USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Taunton > Tercentenary of Taunton, Massachusetts, 1639 [to] 1939, June 4-10 > Part 6
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are operating, Taunton is headquarters for one of the largest cur- tain makers in the country.
Robertson Factories, Inc., was organized to open a chain of factories for giving better service to the various sections of the country. In 1925 the first mid-west curtain factory was opened in Detroit. Ten months later, a second one was in operation in St. Paul. Now, nine factories from Coast to Coast, with a capacity of 25,000 pairs a day, are making Vogue Curtains in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Pittsburgh, Pa .; Los Angeles and San Francisco, California; St. Paul, Minnesota; Portland, Oregon; and Taunton, Mass.
Styles vary in the different sections. The Los Angeles factory made extra wide Priscilla curtains with extremely deep, full ruffles for a moving picture studio, a style that became popular throughout the country. San Francisco made many of the styles decorating the model homes in the San Francisco World's Fair. Houses in Henry Ford's New England Village in Dearborn, are decorated with curtains from the Detroit factory.
Did you happen to see the display of Taunton-made Vogue curtains on the Boardwalk at Atlantic City this Spring? This display featured the newest improvements, including Dightonized Dots that retain their fluffiness and are pre-shrunk; Rayon Case- ments, vat dyed in fast colors; Organdies, permanent finished in fast colors; Impregnole, the water and stain repellent finish. You'll see Taunton-made curtains in the Model homes in the New York World's Fair.
So Taunton's leadership in curtain making continues. Every week, nearly half a million yards of Eastern woven fabrics are styled and sewn into the popular Vogue Curtains.
Manufacturing and Special Businesses
The Paragon Gear Works was started in 1883, and was known as the Evans Stamping & Plating Company. The principal business was confined to the nickel plating of stove trimmings for the num- erous stove foundries in business at that time. Later this concern manufactured steel stove trimmings which it furnished to these same foundries. Various other sundry lines were added from time to time.
In 1907 a marine reverse gear was designed, tested, and put into production. This unit is for use with marine motors in boats, and is exactly the same as an automobile transmission, consisting
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of clutch for the forward drive, a neutral position, and a high speed reverse drive. These units were sold to the various marine engine manufacturers throughout the United States.
In 1913 the various other departments of this concern were disposed of, and its efforts were confined entirely to the develop- ment of this marine transmission. At this time the name was changed to Paragon Gear Works. The business grew, and from 1913 to 1920, this concern supplied the United States Navy De- partment its entire demand for reverse gears for the motors that were built at its Norfolk yard. Also, practically all of the marine motor manufacturers have obtained all or partial amounts of their requirements from this concern.
The development of the high speed marine engine of today has naturally required development on the part of the manufacturers of reverse gears; and this concern has kept pace with that progress. Today, it is furnishing the entire transmission equipment for many of the largest marine engine manufacturers in the United States as well as the requirements of many foreign engine manufacturers. Its product today will be found on marine motors in all parts of the world.
A recent notable development has been the manufacture of what is known in the trade as reduction gears, which allow the motor to run at its economical speed while the propeller is driven at a lower number of revolutions per minute than the motor. In this development, this concern leads the field for reduction gears for use with small gasoline marine motors.
Etna Company. This Company was started in 1896 by the late Alfred L. Lincoln and Herbert C. Wood of this City, and began the manufacture of twist drills and small tools, on Purchase Street. The firm was incorporated in 1899 under the name of Lincoln & Wood Company and commenced business in a building at the rear of High Street. In 1903, the Company was sold to New York interests, and the name of the Company changed to the Etna Company. The business was later acquired by New Bedford interests and was run by them as the Etna Company until 1924. It was then purchased by Chester H. Godfrey and the late William F. Congdon. In December of 1929, the business was again sold to the present owners, and the factory moved to 175 Broadway.
This Company manufactures a complete line of high speed and carbon drills varying in size from those smaller than a fine needle to the larger size ranging from two to four inches in diameter and weighing from seven to forty pounds each. These drills are used
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in watch and jewelry works, in machine shops and in the con- struction of buildings, bridges, railways and the vessels of the United States Navy. Owing to the high grade of this product, the drills are in demand throughout the entire United States and in many foreign countries.
Of the many iron and steel manufacturing concerns located in Taunton, the Etna Company is one of the remaining representa- tives of this primary industry of Taunton. The present officers are Albert F. Woodward, President; William J. Davison, Treasurer; and William L. Winch, Secretary.
Hodgman Mfg. Co. makers of automatic sprinkler devices for fire protection, was started by the late Hon. Willis K. Hodgman, formerly agent and treasurer of the Huber-Hodgman Printing Press Co., which flourished from 1881 to 1913.
Mr. Hodgman began experimenting with an automatic sprinkler of his invention in 1916. During the period of the World War (1917-1918) he did not work very actively on this, but neverthe- less, made progress. In 1919 he was joined by his son, Willis K. Hodgman Jr., who, had been in the army, part of the present shop was built, development work completed and production started in 1920.
Other sprinkler specialties have been developed and added to the original item; and the business, while a small one, is sound, and its products are in use throughout the United States and in other countries.
The New England Brass Company was incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts in 1916, for the manufacture of Brass, Bronze and Nickel Silvers in sheets and rolls. During 1917 and until the armistice was signed in 1918, the entire product was cupro nickel and cartridge brass for the use of the Allies. Since 1918 the product has been sold throughout New England's manufac- turing plants to be used for jewelry, hardware, radio work, electrical work and various metal stamping purposes.
The first officers of the Company were William M. Lovering, President; Frederick H. Gooch, Treasurer, and Henry F. Nicker- son, Secretary. The present officers of the company are William A. Rayment, President, and Albert R. Taylor, Secretary and Treasurer.
Morton Laundry Company. The Morton Laundry, es- tablished in 1882, was originally located in an old wooden building on Summer Street near the railroad bridge. It was started by two
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brothers, the late Thomas J. and Herbert A. Morton; and, for some time thereafter, continued in operation at the above location under the management of these two young men, then in their twenties.
This small and very crude laundry, operated with hand wash tubs, gradually developed a business sufficient to require a larger building; and the Morton Brothers decided to move their equip- ment to a building in the central part of the city, now Post Office Square. For many years the business continued as the only laun- dry in Southeastern Massachusetts; and, although too young an industry to attract the confidence of the housewife, the business continued to prosper by doing laundry work for hotels for many miles around. However, the Morton Brothers soon realized that new laundries would become established to threaten their business, and they decided on a policy of cultivating a home trade.
During the early part of the century, the entire laundry was destroyed by fire; but, with characteristic determination and industry, the brothers immediately engaged a local contractor to erect the present three story building on Post Office Square. This laundry plant was equipped with modern laundry machinery, and early became one of the show places in this vicinity. New methods and economies of production made it possible to offer the housewife laundry service at a charge which she could afford to pay; and this fact, together with the laundry's ability to do a better job, had much to do with the rapid advance in family laundry service not only in this laundry but in others.
In July 1918, after 36 years of service to the public, the Morton Brothers sold out their interests and retired from business. At the time, the company was incorporated and continued as a Taunton institution owned and controlled by Taunton Citizens. Its splen- did reputation for quality and service is still maintained by the present officers of the company, Herbert F. Bliss, President, William J. Davison, Treasurer, and Oscar R. Blackwell, Secretary.
David B. Dean & Co.
85 Cohannet Street
Radio Parts and Sound Equipment.
Forrest C. Walker. Radio Service. 5 Adams Street
In business since 1924.
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MAIN STREET AND CITY SQUARE
In the old days, at the eastern end of Main St., the Liberty Pole stood (where the Robert Treat Paine monument now stands). The ancient watering trough and the public scales were situated there also. The Liberty Pole was larger than the present flag pole on Taunton Green. Around the Liberty Pole was a band stand, painted red, white and blue. The National Band used this band stand, while their rival, the Lyceum Band, had their band stand in the centre of Taunton Green. In the old days they gave concerts once or twice a week.
Main Street used to be lined with a number of large, beautiful elm trees; there was a row of them lining the walk up to the portals of City Hall, before the present front was added to the building ; a very large elm stood in front of the N. H. Skinner building, another in front of the present Wilbur building, and the street had a consider- able number of beautiful elms besides one or two horse-chestnut trees in front of the Thomas Dry Goods Store. These trees have now been cut down, and all that remains are the few ancient elms on Taunton Green, set out about 1800. These elm trees were watered and tended by Charles R. Atwood when he was a small boy.
As we walk up Main Street from the east-end going west, where the old Winthrop Club stands, (now occupied by the Odd Fellows) formerly stood a large white house, close to the sidewalk, called the "Ingell House". The Dickerman Block was built by N. H. Skinner, subsequently bought by H. A. Dickerman. Next to it came a low, wooden, yellow building, where the block with Bos- tock and Inman's Electrical Store is now situated. This yellow wooden building was originally the store of Robert Dean, one of the descendants of the original settlers of Taunton. His residence was on the site of the N. H. Skinner Block and the Dean residence was later moved to Cedar St. The wooden store became the property of Mr. Joseph Dean, the son of Rob't Dean and it was finally sold to the Manheims', and they had the present brick block built.
On Main St. where the Wilbur Building now stands was a wooden block, occupied by F. T. Skinner, a tailor, who lived over his store, and a 99 Cent Store, owned and managed by Walter Congdon. This store was a forerunner of the present "5 and 10" cent stores.
On the western side of Trescott St. was a low wooden building, a tin shop occupied by I. B. Briggs. When the day's work was
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done, this shop was a great gathering place for well known men of the town, where the business and political affairs of the city were discussed as well as a little gossip.
Moving along to where the Taylor Block now stands, was torn down one of the most picturesque buildings of old Taunton, called "Knotty Walk", a long, low, rambling building, with a wooden awning supported on cedar posts from which the stubs of the cut off branches protruded. The first store on "Knotty Walk" was the cobbler shop of Townsend Brothers; then came Seaver's period- ical store; White's meat market was located there for a good many years; Pierce's Harness Shop was also situated there for many years, afterwards moving to Weir Street. Then came a little restau- rant where oysters were served, presided over by Russell Paull ("Chap"), afterwards the first janitor of the Bristol Club. We now come to a small wooden building occupied for a number of years by Doane's Fish Market.
A little farther on, at the corner of Broadway and Leonard Street in Jones' block, was our first theatre, "Jones' Atheneum", which was. destroyed by fire in the year 1873. The block was rebuilt, but not the theatre. In this block were several shops, one of which was Patrick Callahan's Shoe Store. Old "Music Hall", on Cohannet St. was built in the year 1869, and was the home of all kinds of entertainment for many years. This theatre was also burned, February 7, 1937.
We now cross over from "Knotty Walk" to where the Taunton Green Building now stands, where formerly our City Hotel stood. Then we move along to the Court House and the former homes of the Cobbs' and the Richmonds'. The lot on which the Post Office now stands formerly belonged to the Crockers'. We cross City Square, and about where the office of the Taunton Gas Light Co. is located was the site of Taunton's jail in the olden days. At the head of Weir St., (then called Jockey Lane) where Carlow's store is now located, was the old Weatherby Tavern. From there in the ancient days the stage coaches left for Boston, Providence, New Bedford and Newport. On the opposite side of Weir Street, a little way beyond Liggett's store, in colonial times stood the "Caldwell Tavern;" and it is said that Robert Treat Paine lived there at one time.
As we move farther down Main Street we come to the store of E. A. Thomas and Co. This was the site of the home of Elizabeth Pole, the founder of our city. Where the Leonard Block now stands was the site of the Post Office in the early days of the last century.
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The great fire of 80 years ago, November 27, 1859 destroyed a great many of the old stores on Main Street.
The following stores and banks which were doing business when the 250th. Anniversary was celebrated are still here to help celebrate our Tercentenary. Machinists' National Bank, Bristol County Trust Co. (formerly the Bristol County National Bank) the Bristol County Savings Bank, the Taunton Savings Bank, Hanson's Drug Store, H. A. Dickerman & Son, D. H. Mason and Son, A. J. Barker and Co., Pierce Hardware Co., H. L. Davis Co., Dean Bros. and Leonard's Inc.
You may walk in ten or fifteen minutes from Taunton Green and find yourself in the woods on Taunton great river. A step, as it were, from the heart of the city into the country. In what other city can you do that? In no other city in New England, nor perhaps in the United States, can a resident enjoy the pleasures of both urban and rural life.
Harry C. Atwood
At the Center of the City we now see the following:
The A. J. Barker Company was founded by Anson J. Barker in 1849. Burned out in the great fire of 1859, the store was tem- porarily located in a small building next to what is now the E. A. Thomas Company. It returned to its present location as soon as the new Union Block was built. Anson J. Barker died in 1904.
The business was incorporated in 1906 with Orville A. Barker, son of the founder, at its head. When he passed away in 1912, the business was carried on by his two sons, Ralph E. and Merle T. Barker, until February 1936. It was then sold to three em- ployees and reorganized with William H. Quinlan as president, Hazel F. Mader as treasurer, and Clayton Lincoln as clerk. The business has modernized several of its departments, and retains its reputation for integrity built up over a period of many years.
D. H. Mason & Son, Established 1851. Eighty-eight years continuous services to the people of Taunton by two generations of one family is a unique record. Daniel H. Mason founded the shoe business in 1851, which his son, Frank Palmer Mason carries on to-day at 27 Main Street.
In 1844 Daniel Mason entered the employ of Banjamin Spin- ney, a custom shoe-maker, where he served an apprenticeship of three years. After seven years he purchased his store at 19 West Water Street, remaining there until 1863, when he purchased the
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second establishment of Mr. Spinney at 41 Main Street. In 1895 the store was moved to its present location at 27 Main Street. Daniel H. Mason, personally conducted the business until his death in 1909, when his son, the present owner, who had been associated with his father since 1900, took it over. Another son Charles M. Mason was in the business with his father for a time.
The store is recognized for its quality footwear for men, women, and children, and a fitting service which is unexcelled. Walk- Over shoes have been sold by the store for half a century. The business policy of the founder, adopted in 1851 and continued all through the years, still remains its one standard,-To serve you honestly. To sell honest merchandise at an honest price. To make satisfied Customers, and those Customers, Friends; And so to keep them.
Pierce Hardware Co. In 1879, Bion C. Pierce started his career in the hardware business when ox carts formed a fringe around Taunton Green. Cobble stones still paved a few streets over which rattled vehicles of all descriptions. Above the din of commerce could be heard the stentorian voice of William King, auctioneer, pronouncing the magic word, "sold", just as he lifted from his perspiring brow a silk hat much the worse for wear. In the Hardware Store, horse and ox shoes, copper, pill-box tacks, (the latter so small that 2000 of them weighed only an ounce), were regular items of merchandise.
The business of the Pierce Hardware Co., first operated as a partnership, was incorporated in 1893. It is distinguished as the first mercantile company incorporated under the laws of Massa- chusetts. The Pierce Hardware Employee's Association was founded nearly 33 years ago. Of the eleven original members, Bion C. Pierce, L. Leforest Smith, E. D. Greenlaw, and J. D. Wood are still active in this association now grown to nearly fifty members.
In April 1937, the PIERCE HARDWARE Co., widely known as one of New England's leading hardware stores, celebrated its 50th. anniversary. Spreading like the banyan tree, this great store now extends from 15 Main through to 22 Weir Street, and occupies also the second and third floors of adjacent stores. Its extensive stock comprises hardware from tacks to tractors.
The Seeley Company site was a Tavern back in the Revo- lutionary times. In 1862, McElroy & Cushman owned a men's clothing store which they held for about thirty years. In 1892, after the fire, C. E. Longley and G. N. Talbot bought out
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McElroy and Cushman and opened-up under the name of The Standard Clothing Co. Three years later, the present Mr. George W. Seeley came to Taunton to take charge of the office. In 1905, C. E. Longley died and Mr. G. N. Talbot bought-out his interests, and opened-up as The Talbot Co., adding one more store to the chain which later became 47 stores. G. W. Seeley became the manager of the store. At this time the block was owned by the Mason Machine Company, who sold it to Mr. G. N. Talbot on Aug. 17, 1916.
Dec. 30, 1921 the firm became incorporated and Mr. Seeley was taken-in as Treasurer and Clerk, and the store became known as The Talbot Seeley Co.
Jan. 10, 1922 Mr. Seeley bought the building from G. N. Tal- bot. Feb. 24, 1934 the Talbot Seeley Company liquidated, and the present corporation was formed with Mr. G. W. Seeley as President and Treasurer, Mr. Joseph T. McDonald, Vice President, and Miss Catherine G. McNamara as Assistant Treasurer and Clerk.
The L. E. Higgins & Co., one of the oldest stores in Taunton, was established about 1880, and has been in continuous operation nearly sixty years. It was operated under the sole ownership of L. E. Higgins until 1922 as a popular priced clothing, furnishings and shoe store.
The Goodnow-Morse-Brooks Co. opened its store in 1914 at 20 Main St., a specialty shop in men's and women's clothing. In 1922, L. E. Higgins, because of failing health, sold out his business to Goodnow-Morse-Brooks Co. The location at 43 Main St., beside the Higgins' Store was acquired by Goodnow-Morse-Brooks Co .; and, since that time, both stores have been operated by the latter company.
Dean Bro's. Inc., 47 Taunton Green. This location has been Taunton's Leading Shoe Store for over 100 years.
The store was originally owned by N. S. Hoard, afterwards operated by Robert Washburn, and later by D. S. Elliott. Frank O. Dean bought the store in 1888, and for 51 years has retailed the better grades of footwear under the firm name of Dean Bro's. Inc.
Cobb, Bates & Yerxa Co. The side street at our Corner has in turn been known as Central, Fayette, and School. On this site overlooking the scene of the famous "Liberty and Union" flag
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raising in 1774, stood a gambrel roof structure housing a business then known as the Green Store. Charles Richmond, an early industrial captain of Taunton, acquired the property in 1823 and erected a picturesque three-story brick block. In this store the Crocker brothers, William A. and Samuel L., catered to the re- quirements of an extensive territory. The business was later conducted by Henry Washburn who was followed by White, Child & Co.
In their day molasses came in hogsheads, dried codfish in bundles, and sugar, scooped from barrels, was taken away in paper cornu- copias.
While Ulysses Simpson Grant was both General and President, Cobb, Bates & Yerxa opened their first Taunton store at Broad- way and Leonard Street. In 1885, when the Taunton Trust Com- pany replaced the old School Street block by the existing Fayette Building, Cobb, Bates & Yerxa became the first tenants, later acquiring the property. The company has maintained its position to the present day as Taunton's leading grocers.
To this spot the choicest viands of the occident and orient, as well as the superior produce of this, the second largest market garden district in Massachusetts, never end their ceaseless flow. Famous brands of the S. S. Pierce Co., the present owners, are here in great profusion. A fleet of modern trucks covering the entire adjacent territory, including the city of Fall River, are at your service.
Leonard's Inc., was established fifty-two years ago in 1887 by Philo Fremont Leonard as the only store in Taunton dealing in ice cream, fancy cakes and candy. What a source of satisfaction it would have been to him to have known that his only son and four daughters would continue his work, and that a third generation would be equally proud and anxious to maintain and honor the Leonard name in business.
Actually, the Leonard name has had its place in the candy and ice cream business for sixty-two years. For Philo Leonard was in partnership with his father-in-law in 1877, the firm being known as Wilmarth and Leonard. They were located first where Homer's Jewelry store stands, and later across the street at the corner now occupied by the "Metropolitan". When this firm was dissolved in 1887, Mr. Leonard started in business for himself in a small store at 4 Main Street ("near Beers"), increasing of business demanded a larger store. In 1895 he moved across the street to the present
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location where a lasting and far-reaching reputation was estab- lished for high grade ice cream, candy and bakery products.
After Philo Leonard's death in 1908, his only son, Fremont Wilmarth, at the age of twenty-four, conducted the business with the help of his four sisters, Ethel, Alma, Hazel, and Rosamond. In 1922, a new venture-the restaurant-was started with the same standard of quality maintained. Now, Leonard's is equally popular for dinners as well as ice cream, candy, and bakery.
In May, 1928, the estate was incorporated. Ethel Leonard Brown was elected president, Fremont Leonard, treasurer, and Rosamond Leonard clerk.
In 1935 another generation was brought into the store,-Philo Leonard's grandchildren. New Officers were chosen-Fremont Leonard president, Gilman Leonard treasurer, Gladys Leonard clerk. How time has changed the little business started in 1887! It is the hope of the family that succeeding generations of Leonard's will continue to progress and to serve the people of Taunton.
Carlow's Corner Pharmacy, Inc., Arthur E. Powers, Reg. Ph. Mgr. Located at 55-57 Taunton Green, the building housing the pharmacy was originally known as Wetherbee's Tavern, the owner being Dr. Atwood's great grandfather. The name changed to Cohannet building, and then to Seeley building. Mr. Harry Carlow's years of long association at this corner has caused the location to be popularly known as "Carlow's Corner."
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