USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Florence > The history of Florence, Massachusetts : including a complete account of the Northampton Association of Education and Industry > Part 20
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238
HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
tuck Steam Mills, S. L. Hill, Agent," although they used the name of " Hill & Hinckley" in important financial transactions. They occupied a portion of the brick building owned by Valentine & Sowerby, which now forms a part of the Oil-Gas Stove plant. The first spool of machine twist manufactured in this country for sewing machines was made by Mr. Hill. When the lease of the old wooden mill on Nonotuck street expired, Mr. Hill was to take possession, but the mill burned level with the ground on July nineteenth, 1852, the day of the expiration of the lease. A new mill was built upon the ruins of the old one, and soon the pros- perity of the firm warranted an extension of the business ; E. W. Eaton, A. T. Lilly, Lucius and Ira Dimock, and J. D. Atkins were admitted as
MILLS OF THE NONOTUCK SILK COMPANY.
partners, and on July first, 1855. the Nonotuck Silk Company was organ- ized. On February sixth, 1866, the company was incorporated with a capital of $75,coo.
The business has steadily increased, and new buildings have been added from time to time in Florence, Leeds, and Haydenville. The latest addition to their already extensive plant is a large factory in Hartford, Conn., which is now being fitted up for manufacturing pur- poses. The company manufacture machine twist, sewing, embroidery. rope, etching, and knitting silks in fast colors, also silk hosiery and underwear. Their " Nonotuck " and " Corticelli " brands are deservedly popular, and have no superiors on the market. In 1852 twenty-five
239
INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.
employees worked up one hundred and fifty pounds of raw material a week. At present nearly eight hundred hands are employed and the out- put is between five and six thousand pounds a week. The capital of the company is $1,000,000 and the officers are : president, Ira Dimock. Hartford, Conn. ; treasurer, E. W. Eaton, New York ; secretary and assistant treasurer, George H. Ray ; superintendent, Samuel Porter ; directors, Lucius and Ira Dimock, B. A. Armstrong, E. W. Eaton, and Samuel Porter.
18
E. W. EATON.
J. D. ATKINS.
LUCIUS DIMOCK.
A. T. LILLY. S. L. HILL.
S. L. HINCKLEY.
IRA DIMUSE
THE ORIGINAL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE NONOTUCK SILK COMPANY.
THE FLORENCE FURNITURE COMPANY was organized in 1873, with a capital of $20,000, the principal stockholders being mechanics and work men in the shop. There has been a gradual increase in the business. and additions were made to the original plant in 18So and ISSS, until the buildings are now two hundred and ten feet long by thirty-five feet wide, with three floors and basement, in which are employed about thirty-five hands.
240
HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
The goods manufactured are all grades of wood and cloth covered burial cases and undertakers' supplies, the market for which is almost exclusively in New England.
Mr. A. T. Lilly was president till his death in 1890. H. B. Haven has been treasurer and manager from the organization. The present officers are : S. B. Fuller, president ; H. B. Haven, treasurer ; S. B. Fuller, G. S. Graves, W. J. Warner, H. F. Cutler, and W. L. Wilcox, directors.
THE NORWOOD ENGINEERING COMPANY was organized with a capital of $10,000, in February, 1892. At present about thirty hands are employed, the company doing a general foundry and machine business, dealing in steam plants and manufacturing cutlery and paper machinery. The officers are : H. P. Otis, president ; W. A. Stevenson, treasurer and manager : H. P. Otis, H. A. Kimball, and George S. Graves, directors.
The first buildings, now extensively enlarged, erected on this site, were put up about 1870 for the Sheffield Manufacturing Company, which proposed to convert iron into a metal resembling steel. The attempt was a failure, however, and the buildings were soon after purchased by B. M. Couch, who used them for a foundry and machine shop for many years, until A. G. Hill bought the property.
THE CROWN BRAID COMPANY .- The old Greenville cotton factory now forms the center of a group of buildings used by the Crown Braid Com- pany for the manufacture of worsted and silk braid. The business was started in 1888 by Freeman Brothers, who employed ten hands. A large addition, now used for a dyehouse and drying rooms, was built the same year, and now all save two floors, which are used for manufacturing silk, are devoted to the braid business.
HIRAM WELLS & COMPANY .- Mr. Wells was a machinist, and after the Community dissolved he formed a partnership with Mr. Hill, who furnished working capital. The company did a general machine busi- ness, having their shop in the basement of the silk mill. This building was burued in 1852, and the company moved to the Valentine dyehouse before referred to. Portable circular sawmills, pumps, and grip wrenches were manufactured here, Mr. D. J. Littlefield being a partner at one time.
Mr. Wells lost the larger part of his right hand in an accident, but he became quite skillful in using the remaining fingers and thumb. Several fires destroyed the pattern shop and did other damage, and the business was dealt a fatal blow on July 11, 1859, when the boiler exploded, killing the proprietor, and badly damaging the buildings. Soon after the estate came into the possession of the Florence Sewing Machine Company.
241
INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.
FLORENCE MANUFACTURING COMPANY .- In 1854 S. L. Hill and I. S. Parsons became associated with A. P. Critchlow in the manufacture of papier mache buttons, and union cases for daguerreotypes and ambro- types. The firm was A. P. Critchlow & Co. In 1857 D. G. Littlefield became a partner, and in 1868 Mr. Critchlow sold out and the firm name was changed to Littlefield, Parsons & Co., and so remained till in the summer of 1866, the demand for the daguerreotype cases having declined, George A. Scott, S. L. Hinckley, George A. Burr, Mr. Littlefield, and Mr. Parsons formed the Florence Manufacturing Company, this company being the successors of Littlefield, Parsons & Co. The new firm began manufacturing toilet brushes, mirrors, lockets, etc.
The reputation these "Florence " articles enjoy is an enviable one, and from the first the policy of the company has always been to stand at the head for variety of styles and elegance of designs.
-
WORKS OF THE FLORENCE MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
The company at the present time manufacture tooth brushes, making a specialty of the Prophylactic, "Cosmeon " pure aluminium goods, Florence composition brushes and mirrors, and wood back toilet articles. The aluminium goods possess great merit, and seem destined to be even more popular than the well known " Florence " line.
The main factory, a brick building, three stories high, one hundred and forty by forty-five feet, was built in 1866. In 1885 a building, one hundred by fifty feet, and two stories high, was erected adjoining the main structure, and in 1893 the "office " addition, thirty by forty-five feet, three stories high, was made necessary owing to the constantly increasing business.
242
HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
The company has a capital of $100,000, and employs from one lun- dred fifty to one hundred seventy-five hands. The present officers are : E. W. Eaton, president ; Frank N. Look, treasurer and general manager ; J. E. Winchell, secretary ; E. W. Eaton, H. R. Hinckley, and Frank N. Look, directors.
THE (BENSONVILLE) GREENVILLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY .- This company, which was organized in 1846, bought the brick factory of the Northampton Association, and began manufacturing cotton cloth. George W. Benson was the prime mover. He failed in 1850, and the name was changed to the Greenville Manufacturing Company. In 1867 the officers were : President, S. Williston ; Treasurer, J. P. Williston ; Secretary, A. L. Williston. The capital stock of the company was $100,000. The business of cotton manufacturing steadily declined until, in 1886, the property was bought by the Nonotuck Silk Company.
THE FLORENCE TACK COMPANY commenced the manufacture of tacks and small nails, in 1874, being one of the first concerns of this kind in Western Massachusetts. The plant burned down in 1876, with quite a loss to the new company, which at once erected a new building and before 1877 were turning out their goods again. George W. Bond, a man of keen inventive genius, was superintendent, and he made the draw- ings for the machines used in the manufacture of the tacks and nails. The company failed in 1892. Some of the machinery has been removed. the remainder has been sold and destroyed, and the shop remains idle.
FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE COMPANY. - An old shop, now surrounded by new buildings, built about 1844, on the site of the Oilgas Stove plant, was used as a dyehouse, and afterwards for the manufacture of silk, by Valentine & Sowerby. The buildings were afterwards used for the manufacture of circular sawmills and various kinds of machinery job work, by Hiram Wells & Company. It was while at work in this shop, that I. W. Langdon experimented, while busied with his invention of the Florence sewing machine. D. G. Littlefield and S. L. Hill joined with Mr. Langdon, and, after spending considerable money in experi- ments, perfected and brought out the first machine in the year 1861. In 1861 the first company was formed, with a capital of $1 25,000. In 1862 it was increased to $200,000, and in 1864 the first building was erected. In 1866 the capital was increased to $500,oco.
Business was brisk at the works for several years, the company employing a large number of men, and making several additions to the plant. In 1876 the manufacture of oil stoves was commenced and in 1882 the Crown sewing machine superseded the old Florence. Many changes in the management accompanied the varying success of the
243
INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.
business from year to year. About 1880 O. N. Kyle became the treasurer of the company. In 1888 Earl A. Thissell, as superintendent, assisted Mr. Kyle in the management of the works, and on the death of Mr. Kyle. October tenth, 1889, he became the treasurer of the company.
THE CENTRAL OILGAS STOVE COMPANY was incorporated November fifteenth, 1890. It absorbed the Florence Machine Company ; AAmerican Oil Stove Company, Gardner, Mass. ; Monitor Oil Stove Company. Cleveland, O. ; Union Gas and Oil Stove Company, New York city ; and thirteen other oil and gas stove manufacturing companies. Their salesrooms are at Boston, New York city, and Chicago, and their manu- facturing plants in Gardner, Mass., Greenwich, Conn., Jackson, Mich .. and at Florence, Mass., at which place is the home office.
GARDNER
FLORENCE
ח׳וד׳חיח ודית
JACKSON
THE CENTRAL OILGAS STOVE COMPANY'S WORKS AT FLORENCE, GARDNER, AND JACKSON.
Their manufactures are wood cabinets for silk manufactureis, the Crown sewing machine, which has a reputation of being equal to any sewing machine built, and an almost endless variety of oil stoves : also a large variety of gas stoves. These stoves are for both cooking and heat ing purposes, and have a world-wide reputation.
The officers of the company are : John C. Hammond, president : Fail A. Thissell, first vice-president ; Charles W. Conant, of Gardner, second vice-president ; William H. Wilder, treasurer ; Herbert D. Burnham, assistant treasurer ; W. W. Tandy, auditor. The directors consist of the president, vice-presidents, treasurer, I. P. Field. H. P. Wilder of Gardner, L. H. Littlefield of Pawtucket, R. I., and Calvin HI. Hill of Chicago, Ill.
244
HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
THE JOHN N. LEONARD SILK COMPANY .- When Captain Conant, E. D. Swift, and O. S. Chaffee withdrew from the Community in October, 1842, they purchased Enoch Jewett's farm, including the water power and shop, and began manufacturing silk in a small wood mill they erected, which now forms a part of the Leonard factories between Florence and the Center. The firm name was J. Conant & Company. Mr. Swift died soon after, and Porter Nutting and John Harten were interested in the new venture for a short time, until a new firm was formed, Warner, Holland & Company (Joseph Warner, J. Harvey Holland, and Caleb M. Hartwell), which continued the business until, in 1852, Warner & Skin- ner (Warner, L. D. Suydam, and William Skinner) succeeded the old firm. Mr. Skinner sold his interest in a few years to Mr. Warner, who carried on the business alone until 1871, when J. S. Lathrop became Mr. Warner's partner. Luther Warner succeeded Warner & Lathrop in 1877, the date of Mr. Warner's death. Several changes in the management have been made in recent years, and now the above corporation has the following board of officers : President, Samuel Porter; treasurer, Luther Warner ; secretary, John W. Combs. Directors : the president, treas- urer, and secretary, with John L. Warner and Charles E. Eaton.
AMOS SAWYER started the soap business in 1852, on the site of the electric car barns. When he began he sent out only one team, but the business increased rapidly, and in 1868 he built a large factory, and later made extensive additions to his plant. The business prospered until fire destroyed the factory with all its contents in the early evening of Sun- day, May eighth, 1887.
FLORENCE SAVINGS BANK was incorporated February twelfth, 1873. on the petition of Samuel L. Hill, George A. Burr, A. T. Lilly, A. L. Williston, and Isaac Parsons. To Rev. F. W. Bishop, the first pastor of the Methodist church, is due the credit of starting the bank, he having proposed the undertaking to several business men. The first president, A. T. Lilly, remained in office till his death in 1890, when Samuel Porter was elected. H. H. Bond, the first secretary and treasurer, in whose law office in Davis block the first meeting of trustees was held, and where the banking was conducted for several years, was succeeded in 1880 by his sister, Mary W. Bond, who was the first woman to hold the office of treasurer of a savings bank in Massachusetts, and who continued to per- form with skill and fidelity the duties of the office until her death in September, 1891. The office of the bank remained in Davis block until 1891, when it was moved to the present quarters of the bank. Miss Mary E. Gould succeeded Miss Bond, and Miss Emilie M. Plimpton was appointed bookkeeper.
245
INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.
Number of depositors one year from incorporation, 232 ; amount of deposit, $19,478 ; number of depositors, November first, 1894. 1,289 : amount of deposit, $281,899 ; guaranty fund in 1894, $13,767.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In the month of January, 1867, several of the citizens organized the Florence Mercantile Association, with the object of selling groceries, dry goods, etc., as cheaply as possible, and still pay a fair dividend on the money invested. The association erected the brick block on Main street, since known as Branch's block. The capital stock was less than $6.000, and in five years from organization dividends amounting to forty per cent. had been paid. Dissensions arose, however, and in 1876 the stockholders voted to disband, R. M. Branch buying the stock on hand.
CUTLER, PLIMPTON & COMPANY .- In 1865 William A. Godfrey and L. K. Baker erected a small building on what is now the corner of Maple and West Center streets, and moved their store from the old cotton factory boarding house to this new building. Henry F. Cutler bought a half interest in the business, April, 1866, a short time pre- vious to Mr. Godfrey's death, and later ob- .1". tained L. K. Baker's stock at auction. Mr. SAWYER'S SOAP FACTORY. From the original sketch by C. C. Burleigh, Jr. Cutler conducted the business about two years, selling out to R. M. Branch, who remained proprietor nearly twelve months, when the firm Cutler, Plimpton & Com- pany (H. F. Cutler, L. F. Plimpton, and V. E. Cleveland) was formed, and took possession of the business. After a few years Mr. Cleveland with- drew, George T. Cutler taking his place. Several additions to the new building have been made necessary by the continually increasing busi- ness, and where the firm employed no clerks at the start, now the services of seven are required. The business consists of nearly all kinds of mer- chandise.
R. M. BRANCH bought the property of the Mercantile Association in 1876. Mr. Branch at that time was a member of the firm of I. S Parsons
2.46
HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
& Company ; he closed the store on Nonotuck street, moving the goods to the brick block on Main street, now known as Branch's block, where he has since conducted a store, dealing in general merchandise.
GRAVES BROTHERS .- In 1844 Nelson Askins opened a livery stable on Nonotuck street. For fifteen years the owners were Nelson Askins, Sylvester J. Bosworth, Fordyce Loomis, Taylor, Loomis & Atkins, and G. E. Atkins. In 1859 Edward E. Graves purchased a half interest in Mr. Atkins' business, and later in the same year George S. Graves pur- chased the other half interest of Mr. Atkins. In 1867 they erected their present stables on Maple street.
AUSTIN ROSS .- When the Community dissolved, Austin Ross bought the farm and continued the milk business. His son, Dwight A. Ross, now has the management of this long established business. The large barns were erected in 1869.
AUGUST ASSING, SR., tailor, came to Florence in 1854, from Derms- dorf, Germany. Two years later he built his house on Maple street, where his shop has since been.
JOHN W. BIRD .- The first Florence newsdealer was a Mr. Brigham. who opened a news store in 1867. A Mr. Upton succeeded him, and later W. H. Riley purchased the store and moved it from Little's block into a small building on the corner of Main and Maple streets. Mr. Riley sold out to L. Woodward, who in turn sold out to John W. Bird, August first, 1883. The little store was replaced by Maine's block in 1889. Mr. Bird's business is that of a bookseller, newsdealer, and stationer.
CROSSMAN & POEMATIER .- Thomas A. Orcutt started the hardware business in 1870, and two years later built a store, now Crossman & Polmatier's, and began the stove and tinning business. Mr. Orcutt sold out in 1879, and from that time the store had a number of proprietors, among them being Samuel Wilder, until 1886, when Crossman & Polma- tier bought it. This firm does a general hardware and plumbing busi- ness, employing from four to nine men.
JOHN IRWIN established himself in the village in 1867, and continued the business of a mason until his death in 1872, when Henry Swift became proprietor. Mr. Swift died in 1889, and his son, John N. Swift, the present owner, took charge of the business.
NELSON A. DAVIS opened the first drug store in the place, in the spring of 1871, and still conducts the same business. Davis block, a brick building forty-five by sixty feet and three stories high, was built in 1870, and besides store and office room has a commodions hall.
247
INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.
ARTHUR M. WARE .- For thirty years there has been a meat market on the site now owned by Arthur M. Ware. M. H. Ware purchased the business in 1877, of C. L. Warren. Mr. Ware in turn sold it to Ware & Taylor in 1888, this firm continuing for two years, when Arthur M. Ware bought out his partner's interest. He employs three men and does a large business.
ISRAEL A. GRAVES has been a real estate dealer for thirty years, and has conducted a livery stable during the last fifteen years.
FLORENCE HOTEL .- This landmark was erected over forty years ago by Joel Abercrombie, who conducted it as a hotel for a number of years. James Stone, who succeeded him, managed the house for seven years. and then Hiram Munson purchased it. After one year, Charles Osgood accepted the management, and in a short time he sold it to the present
THE OLD "FLORENCE HOUSE." From a photograph taken about 1860.
proprietor, Michael Cooney. The house was formerly two stories in height, the present proprietor having made many improvements both inside and out.
MYRON C. HOWARD started in the house painting business in March. 1871. The business has steadily increased until now he employs from ten to twenty men. He owns the brick block at the junction of Park and Meadow streets, where he conducts his business of painting, papel hanging, decorating, etc.
RUDOLPH FURTH, JR .- In June, 1877, Rudolph Furth, Sr., erected a building on the site of the engine house for a barber shop. His son.
248
HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
Rudolph Furth, Jr., succeeded him several years ago, and is now pro- prietor.
CHARLES O. PARSONS .- The business now conducted by C. O. Par- sons, consisting of coal, wood, flour and meal, hay and grain, besides a general store for the sale of clothing and men's furnishings, was started by his father, H. K. Parsons, in 1876. In 1880 the present large build- ings were erected and the business has prospered so that now six men and teams are given constant employment.
WALTER C. GOODWIN, carpenter, erected his present wood factory on Myrtle street in 1876, and has since manufactured packing boxes, and conducted a shop for general wood-work. The building was enlarged in 1880, and again in 1890. A few years ago he built a steam sawmill on the road to North Farms, where he gets out lumber for his shop.
ROBERT H. PEASE purchased the grain store of L. B. Moore in 1877. A year later he moved to the Squires building, and in 1881 erected his present block on North Main street, adding to his business a line of groceries and men's furnishings .*
THOMAS A. ORCUTT .- In 1879 J. M. Davis and T. A. Orcutt formed a partnership to conduct undertaking, and carriage making and repairing, having their works in the Squires building. Mr. Davis sold his interest to Mr. Orcutt after six months, and Mr. Orcutt remained proprietor till 1892, when D. D. O'Donnell bought an interest in the undertaking business.
GEORGE N. DAVIS .- For twenty years there has been a jeweler at Davis' Pharmacy, and the present proprietor, George N. Davis, bought out E. M. Beckwith in February, 1894. For years William M. Smith had this stand.
THOMAS ROCHE purchased the insolvent estate of F. A. Barnes, dealer in drugs and medicines, last spring. Roche's block, formerly Stone's, was built in 1884, F. A. and W. E. Barnes starting the drug business the same year.
GEORGE N. BAKER, insurance agent and dealer in real estate, suc- ceeded to the business established in 1873 by Mr. Morse. His office is in Knights of Honor block.
FRANK W. BISSELL, carriage and sign painter, bought out J. C. Jager, in April, 1889. Mr. Jager had carried on this business since 1879. Mr. Bissell's shop is in the Squire's building on North Maple street.
WILLIAM H. RICE started the ice business in 1884. In 1888 he pur-
* This was written previous to the death of Mr. Pease, December seventeenth, IS94.
249
INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.
chased the coal business of W. C. Goodwin, and now employs several men, having his office in M. C. Howard's block.
FERDINAND SCHADEE started the photography business in Branch's block in 1885. He had previously been in Northampton, the firm being Hardie & Schadee.
MRS. MARY C. SHANNON .- In 1886, Misses Mary and Maggie Powers opened a millinery and dressmaking store in Stone's (Roche's) block. Three years later the former, then Mrs. Mary C. Shannon, moved to Maine's block, where she now conducts a store devoted to millinery and ladies' furnishings.
MRS. MARY S. MANN is the owner of the cluster of greenhouses on the corner of Pine and Maple streets. She commenced in a small way in 1887, and now has about twelve thousand feet of glass, and employs from four to six hands besides the foreman.
E. P. ROOT, wagon maker and repairer, came to Florence in 1887 and now has his shop in the Squire's building.
SAMUEL LLOYD, who was a butcher, started the manufacture of pressed corned beef in 1887. Two years later he built his present quar- ters, putting in steam power and modern machinery. He employs from two to six men, and finds a ready market for his celebrated " Steam Condensed Beef."
FRANK D. R. WARNER purchased the candy business of Charles L. Moody, then situated in Little's block, in 1889, and two years later moved to his present location, corner of Main and Maple streets. He carries in stock a full line of musical merchandise.
F. H. STONE's meat market and grocery store was established in 1890, in the Roche block. The livery business of E. A. Stone is now controlled by Mr. F. H. Stone.
MICHELMAN BROTHERS' (Max and Myer) dry goods. clothing, and men's furnishing goods business was started four years ago by the brothers, Israel, Philip, Max, and Myer Michelman, in their present quarters in Knights of Honor block.
MISS MARY E. GOULD .- Miss Mary W. Bond, in connection with Miss Gould, opened an office for fire insurance, in 1891. Since the death of Miss Bond the business has been conducted by Miss Gould.
JOHN J. DELANEY purchased the barber shop owned by Dennis Fitz- gerald, which was located in the hotel, on May seventh, 1891, and a few days later removed it to Cooney's block, refitting the shop with modern improvements.
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HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
GEORGE H. BURNHAM erected his present livery stable in 1891, and has since conducted the business.
ELBRIDGE W. PATRELL opened a grocery store in Davis block in March, 1892.
POLMATIER & ADDIS .- A. J. Polmatier opened a trimming and plumb- ing shop, in March, 1893, and later formed a partnership with Edwin C. Addis. Last October they opened a stove and tin store in Knights of Honor block.
ERRATA.
On page 34, line 4, read 1835 instead of 1834.
On page 59, line 19, read 1836 instead of 1833 or 1835.
On page 126, line 9, read Giles B. Stebbins instead of Giles D. Stebbins.
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