USA > Massachusetts > The story of western Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 44
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Run in 1902, and proved superiority by winning all impromptu short speed sprints, particularly on hills.
A contest for company control stopped production of the three-cylinder car, and Duryea started produc- tion at once in 1908, on a small scale, of an air-cooled, roller-drive motor buggy that was sold all over the world, until production stopped with the start of World War I. He operated Duryea Laboratories until his death, doing research work and acting as patent and engineering consultant for the auto industry that he had started in 1892.
His Duryea cars had led the way from 1892-1902, with performance, patent, product and publicity, and Duryea had made Springfield the birthplace of the American automobile industry.
Duryea did a great deal to educate mechanics and the public in the new art. He was editor of the Gaso- line Query Department of the "Cycle and Auto Trade Journal" for fifteen years, beginning in 1902. He wrote "Roadside Troubles" for the American Motor League, and was the first president of that organization from 1895 to 1902. He assisted James E. Homans in pre- paring his "Self-Propelled Vehicles," of which over a million copies were sold. He also was associate edi- tor of "The American Automobile Encyclopedia." He was a founder of the Society of Automotive Engi- neers, and of the Pennsylvania Motor Federation. He was a member of the executive committee of the first auto makers' association, the N. A. A. M.
Duryea, as a car manufacturer and expert fought the Selden patent suits that started in 1902, and which were an attempt of the Electric Vehicle Company of Hartford, to control the infant auto industry. These suits ended in January, 1911, when the judges made the final decision, that follows in part --- "that Selden had solved a great problem and is entitled to the status of a pioneer, is we think, without foundation. . .. The pioneer inventors appear to have been Daimler and Benz abroad and Duryea, Olds and Ford (and per- haps one or two others) in this country."
He won the Charles E. Duryea vs Elwood Haynes "first car" controversy of the early 1920s by proving that his car was running almost two years before the Haynes car was operating.
Duryea was well informed also on the various social, economic and political problems. He was active in the Methodist Church. His wife died in 1942, and they had three children, daughters Rhea Edna, widow of W. H. Johnson, Grace Louise, both of Philadelphia, and a son Merle Junius of Longmeadow.
ALBERT EDGAR FOWLER-The late Albert Edgar Fowler of Westfield, who up to the time of his death in 1935 was one of the largest individual shade tobacco growers of Hampden County and well known in tobacco-growing circles, was born in West- field on November 17, 1873. He was the son of John and Adeline Moore (Bartholomew) Fowler, his father having been a farmer of this vicinity and for twelve years a selectman of Westfield. In his political affilia- tion John Fowler was a Democrat.
Albert Edgar Fowler attended the Westfield public schools and Eastman Business College in Spring- field, of which he is a graduate. He started the raising of tobacco on his father's farm, and was engaged in
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that occupation for the greater part of his life. He served on the board of directors of the New England Tobacco Growers Association. In his later years Mr. Fowler paid considerable attention to the raising of potatoes, he was a director of the New England Po- tato Growers Association, and in 1932, he won the Hampden County award for the largest potato yield per acre, 625.8 bushels harvested.
Mr. Fowler was a director of the Sarah Gillett Home of Westfield, and he served as chairman of the restora- tion committee of the Old Colonial Cemetery in West- field. He was a member of the Westfield Country Club and fraternally was affiliated with Mount Moriah Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He be- longed to the First Congregational Church of West- field.
On December 30, 1908, in the Bush Homestead in Westfield, Albert Edgar Fowler was married to Eliza- beth Bush, the daughter of William Seth and Fannie Elizabeth (Noble) Bush. Mrs. Elizabeth (Bush) Fow- ler has been very active in civic affairs in Westfield. For the past fourteen years she has been chairman of the Westfield Park Commission. She is a member of the Hopefully Well Affected Club of Westfield. Mrs. Fowler was the first treasurer of the National Federa- tion of Garden Clubs and is a director of the Massa- chusetts Federation of Garden Clubs. She is a past president of the Westfield Women's Club.
To the union of Albert Edgar and Elizabeth (Bush) Fowler were born four children: I. Sally Bush Fowler, born January 5, 1910. She married John L. McCon- chie, and they have three children: John Jr., James Hamilton, and Edward Fowler. 2. Albert Edgar Fowler, Jr., born June 19, 1911, died April 6, 1940. 3. Elizabeth Fowler, born October 9, 1914. She mar- ried Edwin St. John Avery, and they have two chil- dren: Priscilla and Charles St. John Avery. 4. Mary Jane, born February 10, 1921, who married William J. Finnell.
At the peak of a full lifetime of productive effort. Albert Edgar Fowler died at his home in Westfield, October 16, 1935. He lies buried in Pine Hill Ceme- tery, Westfield.
JAMES HOLLAND MULCARE-A leading at- torney of Springfield, James Holland Mulcare has earned a sterling reputation for his good judgment and just treatment of a host of loyal clients.
Mr. Mulcare was born July 10, 1883, at North Adams, son of Thomas and Bridget (Dempsey) Mul- care. His father, who was born in 1857, became a wholesale liquor dealer in North Adams, retired in 1915, and died in December, 1918. His mother, who was born in 1863, died in 1895.
James Mulcare received his public and high school training at North Adams, being graduated from the Drury High School there. He attended the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology, and received the degree of Bachelor of Laws at the Georgetown Uni- versity Law School in 1909.
The following year Mr. Mulcare began the practice of law with William F. Benington at North Adams. Later he became associated with the law firm of Green and Bennett at Holyoke. In 1911, he began his own practice, opening a law office in Springfield, and two years later, in 1913, he formed a partnership with
Nathaniel M. Harvey, the firm being known as Harvey and Mulcare. Since then he has carried on a general practice, and throughout the years he has been sub- stantially successful.
Mr. Mulcare is prominent in his community as a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Hampden County Bar Association, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religious affiliation he is a Catholic, attending the Holy Name Roman Catholic Church.
On January 17, 1912, at Arlington, New Jersey, James Holland Mulcare married (first) Albertina Roder, who died at Arlington June 17, 1933. They became the parents of the following children: I. Eileen, who was born in November, 1912, was gradu- ated from the Classical High School and the Leslie School, of Boston, and married Roger Chamberland, of New Britain, Connecticut, an accountant; they became the parents of two children, Carol Chamber- land and Robert Chamberland. 2. James John, who was born July 23, 1916, was graduated from the Classical High School and the Wilbraham Academy, in 1939, received the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Union College. He joined the United States Naval Re- serve as a member of the V-7 program, trained at Northwestern University, served on the destroyer "Meredith" as an ensign, later was assigned to the destroyer escort "Joseph E. Campbell," as commander in December, 1944, went to the Pacific as a lieutenant commander, participated in action off the coast of Okinawa, was active until the surrender of Japan, in November, 1945. He was honorably discharged from the Naval Reserve, and is now a special agent for the Aetna Casualty and Surety Company. He married Catherine McNally, of Canada, and they have had one child born to them, Deborah Mulcare. 3. Albertina Celeste, who was born February 14, 1918, attended the Classical High School and the MacDuffie School, and was married to Harry A. Moran, an attorney; they became the parents of one child, Patricia Moran. 4. Mabel Ann, who was born in April, 1921, was graduated from the Classical High School and the MacDuffie School, and was married to Edward Lance Anderson, of Fulton, New York, who is now a captain stationed at Sacramento, California; the fol- lowing children were born to them: i. Edward Lance, Jr. ii. Michael. iii. Patricia.
In July, 1935, at Springfield, James Holland Mul- care married (second) Alice (Laduke) McKeague, daughter of Edward and Millicent (Collopy) Laduke. Her father is a Holyoke dentist. James Holland and Alice (Laduke) McKeague Mulcare became the par- ents of one child, Nancy Patricia Mulcare, who was born in 1936, and is now attending junior high school.
CLARENCE EUGENE CHAFFIN-For many years a prominent member of the thread industry, Clarence Eugene Chaffin did much to further the prog- ress of this line of business as president of the Bay State Thread Works of Springfield. His enterprising spirit and business acumen earned for him a sterling reputation among a host of close friends and asso- ciates. He merited the esteem and respect of his community.
Mr. Chaffin was born, in 1883, at Portland, Maine. After receiving his education, he came to Massachu- setts and became associated with the Westfield Braid
CLARENCE E. CHAFFIN
W. Mass. IV -- 21
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Company. He remained with this firm for two years, gaining knowledge and experience. At the end of this period he went to Michigan, where he joined the War- ren Featherbone Company. This enterprise was mak- ing imitation whale bone out of turkey quills to alleviate a shortage in the foundation support industry caused by a lack of the necessary amounts of whale bones. This firm prospered as long as turkey quills lasted, but soon demand exceeded the supply of tur- key quills and the company was forced to check its expansion. Mr. Chaffin came East and became en- gaged in the meat packing industry at Somerville.
In 1906 Mr. Chaffin joined the Bay State Thread Works as office manager. Four years earlier the firm had been started by Edwin S. Smith. At that time Mr. Smith was connected with the Warren Thread Works in Westfield. Wanting to establish his own business. he interested a group of influential Spring- field citizens in the financial backing of an enterprise situated on the banks of the Mill River. When Mr. Chaffin entered the growing concern as office mana- ger, he was assigned to work with the plant superin- tendent on costs of manufacturing. Soon Mr. Chaffin became superintendent in charge of costs, and the plant superintendent became plant foreman. confining himself to operations. The firm dealt in the sale of its goods through jobbers. which was proving un- reliable. Mr. Chaffin saw the disadvantages of this procedure. The company's name was not being built up. In 1914. after he had become treasurer and general manager. he proposed to the Board of Directors that the company drop the jobber system and sell direct to the manufacturer through branch offices. The use of this system of sales promotion built up the firm's brand names and made it possible for it to act as a consulting engineer in co-operation with sewing ma- chine companies, assisting manufacturers with pro- duction problems.
In 1917, at the time of the first World War. Mr. Chaffin was called by the military authorities to give his expert opinion on the types of threads which would best withstand the wear and tear of the rigors of Army life. The war ended before his recommenda- tions had been brought into practice.
In 1929 Mr. Chaffin was elected to the presidency of the firm and remained active in this capacity until the close of his life. In 1935 he and his associates patented a ready-wound bobbin with paper sides which since has been extensively used in thread manufacture. The firm also invented the machine to make the bobbin. In 1937 these two achievements received the certificate of merit award for the Bay State Thread Works from the Associated Industries of Massachu- setts for outstanding development and improvement in manufacturing. In 1942 the company payroll in- cluded almost one hundred-fifty employees. The build- ings and equipment included a dye house and bleach house and a new office building. During the second World War the company produced thread for many items used by the military and naval forces, including such items as gun muzzle covers, logger boots, haver- sacks, aviator helmets, asbestos gloves, army leggings, and navy raincoats.
In addition to his local business interests, Mr. Chaffin was a member of the National Cotton Insti- tute. which was organized during the National In- dustrial Recovery Administration. He became its
treasurer and a member of its executive board. In 1939 he served as acting chairman of the institute committee that met with government officials to make specifications for government thread needs. This or- ganization, in which Mr. Chaffin played such a promi- nent part, has done much to bring about standardiza- tion and simplification in the thread industry.
Clarence Eugene Chaffin married Gertrude V. Bill- ings. and they became the parents of Maurice Marshall Chaffin. a sketch of whom immediatelly follows.
In 1943. at Springfield. Clarence Eugene Chaffin passed away. His death was a cause of deep regret among the members of his community who had come to look upon him as a benevolent friend and advisor. The thread industry suffered a great loss with his going.
MAURICE MARSHALL CHAFFIN-A business leader of Springfield, and one of the important mem- bers of the thread industry, Maurice Marshall Chaffin has made significant contributions toward the progress and development of this city.
Mr. Chaffin was born August 21, 1909. at Spring- field. son of Clarence Eugene (q. v.) and Gertrude V. (Billings) Chaffin. He received his early education in the Springfield public schools, attended Technical High School, and studied at the Culver Military Academy. Indiana. He also was a student at the Clark School, in New Hampshire, and Norwich Uni- versity, in Vermont. He received the degree of Bache- lor of Business Administration at Northeastern Uni- versity, Springfield Division.
In 1931, after finishing his formal education, Mr. Chaffin became associated with the Bay State Thread Works as a member of the firm's office staff. In 1938 he became a member of the sales force, a capacity in which he served for three years. In these different types of positions he developed excellent qualities of leadership and executive ability. Therefore, in 1941, he was promoted to the position of treasurer of the con- cern. The following year he became a director, and, in 1944, after the death of his father, he was elected president, the position he has held since with dis- tinction. The firm produces thread for many varied uses. During World War I it gave valuable counsel to the Armed Services on threads for uniforms and other equipment, and during World War II thread was supplied for a multitude of uses. The company, under the able leadership of Mr. Chaffin, is looking toward the future with confidence.
In addition to his business interests, Mr. Chaffin is active in his community as a member of prominent organizations. He holds membership in the Junior Chamber of Commerce and has been a director of this group. He is now active in the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the Board of Manage- ment of the Young Men's Christian Association and is very active in the "Y" Men's Club. He also belongs to the Rotary Club and Sigma Alpha Epsilon frater- nity. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and in religious affiliation is a Congregationalist, attending the First Congregational Church of Springfield. His hobby is amateur photography.
On December 31, 1938, at Springfield, Maurice Mar- shall Chaffin married Laura M. Ligertwood, daughter of George Ligertwood, who was an executive with the
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Moore Drop Forging Company. She was born May 30, 1914, at Schenectady, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Chaffin became the parents of a son, Douglas George Chaffin, who was born December 13, 1943.
ARCHIBALD JOHN DOUGLAS, M. D .- One of the outstanding surgeons of Western Massachusetts, Dr. Archibald John Douglas is chief surgeon at Noble Hospital in Westfield and president of the Douglas Clinic, Inc., which he founded in 1947. Dr. Douglas has practiced in Westfield since 1905, and has a na- tional reputation as a surgeon.
He was born February 5, 1879 at Westfield, the son of George Smith and Jennie Thankful (Barnes) Doug- las. His father was a whip manufacturer. Dr. Douglas attended the Westfield public schools and after gradu- ating from Westfield High School, studied medicine at Albany Medical College, where he graduated in 1903 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He in- terned at Albany Hospital from 1903 to 1905. He then returned to Westfield and entered upon the general practice of medicine. By 1909 he was leaning toward specialization in surgery, and as the years passed he gradually began to confine himself to this field. Since 1925 he has done nothing but surgery. Dr. Douglas is chief of the staff at Noble Hospital and chief sur- geon at the hospital. He is also visiting surgeon of the Cancer Section of the Westfield State Sanitarium and a member of the consulting staff of the Wesson Memorial Hospital in Springfield. In 1947 he founded the Douglas Clinic, Inc., located at 48 Court Street in Westfield, and he serves as president of the corpora- tion.
Dr. Douglas is a member of the executive committee of the Council of the Massachusetts Medical Society and has several times served as president of the Hampden County Medical Society. He is also a mem- ber of the Westfield Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the New England Cancer So- ciety, and the New England Surgical Society, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He serves on the Council of the New England State Medi- cal Societies. During both World War I and World War II, Dr. Douglas served on the board of examiners of the Selective Service Board, and some years ago he was active as chairman of the Westfield Board of Health. Aside from his profession, he is vice presi- dent of the Westfield Marble Company, and the owner of a one hundred acre farm which has been in the Douglas family since 1802.
Fraternally Dr. Douglas is affiliated with Westfield Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights Templar and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the University Club of Springfield. For twenty-five years he has served as deacon of the First Congregational Church of Westfield.
On June 7, 1911, Dr. Archibald John Douglas mar- ried Florence Knowles, the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Root) Knowles. Dr. and Mrs. Douglas have two children: I. Jean, who married Lewis Mil- ler, a professor at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. 2. Richard Knowles Douglas, M. D., now surgical resident at Albany Hospital in Albany, New York, where Dr. Archibald John Douglas interned some forty-five years ago.
IRVING I. GREENBERG, an important tire dealer in Springfield, has demonstrated the fine qualities of leadership and business acumen which have earned for him an excellent reputation among his many friends and business associates.
Mr. Greenberg was born June 22, 1897, at Kiev, Russia, son of Sidney and Mary (Post) Greenberg. His father, a Russian government official, died in 1905. His mother died in July, 1939. Irving I. Greenberg was educated in the public schools of Springfield.
In 1914, after having completed his educational training, Mr. Greenberg worked for several different tire companies. In August, 1927, he established the City Tire Company, and became a representative of the United States Tire Company in Springfield. He incorporated the enterprise in 1946, and since has served as president. The firm under the leadership and management of Mr. Greenberg has been highly successful and has gained a good reputation for ex- cellent service.
Mr. Greenberg plays an active role in the affairs of his community. He holds memberships in the National Tire Dealers' Association, the Tire Council of Springfield, and is an honorary member of the Dealers' Advisory Council of the United States Rub- ber Company. He is active in the affairs of the City of Homes, the Probus Club, the Chamber of Com- merce, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Father Flanagan Asso- ciation, and the Kodimoh Men's Club. Politically, he is an independent voter, and in religious belief he adheres to the Hebrew faith, attending the Kodimoh Orthodox Congregation.
On December 17, 1922, at Springfield, Irving I. Greenberg married Rose Hurwitz, daughter of Israel and Celia Hurwitz. Mrs. Greenberg was born April 29, 1898, in Russia, received her early education in the Springfield elementary and secondary schools, and was graduated from the Bay Path Institute. Irving I. and Rose (Hurwitz) Greenberg became the parents of the following children: I. Shiela, who was born June 30, 1924, attended grammar school and high school, received the degree of Bachelor of Arts at the University of Wisconsin in 1946, and is now as- sociated in business with her father. 2. Lawrence, who was born May 29, 1930, and is attending the New York Military Academy.
LOUIS FRANCIS FERRARA-In an earlier day the village smithy fulfilled an important function in every community, for the world went on wheels, iron bound and drawn by horses with iron shoes; and the blacksmith, always available to repair a damaged wheel or replace a cast shoe, was an essential factor in keeping life rolling. It is not so far a cry as it might seem from the village smithy to the specialized service in repair and replacement of automotive parts, especially springs, which is the business of the Ferrara Spring and Parts Company of Springfield; for the world still goes on wheels, and though they are now made of inflated rubber, they depend on springs, axles, hubs and other parts which are of metal. It is very fitting, therefore, that the sons and grandsons of blacksmiths should today be engaged in keeping the wheels rolling as specialists in automotive parts and replacements and particularly automobile spring ser- vice and repairs.
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Louis Francis Ferrara Fed anthony Finance
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Across the seas in Italy a good many years ago the grandfather, Louis Ferrara was a skilled and able blacksmith, and this trade and its techniques he passed on to the son born to him by his wife Theodora, the son being named Frank P. The latter brought his blacksmithing lore with him to America, where he first followed his trade in New York City, later coming to Massachusetts and settling in Springfield. There he kept pace with the trend of the times, and by so doing built up an extensive and successful business. Beginning by doing general smithing and making wagon springs, he gradually changed over to the manufacture principally of automobile springs.
The late Frank P. Ferrara was born in Italy on September 16, 1878. Initiated into his trade as a boy, he came to the United States while still young, and it was in 1895 that he set up in business in Springfield. As early as 1912 he established his own business at 740 Worthington Street. Good work brought increas- ing business, and the need for expansion; and as his two sons Louis F. and Fred A., both born in Spring- field, grew up, he took them into partnership, calling the firm Frank P. Ferrara and Sons. In 1932 the continued growth of the enterprise made incorpora- tion advisable, and the firm accordingly became The Ferrara Auto Spring Works, Inc., with the founder as general manager while Louis F. Ferrara became president and Fred A. Ferrara, treasurer. After the death of Frank P. Ferrara at Springfield on March 19, 1936, The Ferrara Auto Spring Works, Inc., be- came The Ferrara Spring and Parts Company, Inc. During his many years in Springfield Frank P. Fer- rara was a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and was a supporter of the Democratic party. He married Rosina Palazzi, a daughter of Fred and Mary (Sergio) Pa- lazzi, both natives of Italy, where Mary (Sergio) Palazzi died. Fred Palazzi, who was a stone mason and contractor in Italy, came to the United States in his later years and, after staying in Springfield for a while, died in New York City. Louis F. and Fred A. Ferrara are the sons of Frank P. and Rosina (Pa- lazzi) Ferrara.
Born at Springfield, on April 20, 1902, Louis Fran- cis Ferrara attended the public schools there including night school. A sturdy lad, he began helping his father at the age of twelve years, and by the time he was fourteen, eager to assist in the rapidly growing busi- ness, he quit school and devoted himself to learning the family trade of blacksmithing, under his father's able tutelage. We have already noted how at a later period he and his brother became their father's part- ners, and still later, officers of the Ferrara Auto Spring Works, Inc. In the present corporation, the Ferrara Spring and Parts Company, Louis Francis Ferrara is president, Fred A. Ferrara is treasurer, Raymond J. Girotti is general manager. Other offices are filled by Mario L. Vigilano, sales manager; Edward Girotti, machine shop foreman; Joseph Stochere, spring ser- vice manager; and Lillian A. Cotti, office manager. As indicated by its name, the company deals in automotive parts generally, but specializes in manufacturing and repairing automobile springs. The business has be- come widely known in the New England states through its slogan, "When it's a spring, give us a ring." This business, when it was started years ago,
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