USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > Century review of Marietta, Ohio. Early history, natural advantages, schools, churches commercial, professional and other interests > Part 8
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Johnson Brothers dealers in carriages and vehicles of all kinds. as well as sewing machines, have recently removed their office from 108 Greene st. to above building, cor. Fort & Wood sts. West side.
There are several small machine shops, numerous blacksmiths and perhaps other matters in this line deserving of note, but we must pass on to other industries.
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WOOD WORKING INDUSTRIES .- There is no question but what the Mar- ietta Chair Company is entitled to first place not only in this department, but among the industrial concerns of this city, from the magnitude of its cperations and probably in point of age. The chair business which was started here in 1820 was succeeded by the present organization in 1856. We gave on page 12 an illustration of the works and a brief description. We have only to say here that it is the leader in Marietta industries. Although its employees are all union men the liberality with which they have been treated and the frankness with which they have been consulted has always met their approval and the firm has a record of "no strikes".
John Mills, Pres and Treas. is a son of Col. John Mills, the family having been among Marietta's most enterprising citizens. J. H. Grafton, Sec. and Gen. Mgr. has been identified with the company for 32 years and is now the vice president of the National Chair Association and President of the Central & Southern States Association. Mr. Grafton's efforts in the upbuilding of Marietta is too well known to need comment here. The Marietta Chair Company through its catalogue has done much to advertise the fame of this city abroad and its magnitude of operations has been a great factor in the continued prosperity of the place; in short the institu- tion has been conducted on the broad-gauge principles, of which any city might well be proud. A large saw mill here, is run by the Chair Co.
At this place should be noted The American Wood Rim Co., Marietta's second largest industry, strongly competing for first place. See later page.
Stevens Organ and
Piano Co. Incorporated in W. Va. in 1892. with a cap- ital of $36,000 the Stevens & Klock Co. was shortly afterwards made the Ste- STEVENS ORGAN CO. vens Organ Co. by the re- tirement of the junior partner, and is at present known as the Stevens Or- gan & Piano Co .: D. B. Tor- py, Pres .; W. H. Styer, V P .; B. F. Strecker, Sec'y; C. R. Stevens, Treas. and Genl. M'g'r. Superinten- dent Stevens is a native of IRON QUEEN Vt., commencing in the manufacture of musical in- struments with the Estey Organ Co. at Brattleboro in 1870. A dozen years since he opened a retail store for pianos and organs in Marietta and in 1892 was the leading spirit in starting a fac- tory here. The commanding quarters on Gilman Ave., West Marietta was secured. This is convenient to the boat landing and R. R. both for receiving lumber and shipments of finished products. About 36.000 ft. of floor space is occupied, equipped with the latest improved machinery and turning out annually over 600 of the cele- brated seven-octave Combination Reed-Pipe organs in piano cases. This organ from its pipe-like tone, easy and responsive touch, beauty of design and durability, in fact from its all round superior merits has gained a wide sale not only in the U. S. but in foreign countries. Space will not permit the writer to dilate upon its merits as a full catalogue and description can be had by addressing a postal card request to the firm at Marietta. Some 35 skilled workmen here find constant employment at good wages and the pay-roll is a considerable factor in Marietta's stability. Mr. Stevens hires no transient men but is constantly training a sufficient number of Marietta boys to succeed in the business and consequently is not subject to strikes as his men all live at home and get good pay. The Stevens Organ Co. has several special features and valuable inventions protected by late patents. The sales de- partment will occupy the 2nd floor of the Masonic Bldg. 245-7 Second st., with a full line of high grade pianos and organs abd all kinds of musical instruments.
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GREENE & SEVENTH GOING TO NORWOOD.
Norwood Subdivision.
As the manufacturing interests of the phenomenal suburb of Norwood are largely those of wood working interest we will here introduce some facts and illus- trations concerning it. With rapid transit it has become practicable to make suburban additions and the new suburb, in charge of some of Marietta's most push- ing citizens is having a wondrous growth the present season. The village was platted Aug '99, and with the annex additions of as much more, now makes some 325 lots, nearly two thirds of which have been sold, and the remainder are rapidly being taken to make prospective homes. The many handsome cottages and resi- dences, which have been built up to this date in 1900, together with such large in- dustries as the Ohio Valley Wagon Co., the Acme Brick Co .; Butts & McCormicks planing mill and house furnishings, and others, would indicate that this new suburb will make a lively village. It has now city water, electric light and connections with the gas companies and electric car lines, giving every necessary convenience.
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GREENE ST. IN NORWOOD.
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OAKWOOD AVE., NORWOOD.
The Ohio Valley Wagon Co .- This business was begun several years ago by Philip Trapp; the firm afterwards became Trapp & Stilwell which was succeeded by the present company Apr. 1899. It is a stock company incorporated under the laws of Ohio. The officers and directors are Wm. Reader, Pres .; J. A. McCormick, V. P .; Wm. M. Stilwell, Sec .- Treas .; Philip Trapp, and John Kaiser. The company occupied a factory at Fourth and Church Sts. until Sept. of this year when they en- tered their new factory in the Norwood subdivision. The plant comprises large buildings with a floor space of 40,000 sq. ft .. The yards contain four acres in which there is ample space to stack and season their stock. The works are on the Penn. R. R. thus reducing the cost of shipment to a minimum. The annual capacity is 10,000 vehicles. The plant is equipped with the best modern improved wagon mak- ing machinery, and so planned that the work runs in perfect system from raw ma- terial to finished vehicle. This plant is of special interest to the citizens of Mariet-
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OHIO VALLEY WAGON CO.
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ta for although it is not as large as some of its kind it has no superior in plan and equipment in any American wagon factory. Forecasting the future, by the accom. plishments of the past, the success of this company is unquestionable. It will aid Marietta in her industrial progress and will be a large factor in demonstrating her practicability as a manufacturing center.
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BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF NORWOND, AUG. 15, 1900.
Acme Brick Co .- With Marietta's growth and importance it has become essential that various industries of a permanent nature be established, and among these may certainly be classed the Acme Brick Co. This enterprise was organized in Noy. 1899 by the following gentlemen; E Clark, Jr., Pres .; J. S. H. Torner, V P .; W. J. Carmichael, Gen. Mgr .; H. E. Smith, Sec .- Treas .; A. L. Gracey, N. Moor‹ and W. A. Campbell, all of whom are actively engaged in industries mentioned elsewhere. "The capital stock was made $50,000 but with the valuable machinery, now in operation the plant far exceeds that value. When in fult operation 1: modern, down draft, gas burning kilns of 150,000 capacity will be in use. The motor power for the elegant Chisholm, Boyd & White press brick machine, which cost nearly $10.000, is furnished by a Corliss 200 hp. engine backed by two 80 hp boilers. The machine molds from the dirt six bricks at a time, under an estimate( pressure of 45 tons each, and has a capacity of over 3,500 per hour. A stratum 0 twelve feet clay on the twenty acres owned by the company will furnish raw mater ial for an age to come, and this is followed by an indefinite red shale quarry fron which 25,000 or more of shale shingles will be turned out daily, which make an or namental and enduring roofing tile. The common brick machine has a capacity o 30,000 or more per day of vitrified, paving, building or ornamental bricks, according to the clay used and the treatment given. A network of railways gridirons th yard and 120 small cars, with a carrying capacity of 1,600 each. convey the brick into the six, tunnel dry houses, which will accomodate 80 cars at a time and make the production of brick a success in rainy weather as well as in sunshine. The re shale quickly slacks when brought to the surface and is convenient for handling but when pressed and burned it withstands the ravages of time and weather and i the most economical as well as ornamental roofing that has been brought into us in modern times. The ruins of Pompeii is said to disclose it as a revival of a los art. The buildings and yards cover about five acres, which in full operation wil give employment to 50 or 75 men. With direct shipping facilities by rail and river there is no question about disposing of the product, the most of which at present i being secured by Marietta contractors.
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ACME BRICK WORKS.
[Plants noted from Acme to Butts & McCormick are not in Norwood. ]
The City Brick Co. at Montgomery & 6th Sts. employes a dozen men and has a 12,000 capacity. Palmer & Athey proprietors.
Thomas Cisler & Son, brick manufacturers. Located on East Putnam St. is the pioneer. brick works of Marietta Established in 1858 the business has been continued on the same site ever since. The works are equipped for turning out about 25,000 building and paving bricks per day. The material from which the bricks are made is a superior quality of shale, gas is used for fuel and the bricks are burned in both up and down draft kilns. The premises comprise about 25 acres and upon a sightly knoll near the works Mr. Cisler has erected a commodious structure in which the office of the firm is located. This industry is another illustration of Marietta's feasibility for manufacturing and a credit to its owners.
CISLER BRICK PLANT.
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STERLING BRICK WORKS.
The Sterling Brick Works .- This company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio in 1899 and its stockholders are all Marietta citizens. F. L. Alexander, Pres .; D R. Rood, V. P .; T. H. Sugden, Treas .; C. W. Sugden, Sec .; F. P. Morse, Mgr. who with C. L Flanders, and Wm. Morse form the board of direc- tors. The plant contains 12} acres of land, located on Montgomery St. between 7th and 8th, and over $30,000 has already been spent on the equipments It has a Mc- Henry up-and-down hot air tunnel dryer, and its kilns are of the Eudaly patent, down-draft. The plant has a daily capacity of 30,000 and this season the Sterling plant commenced making street paving brick. Natural gas is the only fuel used about the place, and all the bricks are made of shale and clay of which an excellent. quality is found in great abundance, This is one of the enterprises that commenced manufacturing with 1900 and it reports a ready sale for all its products and as it is up to date in every respect will add to Marietta's importance in diversified manu- facturing. W. E. Marquis a professional burner has been with the company since its start.
The Marietta Tank Co .- Sept. 11, 1899 the above firm purchased the tank de- partment of the Ohio Valley wagon Co. which is located on Greene st. above Seventh adjoining the R. R. The plant has a 25 h. p. gas engine and the best of machinery for rapid and accurate work so that it can turn out wooden tanks with great promptness, the firm confining the business to tanks exclusively and shipping the same for a radius of a hundred miles or more from Marietta. About five car loads of lumber-pine, cypress, etc., -are used each month and several tons of steel band- iron to hoop the same. The partners are C. S. Ross, W. L. Gorham and T. S. Sut- ton all of this vicinity. Shop phone No. 381. Office at 110 Front St.
Butts & McCormick .- This firm composed of G. C. Butts and James McCor- mick, commenced business in Williamstown April 5th, 1899, and a year later re -. moved its headquarters to Marietta, sinee which time it has erected a handsome two-story planing mill and work shop, 64x96 ft., and has the same thoroughly equipped with modern machinery for producing planed lumber, mouldings, sash, doors, rig stuff and oil-men's lumber supplies. The firm is especially prepared to promptly turn out oil and water tanks and does a large lumber trade. The com- pany owns a lumber yard in Williamstown and has five acres of ground where the present plant is located, along the Penn'a R. R. in the Norwood subdivision, for the.
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convenient storage and seasoning of lumber. Mr. Butts having died June 1899, his interest is continued by Mrs. Butts, who is an active partner. This industry gives employment to from 40 to 50 men in its various departments and is a large factor in Marietta's progressive march. The office is over First Nat'l. Bank in Marietta. See illustration page 99.
BECKER'S
PLANING
MILL.
BECKER'S PLANING MILL.
J. H. Becker's Planing Mill .- Every growing city must have rough and dress- ed lumber for building purposes and some ten years ago Mr. Becker started a plan- ing mill on Wooster st. above Second. Two years later he purchased the old hub factory at his present site, adding largely to the buildings and making a very com- plete planing plant. The building fronts 150 ft. on Sacra Via and 100 ft. on Front, with yards covering about an acre of ground. Sash, doors, blinds aud all kinds of mouldings or planed lumber is turned out to the order of customers, the business being confined exclusively to custom work. The rough lumber comes largely from W. Va. while a full line of both southern and northern pine is kept. Mr. Becker employs from 35 to 40 men and for many years has disbursed some $300 per week and largely assisted in Marietta's steady growth. The increasing business will soon have to be extended to keep pace with the orders of customers and Mr. Becker has recently purchased a good tract of land on East Greene st. for lumber yards and ad- ditional buildings when necessary.
A. C. Wendleken & Bro. commenced the screen business at Mulberry and Poplar sts. in 1892. Their specialty is to furnish good houses with perfect fitting screen windows and doors to order. The plant is equipped with all necessary lathes and machinery and gives employment to from 8 to 12 men. Their spring sliding screen gives excellent satisfaction.
Wagner & Minch, at 402 Third street have a custom mantel shop, started ten years since by the senior partner. All styles of mantels with tile and grates are put up and their trade extends for forty miles around. The firm also have an as- sortment of mouldings, frame pictures to order and keep a full line of amateur pho- tographers supplies.
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ROWEN-CO, STEELRANGE:
BOWEN & CO .- Steel Ranges, Page 76.
G. M. Knox & Son-Boat Yard. Ship building began in Marietta in 1800 continuing brisk until stopped by Pres. Jefferson's "Embargo Act" in 1808. The first brig, 110 tons, was named the St. Clair and was built for Chas. Greene & Co. by Stephen Devol. She took a cargo of pork and flour to Havana. Within the next seven years more than a score of brigs and sloops were built at this point. In 1832, ship building was again revived by Capt. Wm. Knox. He turned out about 35 boats, which were among the finest built in their time. In 1865 G. M. Knox pur- chased an interest in the business and in 1887, H. D. Knox, was taken into partner- ship. The boat yard is situated two squares below the mouth of the Muskingum River. It gives employment to from 30 to 50 hands as occasion requires.
Speer Brothers .- Some two years since, Speer Brothers of St. Louis, pur- chased from J. W. Kelley, the wagon and carriage manufactory, at Second and But- ler sts. This structure with shops, trimming and paint rooms reaches to the alley in rear and is fully equipped for doing all kinds of new and repair work, the capaci- ty being about 400 vehicles per year which will probably be soon increased. Em- ployment is given to 15 to 20 men and this well established plant has had a steadily increasing business which indicates that the vehicles have given entire satisfaction. In the repository is found a full line of buggies, surreys, express and farm wagons, among the latter being the Brown wagon of Zanesville, O.
John H. Oesterle conducts a full equipped wagon plant on Wooster st. be- tween Second and Third. He commenced here in 1892 and employes some 15 men turning out to order any ordinary vehicle, the specialty being high grade delivery wagons. Mr. Oesterle was entrusted with making the Fire Department wagons which speak for themselves.
Thos. C. Bay .- In 1885, T. C. Bay, an old wagon maker, purchased the busi- ness of W. L. Bay at No. 217 Second St. and has since conducted a manufactory for all kinds of vehicles as well as repair work. The works which gives employment to some ten men, is under the superintendence of F. P. Bay who was educated in the Marietta schools and graduated from the Ohio Valley Business College.
The Marietta Fruit Package and Box Co. was started in 1892 by J. P. Marsch Chas. Pape and John Gerhardt. Mr. Gerhardt was boughtout by his partners in 1894 and on July 1, 1900, Mr. Marsch became sole proprietor. The factory is located
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Fruit Package & Box Co.
FRUIT PACKAGE & BOX CO.
on the cor. of Seventh and Wayne sts , the buildings and yards covering 180x180 ft. About 20 hands are employed and 20 sizes of baskets made ranging from qt., berry size, of which nearly a million are annually made, to pecks and halfs of which some 200,000 are made and of bushels 6,000 or more, besides crates and boxes of any size to order. Veneering for pannel work is also a specialty and this firm contributes its mite to the general industries found in Marietta.
SPEER BROS
GAR TAGE WORKS.
SPEER BROS. CARRIAGE WORKS.
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The Pioneer Mill Co., at 523 Front st. was incorporated under its present style with capital stock of $24,000 in 1892. This is a merchant mill with 100 barrels capacity and does all kinds of grinding. The wheat used is largely raised in the surrounding agricultural section and the Pioneer Mill Co. gives a market to raw material and is one of the factors in Marietta's diversified industries.
The Marietta Milling Co .- The brick mill, at Franklin and Lancaster sts., was erected in 1884 and purchased by the above company Nov. 1899. It is a modern roller process plant with a capacity for 100 bbls. of flour per day, and as this is a good wheat section much of the wheat used is secured from farmers in this vicinity and its products sold largely to the local trade, although the company ships a fair share to distant points, doing both a custom and a merchant mill work. J. G. Beltz, Pres. has long been in the grocery trade of Harmar and is a native of the place. J. F. Bric ‹wede, Sec .- Treas. is a Mariettian, absent for some years, seven years past in the milling business in this city. The enterprise adds to diversified manufacturing and is a solid industry.
MARIETTTA MILLING CO. -
McLaren & Wommer .- Some four years ago the above firm suc- ceeded McLaren & Meisenhelder, Jan. '99 removing from Putnam st. to the Wood bldg. on Butler St illustrated on page 33. The firm puts up everything in the line of marble and granite work to the desire of customers, their trade extending for fifty miles. The partners W. L. McLaren and F. W. Wommer are both native Mariettians.
Meisenhelder & Leonhart -This firm commenced business at its present stand in 1888, both partners being Mariettians. The senior partner commenced work in this line with his father some 30 years ago while Mr. Leonhart has been a marble cutter for 15 years. The firm does everything in the line of marble and granite work many of the handsome monuments in this vicinity coming from their works at 147 Front St.
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Leather Working Industries.
Jacob Brand, tanner, junction Front and Second streets, 22 years, 12 men.
The Strecker Brothers Co.
-From its magnitude in leather work and well established whole- sale trade, this firm deserves more than a passing notice. The Strecker Bros., Chas. F. and Benj. F., are native Mariettians, edu- cated in the city schools, and af- UFACTURERS ter five years in Pittsburg at their present line of trade, open- ed business in Marietta in 1881 A rapid increase in transactions SHOE FINDINGS soon made it necessary to secure better quarters and in '84 they erected a two-story and basement brick structure at 117-19 Putnam st., 48x80 ft., to which two years since were added two more stor- ies, giving now five floors, aggre- gating over 18,000 ft. of space, yet every available foot of room is fully occupied. With Jan, 1, 1900, The Stecker Bros. Co. was incorporated with capital of $100- 000; C. F. Strecker, Pres .; B F. Strecker, Treas .; W. S Plumer, THE STRECKER BROS. CO. Sec .; who with A. H. Strecker and Chas. S. Schaal form the board of directors. On the fourth floor some 30 men find employment in the manufacture of the various lines of saddlery and harness which the company turn out, the room being fitted with all necessary machinery in that line. A very large stock is kept on hand cov- ering everything in the leather line, harness, saddlery hardware, shoe store sup- plies and horse furnishing goods. Six salesmen visit the merchants in Ohio, Pa., W. Va. and adjacent states where the company has an extensive trade. The base- ment is largely used for storage of hides, sheep skins, etc., in which the firm buys and sells. also dealing in furs and ginseng. Giving steady employment to from 40 to 50 men, having a wide wholesale trade and spending its proceeds largely in Mar- ietta, the Strecker Bros. Co. is an important factor in the city's industrial success and a credit to the enterprise of its proprietors.
The Marietta Paint and Color Co .- A business of no mean importance to Marietta was started Sept. 1, 1897, and resulted in the organization of the above company March 18 following, with capital stock of $30.000. The former plant of the Bucket Factory, started before the middle of the century by David Putnam, later used by the Lawrence Piano Co., and recently by the Lobdell Bicycle Co. was pur- chased at a bargain for $11,000 to form a nucleus. Complete machinery for paint grinding and other improvements were added until it is now a very complete fac- tory, turning out annually some 60,000 gallons of select paints, fillers, etc. and a large amount of bulk goods. In the line of paste and liquid fillers, oil stains, etc. the firm has its own special formulas with Robt Walker of Glasgow, Scotland, an expert grinder and mixer in charge. The rapid increase of the sale in these goods to fur- niture makers and wood finishers is a sufficient test of their merits. The cans for this company are largely made at the Dana factory at Belpre. C. S. Dana, Pres. of the Paint & Color Co is a native of Belpre, educated in Marietta: C. J. La Vallee came from Bridgeport, Conn. to this place some five years ago. The business is steadily increasing and will be one of the city's permanent industries. A salesroom is kept at 182 Front st. in charge of C. F. Dabold and one on Fourth st , Parkersburg, managed by W. J. Stephenson. The building occupied by Bowen & Co., as well as that illustrated on next page, and others not shown all belong to this plant.
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LEMARIEITA PANT & CILIA
PAINT & COLOR CO.
The India Spice and Drug Co. started in 1890, was purchased by Walter Kirby in '98. The business is located at 209 Second st. covering first and second floors of the building illustrated on page 89, 20x180 ft. in depth. The output is a full line of spices, which are ground and packed for the jobbing trade. and everything in gro- cers drugs. Mr. Kirby keeps four salesmen on the road and in the various depart- ments gives employment to about twenty persons. He isa native of the county, educated in the Marietta schools and his thriving business adds another factor to Marietta industries.
Forbes Diastase Co .- As the above firm seeks only to reach physicians it preferes no mention but its importance precludes our ignoring it. There are many forms of artificial digestants in the market, but Forbes Diastase is a scientific pro- duction from malt, in a perfectly fluid, concentrated form, without sugar and readi- ly aids digestion in any part of the alimentary economy without any objectionable feature. It is sold only to wholesale druggists, from whom physicians all over the country secure and prescribe it. The Forbes Diastase Co. was incorporated in 1897, capital $50,000, T. D. Dale, Pres .; D. H. Buell Treas. and Mgr.
The Diamond Pants & Notion Co .- This important business had its incipi- ency when Geo. Blake started manufacturing overalls. etc., in a small way, about 1890. A few years later Morris Brothers bought out Blake and the business bas been extended from time to time until it now occupies the entire four floors of the brick structure at 207 Second St. as well as the third floor of No. 209. The floors are 20x100 ft. and the third reaches back 160ft. Some 35 machines comprising single and double seam sewers, button-hole makers, button sewers, and fasteners ale run by electric power, ladies largely handling the goods, and an average of about 25 dozen garments are turned out daily comprising working-men's pants, overalls, shirts, etc. The firm keeps several salesmen on the road to visit retail merchants, and does a large jobbing business, in the full line of dry-goods-notions, of which it keeps a large stock. The Diamond Pants & Notion Co. was incorporated, Jan. 1, 1900, with $35,000 capital, Willis Morris, Pres ; I. A. Hodgin, Sec .- Treas. In all the departments 40 to 50 hands find employment and another proof is given of Mari- etta's success in diversified manufacturing.
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