USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Dover > Dover dates, 1722-1922 : a bicentennial history of Dover, New Jersey , published in connection with Dover's two hundredth anniversary celebration under the direction of the Dover fire department, August 9, 10, 11, 1922 > Part 19
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The American Legion is non-partisan, non-political and non-sec- tarian. Legion posts do not endorse candidates or permit officers of their organizations to enter political fields. There is no distinction of rank nor discrimination between overseas and American service. All veterans who served honorably between April 6, 1917, and November II, 1918, are eligible to membership.
The Post not only assists the disabled, but handles claims for travel pay, back pay, bonus, undelivered discharges, employment, unpaid allot- ments to dependents, Liberty Bonds, clothing and equipment, voca- tional training, French memorial certificates, Victory medals, civil rights, admission to the United States Soldiers' Home, medical and hospital
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care, and gives veterans complete information regarding beneficial legis- lation.
Nominal dues are charged to finance the Post, and a per capita tax of $1 is paid to national headquarters. This amount includes a subscrip- tion to the "American Legion Weekly," which is a very popular vete- rans' magazine.
The American Legion has taken over the work of the Grand Army of the Republic in remembering the departed heroes on Memorial Day each year. There are eighteen heroes buried in local cemeteries who met death while in the service. Eighteen others are buried in France, and one in England. The Legion intends to perpetuate the record of these noble men who gave their lives in defense of the principls on which our Government is founded.
Since July, "1919, nine posts of the Legion have been formed in Morris County, Dover having the distinction of being the first formed in the county. The American Legion has come to stay, and its growth to 1,000,000 members has been phenomenal. Within a few years another million members will, without a doubt, be on the rosters of the 10,000 posts throughout the country.
The William Hedges Baker Post has planned numerous events for the coming year, and it is anticipated that the membership will be doubled by January I, 1923.
Since the organization was formed the following members have served as the principal officers: Commanders-Dr. A. L. L. Baker, 1919-20; George R. Flartey, 1921 ; Frank F. Apgar, 1922. Vice-com- manders-Roy E. Lynd, 1920; Charles S. Cooper, 1920; Dr. J. W. Farrow, 1920; Frank F. Apgar, 1921 ; Lipman Harris, 1921 ; Robert Hoch, 1921 ; Charles A. Gillen, 1922; Benj. H. Hosking, 1922. Adju- tants-George R. Flartey, 1919; Benj. H. Hosking, 1920; Chas. A. Gillen, 1921; Stewart Kahler, 1922. Finance officers-Earl C. Nelson, 1920; Henry C. Rieger, 1921; Edgar J. Maloney, 1922. Present Board of Trustees-Dr. J. W. Farrow, Henry C. Rieger, Roy E. Lynd, George R. Flartey, Eugene E. Cooper.
All of these men, along with scores of others, have been active in promoting the interests of the American Legion. The charter list con- tains the names of 250 veterans.
PART VI Industrial Plants
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SILK MILLS OF DOVER By Fred W. Batten
In the early part of 1881 the Singleton Silk Manufacturing Com- pany put up a building on a plot of land acquired from John W. Hurd, being part of the lot known as Coon Forge Tract, and started what is termed a Throwing Plant. A few years later the S. S. Mfg. Co. began the operation of a dyeing business. This latter was discon- tinued about 1912. The Throwing business was continued without break until February, 1922.
In the latter part of 1899 the Singleton Silk Manufacturing Com- pany started operating in the frame mill at Wharton formerly operated by Ross & Baker and continued so until 1907, when they moved machinery to Luxemburg mill, operating there until 1917.
Meanwhile, in the latter part of 1881, C. C. Hopper rented the upper floor of the Singleton factory in Dover, later changing the name of his business to "Dover Silk Company," continuing so until about May, 1884, /when E. J. Ross entered the firm and business was con- tinued as Hopper & Ross until about October, 1885, when George B. Baker formed a partnership with Mr. Ross and the business was conducted under the firm name of Ross & Baker until December, 1888. Then they moved to Wharton, at that time known as Port Oram, to a frame mill below the Pine Grove, opposite the present Central R. R. depot. Later they acquired a large part of Luxemburg and built large mills near the Washington Pond, occupying part of it with machinery moved from the Wharton frame mill, operating same until 1917, when it was purchased by the Wharton Textile Company.
The Ross affiliations were Broad Silk Weavers and Dyers.
THE SWISS KNITTING COMPANY
In 1890 Emil G. Kattermann came to Dover to join his older brother, then in the employ of Baker and Ross in their silk mill at Wharton. In 1891, with one hand-knitting machine, he started in busi- ness for himself in Paterson under the name of Swiss Knitting Com- pany, making Ladies' Silk Swiss ribbed underwear.
The Swiss ribbed knitted goods had not been made in this country successfully until the Mckinley tariff went into effect.
After five years in Paterson, Mr. Kattermann, having by this time acquired twenty machines, brought them with him to Dover and built, in 1896, the first or middle part of his factory, on land given by Andrew Roderer. The Dover Board of Trade gave $350 to pay his moving expenses in bringing this industry to Dover.
In 1899 his brother, Paul F. Kattermann, entered into partnership with him and the east wing was added to the factory, with more machines, introducing the American circular goods. The original Swiss goods were knitted flat with selvedge and sewed together. In 1910 the brick addition was built. By this time seventy machines were operated.
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Cotton and woolen yarns, and silk thread, also wool and silk mixed were used in knitting under garments for women and infants and athletic shirts for men. This underwear is sold throughout the United States.
The partner brother died in 1920. January 1, 1921, the firm was incorporated with Emil G. Kattermann as president ; his son, Her- man A. Kattermann, as vice-president and manager of the Hacketts- town branch (opened in 1919) ; another son Emil D. Kattermann, as treasurer and manager of the Dover branch; and a brother-in-law, Roland Sievers, as secretary.
The ingenious and costly machines with which the Dover factory is equipped are a development of that old-fashioned instrument of feminine handiwork, the knitting needle, once plied so industriously in the old country and by our early American colonists-not to mention the recent exploits reported by the women of the American Red Cross. In the streets of Europe women used to knit while walking about or tending market, and there are rumors that some would take their knitting to bed with them and turn out a pair of stockings in the middle of the night. A famous legend of Morris County in the Revolution represents Rhoda Farrand knitting as she drove through snow drifts with an ox-team in the depth of winter, urging by her example the industrious preparation of warm socks for the feet of the suffering patriot troops. But with modern machinery the art of knitting has taken on new developments, speed and productivity. The Swiss Knitting Company of Dover employs, in normal times, one hundred men and women, and with its full equipment of high-grade machinery, has a capacity for large pro- duction when the demand of the market warrants it.
THE BROTHERHOOD OVERALLS
The Brotherhood Overalls was established by H. S. Peters in Brooklyn, N. Y., in the year 1890. In 1894 the business came to Dover, N. J., finding its advantage in so doing because of facilities for transportation, opportunities to acquire a building site, and a desirable class of labor. Mrs. McDavit gave the land for the new factory along the canal, and seven men of Dover advanced the money for building, to be paid back in five years. In that time Mr. Peters acquired the property.
The Brotherhood overalls are made of very stout denim manu- factured in the mills of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. They are fitted with metal buttons made at Waterbury, Connecticut. An extra strong cotton thread is used, made in Massachusetts. Four garments are made: a pant overall, two designs of apron overalls, and a coat. About 1:5,000 dozen have been made in a year. They are sent all over the United States, from West Virginia to Oregon. Sales to individuals have been made in all civilized countries, from Cuba to South Africa. A branch factory was established in Canada, 1910.
During the late war government contracts were received to make overalls for the use of our soldiers in camp abroad.
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After carrying on the work for thirty-two years, Mr. Peters has sold his business to the Oshkosh Overall Company of Oshkosh, Wis- consin, including the Welland factory in Canada.
F. A. Brown is manager of the Dover plant and C. E. Surman of the Welland branch.
The Dover factory employs from thirty-five to seventy-five opera- tives, according to the state of trade. The cloth used is a mill-shrunk, no-fade denim specially made for this firm.
Mr. Peters, now retired from business, was at one time mayor of Dover.
Operations were suspended July 1, 1922.
The report is that the firm may remove from Dover or sell the property. (July 13.)
PAUL GUENTHER, INC.
On the eastern outskirts of Dover, north of the canal, the largest 'buildings that loom up to view for an observer from Moller's Rock are those forming the plant of Paul Guenther, Inc., commonly called Guenther's Hosiery Factory.
In 1897 or about twenty-five years ago this industry made its start in Dover. Paul Guenther came to the town, rented some space in the Swiss Knitting Mill and started making Full Fashioned Silk Hosiery. Mr. Guenther was the owner, manager and practically all-round man. "With only a few employees, the production was naturally small; but the business prospered and in 1902 a parcel of land on King street was procured and a small two-story frame structure erected, to which the business was transferred.
Two separate additions of frame construction were added to the original building as the business grew, and in a few years a three- story brick building followed, with a three-story brick front addition to the original frame building. The plant now occupied two buildings facing on King street and reaching through to Berry street in the rear.
In 1909 it was found necessary to provide more room and a four- story brick building, known as mill No. 3, was constructed, the plant now occupying one city block. In 1912 this was followed by another large four-story brick building, built on the opposite side of King street, which is known as mill No. 4. The latest additions are those erected in 1921, and are known as mill No. 5 and the bridge build- ing, which are of reinforced concrete, and four stories high. The bridge building over King street is a very fine structure, connecting the buildings on each side of the street and adding much to the general architectural appearance of the plant, which now occupies practically two city blocks.
From its small 'beginning, a plant now exists which is known over practically all the civilized world.
The policy of the management has always been to make the best silk hosiery that could be made, and to this end only the finest grades
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of materials are used. The machines are of intricate structure with the latest improvements, mostly imported, but a few coming from this: country.
The employees, numbering around nine hundred, are of an unusu- ally high grade of intelligence, skill and character, and are drawn not. only from Dover, but from the surrounding towns within a radius of twelve or fifteen miles. They are a very happy and contented lot of employees and receive annually over a million and a quarter dollars in wages. A Turn Hall is maintained for the benefit of the employees, which is well equipped for bowling, billiards, gymnastic exercises and dancing.
This plant has never shut down or run on short time during its history on account of business depressions, and has thus been a very strong economic factor in the life of the town and vicinity.
Early in the history of the plant, Mr. Guenther foresaw the need of proper housing for his employees and, as opportunity offered, secured tracts of land adjoining each other, where dwellings could be erected. On these a large number of houses have been erected, which are rented to employees at a very reasonable rate. He also encourages and assists them in building homes of their own.
On portions of these tracts not yet occupied by buildings, local athletic clubs and the Dover High School have long enjoyed the privilege of playing baseball and football. Here open air concerts and fireworks exhibitions have been given, and thus a real need of the community has been met by the courtesy of one public spirited man.
THE SUSSEX OVERALL FACTORY
At 196 East Blackwell street, Dover, stands a two-story brick building that was occupied in 1914 by J. J. Friedman and Company, makers of outer garments for women. The Friedman Company removed to Newark and the building served during the war as barracks. for a military company that was stationed here.
In 1918 Arling M. MacFall purchased the building and estab- lished there the Sussex Overall Factory, employing now about sixty persons-fifty-five women and five men. The upper floor is fitted up with sewing machines-mostly "Singers." Single, double, or even quadruple stitching can be done, buttons sewed on and button holes: hemmed by machines which are run by electric power and operated by persons skilled in such work.
The entire working force of this factory is occupied, at present, in the manufacture of Girl Scout Uniforms, including a long coat, a short coat, skirt and blouse, besides girls' and women's knicker- bockers of khaki, corduroy, and wool Tweeds, furnishing outfits suit- able for camping, golf or hiking, and indoor athletic wear. As the output of the factory includes garments for all seasons, steady work through the year is found for the employees in wholesale production.
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Despite the prevalent depression in business this factory has been kept busy. It is interesting to note that this industry is based upon an idea that has sprung up of recent years-the athletic development of girls and women in outdoor and indoor forms of physical culture.
The suits produced in this humming hive of sewing machines are manufactured from the best of cotton cloth from New England and Southern mills, using buttons made in Hoboken or Connecticut, and thread made from Sea Island yarn obtained from Rhode Island and Massachusetts mills. Woolen cloth from New England mills is used for some garments.
In all parts of our Eastern States where Girl Scouts are organized you will find the girls fitted out with uniforms made in Dover at the Sussex Overall Factory.
COOK'S LAUNDRY, INCORPORATED
In 1893 Charles S. Clark and Edward Totten started a laundry on Sussex street, where the Gas Company is now located. John K. Cook bought the business in 1894 and later removed to Blackwell street, west of the Presbyterian Church, where he carried on the business for ten year. In 1908 he secured a site on McFarlan' street, adjacent to Peters' Overall Factory, on the canal. Here he built his own plant, which, with subsequent additions and machinery, represents an investment of $40,000.
Many ingenious machines have been invented for use in laundry work. The outfit in this plant has been purchased in New York City, Troy, Chicago, Irvington, N. J. Some of the machines are made in Cincinnati and Rochester. There are rotary washers and driers, steam rollers for ironing, special devices for shirts, and collars, some driven by steam and some by electricity. Soft coal is used in generat- ing steam on the premises, the steam yielding both power and heat.
Employment is given to forty or more men and women, who find steady work through the year. The payroll averages $750 a week.
This laundry has its own driven well, sunk through 102 feet of sand to a gravel bed from which the water comes up clear, cool, and palatable. This water, hard by nature, is rendered perfectly soft by filtration and chemical treatment in a large tank from which it is drawn for use in the washing machines. This well, with six-inch pipe, was built at a cost of $1,100.
Great care is taken with all parts of the laundry work. The processes are sanitary and are regulated by the State Department of Labor, which makes inspections twice a year. Every effort is made "to save and preserve the linen.
The various kinds of work done here are known as bundle work (wearing apparel for men and women), family work, hotel work, and damp wash. An exact system of marking, sorting, and accounting is employed.
Materials used are-soap, bought in ten barrel lots from the Swift Beef Company, and from Proctor and Gamble. Washing soda
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from Wyandotte, Michigan. Starch, made by the Huron Milling Company. Blueing, bought in New York City. Craft paper for wrap- ping bundles is bought by the ton in Newark and Baltimore, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Twine is brought from Atlanta, Georgia. All: refuse paper is compressed into bales and sold to junk dealers.
The laundries of the United States have organized a Laundry- man's National Association which meets in yearly conventions. A monthly magazine is published, called The Laundry Age. A literature of the laundry is giving expression to the business ideas and aspira- tions of those engaged in this highly developed industry, now far removed from the riverside and seaside family lustrations of classic antiquity, as described by Homer. We have read that it was once the time-honored custom in some parts of Europe to have a family wash once a year, every well-to-do family being supplied with enough changes of linen to keep things going in the interval. But modern life demands other accommodations. The up-to-date laundry com- pany aspires to relieve the housewife of her entire weekly wash. Scientific experiments are made by experts, seeking to improve every process and every substance used in the work.
The Cook Laundry, Incorporated, consists of John K. Cook, presi- dent ; Joseph D. Cook, vice-president ; John W. Cook, treasurer ; Harry C. Cook, secretary ; and Clyde W. Cook-being a happy partnership of father and sons.
This long-established firm serves a public that extends from Dover to Lake Hopatcong, Budd Lake, Netcong, Wharton, Kenvil, Succasunna, Newton, Rockaway, Denville, Mt. Tabor,, Mountain Lakes, Boonton, Montville, Towaco.
TO THE WOMAN AT THE TUB;
The postman rings, he brings the mail ;: Aha! what have we here? A pictured circular that shows Milleniums drawing near. "How Lighten Woman's Burden" is The message of the seer Who penned this book: he stirs new hope: And beams with solid cheer.
Too long has Woman bent her back And wrestled o'er the tub To do the weekly washing-all By hand: ay, there's the rub! All garments, table cloths and sheets,. The everlasting scrub ! She sends them to the Laundry now- And joins the Woman's Club !
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURE By James O. Cooper, Farmer
"The groves were God's first temples. Ere man learned To hew the shaft and lay the architrave, And spread the roof above them-ere he framed The lofty vault, to gather and roll back
The sound of anthems; in the darkling wood,
Amid the cool and silence, he knelt down,
And offered to the Mightiest solemn thanks And supplication."
But I must not quote further from this beautiful song of Bryant,- as I have been asked to write but briefly of the progress of agriculture duing the past two hundred years.
Previous to two centuries ago, could we have climbed to the summit- of Reservoir Hill, and viewed the surrounding landscape from that. eminence, we should have seen no life but vegetable life-the first groves, the plant life such as is growing now; no motion but the gentle flowing of the Rockaway River.
Had we followed any one of the several trails leading in various. directions, we should have found forest groves, and then more forests, with here and there a small clearing, where perhaps an Indian had grown- his corn; and an occasional white man's rude log cabin, with a few acres cleared, where he grew some Indian corn, rye, and a few vegetables for the use of his family.
In those long-ago days, each farmer was obliged to provide prac- tically all the necessaries for his own household. He was obliged to' keep a few cows, as milk and butter were imperatively needed. Then leather was necessary for shoes and harness, and beef and veal for food.
A few sheep were kept, because wool was necessary for the making of clothing and blankets, the wool being washed, carded, spun and woven by the housewife. Then the flesh of the sheep and lambs was needed for food. A few chickens were kept on every farm, of no particular breed, but just chickens, as the eggs and flesh were needed for food, and the feathers for pillows and beds. Hens, in those days, laid prob- ably four to five dozen eggs each, during the spring and summer, and as no shelter and but little feed was provided for them in winter, no eggs were produced. The housewife "laid eggs down" in salt for winter use and they kept very well.
Practically every farmer kept a yoke of oxen to do the hauling and general farm work, and as there were no towns to go to, and no movies to visit nightly, they answered all purposes very well.
No pure bred stock was known in this country at that time.
During the century succeeding, towns sprang up here and there, industries were located, and as those who worked in the mills, mines and factories had to be fed and clothed, farmers were induced to produce more than their respective families consumed. Accordingly, whenever
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the farmer had a surplus of produce, he, with his neighbors, perchance, would make up a load of produce, such as rye, flour, corn meal, salt or fresh pork, potatoes, a veal or a dressed lamb, and with a team of oxen as motive power, visit villages and towns, often going as far as Port Newark, where they would dispose of their produce and return with such supplies as they needed.
The Indian was the first scientific agriculturist in this country. He learned that where the forest trees were burned or where he had his campfire, corn would grow better than elsewhere. The potash and car- bonate of lime which the ashes supplied being necessary for corn devel- opment. He also learned that by burying a fish by a hill of corn he would get still better corn, the decaying fish furnishing both ammonia and phosphoric acid, which the corn also needed to make perfect develop- ment.
For a century the white man used no more science in his agricul- tural operations than the Indian had practiced. So we close the eigh- teenth century.
The nineteenth century brought its changes. The Revolutionary War had been fought and won; villages had grown to towns; towns to cities ; a larger and freer exchange of commodities was engaged in; our ships were on every sea ; our products were transported to other nations ; and foreign products were brought to this country in large volume. An awakening began to take place. Farmers began to be dissatisfied with the very meagre returns from the soil. They began to study the soil and its needs. All the fertilizer made on the farm was conserved and returned to the soil by the better farmers. Experimentation in crop rota- tion was instituted and farming began to progress.
Up to the middle of the ninetenth century there was no specializa- tion in any department of agriculture, as we know it to-day. Practically every farmer produced some grains, some live stock, some fruit and some vegetables; but during the following fifty years vast strides were made in every department of agriculture. Breeding of pure bred stock became a science. The finest specimens of cattle, horses, sheep, poultry, and swine that the world had ever known were produced. Horses were developed that could trot a mile in three minutes. Wonderful! we thought. Then a cow was produced that gave 15,000 pounds of milk in a year, and swine breeding found its advocates. Much more thought and study, and money and scientific research have been expended in breed- ing better swine than has ever been expended in breeding that other family of animals known as "Genus Homo."
As the nineteenth century dawned, agricultural progress in every branch advanced at an unprecedented pace and all progress was sys- tematized. Guesswork was abolished. Actual records were kept of every forward step. We called science to our aid-the chemist, bac- teriologist, the plant pathologist, the agronomist, the entomologist; we have sat at their feet and learned.
We were told a few years ago that barley could not be grown in this locality. We asked the scientist why. He could not tell. So I
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