USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume IV > Part 50
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SPENCER L. WORTHEN, president of the Hoyt and Worthen Tanning Corpora- tion, was born in Haverhill on October II, 1897, the son of Louis Worthen, who died in 1907, and Fanny (Littlefield) Worthen, natives of Haverhill.
His education was received in the public schools of Haverhill. Upon completing his education, Mr. Worthen found employment that led early in his career to the position of salesman for the sole leather industry and in this work he found a fruitful field for his natural abilities and talents. Being of a progressive and energetic nature he applied his efforts to studying the possibilities of manufacturing a superior leather for sock linings for women's shoes, and also of pro- ducing better chamois than those already on
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the market. These products are manufac- tured by the corporation, which is mentioned more fully below.
Aside from business duties, Mr. Worthen is active in Masonic work, being a member of Saggahew Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Pentucket Chapter, and Haverhill Commandery. He is also a member of the Pentucket Club, the American Legion, and Chamber of Commerce. During the World War, he served as a seaman in the United States Navy.
In 1924 Mr. Worthen married Dorothy Pearson Richardson, of Haverhill, and they became the parents of two children : I. Re- becca, born on December 26, 1924, died Feb- ruary I, 1934. 2. Lucille, born on Novem- ber 4, 1929, died January 28, 1934. The family attends the Episcopal Church.
AARON HOYT-Aaron Hoyt, treasurer of the Hoyt and Worthen Tanning Corpora- tion, manufacturers of shoe leather and chamois, was born January 18, 1895, in Haverhill, son of Charles N. Hoyt, who died in 1922, and Ida Belle (King) Hoyt, who died in 1902. His father, Charles N. Hoyt, was one of the largest real estate operators of Haverhill. He had erected over a hundred and fifty houses, so well constructed that they were purchased by many families not residents of Haverhill, but who were attracted to the city by the residences Charles N. Hoyt built. He was also a lum- berman and manufacturer.
Aaron Hoyt attended public schools in Haverhill and was employed in various capacities until America's entry into the World War. Mr. Hoyt enlisted in the United States Army and served overseas in the ammunition train attached to the 80th Division. Upon being honorably discharged, he returned to business occupations. In 1925 he formed a partnership with Spencer L. Worthen to manufacture sole leather and
chamois for the shoe industry under the name of Hoyt and Worthen Tanning Cor- poration (a history of which will be found in the accompanying sketch below). In ad- dition to his manufacturing interests, Mr. Hoyt is a member of the board of directors of the Haverhill National Bank.
Public affairs receive a large share of Mr. Hoyt's time and attention, although he has never sought public office. His interest in civic matters is that of an intelligent citizen deeply concerned with the improvement of the community in which he lives and for which, as an employer, he feels himself re- sponsible. He is a member of the Pentucket Club and the Haverhill Chamber of Com- merce.
Mr. Hoyt married, in 1924, Eleanor M. Lindsay, a native of the Province of Quebec, Canada, and they are the parents of a son, Charles L., born May 7, 1925.
HOYT AND WORTHEN TANNING
CORPORATION-The axiom that if a man build a better mouse trap the world will beat a path to his door, finds a parallel in the Hoyt and Worthen Tanning Corporation of Haverhill. This firm is now known from coast to coast in the United States, and in many foreign countries as well, as one of the foremost tanneries and whose trade name is synonymous for the best in hides and chamois. The founders and owners of this highly successful enterprise are Aaron Hoyt and Spencer L. Worthen, and a record of their successful careers will be found in the preceding biographies.
In 1925 Messrs. Hoyt and Worthen formed the Hoyt and Worthen Tanning Corpora- tion for the manufacture of a superior sole leather and chamois. They began business at No. 280 River Street, employing sixteen persons. Mr. Worthen has been president, and Mr. Hoyt treasurer of the corporation
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since its inception. From the start of opera- tions the concern experienced a ready re- sponse from the shoe industry for Hoyt- Worthen products, and the steady expansion of business compelled the firm to obtain larger quarters. The company is now located on Railroad Street and has seventy thousand square feet of floor space, employs one hun- dred and forty persons and has its own rail- road siding with a capacity of seven cars. It manufactures sheep hides, scrivers and shanks that are distributed here and abroad. Hoyt and Worthen is one of the four con- cerns that manufactures chamois in the United States for the shoe trade and is the only firm that can receive a green hide in the morning, treat it, by their own secret formula, and in the afternoon send out a perfectly tanned hide. It is also the only tannery that treats chamois in this country according to the new French process. The rapid growth of this company from an idea to the tangible evidence on Railroad Street, testifies to the solid planning and capability of its organizers.
ALBERT ALAN ZETLEN-The profes- sional career of Albert Alan Zetlen, attorney at law, began in 1932 when he was admitted to the bar and established an office at No. 247 Essex Street, Salem. He was born in Salem, on September 25, 1909, son of Samuel and Mildred (Orloff) Zetlen, both natives of Russia, who came directly from their native country to Salem in 1902, where they still reside. Samuel Zetlen is engaged in manufacturing in Peabody, where he oper- ates a plant employing one hundred and fifty hands in normal times.
Albert Alan Zetlen attended the grade schools of his birthplace and was graduated from the Salem High School with the class of 1927. His training in law was obtained in the Law School of Boston University, from which he received his degree in law in
1922 and was admitted to the bar later in that same year. He is a member of the Essex County Bar Association, the Tau Delta Phi Fraternity, the Woolsack and the Law Re- view. Mr. Zetlen is engaged in a general law practice and is rapidly winning favor with the other members of his profession and his clientele.
CHARLES ALEXANDER PALLA- DINO, M. D .- Among the promising young physicians of the city of Lynn is Charles Alexander Palladino who, during the course of his brief professional career here, has won the recognition of his colleagues and the populace and in addition occupies a prominent position in social and civic life.
Dr. Palladino was born in Boston, Massa- chusetts, November 1, 1906, the son of Ora- zio A. and Carmina (Caprio) Palladino. His father, who was born in Italy May 12, 1882, came to this country in 1898 at the age of sixteen, settled first in Boston and later removed to Revere, where for many years he has engaged in the manufacture of cement blocks. He is prominently asso- ciated with the Republican party of Revere and attends the Roman Catholic Church of Revere. Orazio A. Palladino is the son of Ciriaco and Francesca (Gallucci) Palladino, both natives of Italy. Dr. Palladino's mother, Carmina Caprio, was the daughter of Peter and Antonia Caprio. For many years her father, who died in Revere, was engaged in the manufacture of candy at Cambridge.
Dr. Palladino received a general educa- tion in the public schools of Revere and after completing his studies there in 1923, entered Tufts College and was graduated in 1926. Determined to pursue a medical ca- reer he remained at Tufts, attended the medical school and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine with the class of 1930. The year following his medical training he
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served his interneship at the Somerville Hospital and the Lynn Hospital, and at the expiration of this period he established an office at No. 23 Broad Street in this city and embarked on a general practice which has since substantially grown. In his pro- fessional affiliations he is on the Lynn Hos- pital Medical Staff, is a member of the Lynn Medical Fraternity, the Massachu- setts Medical Society, the American Medi- cal Association, and the Massachusetts Italian Medical Society. He fraternizes with the Lambda Phi Mu Fraternity and adheres to the Roman Catholic faith, wor- shipping at St. Joseph's Church in this city. In politics he is non-partisan.
In May, 1934, in St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church of Lynn, Dr. Palladino married Florence Smith a native of this city, and the daughter of Edwin A. and Alice J. (Doherty) Smith. Her father is the superintendent of one of the largest shoe factories in Lynn. Mrs. Palladino is a grad- uate of the Lynn English High School, a member of St. Joseph's Church and belongs to the Twentieth Century Club of Lynn.
Dr. Palladino has two brothers and two sisters: I. George Victor, of Revere, grad- uate of the Revere High School and now a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. 2. Romolo Thomas, graduate of Revere High School and now associated with his father in business. 3. Eva Ida, graduate of the Revere High School, now associated with the Suburban Gas and Elec- tric Company of Revere as a bookkeeper. 4. Jennie Amelia, graduate of Revere High School, resides with parents.
McTERNEN-Andrew McTernen and his son, Dr. Malcolm B. McTernen, have played outstanding rôles in the life and affairs of Andover over a long period. Andrew Mc-
Ternen, a native of Boston, was taken to Andover when he was two years old and throughout the greater part of his life was a resident here. For about thirty-seven years he was a town official, first being elected to the old board of fire engineers, later serving on the town finance committee for two years, and was a member of the board of selectmen, assessors, and board of public welfare for the last fifteen years of his life, breaking a record on each occasion of his candidacy, with the record vote still stand- ing in his name. From 1907 to 1921 he was continuously elected to the board of public works. He also represented the old Andover-North Andover district in the Leg- islature.
To his own indefatigable courage and energy was the rise in life of Andrew Mc- Ternen due. At the age of eleven he started to work with the Tyer Rubber Company, and at twenty-four was assistant superin- tendent. When thirty years of age he was made superintendent, a post he held for about twenty years, or until 1908, when he was elected to the Legislature. The year 1910 he organized the McTernen Rubber Company of Reading and was president and general manager of that concern for six years. He started that firm in the druggist sundries supply business and then went to work for the United States Government as an inspector during the World War. He spent most of his time with the Cambridge Rubber Company, the Stoughton Rubber Company, and the National Rubber Com- pany, of Bristol, Rhode Island. Later he superintended the building of a rubber fac- tory for William Killion and Sons, Boston, and was superintendent of that concern for a number of years. He designed the Tyer Rubber Company plant on Main Street, and made the plans for the Town Farm, while selectman, and also for the remodeling of
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the town offices and the engine house. An authority has stated that:
Mr. McTernen was a pioneer rubber manufacturer who was engaged in the business for more than sixty years. He was considered one of the best practical rubber men in the United States and had more to do with building up the Tyer Rubber Company than any other man connected with that concern. There were eight people employed there when he entered the factory, which was increased to eight hundred, mainly through the efforts of Mr. McTernen. The busi- ness increased from around $200,000 a year to over $1,500,000 a year during his reign as superintendent.
Mr. McTernen was one of the greatest rubber com- pounders in this country and was the inventor of dozens of rubber articles, as well as the machines with which they were made. The most remarkable of these probably was the rubber band machine, which produced the first seamless elastic band and turned them out by the ton. He patented several articles in his own name, such as the bicycle seat, the pencil and pen clip, chair covers, elastic garter for baseball, foot- ball and golf players and others. He was the first man to make mottled rubber and many other rubber compounds.
Possibly one of Mr. McTernen's greatest achieve- ments was accomplished when he tore down the old Tyer factory and built the new one on the same spot while still keeping the plant producing, and most of the help employed. It was said by none other than Mr. L. E. Lock, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, one of the greatest mill contractors in the country, who did the construction work, that this was the greatest feat he had ever seen accomplished in all his experience. It also was said by the architects on the building, which was designed by Mr. McTernen, to be "the best designed building of its kind they had ever seen." Although not an architect by profession, Mr. McTer- nen drew many plans for different plants and offices in Andover, and designed all kinds of machinery.
Mr. McTernen probably knew almost as much about steam, steam boilers, engines, vulcanizers, presses, grinders, pumps and everything connected with that line of business as he did about rubber, and was con- sidered an authority on these subjects.
While a member of the board of fire engineers, Mr. McTernen introduced a fire alarm system, designed the valves for the pumps of the steam engine, placed the fire horses in the engine house, and drew the plans for remodeling this house. As a member of the board of public works and again as selectman, he was the first man to induce the county and the State to assist Andover in the construction of first class highways on
such streets as Lowell, Haverhill, South Union and Main, thereby saving the town of Andover many thou- sands of dollars. Mr. McTernen was largely instru- mental in the establishment of the baseball park, more particularly the grandstand, for he was always a lover of sports. He introduced the "Tarvia" road in An- dover, and the cement sidewalk. He inspired the pur- chase of Prospect Hill as the site for a reservoir, and designed special machinery for the pumping station.
Mr. McTernen was a member of St. Mat- thew's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Order of the Eastern Star, Andover Square and Compass Club, Andover Grange, Pa- trons of Husbandry, Andover Lodge, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and Ancient Order of Workmen, for many years. At one time he was president of the Andover Club, and was a member of the famous Andover Brass Band for over twenty years. He mar- ried Emma Frances Bodwell. They had one daughter, Alice M., and one son, Dr. Mal- colm B. (q. v.).
The death of Andrew McTernen, October 10, 1934, at the age of seventy-six years, occasioned many tributes to his memory. An editor concluded his memorial :
It's easy to drift with the crowd, but it takes a man to hold out when he thinks he is right, even when it means opposing public opinion. Such a man was Andrew McTernen, and Andover is mighty proud that it had a man of his stamp taking an important part in guiding its destinies for the past thirty-five years.
A friend and colleague pointed out that Mr. McTernen's "sense of right was rock- ribbed, immovable as our New England hills. It is this adamantine quality of his character that stands out in boldest relief whenever I call to mind my honored friend."
MALCOLM B. McTERNEN, D. M. D., was born in Andover, May 21, 1884, son of Andrew and Emma Frances (Bodwell) Mc- Ternen (q. v.). After attending the local schools of his birthplace, he was graduated from Phillips Andover Academy, and ma-
Matthew S . Heaply.
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triculated at Tufts College Dental School, He was a star half back and outfielder for from which he received his degree, D. M. D., two years at Phillips Andover Academy, where he led the team in batting and had the distinction of being the first and only town boy to ever play two years on the football and baseball teams at Phillips. He was graduated with the highest honors in mechanical drawing and also received the highest mark in the country in mechanical drawing in the college board examinations. 2. Ruth Frances McTernen is a graduate of Abbot Academy of Andover, where she held several offices, being past president of her class, past secretary and past treasurer, and was also an honor student. with the class of 1906. Returning to An- dover he began the practice of his profes- sion. Skilled, particularly well informed and able, Dr. McTernen has a large clientele and an enviable professional reputation. His con- nections with professional organizations in- clude the Northeastern Dental Society, Mas- sachusetts Dental Society, Lawrence Dental Club, and the Psi Omega Dental Fraternity. He is a Past Master of St. Matthew's Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is affiliated with the Ancient Accepted Scot- tish Rite bodies, being a thirty-second de- gree Mason, member of Aleppo Temple, Boston, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a charter member of the Order of the Eastern Star, a charter member of the Andover Square and Com- pass Club, a charter member of the Andover Lions' Club, a charter member and first president of the Andover Fish and Game Club. He is a past president of Old South Church Men's Club, and was secretary of the old Andover Club for a number of years.
On October 2, 1911, Malcolm B. McTer- nen married Helen May Cates, of Andover, and they are the parents of two children: I. Malcolm B., Jr., a graduate of Phillips An- dover Academy and of Punchard Andover High School, of which he was a past presi- dent of his class, past secretary and past treasurer. As a member of the 1937 class of Harvard College, he made his freshman football and baseball teams, and later ex- celled in varsity football as a half back and in baseball as an outfielder. While attend- ing Punchard High School, Malcolm B. Mc- Ternen, Jr., was an all-suburban football half back and baseball outfielder for two years, receiving the Carl Rust Parker prize for the best all-around athlete and scholar.
MATTHEW S. HEAPHY-In a brief, yet successful career, Matthew S. Heaphy has risen to become one of the prominent public figures in the community of Beverly, of which he is city solicitor. As a youthful leader he has gained many friends and is respected by his associates.
A native of Beverly, Mr. Heaphy was born April 5, 1900, the son of Edward F. and Ellen M. (Kelleher) Heaphy, both of this place and of Irish descent. His father, has been one of the leading merchants here for a number of years, directing the activi- ties of two stores and also acting as presi- dent of the Cressey, Dockham Company, wholesale grocers in Salem. Throughout his life here, the elder Heaphy has been prominent in public affairs, having been a member of the commission that built the Edwards School and also being president of the Twilight League of Beverly.
Mr. Heaphy, of this review was educated in the public schools of his native com- munity, being graduated from the high school in 1918, and then matriculated at Boston College where in 1922 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Determined to
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pursue a career in the legal profession he Lynn, of which the Rev. J. Stanislaus Ver- entered the Harvard Law School on the mette is pastor, has substantially contributed to the well-being of this community and county. Father Vermette himself has added several improvements to the parish property and is one of the highly respected and be- loved pastors of the city of Lynn. completion of his academic training and was made a Bachelor of Laws in 1925. The following year he was admitted to practice before the Massachusetts State bar and shortly thereafter became associated with the Boston Legal Aid Society, an organiza- tion he served for three years. In the fall of 1929 he embarked on a general practice of his own in Boston, opening offices at No. 6 Beacon Street, and has continued to carry on this work since with great success.
His political activity dates back to 1929 when he was elected an alderman-at-large and became chairman of the board. The work he accomplished in this office won him wide recognition and the following year he was a candidate for the mayoralty of Bev- erly, a campaign he lost by a slim margin. Two years later he was a candidate for the House of Representatives and was defeated in this contest by Henry Cabot Lodge. It was during this period, in 1932, that Mayor Eaton of Beverly appointed Mr. Heaphy city solicitor, a post he occupies today.
Mr. Heaphy has maintained an active in- terest in his professional and social affilia- tions. He is a member of the Massachu- setts State Bar Association and the Essex County Bar Association. Politically he is a member of the Republican party and be- longs to the Beverly Republican Club and the Republican Club of Massachusetts. He is also a member of the Beverly Improve- ment Society, the North Shore Harvard Club, and fraternizes with the Knights of Columbus. In religion he adheres to the Roman Catholic faith. Mr. Heaphy resides at No. 14 Wellman Street, Beverly.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, OF LYNN, REV. J. STANISLAUS VERMETTE, PASTOR -The parish of St. John the Baptist at
It was in May, 1886, that Father Gadoury, of Salem, preached at a mission in St. Joseph's Church in Lynn, ministering to the French people here. The residents of this nationality flocked together in such num- bers that it was determined, with the ap- proval of the Archbishop, to form a parish for them in Lynn. Accordingly, they assem- bled September 14, 1886, for the purpose of forming their own church. Four days later Archbishop Williams gave Father Gadoury the altar stone for the new parish and ap- pointed him pastor. At the beginning Father Gadoury attended this mission from Salem. On September 19 he said Mass in a chapel in a building belonging to James N. Buffum, in Oxford Street. A tract of land was pur- chased at Henry and Washington streets, but this was exchanged in May, 1887, for a plot at Endicott and Franklin streets, and upon this property construction of a church was begun. The newly built church was dedicated December 4, 1887, by Archbishop Williams. Father John B. Parent was made resident pastor, succeeding Father Gadoury of this parish, which was then the only French church in Lynn.
The first mission conducted in this parish was in 1888 by Father Biron ; the second, in 1889, was celebrated by the Redemptorists; the third, in 1890, by the Marist Fathers; the fourth, in 1892, by the Redemptorists. At this time there was established a paro- chial school, and after it the usual church organizations and societies were formed. The parochial residence was built in 1888- a modest wooden structure. The church
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itself, Gothic in style, fronts on Franklin Street, and is discernible from a distance by the beautiful tower rising to the right of the nave.
Father Vermette, the present pastor of St. John the Baptist, received his education in Canada, and, coming to the United States, served a six-year curacy in Salem, Massa- chusetts. He was afterward appointed pas- tor at Ipswich and there began his notable record. Here he built a church, school, rec- tory, and convent. The number of parish- ioners was increased until they numbered five hundred. In the basement of the church was established a school seating one hun- dred and fifty children. The convent con- tained nine rooms and the rectory ten. The church building, which cost $60,000, was all paid for when Father Vermette left to begin his pastorate at Brockton.
November 1, 1926, he began his duties at Brockton and during the four years he spent there, continued his constructive work. He repaired the rectory ; remodeled the church ; bought two houses, which he converted into a convent; and erected a school building that cost nearly $70,000, accommodates four hundred children, who are taught by nine sisters.
Coming to Lynn on January 14, 1931, Father Vermette has improved the material value of the parish no less than he has nur- tured the souls of his parishioners. The church of St. John the Baptist is appealing to the eye and offers within its doors a rest- ful atmosphere. Upon entering the church one's attention is attracted by the beautiful stained glass windows-given by the parish- ioners-which shed a soft and mellow light through the church. Since Father Vermette has been pastor of this church he has brought about many improvements, includ- ing new flooring and remodeling the church, much new decoration and a beautiful organ,
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