately started work with Barnaby & Witherell, Contractors and Builders, serving apprenticeship and later becoming construction foreman. In 1892 he started into the bicycle business on Washington Bridge, later moving to larger quarters on Cohannet Street and again to the Crocker Building.
On December 15, 1902, while attending the Bicycle Show at Madison Square Garden, New York, he purchased two Cadillac Cars, his initial step into the Automobile Business. He then moved into the building just off Broadway through the Arch which has just been razed. On March 7, 1907, The Robertson Motor Car Co. was incorporated with Mr. Robertson as President and General Manager. In 1908, the Company moved again to what was at that time Davis Stable, School Street. In 1920 the old stable was razed and a new modern three story cement structure was erected extending from School Street to Trescott St. the present site of this Company.
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Albert E. Smith, 60 Fremont St. One of Taunton's citizens who has taken active part in the business growth and industrial expansion of Taunton is Albert E. Smith, distributor of Hudson Motor Cars for this city and surrounding towns.
"Al" Smith, as he is better known to all Taunton, has been building good will for himself and his organization in Taunton for the last twenty years. During those years, "Al" has been asso- ciated in the selling and servicing of Hudson cars.
While this year marks the 300th Anniversary of the City, it is also a glorious milestone in the history of the Hudson Motor Car Company,- this being Hudson's Thirtieth Anniversary year.
Hudson has been making fine cars for 30 years, and "Al" Smith has been talking and selling Hudson for almost a quarter of a century.
McKenney's Garage
2 Jefferson Ave.
Howard L. White Co. Automobiles &
Trucks "Packard-Oldsmobile" 15 Weir Street
E. R. Jones. "Chrysler-Plymouth." 6 Pleasant Street In business for ten years, and completely equipped for Service.
FUELS-COAL, GAS, OIL.
The Staples Coal Company. The firm of Staples & Phillips, predecessors to the Staples Coal Company which conducts this city's oldest fuel business, was founded in 1851. Starting in a small way, with a small fleet of sailing vessels for the transportation of coal from loading piers in New York to Somerset and Weir Village, the business gradually developed until it became necessary to purchase additional schooners and barges to meet the demand for coal throughout New England. The business was successful from the start; and one of the company's first ventures was the building of a vessel called the "William Mason", named after one of Taunton's most enterprising and wealthy citizens.
Sylvanus N. Staples, the founder of the business, took into partnership with him, William H. Phillips, doing business under the firm style of Staples & Phillips for a period of years, after which the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Staples continued, later forming the Staples Coal Company in 1888. He became the first president of this company; and, under his wise and liberal policies, the business continued to grow and prosper. At the time of Mr.
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Staple's death in 1893, the company owned and operated 10 tugs, 32 barges and 13 lighters and scows. During that year this fleet transported 150,000 tons of coal. Later, the transportation de- partment was materially changed. Many of the older ships had been sold or lost at sea, and many new barges were built. Kelly, Spear & Company of Bath, Maine, were the builders of 51 sea- going barges for the Staples Coal Company. With this increase of tonnage, the company was able to handle a steadily increasing demand for both Anthracite and Bituminous coals within the territory· which it served; and, for the calendar year of 1929, it transported in its vessels a total of 1,085,000 tons.
Following this period in the company's history, all schooners and barges were replaced with three new steamers of 7000 ton capacity each. These steamers are equipped to burn pulverized coal, and are able to make the trip from Hampton Roads to Fall River in fifty hours. Arriving at these terminals, the vessels are quickly discharged with the most modern machinery and are soon on their way for another loading.
Prior to introducing motor trucks, Staples Coal Company owned 400 horses, shipments came from Western States each year, of one carload or approximately 28 horses. Today the company owns no horses, but operates 125 motor trucks.
Though now in its 88th year, the Staples Coal Company is a modern fuel company in every respect. As in the days when the company changed from sail to steam, and again, from horse-drawn carts to motor vehicles, so in more recent times the firm has adapted its merchandising policy to modern conditions, and now offers its customers a great variety of solid fuels and fuel oils and a selec- tion of equipment for enjoying the convenience of fully automatic heat with either coal or oil.
Church Coal Company, 1864-1939. When two young lads of sixteen years Began to peddle coal In just a cart and wheelbarrow They had in mind a goal. So Thomas LeBaron and Joseph Hawes In eighteen sixty-four Commenced a hard, successful fight With "CHURCH COAL" on the door.
Thus it was that, seventy-five years ago, these two boys, Joseph Hawes Church and Thomas LeBaron Church by buying small
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quantities of coal and delivering it in a wheelbarrow established the present Church Coal Company on the original site at 494 Weir Street.
Through conscientious endeavor, they were able to purchase a wagon as the first sign of a coming prosperity. From the wagon to the tip-cart, they extended their territory until finally they were the proud possessors of three vessels,-the "Glenwood", "Josy R. Burt", and "Charles W. Church" with interests in several smaller vessels which loaded and transported their coal direct from the mines.
In 1911, Joseph Hawes Church died, and his share fell to his son, Charles W. Church, who in 1918 purchased the remaining share and became the sole proprietor. Following the progressive example of his elders, he established the Church Coal Company of Middleboro, in 1920, which has since developed into a successful and growing branch. At his death in 1929, the reins of manage- ment were capably taken over by his widow, Mrs. Mary E. Church, who, in order to serve her patrons in a speedy and satisfying manner disposed of the horse-drawn vehicles. Through the past ten years she has maintained the progressive reputation of the Church Coal Company by insisting on prompt and courteous service and has modernized the business by putting in oil which today has a storing capacity of 50,000 gallons. The oil business has branched out to such an extent that the company now sells various makes of oil burners, both gun-type and rotary, and install and service heaters of all kinds.
During the past year, Mrs. Church has welcomed into the business another Joseph Hawes Church, her only son, who will follow in his grand-father's footsteps and place his time and atten- tion at the disposal of the public.
So now in nineteen thirty-nine
With Taunton celebrating,
Church Coal enjoys its own birthday
With plans to keep its rating.
Royal Coal Company, Established in 1918 by Peter and Steve Royal.
Pratt Coal Company, (1923), is one of Taunton's younger fuel distributors. Absolute control of its coal from mine to consumer is accomplished through its parent company, The Pittston Com- pany (mining) ; Erie, C & O, M. O. P., Nickel Plate, etc., (rail- roads); U. S. Distributing Corp., (trucking) and Metropolitan
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Coal Company of Boston (retail fuel.) Shipments of anthracite (originating in Pittston, Pennsylvania), reach the Taunton terminus of an all-rail yard on Railroad Avenue, off Dean Street.
At the Copeland Hardware Company (15 Broadway), the former location of Taunton's well known merchant and bene- factor, the late Franklin D. Williams, an uptown office is main- tained by the Pratt Coal Company.
Edward Francis Jones-After years of extensive preparation and experience, Edward Francis Jones founded the firm of Edward F. Jones, Incorporated, one of the largest and most widely-known contracting, fuel, and trucking agencies in Bristol County. Since its organization he has headed this concern as president and treas- urer; and the success it enjoys can be attributed to his careful management and direction.
This concern, which markets coal, does heavy trucking, road building and construction work, owns a fleet of fifteen heavy ser- vice trucks and much modern road building machinery. It is a large employer of labor; and, throughout the depression period, it maintained a staff of twenty-five men. Mr. Jones has built a large brick garage on County Street, where he houses his machin- ery and trucks and maintains a finely appointed office.
W. H. Riley & Son, incorporated, of North Attleboro and Attleboro, dealers in fuel oil, wood, coal and coke, on March 26, 1937, announced their appointment as distributors for the Cities Service Oil Company, covering the territory from the Rhode Island line to Franklin, North Easton, Bridgewater, Middleboro, Taunton and surrounding towns. This concern, of which G. Sheldon Williams of Taunton is manager, was started seventy-five years ago by W. H. Riley of North Attleboro, who later took his son, Elmer L. Riley, into the business, naming it W. H. Riley & Son. At the present time Elmer G. and Marcus C. Ralston of North Attleboro, great grandsons of the founder, are the owners.
Included in the franchise for the distribution of Cities Service products in Taunton are the office, bulk station, four modern service stations, and equipment. With the purchase of additional trucks and other modern equipment, fuel oil and gasolene cus- tomers of this concern are assured of prompt, courteous, and efficient service, which has always been, and still is, a byword of W. H. Riley & Son during its many years of successful existence.
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The Taunton Gas Light Company. Incorporated in 1853 by seventy-five Taunton men, this company has remained a locally owned and managed corporation over years when everything else connected with its business has changed. Principally interested in the formation of the company were,-W. W. Fairbanks (its first president), Samuel L. Crocker, Phillip E. Hill, William Mason, Lovett Morse, Harrison Tweed, George B. Warren and Hiram B. Witherell.
The original service of house lighting and street lighting has gradually given way to other more important services in the field of cooking and heating.
The district supplied originally was only a rather small section of Taunton itself. Today, the Company furnishes gas through its own mains and mains of three other companies to nearly 100,000 people in Taunton and in Berkley, Foxboro, Franklin, Lakeville, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, North Dighton, Norton, Raynham, South Dighton, Walpole and Wrentham. The three other com- panies that are supplied from Taunton are the Attleboro Gas Light Company, the North Attleboro Gas Company and the Middle- boro Gas and Electric Department (municipally owned in Middle- boro).
Our history is not only of change, but of a steady growth in which stockholders, employees and the people of Taunton may take justifiable pride. At the end of eighty-five years of uninterrupted service, gas has become pre-eminent in supplying automatic and accurately controlled heat for many industrial uses, for hotels and restaurants and in particular for the four important household services,-cooking and refrigeration, water heating and house heating.
Taunton people, with their guests, and all former Taunton residents, are cordially invited to see the most modern gas fired appliances in a most modern setting,-the Taunton Gas Light Company's office building on Taunton Green.
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