USA > Massachusetts > The story of western Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 38
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Long before Simon England's graduation from high school, he and his older brother Benjamin had become familiar with the workings of the family store, where they helped in the afternoons after school. By this time it was being operated by their father, under the name of "M. England," his brother Louis having withdrawn from the partnership. It had also been moved twice, but had remained on the eastern side of North Street. In 1882, the year of Simon Eng- land's graduation, it moved again, this time into the store on the southeastern corner of North and School streets which had just been vacated by the bigger and more prosperous rival firm of Johnson and Bailey, which had moved across the street. Pittsfield was growing rapidly; the census of 1880 had shown a population of thirteen thousand as contrasted with the some seven thousand it had when Moses England started in business in 1857. A decade later the town had seventeen thousand inhabitants.
In the early eighties two clerks were employed in the store, in addition to the members of the family. By 1886 Moses England felt he could retire from business, and devoted the remaining twelve years of his life to other activities. Benjamin and Simon England, to whom he turned over the store, formed the partnership of England Brothers in 1886, and in 1891 they took in their twenty-three year old brother Daniel. This was a big year in Pittsfield's history, for with a population of 17,231, it was incorporated as a city. It was also a big year for England Brothers, for in addition to making a place for their new part- ner, they moved into a new four-story building which had been built across the street, in the southwestern corner of the present England Brothers block. At
that time England Brothers took up about half of the street frontage and the other half was occupied by the millinery concern of Jonas Muhlfelder, a brother- in-law from Albany. Since 1891 the store has expanded in a physical sense, until it now reaches to the corner of Depot Street and comprises seven stories, with a total of 140,000 square feet of floor space. It has ex- panded its scope and services as well until England Brothers has become known as one of the most modern and progressive department stores of its size to be found anywhere. When the business was first incorporated, in 1927, Simon England was made treasurer and director and in 1935, upon the death of his brother Benjamin, he became president also. Some three hundred and fifty persons are employed in the store.
Mr. England had been a director of the Agricultural National Bank since 1906, and was noted for his regular attendance at directors' meetings. His finan- cial astuteness combined with his warm and generous interest in philanthropic enterprises resulted in sound management and progress for many Pittsfield organi- zations with which he was connected. In 1928 he was made a member of the board of directors of the Pittsfield Community Fund, and in 1930 served as chairman of its budget committee. He served on the board of this organization until 1932, when he was elected vice president, and in 1939, was named presi- dent. He had become a member of the board of di- rectors of the Young Men's Christian Association in 1925 and was chairman of the finance committee from 1927 to 1930, also serving at various times on the committees on property, boys' work and other activi- ties. Another undertaking to which he gave time and energy was the committee which raised the funds by subscription and made the arrangements for the bronze memorial on South Street, dedicated on July 8, 1928, to the men and women of Pittsfield who served in World War I. He was also a member of the muni- cipal commission that built Pittsfield High School.
For many years Simon England was a member of the board of directors of the Working Girls' and Business Women's Association, and in 1937 gave to this organization the brick house on Wendell Avenue which had formerly been Miss Mills' private school for girls, and remodeled it for use as a women's club- house. This historic structure, which dates from the eighteen sixties, was originally the Thomas Colt resi- dence and was later lived in by Alvin C. Joslyn during the summers and still later used by Allen H. Bagg. Today it is modernized and adapted to a new use, to the great benefit of the working women of Pittsfield, thanks to the donor's public-spirited act.
Mr. England was honorary president of the Tem- ple Anshe Amonim and took a prominent part in its activities. He had been active on the board of direc- tors of the Berkshire County Home for Crippled Children. On May 16, 1941, he was the recipient of the annual civic award of the South Church Broth- erhood "in recognition of his outstanding community service," being the second citizen to be so honored, this award having been initiated the previous year.
Mr. England was one of the oldest members of the Pittsfield Country Club, where for years he played golf with his brothers Benjamin, Daniel and Dr. Al- bert England. He belonged to the Park Club and Rotary Club, and fraternally was affiliated with Mystic
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Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Berkshire Com- mandery, Knights Templar, and other Masonic bodies. In 1943 a medal was awarded him to honor his half- century of membership in the Mystic Lodge.
In politics Mr. England was a Republican. He al- ways had a keen interest in sports and used to attend all home games when Pittsfield was a member of the Eastern Baseball League. Another of his special in- terests was family birthdays and anniversaries, which he always delighted to celebrate in some special manner. In addition to his family, Mr. England took great pleasure in the close and pleasant ties he had formed over the years in the course of innumerable evenings devoted to whist, auction and contract bridge. These included Monday evenings given over to the mixed duplicate tournaments held regularly at the Women's Club, and many other evenings with a small group of kindred spirits who long ago formed the habit of meeting at each other's houses for bridge. The group consisted of the four England brothers, the late J. Harry (Governor) Cox of New Lebanon, the late Dr. Michael W. Flynn, the late Joseph M. McMahon, the late Henry H. Rice of New Lebanon, Thomas G. Crawford, now of Schenectady, New York, and Terence Cooney. Mr. England's partner for years was the late Joseph M. McMahon, and upon his death, his partner became Terence (or Ted) Cooney.
On November 8, 1905, Simon England married Frances Straus of Newark, New Jersey, who died on December 31, 1935. They became the parents of two children: 1. Simon, Jr., who served in the United States Army during World War II. 2. Mrs. Alan J. Blau, who is the mother of two children: Peter E. and Andrew J. Blau.
Simon England died in Pittsfield on April 14, 1948.
GEORGE L. QUINN, owner of Quinn's Wall- paper and Paint Store in North Adams, has been in this business since 1920 and has built the busi- ness up to four times the volume it was doing when he first became associated with it.
Mr. Quinn was born in North Adams on July 3, 1897, the son of Thomas and Mary (Fitzgerald) Quinn, both natives of Ireland and both now de- ceased. Both parents came to North Adams when in their youth. Thomas Quinn was a railroader on the old Boston & Troy Railroad, serving as a fore- man. Later he was injured in the local freight yards in North Adams, and he then left railroading and entered the liquor business in North Adams, erecting a building at 55 Union Street which is now occupied by Quinn's Wallpaper and Paint Store. George L. Quinn attended the Mark Hopkins Gram- mar School and Drury High School, of which he is a graduate. He then took up the study of mechani- cal dentistry, but about that time entered World War I as a private in Company K of the Coastal Artil- lery of the United States Army. After the war he worked on the Boston & Maine Railroad, on the work train. About 1915 his father, Thomas Quinn, established a paint and wallpaper business, and five years later, in 1920, George L. Quinn became associated with his father in its management. On the death of Thomas Quinn, which occurred in August 1924, George L. Quinn took over the busi- ness and has operated it ever since. Mr. Quinn is
a trustee and member of the board of investment of the Hoosac Savings Bank of North Adams. He has served in the past on the board of directors of the North Adams Chamber of Commerce and also on the North Adams Retail Board. He belongs to St. Francis Roman Catholic Church.
George L. Quinn was one of a family of twelve children, eight of whom are still living. Of the twelve children, two died in infancy. In addition to George L. Quinn, the other children of Thomas and Mary (Fitzgerald) Quinn are: I. James H. Quinn, Doctor of Medicine of Springfield. 2. T. F. Quinn, Doctor of Veterinary Surgery, now deceased. 3. Maurice P. Quinn, now employed in Quinn's Wallpaper and Paint Store. 4. W. J. Quinn, Doctor of Dental Surgery of Springfield. 5. Mary (Quinn) Daley of North Adams. 6. Anna (Quinn) Fitzger- ald of North Adams. 7. Gertrude (Quinn) Bossidy of Pittsfield. 8. Elizabeth (Quinn) Lovett of North Adams. 9. Helen (Quinn) Smith of Connecticut.
George L. Quinn married in 1923 at North Adams Ethel Drillio of Maitland, Nova Scotia, and they have four children. I. Elizabeth, born in North Adams in 1925. She is a graduate of Drury High School and of Russell Sage College at Troy, New York, of which George L. Quinn's sister Elizabeth is also a graduate. His daughter Elizabeth married Robert Chilson of North Adams. 2. George L. Jr., born in North Adams in 1926. He is a graduate of Cramwell Preparatory School at Lenox. During World War II he served with the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater of Operations, and is now attending the University of Bridgeport, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. 3. Joan, born in 1934 in North Adams and now a student at Drury High School. 4. James, born in 1938 at North Adams and now a student at Mark Hopkins Grammar School.
LOWELL MELCHER CLUCAS, general agent of the home agency of the Berkshire Life Insurance Company of Pittsfield and one of the outstanding producers in the field of life insurance in the state of Massachusetts, has been a resident of Stockbridge since 1922, when he first entered the insurance busi- ness. Mr. Clucas has had the distinction of member- ship in the nationwide but very exclusive Million Dollar Club of insurance agents from all companies, the requisition for membership in which is the under- writing of one million dollars or more in insurance per year. He takes an active interest in community affairs and is a member of many Western Massachusetts organizations.
Lowell Melcher Clucas was born in New York City, the son of Charles and Mary Baker (Welch) Clucas, his father being a publisher. He received his educa- tion at Phillips Academy, Andover, of which he is a graduate, and at Yale University, where he was graduated in the class of 1905 with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree. His first employment was with the banking firm of Redmond & Company of New York City. Shortly after leaving college, however, Mr. Clucas started in the brokerage business, in asso- ciation with his brother and a friend, the firm being known as Gilman & Clucas, of New York City. As a member of this firm Lowell M. Clucas sold bonds in and around New York City while his brother
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represented the firm on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
After fifteen years of selling bonds, Mr. Clucas was persuaded by the late W. D. Wyman, former presi- dent of the Berkshire Life Insurance Company of Pittsfield, to whom he had sold a great many bonds, to leave New York and enter the life insurance business in Western Massachusetts. This was in 1922. Mr. Clucas moved to Stockbridge, where he now lives, and began selling life insurance for the Berkshire Life Insurance Company by the "cold canvass" method. He did a thriving business in small policies the first year, but sold them in such a way that the purchasers began to talk to their friends about Mr. Clucas and the second year his business grew by leaps and bounds. Larger policies began to materialize and the "cold canvass" method became less and less necessary. In 1927, one of his best years, he sold $2,500,000 worth of insurance.
During World War II Mr. Clucas was chairman of the National War Fund for Stockbridge. He is a trus- tee of the Lee Savings Bank of Lee, and is a former director of the Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce. The clubs and societies to which he belongs include the K.O.A. Society of Phillips Academy at Andover, the Book and Snake Society of Yale University, the Graduates Club of New Haven, Racquet and Tennis Club of New York City, Recess Club of New York City, Yale Club of New York City, Bankers Club of New York City, the Colony Club of Springfield, the Lenox Club, and the Stockbridge Golf Club. Mr. Clucas is president of the Stockbridge Golf Club and a member of its governing board. He and his family attend the Episcopal Church.
Lowell Melcher Clucas married in New York City, on August 23, 1916, Frances Potter Tileston, the daughter of William and Juanita Tileston. Mrs. Clu- cas died on July 20, 1946. Lowell Melcher and Fran- ces Potter (Tileston) Clucas had three children: Lowell M. Clucas, Jr., born July 14, 1917; Frances Potter Clucas, born September 11, 1918; and Charles Clucas, born September 16, 1919. Lowell M. Clucas, Jr. who, like his father, is a graduate of Yale Uni- versity, was managing editor of the "Yale News" while in the University. He had an outstanding mili- tary career during World War II and also served with the bureau of war information in New York City. He is now with the "Voice of America." Frances P. Clucas served for three years in North Africa and Italy with the Red Cross. She married Dr. Franklin K. Paddock of Pittsfield on May 31, 1947. Charles Clucas served for four years in the Navy in the At- lantic and Pacific theaters. He graduated from Dart- mouth College in 1947, where he was a member of the varsity football team.
PATRICK JAMES KENNEDY, JR .- Making a career of a profession that more than any other con- tributes to the physical progress of national develop- ment-engineering-Patrick James Kennedy, Jr., has to his credit more than four decades of practice and experience. As founder and head of P. J. Kennedy and Company, consulting engineers of Holyoke, he has been identified with a wide variety of construction work, mainly in New England, although his firm is well known in many parts of the country.
A native of Holyoke, Patrick James Kennedy, Jr.,
was born in this city on January 1, 1885, son of Patrick J. and Ellen (Curran) Kennedy, his father being a general contractor in the city as far back as 1876, and, for several years prior to 1915, was superintendent of streets in the municipality. His son was graduated from the Sacred Heart Grammar School, in 1897; from the Holyoke High School, in 1901; and from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, class of 1906, a Bachelor of Science in engineering.
Not long after leaving the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Patrick James Kennedy, Jr., went to New York City as superintendent of construction of the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnel under the Hudson River. This first project of its kind between New York and New Jersey was an enterprise not alone of magnitude and importance, but one of great interest to engineers from all over and the public in general. During his early years he also was in charge of the compressed air work done in connection with the building of the No. 4 Dry Dock in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Returning to Holyoke, Mr. Kennedy established himself as a consulting engineer, serving local and New England communities and projects in the planning and construction of various types of power plants-steam, water, and electrical, dams, industrial plants, machinery designs and layouts. Much of his work has been done through the organization of P. J. Kennedy and Company, consulting engineers. His career has been marked by skill. Mr. Kennedy en- joys a well earned reputation with colleagues and clients, and with the profession in general for his skill and contributions to the raising of standards and of remuneration in the profession. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology he became a member of the Theta Chi fraternity, Beta chapter, and in social con- nections is a charter member of the Holyoke Rotary Club and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he is a Past Exalted Ruler. He is an associate member of the American Sociey of Civil Engineers; an associate member of the American Concrete In- stitute; a Registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; a past president of the Associated Contractors of Massachusetts; a mem- ber of The Moles, New York City; and a member of the Midwest Power Conference, Chicago. He wor- ships at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Holyoke.
On November 19, 1918, at West Hoboken, New Jersey, Patrick James Kennedy, Jr., married Helen Irene Douglass, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Douglass. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are the parents of a son, Douglass James, born November 24, 1919. An- other son, Edward Curran, born March 27, 1922, is now deceased.
JOHN D. BRUTNELL-A native of Western Massachusetts, and reared in familiarity with tools and machinery, John D. Brutnell of Pittsfield, capi- talizing on that early familiarity and on a sound technical training, has achieved outstanding success in the conduct of the mill and plumbing supply busi- ness with which he became connected some sixteen years ago and has owned and controlled for ten years to the present writing.
Born at Springfield on August 5, 1903, John D. is a son of the late Frank M. Brutnell and his wife
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Brightie (Keating) Brutnell, who is now also deceased. Frank M. Brutnell, a native of Springfield, was a machinist and tool maker by trade. He died in 1945, having been predeceased in 1942 by his wife, who was also born in Springfield. Mrs. Brightie (Keating) Brutnell's mother, a native of Ireland who came to Springfield in the year 1840, passed away in 1937 at the great age of one hundred and three years.
The young John D. Brutnell graduated from Tech- nical High School in his native city. During early youth he worked for several years on the farm with his brother Robert D. Brutnell. In 1923, however, he took employment at the Springfield branch of Crane Company, one of the largest concerns in the United States dealing in plumbing and heating equip- ment. Starting as a receiving clerk, Mr. Brutnell soon worked into the selling department, becoming city sales manager for the city of Springfield, and subsequently becoming sales representative of Crane Company for a large territory covering Western Mas- sachusetts and Vermont.
In March of 1932 Mr. Brutnell resigned from his position with Crane Company, and became associated with the Pittsfield Mill and Plumbing Supply Com- pany, which was then owned by the late John A. Nilson. In September, 1938, Mr. Brutnell acquired by purchase all interests in this concern, which since that time he has owned and managed with remark- able success, building up a very prosperous business, well and favorably known throughout that area of Massachusetts and in contiguous areas of adjacent States.
Mr. Brutnell participates in the business councils and civic movements of his adopted city as a mem- ber of the Pittsfield Lions Club. His fraternal affilia- tion is with Lodge No. 272, Pittsfield, of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. His favorite rec- reation is golf, in which he indulges, among other places, at the Wahconah Country Club of Dalton, where he holds membership. He is a Roman Catho- lic in religion, and a communicant of the Sacred Heart Church in Pittsfield.
John D. Brutnell is married to the former Mar- garet Galvin of Springfield, the ceremony occurring in that city on June 6, 1938. Mrs. Brutnell is a daughter of Edward J. and Honora (Sullivan) Galvin. Of this marriage four children have been born: I. Marilyn, born on October 22, 1939. 2. John D. Jr., born on July 12, 1941. This promising boy died on December 10, 1946, as the result of a tragic accident in which he was drowned under the ice. 3. Donald Galvin, born on May 21, 1944. 4. Edward G., born on Au- gust 3, 1946. All four children were born in Pitts- field.
RICHARD EUGENE FULLER-Since his return from service as a lieutenant in the United States Navy during World War II, Richard Eugene Fuller has taken an active part in the business and civic life of his native Westfield. Mr. Fuller, who graduated from the Yale University Law School just before going into the Navy, was admitted to the Massachusetts State Bar in 1946, and in the same year became treasurer of the American Abrasive Company of Westfield and vice president of the Cortland Grinding Wheels Cor- poration of Chester. In January, 1949, he became
assistant treasurer of the Hamilton Emery & Corun- dum Company of Chester in addition to the two posts mentioned above. Mr. Fuller is a director of all three companies and also serves as counsel. He is a di- rector and clerk of the Douglas Clinic, Inc., a medical clinic of Westfield, a director of the Sarah Gillett Home for Aged People, and a member of the West- field City Council.
Richard Eugene Fuller was born in Westfield, July 19, 1916, the son of Louis Melvin and Mary (Avison) Fuller. After attending Westfield High School, from which he graduated with honors in 1934, and Deerfield Academy, from which he graduated cum laude in 1935, Mr. Fuller became a student at Williams College at Williamstown and in 1939 was graduated cum laude from this institution, with honors in history and the coveted Phi Beta Kappa key. He was also a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and president of the Williams College chapter in 1939. He then went on to study law at the Yale University Law School, from which he graduated in 1942. He is a member of the national legal honorary society, Phi Delta Phi. In 1942 Mr. Fuller went into the United States Navy and served for three years, on duty principally in the Atlantic and European Theaters of Operation. He participated in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. In September, 1945 he was separated from active duty, with the rank of lieutenant. Upon return to Westfield, he passed the Massachusetts Bar ex- aminations and in March, 1946, was admitted to the bar of Massachusetts. Meantime he had become asso- ciated with the American Abrasive Company of West- field, which his father had founded in 1918. He was elected treasurer and director of this company in February, 1946, and has held these offices and served as counsel since. In November, 1946 he was elected vice president and a director of the Cortland Grinding Wheels Corporation of Chester and has held these offices and served as counsel of this company since. In January, 1949, he was elected assistant treasurer and a director of the Hamilton Emery & Corundum Company of Chester, and he also serves as counsel for this firm. Mr. Fuller is a director of the Westfield Co-operative Bank and a corporator of the Westfield Savings Bank. He was elected to the post of clerk, or secretary, of the Douglas Clinic, Inc., of Westfield and also to the board of directors of this medical clinic in October, 1947, and he is also a member of the board of directors of the Sarah Gillett Home for Aged People. Mr. Fuller serves as councilman-at-large on the Westfield city council, having been elected to this post for the term of 1947-49. He is a member of the Blandford Country Club and the Granville Fish and Game Club and belongs also to the American Legion. He is a member of the Church of the Atonement (Episcopal) of Westfield.
On September 26, 1942, at Worcester, Richard Eugene Fuller was married to Laura Elizabeth Forbes, the daughter of Henry Hooker and Helen (Stoiber) Forbes. Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Fuller are the parents of two children: I. Catharine Forbes Fuller, born July 9, 1946. 2. Elizabeth Avison Fuller, born November II, 1947.
WILLIAM AVISON FULLER, vice president of the American Abrasive Company of Westfield, treas- urer of the Cortland Grinding Wheels Corporation
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and the Hamilton Emery & Corundum Company, both of Chester, serves as a director in all three companies, and he has also been for several years a member of the board of directors of the Abrasive Grain Associa- tion and was president of the board in 1948.
William Avison Fuller was born July 23, 1910 in Westfield, the son of Louis Melvin and Mary (Avison) Fuller. His father, Louis Melvin (q.v.), is one of Westfield's well-known business executives, and is president of the American Abrasive Company, which he founded in 1918, and is also president of the Cort- land Grinding Wheels Corporation and the Hamilton Emery & Corundum Company. He is active in the city's political and civic life.
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