USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > Nashua's 75 year's of progress 1853-1928 > Part 4
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In addition to this native pine, they have lumber of all kinds, from the North, South and West, which includes maple, birch, whitewood, cypress, southern pine, redwood and mahogany. These woods are dressed - the most modern machinery being used - into any shape desired by the builders.
Their cooperage is shipped all over the United States, Canada, South America and England.
They occupy thirty acres of land at Nashua, and have twenty- five hundred feet of side track.
In addition to their local factories, they have a stave, heading and saw mill at West Hollis, N. H .; a keg and barrel factory at Jersey City, N. J. ; and a barrel factory at Kingston, N. Y. They have also operated mills at Bradford, Vt., Hanover, N. H., and Rochester. N. H.
The firm is owned and controlled by Nathaniel H. Proctor, Ira having died fifteen years ago.
The success of Proctor Bros. has been assured because their life has been wrapped up in service, not only to those associated with them, but those whom they are privileged to serve. This is their working philosophy of life and their religion.
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NATIONAL BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE CO.
The National Bread Wrapping Machine Co., is the outgrowth of an idea conceived by Mr. Henri A. Sevigne to protect bread and other food stuffs, through proper wrapping, from contamina- tion and to hold its freshness.
Mr. Sevigne, who is the General Manager and a Director of this Company, through his large experience in the paper business covering a series of years, which was carried on under the title of the National Wrapping Paper Co., realized the growing demand for protecting articles of food through proper wrapping.
The National Wrapping Paper Co. a sales organization selling Bread Wrappers and purchasing their supplies from the Wax Paper Division of the Nashua Gummed & Coated Paper Co. moved to Nashua from Boston in the fall of 1909. that they might be in closer touch with their supplies and shipments.
Mr. Sevigne had foreseen and accordingly had been working out. in an experimental way, a means by which packages could be wrapped by machine with a view to reach a production which would make it possible to have this protection for bread and food products universal.
After moving to Nashua. the developing of the Sevigne Wrapping Machine continued under the name of the Carter Rice & Co .. Machine Division. In 1920 the business was merged and incorporated as the National Bread Wrapping Machine Co., with Mr. James Richard Carter. Newton, Mass., as President, Mr. Henri A. Sevigne, Winthrop, Mass .. as Vice President. Mr. John C. Kennedy. Boston, Mass., as Treasurer and Mr. Harold Palmer, Boston, Mass., as Secretary.
After the death of Mr. James Richard Carter, his son Mr. Eliot A. Carter became President of the Corporation.
The first machine built by Mr. Sevigne was very small and operated by hand. but the principle was correct and stage by stage this machine has been improved and enlarged.
In 1913 the first power machine was shipped, proving very satisfactory and this same machine is still operating and in daily use.
The first factory was located on Pearsons Ave .. which served until 1918 when larger quarters were secured on Crown Street, where the manufacturing continued until 1923: at this time the
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demand for the Sevigne machines had so taxed the factory facilities that it was necessary to enlarge its capacity and the bus- iness was moved to its present commodious quarters on Broad Street where it has enjoyed a very marked increase in business. Today the factory is in full production in its Machine Division and in addition a very up-to-date foundry is being operated, furnishing its high grade Gray Iron, Brass Composition and Aluminum Castings.
The Sevigne Bread Wrapping Machines today are known and used the World over. The foreign trade is supplied through its agents the Baker-Perkins, Ltd., London, England.
NASHUA BUILDING COMPANY
One of the busiest places in Nashua is the Nashua Building Company on Temple Street. For more than 35 years, or ever since the company's organization in 1892, it has played an impor- tant and useful role in the development of the city, many of the principal civic and industrial buildings having been constructed by the company, as well as hundreds of attractive dwellings. Most of the important contracts in recent years have gone to this com- pany.
The Court House, Hunt Memorial Library, and the splendid new structure of the Indian Head Bank are a few examples of the fine workmanship of this company. It is doubtful if Nashua people realize what the company is equipped to do. It can fur- nish plans and specifications for a camp on Canobie Lake, or for an entire plant like that of the White Mountain Freezer Company. one of its products. It can build a house or an office building, a bridge or a concrete roadway, and it is constantly being called upon to perform the various tasks of the general contractor.
The company was organized in 1892 by Captain Charles A. Roby and Colonel William D. Swart.
The officers of the company are now :
G. A. Hopkins, President.
Luther A. Roby, Treasurer.
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THE OSGOOD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Organized in 1901, with George E. Osgood, Manager, and Horace E. Osgood, Treasurer, the Osgood Construction Company in a few years became one of the leading construction companies of southern New Hampshire, building many industrial plants, constructing civic buildings, and numerous splendid dwelling houses. One of its specialties is the construction of concrete roads and bridges Some of the finest bridges in the state have been built by this company, and one of the oldest strips of concrete road in this section, is a product of the Osgood Construction Company, still wearing fine after years of hard usage.
Examples of the work of this company are to be found in the Nashua Gummed and Coated Paper Company, the Jackson Mills, and the Crown Hill Fire Station. Hundreds of sightly Nashua residences are the work of this company, and elsewhere, ". there are numerous fine buildings like the Congregational Church at Hollis, and the Methodist Church in Suncook.
The present officers of the company are :
Roger C. Shattuck, President.
Earl D. Oulton, Vice-President.
Horace E. Osgood, Treasurer. Leon B. Davis, Secretary.
NASHUA BRASS COMPANY
The Nashua Brass Company was organized January 1, 1924 succeeding the Nashua Saddlery Hardware Company which was organized in 1889. having the same officers and the same capital- ization. the old name having become a misnomer owing to chang- ing conditions in the harness trade.
This Company manufactures brass and bronze hardware for plumbing, furniture, piano and various other trades. It employs about eighty-five people.
The present officers are. William J. Dennis. President; Wil- liam H. Beasom. Treasurer and Manager : John S. Perry. Super- intendent ; Vernon W. Campbell. Production Manager.
The directors are. William J. Dennis, John R. Spring and William H. Beasom.
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THE MAINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
White Mountain Refrigerators, manufactured by The Maine Manufacturing Company, are nationally known, advertised and distributed. A White Mountain Refrigerator - "The Chest With the Chill in it" - embodies all that is modern, all that is sanitary and all that is beautiful and artistic. Many models are equipped for immediate installation of the more popular makes of mechanical refrigeration, and there is a wide range in style and price of models suited for ice, electric or gas refrigeration.
The Maine Manufacturing Company was established in the town of Fairfield. Maine in 1874. As their business increased in volume, a city with better facilities for a large manufacturing plant was sought, and this resulted in the choosing of Nashua in 1895, where for over thirty years. this industry has shown a steady growth and offered steady and profitable employment.
For a number of years this business was conducted as a partnership by I. Frank Stevens and John E. Cotton. In 1912 upon the death of Mr. Cotton. Mr. Stevens became the sole owner of the Company, and his vision, skill and able management were responsible for the large growth of this industry during his life- time. Mr. I .Frank Stevens passed away in 1925 and since that time the management has rested in his two sons. Philip Ellis Stevens and I. Blaine Stevens, both of Nashua.
The Company's plant covers a tract of over nine acres and is situated on Bridge Street, along side of the Boston and Maine main line tracks and at the junction of the Merrimac and Nashua Rivers. The factory buildings are of brick and frame construc- tion, and the machinery and equipment is of the most modern and efficient type. A large battery of modern dry kilns thoroughly seasons millions of feet of lumber annually, and delivers it to mill to be cut up by efficient machinery, and later assembled by skilled workmen into quality refrigerators. The latest type of spraying equipment is employed in the Finishing Department, and auto- matic machines perform many and diverse operations.
The Maine Manufacturing Company is a leader in the Refrig- erator industry, and White Mountain Refrigerators have held first place for over fifty years, and will be found in over two million homes.
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NASHUA . N . H. THE WHITE MOUNTAIN FREEZER CO.
THE WHITE MOUNTAIN FREEZER COMPANY, Inc.
Some over fifty years ago in what is now the city of Laconia, N. H., The White Mountain Freezer Company was founded by Thomas Sands, who later served as Mayor of Nashua.
The business showed material growth and after a few years moved to its present location in Nashua. At that time a small plant was built and equipped that would seemingly care for its requirements for years to come, but the business developed rapidly, soon necessitating additional factory facilities, until the plant of today, which is the largest and most complete factory in the world devoted exclusively to the manufacture of ice cream freezers.
It is an industry employing a large force of men with good positions, earning good wages, and with homes and families in Nashua.
The business was under the sole proprietorship of Mr. Thomas Sands until 1888 when it was incorporated with Mr. Thomas Sands as President and Mr. Lester F. Thurber as Treas- urer and General Manager. In 1919 the present company was formed as The White Mountain Freezer Company, Inc. with Mr. Lester F. Thurber as President and former Mayor Eaton D. Sargent as Treasurer and General Manager.
White Mountain Freezers have a wide distribution through- out the United States and in foreign countries. They are the standard in excellence everywhere. A Nashua product sold all over the world.
AMERICAN BOX & LUMBER CO.
Twenty-six years ago, in 1902. one year before the Nashua Semi-Centennial celebration, the American Box and Lumber Com- pany was incorporated, this concern, whose officers were Charles A. Roby, President. Elbert Wheeler, Vice-President, and William D Swart, Treasurer and General Manager, being the outgrowth of the Roby and Swart Company which was organized in 1890.
The Plant, situated at Edgeville, consisted of a large manu- facturing building, power house enclosing steam engines of 650 H. P., canal and water wheel of 150 H. P., barns and storage sheds together with extensive board yards. In 1916 an electrically
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operated sawmill was built capable of turning out +5,000 feet daily and at the same time 45 acres of land were bought along Burke Street and south of Salmon Brook for the air drying of the annual sawmill cut of 11,000,000 feet. A few years later the Wheeler and Nutting Farm of 45 acres which bordered the property on the south was purchased giving the Company valuable frontage along the Boston & Maine right of way. The product consisted of boxes and box shooks of which a large percentage were delivered by motor truck to the Nashua Manufacturing Company and the balance shipped by rail to various points in the East
In December, 1922, the manufacturing part of the Plant at Edgeville was totally destroyed by fire and the original building which had stood for so many years were swept away. Construc- tion of the new plant was considerably hindered by the severe winter and the amount of ice on the ruins, but by October, 1923, everything was completed and manufacturing operations were again under way. In this connection it may be noticed that al- though the total manufacturing equipment had been destroyed by the fire packing cases were being delivered to the Nashua Manu- facturing two days after the fire although of course in limited quantities at first.
Since this date the general offices of the Company have been moved from the up-town district of Nashua to a new office build- ing recently constructed at the Plant itself, where the officers of the Company are in close contact with the manufacturing opera- tions.
At the present time the American Box and Lumber Company, at one time the largest individual box manufacturing plant in the East, furnishes employment to an average of two to three hundred hands and has a capacity of 20,000,000 feet of lumber annually. The officers are William D. Swart, President and General Man- ager. Frank E. Parker, Vice-President, William R. Swart, Treas- urer, Walter A Calderwood, Assistant Treasurer, Fred C. Mer- rill. Superintendent.
FOSSA LAUNDRY
The G. F. Fossa Laundry, organized in 1907. is the oldest laundry in Nashua and one of the most thoroughly modern plants of its kind in New England. From a modest beginning this plant
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has grown in 20 years to be the principal laundry in this section, representing on the part of its founder and owner, Mr. Fossa, a definite and highly creditable achievement.
When it started, on Charles Street, back in 1907, laundries were much less common than they are today, and the family wash was an inevitable chore which spoiled every Monday for the house wife. At that time there was a popular superstition that the best families would not send the family wash to a laundry because of the supposed danger from communicable disease. Mr Fossa was one of the pioneers in exposing this notion.
His laundry is excellently organized, thoroughly sanitary and up to date. Each family wash goes into a separate compartment in one of the huge washing machines, is removed, tagged, sent to a drying machine, and so on through the various processes. It is taken care of by help who have been carefully trained and often here been in the employ for many years. Clothes are not torn in- to bits or eaten up by corrosive chemicals, they are properly and thoroughly cleansed in boiling hot suds which neither dirt nor germs can survive.
Mr. Fossa is justly proud of his workers, some of whom have been with him for twenty years. He believes in paying high wages, in treating workers like human beings, and doing all that is possible for their comfort and convenience At the present time he is constructing a playground beside his laundry, with a clay court, a cool rest room, and numerous shade trees. The business which he has built up for himself is a credit to the man and to Nashua.
J. H. TOLLES & CO
High grade lumber and house finish has been manufactured and sold by J. H. Tolles & Co., 20 to 30 Quincy Street. for many years.
The mill. yard and offices are located on Quincy Street on the line of the Boston & Maine Railroad and every advantage is used to save in handling the large amount of Spruce Dimension, Pine and Hardwood lumber which is manufactured into mouldings, window and door frames, interior and exterior finish.
Lumber comes from all parts of the country and the mahog- any used in Bank and other costly panelling work is grown in Africa, Mexico and the Phillipines.
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This large business was built up by the late James H. Tolles and is now carried on by Mrs. Tolles. A continuous business in one family since 1872.
The dressing mill is fully equipped with modern machinery to produce house finish of all kinds. The cabinet shop has a set of well balanced machines and men who produce some of the finest of cabinet work for use in homes, Banks, Libraries, Schools and Churches. A wooden box plant occupies one floor and boxes of
J. H. Tolles & Co.
all sizes and thickness are manufactured for local use as well as for shipment by the carload. Three steam kilns are run for the drying of finish lumber as well as for the wood heel and other industries Lumber is dressed in transit for various outside ship- pers and this with the other manufacturing furnishes labor for some sixty men.
James L. Bickford is the Manager who is assisted by his son Jason Tolles Bickford, a grandson of the late Mr. James H. Tolles.
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INDIAN HEAD NATIONAL BANK
1851
1928
On July 2, 1851, over two years before the towns of Nashua and Nashville united under a city charter, the Indian Head Bank was incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000.00. The gran- tees named in the charter were Joseph Greeley, Josiah G. Graves, Francis Winch, Chas. G. Atherton, Geo. W. Perham, John Reed, Col. William Boardman, William D. Beasom, Elbridge G. Reed. and John H. Gage. The first seven of these grantees resided in Nashville, the others in Nashua. Joseph Greeley was elected pres- ident and Albert Mckean cashier.
While waiting for quarters in the building now known as the Nashua City Station, the bank carried on its affairs in the Central House, a building which stood where the Laton House is now lo- cated. In 1853 William D. Beasom was elected president which office he held for seventeen years.
On April 25, 1865, the stockholders voted to reorganize as a national bank. Upon resignation of Mr. McKean as cashier in 1867, John G. Kimball was elected to that office. Calvin B Hill assumed the office of president in 1870 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William D. Beasom. Frank A. Mckean was ap- pointed cashier in 1875. Dr. Edward Spalding served as presi- dent from 1881 to 1888. General George Stark, 1888 to 1889. Charles H. Campbell. 1889 to 1892 when Hon. David A. Gregg was elected president and William H. Beasom vice-president.
The quarters in the Depot Building having been outgrown, in 1893 the bank moved into the Whiting Block, where it remained until 1909 when still larger quarters were obtained in the Tele- graph Block.
Following the death in 1921 of Ira F. Harris, who had been cashier since 1895, Walter L. Barker was elected to that office.
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In the spring of 1922 the Telegraph Block was destroyed by fire. During the construction of the new building which the bank was erecting on the site of the Telegraph Block, business was con- ducted in temporary quarters in the immediate vicinity. In April 1924 the bank moved into the modern building it now occupies.
Hon. David A. Gregg, president since 1892. died February 18. 1928 and William H. Beasom was elected president and Harry A. Gregg vice-president.
The present officers of the bank are: President. William H. Beasom. Vice President. Harry A. Gregg. Cashier. Walter L. Barker. Assistant Cashiers, Everett F. Goodhue. Oscar H. Gag- non, Clarence E. Whitney. Directors : Walter T. Ashley, William H. Beasom, Walter 1 .. Barker, William H. Cadwell. Frank B. Clancy, Osias O. Deschamps, John H. Field, Ernest J. Flather, Harry A. Gregg, Frank E. Kittredge, Elmer D. Marshall, Albert J. McKean. Louis G. Neville, Arthur G. Shattuck, William C. Small, Sceva Speare, William F. Sullivan.
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THE SECOND
NATIONAL BANK of Nashua, N. H.
In the spring of 1875 a group of Nashua's leading citizens consisting of Jeremiah W. White, Charles Williams. George H. Whitney, Samuel K Wellman, William D. Cadwell, Seth D. Chandler and Evan B. Hammond organized The Second National Bank of Nashua, N. H. for the purpose of furnishing additional banking facilities to the citizens of Nashua. These citizens form- ed the Board of Directors and chose as president Jeremiah W. White. Cornelius V. Dearborn was elected cashier.
The Second National Bank first opened for business March 1. 1875 in a section of the Merchants Exchange Building. now-
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185 Main Street Its business grew in step with the progress of Nashua and in the latter part of 1900 it became necessary to en- large its quarters, which was done by remodeling its original bank- ing rooms. In August 1907 the old First National Bank was ab- sorbed and the business of the combined institutions was continued under the name of The Second National Bank.
During the year 1922 the bank's business had again increased so that the old quarters were inadequate. After long and careful consideration the Directors decided to proceed with the construc- tion of a new building rather than undertake further alteration of the location. Accordingly, the historic Tremont House was pur- chased and on the site was erected a modern banking building de- signed to care for the requirements of the bank for many years to come. This building was opened for inspection February 22, 1924 and on the following day The Second National Bank started serv- ing the people of Nashua in its present quarters.
At the time of the last report to the United States Govern- ment this bank had more money on deposit than any other nation- al bank in New Hampshire. The following comparison of assets reflects the steady growth of this bank.
$143,449.45 Dec. 30, 1905 934,152.53
Dec. 30, 1875 1885 255.020.24 " 1915 1,770,524.34
1895 510,740.01
1925 4,177,292.39
June 20, 1928 $4.665.838.87
Since its organization this bank has had three presidents, who have served as follows: Jeremiah W. White, 1875 - 1892; Fred W. Estabrook 1892 - 1916; and Lester F Thurber 1916- to date. Those who have served as cashiers are: Cornelius V. Dearborn 1875-1876; Fred A. Eaton, 1876-1913; John M. Blakey, 1913 to date. The Directors of this bank at the present time are : Lester F. Thurber, George F. Thurber, Herbert L. Flather, George L Sadler,, Ivory C Eaton, Cyrille Brodeur, Harry W. Ramsdell. Sam S. Dearborn, Willis A. Shedd, Winthrop L. Carter and Eaton D. Sargent. The officers at the present time are: Lester F. Thurber, President ; George F. Thurber, Vice-President ; John M. Blakey, Cashier; Charles E. Potter and Clarence E. Douglas, Assistant Cashiers.
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NASHUA TRUST COMPANY
The Nashua Trust Company began business in the early part of 1890 in the McQuesten building on Main Street. From a very modest beginning it has progressed in strength from the smallest to the largest banking corporation in the City. The statement dated December 31, 1927 showed a Capital of $200.000.00. a Sur- plus and Undivided Profit account of $400,971.77.
When Nashua celebrated the Semi-Centennial Celebration in June, 1903, the deposits of this bank were $960.000.00 divided among some twenty-four hundred depositors. In June, 1928. the deposits were $5,865,958.22 with over 13,000 depositors on its books. Among its depositors are many of Nashua's largest and most successful corporations, merchants and professional men.
The bank is very pleasantly and conveniently located at the corner of East Pearl and Main Streets in the Masonic Temple. In 1926. the bank took over additional space and completely re- modelled its banking rooms giving it facilities to render efficiently every accomodation and service a progressive bank is called upon to furnish. This company does a general banking business, hand- ling accounts subject to check, a Savings Department in which the depositors receive four percent interest, conducts a Safe Deposit Department, renting boxes in a fire and burglar-proof vault with convenient rooms where a box-renter may inspect the contents of his box in private. In addition to making loans to its commercial depositors, this bank has always been as liberal as is consistent with good banking practice in making loans. On local real estate, it is loaning at this time an amount in excess of two million dollars, secured by first mortgages to resident of Nashua and immediate vicinity. The Nashua Trust Company also maintains a Trust Department handling some half million dollars in trust funds. This department is being utilized by the public in a very marked degree as they realize that a corporate Fiduciary is never absent and never dies.
The directors are all residents of Nashua and have been closely identified with Nashua's progress : Charles H. Austin, Elec- trical Engineer, Joseph L. Clough, Insurance, George E. Danforth, Postmaster, Arthur DeMontigny, Jeweler. Thomas J. Dowd. Mer- chant, Elmer W. Eaton, Retired, Robert B. Hamblett, Attorney, Albert H. Hunt, Clothier, John C. MacIldowie, Manager Asbes-
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tos Wood & Shingle Co., Roscoe S. Milliken. Retired, Francis P. Murphy, Vice-President. J. F. McElwain Co .. Walter F. Norton, Superintendent, Gas Department, Public Service Co. of N. H, Nashua Division. William D. Swart, President. American Box & Lumber Co .. William R. Swart. Treasurer. American Box & Lum- ber Co .. Elbert Wheeler. Retired.
Officers : William D. Swart. President, Elbert Wheeler, First Vice-President. Joseph L. Clough. Second Vice-President. George E. Harris, Secretary and Treasurer.
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