History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 72

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc > Part 72

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cles of various styles and sizes. The firm in all the departments of their works gives employment to 400 men, an army of artisans, who when busy in their various departments present one of the most interesting scenes of activi- ty to be met with. Their work finds its market in the oil fields of this State, all over the country-East, West, North and South-and across the lakes into Canada, where the reputation made at home is emphasized by foreign use. Messrs. Henry and Charles Jarecki came to this country about thirty-five years ago, since which time they have made their name famous in this land, and have contributed to the industries of America an establishment second to none in the fine character of its products.

The Stearns Manufacturing Company, on Tenth street, between Holland and German, familiarly known as the " Presque Isle Iron Works," was estab- lished in the year 1855, but was not marked by any particular degree of promi- nence until some years later, when, under patents of Mr. E. H. Stearns, the company secured several valuable points applying to their machinery, the adop- tion of which has given it a national reputation. The plant of the works covers an area of two and one-half acres of ground, all utilized by them, and im- proved with the different buildings necessitated by their work. Partially quoted, they are as follows: Foundry, 60x100 feet; boiler shop, 50x150 feet; four machine shops, each 50x100 feet; millwright shop, 40x100 feet; black- smith shop, 35x80 feet, besides others devoted to the general uses of the company. Employment is given to 325 men, and a vast amount of work turned out which reaches every State and Territory in the Union, and probably every section of manufacturing industry. This consists of engines and boilers of all lines and grades, and saw-mill machinery, the extent of which, in its great variety, would require too much space for particular enumeration by us. But, as a simple matter of justice, we should mention their improved circular saw mills, gang and muley mills, patent rossers, for removing bark and grit before the saw, off-setting and anti vibrating carriage wheels and track, head blocks, etc., for saw mills, log turners, gang edgers, jackers, lath mills, etc. These productions, which are known in every lumber camp and saw mill in the United States, have maintained their excellence of construction during the entire pe- riod of their manufacture, and whether the works are crowded with orders, or to the contrary, the same carefulness of details, harmony of arrangement and uniformity of construction, is observable. To the combination of these three essentials of successful manufacture, the valuable patents owned by them, and the marked ability of its management, do they owe their present position. The officers of the Stearns Manufacturing Company are: George Burnham, President; William M. Davids, Vice President; William Burnham, Secretary, and H. R. Barnhurst, Treasurer and General Manager.

The Erie Malleable Iron Company, limited, corner Cherry and Thirteenth, streets, is the most complete and extensive of its kind in this section of the country, and in the thrift and substantial well-being of the community is an important and valued factor. Established in 1880, its success was pronounced from the start, and during the period of its operation it has considerably aug- mented its business, and added to its reputation. The works are located on a plant of two acres of ground, improved with substantial buildings devoted to the various purposes of their manufacture, and of the following dimensions: Foundry, 80x300 feet; annealing room, 45x95 feet; pattern vault, 45x34 feet; machine shop, 35x64 feet; galvanizing room, 25x110 feet; core room, 34x34 feet; engine and boiler house, 30x60 feet; pattern room and offices, 60x100 feet, besides outside shedding for storage of coal, sand, etc., 200 feet in length. The steam power is furnished by an engine of 80-horse-power, and the works give employ-

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ment to from 175 to 200 men. The particularly advantageous location of these works in a center of manufacture which gives them a large local trade, and the existence of a demand which they are eminently prepared to supply, have given an impetus to their work which keeps them running up to their full capacity, and makes the annual output large. The specialty of the works, as its title im- plies, is principally malleable iron castings, but now contemplate making steel castings, and the fact that the trade extends to a large section of the country, sufficiently guarantees the quality of all the product of the establishment. The officers are Jolin Clemens, Chairman, and J. P. Metcalf, Secretary and Treas- urer, whose careful and business-like management of the details of the business has placed it in the front rank of Erie's industries.

The Bay State Iron Works, corner Third and Peach streets, were established in the year 1865, and occupy a fine property in one of the best portions of the city. The plant covers over an acre of ground, and is improved with substan- tial buildings, erected solely for the purpose used. They consist of a main building of brick two stories in height, in which is the machine shop, 50x225 feet; foundry, 50x125 feet; boiler shop, 60x190 feet; pattern rooms, storeage room for iron, engine and boiler room and offices. Every appliance for the rapid production and complete finish of all their products is in use, and the entire machinery is driven by two engines of 40-horse-power each. The mechanical force of the works amounts to 125 men, most of whom are skilled in the production of fine machinery. The work of the firm comprehends all classes of fine engine building, upright and horizontal, portable and stationary, and a special line of fine machine building. Among the most prominent pro- ductions of the works may be noted the Variable and Automatic Cut-off Engine, which was awarded a gold medal at the St. Louis fair in 1878, for 93 per cent efficiency; agricultural and portable engines from 4 to 150-horse-power; loco- motive, tubular, flue and upright boilers; steam punches, Hall's patent steam cranes, upright friction and detached hoisting machinery; the Acme cube pipe tongs, and many other specialties, all bearing evidence of the highest style of workmanship to be had in this section of the State. The thorough system which prevails in every department of these works, and the splendid facilities enjoyed enable the firm to conduct an immense business, and the trade extends to all parts of the West, South and Southwest, they having agencies in New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Toledo, St. Paul, Denver, Dallas and Charlotte. The members composing the firm are Orange Noble and L. H. Hall, the latter being the practical manager. Mr. Noble is a gentleman too well known in the business circles of the State to need any introduction at our hands, while Mr. Hall, as a thorough master of the details of the works, has a reputation based upon the intrinsic merit of its productions.

The Mt. Hickory Iron Company, office Scott's block, corner Tenth and State streets, was established in the year 1879, and produces a line of iron known as merchant and bridge iron. Their furnaces, two in number, are located at Sharpsville, Mercer, Co., Penn., where employment is given to a large number of men, and an annual production attained of 35,000 tons of Bessemer, foundry and mill pig, the ores used being the Lake Superior, Specular and Hematite, from the most celebrated mines in that favored section. Much of this produc- tion finds its way to the various rolling mills of the State, but a large part is utilized by the company's mill at Erie, which it is more properly our province to notice. The Mt. Hickory Rolling Mill is located in the western suburbs of the city on a plant of thirty acres of the company's property, and is the largest concern of the kind in this section of the State. The mill is a well-built structure, 120 feet in width by 280 feet in length, and is systematically ap-

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pointed for the rapid prosecution of its work. It is fully supplied with rolls and other machinery necessary in the production of its specialty, the motive power being supplied by nine engines of 350-horse-power combined. Employ- ment is given to from 250 to 275 men, the most of whom live about the mill in houses furnished by the company-twenty-four in number. The annual pro- duction aggregates 15,000 tons of fine grade of merchant and bridge iron, rail- road angle splicers, etc., which is sold to some extent locally, and largely in Chicago and other Western points. The influence of a concern giving employ- ment to so many men, necessarily involving a large outlay in wages, must be great in a community of this size, while the character of its iron tends largely to maintain the city's reputation. William L. Scott, a gentleman whose name is the syuonym of enterprise wherever known, is the Chairman of the company, while W. S. Brown is Secretary and Treasurer. The superintendency of the rolling mill in detail is intrusted to Thomas Palmer, a thorough and ex- perienced man in this line of business. *

The Erie Forge Company, corner Cascade and Fifteenth streets, was organ- ized in 1872, and began operations the year following on a comparatively limited scale. In 1879, the works were entirely destroyed by fire, but were im- mediately rebuilt on a much larger scale, and important additions made to the size of the building, and to the machinery in 1880. The works are located south of the tracks of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, from which a siding connects the shops with all the railroads. The plant includes several acres of ground, well adapted to the purpose, the shops being 65x241 feet in dimensions. The east end is a machine shop, fully equipped with the heavy machinery needed in the successful prosecution of the business, which is operated by an engine of 40-horsepower. In the forging shop there are in use five heavy hammers, six large furnaces and one large steam shear, all operated by separate engines. The products of the works are hammered iron and steel, car and engine axles, shafting, cranks and heavy forgings of all kinds, the value of which amounts to a large sum annually. Employment is given to 125 men, and the consumption of iron amounts to 125 tons, and of coal to 240 tons per week, the works being run day and night. The character of the work turned out has always been such as to give them a rank second to none. The Erie Car Works use in their shops the axles produced by this company, and the trade extends through all the country east of the Mississippi River, and amounts to an immense sum annually. As a monument to the skill, energy and enterprise of the proprietors, it stands among the most prominent in the city, and is an important contributor to Erie's importance as a manufacturing center. In the spring of 1883, it was changed from a corporation to a firm, the mem- bers of which are George W. Starr, A. Brabender and J. P. Harrington, the last named having charge of the works.

Davenport, Fairbairn & Co .: The works of this company are located just west of the Erie Car Works, and adjoining them. They are among the most famous, and are probably the largest in the country. The capacity is 350 wheels per day. One hundred men are employed, and six cupolas are kept in blast. Two of the cupolas used in melting charcoal iron for wheels, have a ca- pacity of 100 tons of metal per day. Four engines, ranging from twenty to fifty- horse-power, are employed. This company owns a large blast furnace at St. Ignace, Mich., said to be the finest charcoal furnace in the world. Here they give employment to 250 men, all the iron produced being used in the manufact- ure of car wheels in their own foundry at Erie. This company makes all the

*Since the above was written, these works, with all their contents, were completely destroyed by fire on the 9th of December, 1883.

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wheels used by the Erie Car Works, and also supplies a large trade in different sections of the country, and make in addition a general line of railroad cast- ings. The members of the firm are W. R. Davenport, John Fairbairn and Col. H. B. Plumer, of Franklin, Penn.

The Selden & Griswold Manufacturing Company, corner of Tenth and Chestnut streets, began business in the year 1868, and at once secured a repu- tation for excellence in their line second to no concern of its kind in this sec- tion of the State. The works are situated in a portion of the city convenient to the railroads, on valuable property, and consist of foundry, 100x150 feet; finishing room, 30x90 feet, two stories in height, the upper floor being used for machinery and mounting room; store room, 30x40 feet, two stories; store room No. 2, 60x95 feet, also two stories, and engine and boiler room, in which is an engine of fifty-horse-power. The number of men employed aggregates 100, and the production amounts to more than $75,000 per year. The specialties of the works consist of small castings, hollow ware of special sizes and extra finish, house furnishing utensils, stove trimmings and a great variety of work common to establishments of this nature. Their castings are of a fine grade, and all the products of the house show careful and intelligent workmanship. Samuel Selden's heirs, J. C. Selden and Matthew Griswold, are the proprie- tors, and are fully posted in all the details of their business. They are thor- oughly in earnest in their work, are prominently identified with the substantial welfare of the community, and their works are an important and valuable ad- junct of Erie's prosperity.

Jarecki, Hays & Co., Eleventh street, between State and Peach, date their origin back to the year 1865, when the works were started by G. and F. Jarecki. They were succeeded by Jarecki & Metz, who in turn were followed by Jarecki, Metz & Co., who continued the business until 1870, when the firm became Jarecki, Hays & Co., as now known. The goods here manufactured consist principally of supplies for water and gas companies, brass goods, yard hydrants, extension service boxes, street washers, etc. In this production, embracing many of the most important accessories of water and gas service, the firm have been highly successful, and in one or two specialties have won a national reputation. We refer particularly to "Jarecki's Patent Extension Shut-Off Box" for water and gas, and "Jarecki's Patent Extension Street Washer," which have secured the most flattering testimonials from all parts of the country. They make the hydrants known as McNamara's Patent Compression Valve Dry Pipe, and Jarecki's Keystone Compression Valve Hydrants, besides a great variety of brass work, consisting of cocks for all departments of gas and water service. The works consist of a substantial brick building, three stories in height, 40x 160 feet in dimensions, and are fully equipped with every appliance for the rapid production of their work. They employ twenty-eight hands, skilled in their various pursuits, and manufacture a large amount of goods annually. The members of the firm are F. Jarecki, J. W. Hays, W. B. Hays and S. J. Law. These gentlemen have become, through their present work, strongly identified with the substantial interests of the city.

T. M. Nagle, manufacturer of portable, stationary and agricultural steam engines: These works, located at the corner of Sixteenth and Holland streets, were erected by Mr. Nagle in September, 1879. The plant covers a space of 125x350 feet, improved with substantial buildings, the main shop being 45x 200 feet in area, with a wing 40x60, and a blacksmith shop adjoining 30x45 feet in dimensions. In 1883, there was erected a substantial brick foundry 70x125 feet, while other improvements are contemplated in the near future. From sixty to seventy skilled mechanics are employed, and all the boiler work

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is made under contract by outside parties. This force turned out 400 finished engines, ranging from eight to fifty-horse-power, during 1883, while more than 1,000 engines have been manufactured since the works were established. They are sold in all portions of the United States, from Maine to Texas and from Florida to Colorado, and the demand is fully up to the capacity of the works. The specialty is portable steam engines, of which more are claimed to be turned out at these works than at any other in this section of the State. Mr. Nagle brings to his present business a thoroughly practical knowledge of it, in all its details, gained from a long experience and a natural aptitude for the business. The marked success he has met in this new contribution to Erie's important industries is but a just tribute to his ability as a manufact- urer, and the energy and push which mark the successful business man.

Cleveland & Co .: The foundry department of the Erie City Iron Works, owned and operated by this firm, was organized in June, 1868, and is located on the corner of Twelfth and French streets. They manufacture all kinds of building and machinery castings. The building is a substantial brick structure, 86x240 feet, wherein sixty men find employment, turning out an- nually more than 2,000 tons of castings. The firm is composed of W. L. Cleveland, F. F. Cleveland, George Selden and J. H. Bliss, who are all favor- ably known and identified with the leading manufacturing interests of Erie.

The Erie Engine Works, owned and carried on by Cleveland & Hardwick, are located on the corner of Twelfth and State streets, formerly the site of the Erie City Iron Works. The firm was organized in May, 1879, and manufact- ure portable, stationary and cut-off engines, boilers, etc., employing sixty men, and turning out 12,000 horse-power annually in various sized engines, ranging from 6 to 150-horse-power. W. L. Cleveland, F. F. Cleveland and William Hardwick compose the firm.

Skinner & Wood's Engine Works were removed from New York State to Erie in 1873, and began business on the corner of Eleventh and French streets. In the winter of 1880-81, the firm erected their present works on the corner of Twelfth and Chestnut, where the plant covers 125x300 feet of ground. Fifty men find employment in these works, engaged in manufacturing only one style of portable and stationary engines, turning out about 250 annually, though the works have a capacity of 300. The buildings are frame and of the following dimensions: Machine shop, 45x150, two stories; boiler room and blacksmith shop, 40x60, one story; foundry, 40x60; pattern house, 20x30; boiler finishing room, 40x60; store house, 55x60, besides about 400 feet of shedding for storage, etc. The firm is L. G. Skinner and Thomas C. Wood, whose enterprise and public spirit have added much to the wealth and prosperity of their adopted city.

Ball Engine Works, on French, above Twelfth street, were established in 1881, and incorporated in March, 1883. The plant is large and improved with buildings ample for the accommodation of all the departments of their work. The main shop of the works is 50x100 feet in dimensions, supplemented by engine and boiler room and blacksmith shop. The capacity of engine used is twenty-horse-power, and employment is given at all times to thirty men. The machinery, which is adapted especially for the purposes for which it is used, is of the latest and most improved patterns, and embraces every appurtenance and appliance for the manufacture of the specialty of the works. Mr. Ball is a thoroughly practical engine builder of many years' experience, and the engines. made here are the result of that experience and a through knowledge of mechanics. The company is composed of W. H. Nicholson, President; F. H. Ball, Secretary and Treasurer, and since its incorporation the firm has been

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engaged in manufacturing their new automatic cut-off engine, embodying a new system of regulation, in which the governor weighs the load. They turn out from 100 to 120 engines annually, ranging from twenty to sixty-horse-power. This company is one of the prominent factors in Erie's prosperity, and is an enterprise of substantial merit.

Taper Sleeve Pulley Works, on Twelfth, near Peach street, were established in 1873, by A. B. Cook, and were conducted by him until May, 1877, when the present firm took possession. The works consist of a three-story brick build- ing, 50x155 feet in dimensions, with an addition on the west side for lowering manufactured material. They are fully supplied with all the machinery neces- sary in the production of their specialty, operated by a sixty-horse-power boiler and twenty-horse-power engiue, and give employment to thirty-five men. The annual output amounts to from $75,000 to $100,000 and the trade reaches to all parts of the country. The productions consist of taper sleeve wood belt pulleys, taper sleeve and compression couplings, adjustable dead pulleys, wood pulleys, split or in halves, friction clutch pulleys, and cut off couplings. These pulleys possess points of merit, based upon true mechanical principles, which make them valuable parts of well-adjusted and scientifically constructed line shafting, which their use has fully demonstrated. The firm is composed of A. H. Gray, Treasurer, and H. C. Crowell, Superintendent.

The South Erie Iron Works were established in 1868, on Peach street, between Nineteenth and Twentieth. They are the successor of the Eagle Foundry, which was commenced some nine or ten years prior to that date by William Henry and Adam Acheson. In 1868, the works were incorporated under the above title, with William Henry, President, and R. Liebel, Secre- tary. The former was succeeded in 1882 by Adam Acheson, while Mr. Liebel is still Secretary, and James Acheson, Treasurer. The main building is of brick, 42x325, the front portion being two stories, and the rear one story in height; the salesroom is a three story brick, 23x80, and there is a frame storage room, 22x120, partly two stories high. Fifty men find constant em- ployment in these works, principally in the manufacture of all classes of stoves. It is one of the leading establishments of South Erie, and its enter- prising proprietors are deserving of honest commendation in this article.

The Erie City Nickel Plating Company, corner Thirteenth and Parade streets, are the largest works in the city devoted to this business, and were established in the year 1880. From their inception, the reliable character of their work drew a large amount of business to them. The building used for the purpose is in dimensions 24x100 feet, furnished throughout with the latest improved appliances of the business, and is supplied with an engine of twelve- horse-power. The number of men employed is at all times from 25 to 30, and the value of the work done runs up into the thousands of dollars annually. When the nature of the art of nickel plating is considered, and the compara- tive smallness of the cost of the service rendered, it is to the uninitiated a mystery how a concern engaged in the business can do enough work to show a business that amounts to thousands of dollars per year, but a visit to these works will enlighten the most ignorant on the subject, when he sees the innu- merable articles, and the vast quantities of them sent from the largest con- cerns in the city to be plated. Excellence of workmanship and durability of finish are the characteristics of all the work at this establishment, and have wou it high praise. The firm is composed of A. McArthur and J. McArthur, father and son, respectively. The latter is the practical head of the works, and is a thoroughily posted man in all the finer details and secrets of the art. This establishment does all the plating of the Chicago and Erie Stove Com-

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pany, which alone is an invincible proof of the superior class of work turned out.

Root & Burrows Nickel Plating and Metal Finishing Works began operations in July, 1878, at 1237 Peach street, its present location. The building is a three-story brick, 40x60 feet in dimensions, and the firm gives employment to from twenty to twenty-five hands. All the plating of the Black & Germer stove works is done in this establishment, which in itself is a sufficient guar- antee of the excellent quality of their work.

Stonemetz Printers' Machinery Company is the successor of that branch previously carried on by Noble & Hall, who began the manufacture of the Stonemetz Folding Machines in July, 1879. They were made at that estab- lishment until August, 1882, when the present company was established and began operations on Twelfth street, between Sassafras and Chestnut. The machine shop is 40x120 feet; the engine room is 18x25 feet; the blacksmith- shop is 14x25 feet, besides a storage room, all of which are one-story brick structures. One 25-horse-power engine furnishes the motive power, and the firm employs on an average thirty hands, who find steady work throughout the year. Their market extends all over the Union, and twenty-six different styles and sizes of these machines are manufactured by the Stonemetz Company. The business is constantly growing, and the future has, doubtless, in store a fitting reward for the energy and enterprise of this firm.

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History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 72

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280