USA > Rhode Island > Biographical history of the manufacturers and business men of Rhode Island, at the opening of the twentieth century > Part 17
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Since the invention of the ring traveler in 1828, it may be said to have passed through a kind of process of evolution, each improvement making a desirable effect upon the quality of textiles, until now the acme of perfection may well be said to have been reached in the trav- elers made by this company, which are cut and bent on automatic machines, the various sizes
A. Curtis Tingley.
and styles requiring the use of more than fifty different kinds, as a machine that will produce one style of traveler is not adapted for another. These machines all have their own complete set of tools and are always kept in perfect order for immediate use. Very great improvements have been made by the company during the past few years in the method of tempering, which insure greater uniformity, and corresponding improve- ments have also been accomplished in other parts of the work, which, being divided into classes, each workman has only a certain class to perform and an established grade of sizes to make. In this way he becomes an expert in the production of those sizes and styles that fall to his department. As these travelers, through the hardening process, are converted into steel of a watch spring temper, and in every other way made perfect in finish and form, only the most ex- perienced of workmen are employed.
The business of this company, which has been developed under the management of Mr. Tingley, is one of the most important of our State, their goods be- ing considered of the highest grade, and reaching an extensive foreign as well as a broad market throughout the United States.
Linden Worsted Mills. - Manufacturers of fancy worsteds for men's wear. Business estab- lished in 1899. Part of the present factory was built in 1814. Walter F. Slade, Agent. Fac- tory located in Chepachet, R. I. Employ about 50 hands. Power furnished by the Chepachet River. A steam engine supplies the power in times of low water. A large factory in the rear of the present establishment was de- stroyed by fire in 1898, which gave employment to some 300 hands when the plant was in operation.
Brown Building, Front View, National Ring Traveler Co., West Exchange Street, Providence.
Brown Building, Rear View, National Ring Traveler Co., West Exchange Street, Providence.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Norcross Brothers .- Contractors and builders, and manufacturers of building materials in stone at their steam stone works at the corner of Kinsley and Sims avenues, Providence, which are the largest of any works of their kind in New England. The plant was built in 1895 principally to prepare the marble for the State House on Smith's Hill, which is now nearing completion, but now are used in preparing the stone material for other buildings that the firm are constructing, including the Union Trust building at the corner of Westminster and Dor- rance streets, the loftiest business block in the city, twelve stories high, and one of the most attractive, as will be seen by the cut upon the opposite page, which marks the latest style of
the mill by a steam capstan, this same power serving to place the marble or granite blocks under the gang saws, and removing them after they have been sawed into the desired shape. There are four ordinary gang saws, and two extra large ones, besides four rip saws, all ar- ranged in a row at the east side of the mill. The fact that as many as forty-five tons of mar- ble have been worked under one of these saws at one time, gives some idea of their capacity. While the saws are working a stream of water, mingled with sand and chilled iron, is kept flow- ing upon the marble, which aids very materially in the work. In the centre of the mill are six power double stone planers, which to the ordin- ary observer are the most interesting of all the equipment of machinery of this immense plant. These planers are capable of handling twelve tons at a time, and they will plane a straight
T
NORCROSS BROTHERS STEAM
STONE WORKS.
Norcross Brothers' Steam Stone Works, Corner Kinsley and Sims Avenues, Providence.
architecture in the city of Providence at the opening of the twentieth century, which was designed by Stone, Carpenter & Willson, our local architects. This building will be devoted wholly to offices for business and professional men.
The stone works cover an area of several acres, and they are equipped with all of the modern machinery necessary for handling all kinds of stone, and for preparing them in all of the varied forms that are required for building purposes. They are located near the tracks of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Company. In the stock yard there is an endless rope crane of twenty tons capacity, which is so arranged as to enable the operator to convey the heavy and bulky stone to any part of the yard, and to place it on to cars that are drawn the entire length of
surface, or, by putting on a circular attachment, the machine will plane a curve of almost any variation from a true circle. At the northern end of the mill there are three stone lathes, the largest of which will turn a shaft twenty-two feet in length. Near these is a large heading machine, which in reality is a stone planer, but this planer moves along the surface of the stationary stone, while the other planers are stationary, and the stone moves along as fast as it is planed. This heading machine planes and cuts molding on heads of stone shafts, and also planes straight surfaces. At the southern end of the mill are three large rubbing beds, where the smooth surfaces are made on all facing stone, and next to these is a dental saw, which is used for making ornamental work on stone. A twelve ton electric crane extends along the entire length of the west side of the mill, which handles all of the heavy columns and blocks of stone very rapidly, and in all parts of the mill
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UNION TRUST CO. BUILDING, PROVIDENCE.
The Tallest Commercial Building in the City, and the Latest Style of Architecture the First Year of the 20th Century, 1901.
Stone, Carpenter & Willson, Architects.
Norcross Brothers, Builders.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
are small hand traveling cranes which enable the workmen to convey any piece of stone to any part of the mill, the railway tracks which extend throughout the plant in various direc- tions, aiding very much in this line of work. Very little old-fashioned chiseling by hand is done in this establishment. All of the men are provided with pneumatic tools, which do the work much more rapidly and better than by the old method. In the blacksmith shop are emery wheels, a power hammer, forges, and all the equipments necessary for this department, where all of the tools for planing the moldings, etc., are shaped and kept in repair. Power for the plant is supplied by two 100 horse power Hicks boilers, and one 200 horse power steam engine. They employ upwards of 250 workmen and the majority of them are the most skilled stone cutters that can be found in any part of the globe. Norcross Brothers have built many large edifices in this State, but the Capitol Building is of course their crowning effort, and it will stand as a monument to their ability as builders as striking as any structure that they have erected. O. W. Norcross, of Worcester, Mass., where their main office is located, has been the head of the firm through all of its many years of prosperity. Their Providence office is located in the Industrial Trust Build- ing. Among the buildings erected in Rhode Island besides the Union Trust Building and the State House, are the Banigan Building, In- dustrial Trust Building, R. I. Hospital Trust, Lauderdale, Francis, and Alice Buildings, Provi- dence Telephone Co. Building, of Providence. In Boston they built the South Terminal Sta- tion, Exchange Building, Colonial Theatre Building, Tremont Building, Ames Building and Trinity Church. In Worcester, the Worcester City Hall, and State Mutual Life Insurance Co. Building. The Bank of Montreal, Montreal, Canada; Yale Memorial Dining Hall and Audi- torium, New Haven, Conn .; Equitable Building, Baltimore, Md .; Marshall Field Building, Chi- cago, Ill .; Allegheney Court House and Jail, Pittsburg, Pa .; Corcoran Art Gallery, Washing- ton, D. C .; New York City Library, and the Library of Columbia University.
Woonsocket Wagon Mfg. Co .- Manufacturers of wagons and carriages of all kinds, including heavy work in the line of barges, express wagons, tip-carts, farm wagons, drays, etc. Busi- ness established originally in 1870 by Henry Marsh, the property having been under the management of several companies since that time. In 1900 Mr. E. E. Southwick purchased the property, and March 1, 1901, the business was incorporated under the present name, with a capitalization of $10,000. Some thirty hands are employed, and the plant is one of the largest in the State, equipped with all of the modern machinery necessary for the manufacture of
wagons of every description, and for doing re- pairing. Works located on Worrall street, Woonsocket, R. I. Power supplied by a 40
Elwin E. Southwick.
horse power, high speed Erie engine, and 45 horse power electric plant. The company have a complete blacksmith shop which is carried on in connection with their carriage business. They also have a large shoeing shop on the opposite side of the street. Officers of the company are: Elwin E. Southwick, President; Fred Cleveland, Treasurer and Secretary. Mr. South- wick, President and General Manager of the business, was born in Uxbridge, Mass., April 10, 1865. He learned the business of carriage making of his father, Mr. George Southwick, who carried on the carriage manufacturing bus- iness in Uxbridge which was established by his father, and was a continuation of the same line of business established in North Smithfield, R. I., fully a century ago, by Eber Southwick, who was the great-grandfather of Elwin E. Southwick, who began manufacturing on his own account in his native place under the firm name of E. E. Southwick & Co., his father being the partner. In 1895 he transferred the business to Woonsocket, locating on South Main street, where he remained until 1900 when the present plant was purchased and he removed to the new works, where an extensive business is being built up. The manufacture of wagons and carriages having been handed down through several generations, Mr. Southwick has the ad- vantage of a superior knowledge of the business, which is proving of great benefit to the cor- poration.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Graham & Williams. - Manufacturers of rolled gold buttons, rings, etc., and a general line of electro-plated jewelry. Works located at
Thomas H. Graham.
220 Eddy street, Providence. Business estab- lished by Graham Bros. in 1896. In 1899 Daniel C. Williams became a member of the firm, and the name was changed to Graham & Williams. Mr. Williams is a native of Paw- tucket, R. I., where he was born Nov. 21, 1855. He is a practical jewelery manufacturer and gives his personal attention to the business. Thomas H. Graham was born in Providence, August 2, 1867. He learned the jewelry trade in this city along about 1880, and after working in the employ of several jewelry manufacturing concerns he entered into the jewelry manufac- turing business on his own account with his brother in 1896. The present company employ about 60 hands. Their goods are sold through- out the United States and some in foreign countries.
Wm. H. Place Manufacturing Co .- Manufac- turers of saponified wool oils, stainless loom and spindle oils, colorine, alizarine, mordant, cream tarter, half refined and silver tartar, etc., and re- finers and pressers of lard, neatsfoot and tallow oils, and do wool scouring. Business estab- lished in 1861 by Charles T. Place, who was succeeded by his brother, William H. Place, in
1877. Incorporated in 1896, when the present title of the company was adopted. Works located at 668 Eddy street, Providence. Build- ing erected in 1889. William H. Place is a native of Pascoag, R. I.
American Multiple Fabric Co .- Manufacturers of multiple woven goods for mechanical pur- poses, including dryer felts, calico printers' blankets, drawing and preparing aprons for worsted, webbing, etc. Also Baker's tubular fabric, hydraulic and fire hose, and evaporating horse blankets. Works located at 183 Hartford avenue, Providence. Business incorporated in 1873. Capitalized for $200,000. Officers : Charles Fletcher, President; William A. Wil- kinson, Treasurer; A. A. Wilkinson, Agent.
Edgar L. Logee & Co .- Manufacturers of so- ciety and other emblems. Business established by Edgar L. Lyon in 1876, who is a native of New Bedford, Mass., where he was born July 16, 1850. Works located at 235 Eddy street, Providence. Employ 30 hands.
Williams & Anderson .- Manufacturers of em- blems, badges, etc. Business established in 1901. Works located at 46 Clifford street, Providence.
John W. Lyon .- Manufacturer of the Lyon dental vulcanizer and general brass finisher.
Daniel C. Williams.
Business established in 1879. Works located at 46 Clifford street, Providence. Also does water service work.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Centreville Cotton Mill. - Robert B. Treat, proprietor, Centreville, Warwick, R. I. In 1805 the firm of Almy & Brown of Pawtucket, R. I., bought of Job Greene of Warwick, land on both sides of the Flat river, in the western part of Warwick, and in 1807 conveyed nineteen forty-eighths of the same to John Allen of Smithfield, R. I., James Greene, John Greene and Gideon Greene, Jr., of Warwick. The prop- erty included a grist-mill, on the west side, that had been operated by Job Greene, and was but a short distance below the Warwick Spinning Mill, erected on the West Side in 1794 upon land also purchased of Job Greene, and oper- ated by William Potter of Providence and the projectors of the pres- ent enterprise. The latter now organized themselves as the War- wick Mfg. Co., in which the firm of Almy & Brown (William Almy and Obadiah Brown) held an interest of twenty-nine, John Allen six, James Greene six, John Greene four, and Gideon Greene, Jr., three forty - eighths. They immediately built on the east side a wooden mill, 54x 30 feet three stories and attic, which, from its color, became known as the "green mill." At first its product of yarn was sold, but before the war of 1812 it was being given out to families to be woven into sheetings, bed-tickings, checks and plaids. The price paid per yard for weaving dress plaids ranged from eight to seventeen cents, and the goods when sold at wholesale brought from thirty-three to fifty-five cents; cotton stripes from thirty-three to forty cents; bed-ticking from seventy to seventy-five cents. Just before the war of 1812 the company con- verted the grist mill, on the west side, into a cotton factory and in 1815 the total number of spindles in operation by them was 2,700. In the spinning mill, just above, there were 780
Robert B. Treat.
spindles. Operations were more or less sus- pended during the depression that immediately followed the war, but were resumed in 1816, power looms being introduced about that time. In 1821 it was decided to unite the Warwick Mfg. Co. and the Warwick Spinning Mill, the same proportions of the stock of each company being at that time held by the same persons. The new organization retained the name of the Warwick Mfg. Co., in which Almy & Brown held an interest of five eighths, and James and John Greene and John Allen, one-eighth each. John Greene became the agent and about this time the machinery of the mill built in 1794 was removed and power looms substituted. The " green mill " was then devoted exclusively to carding and spinning. In 1822 William Almy bought the interest of his partner, Obadiah Brown; the interest of James Greene went to his heirs upon his death in 1825. The mills eas- ily weathered the panic of 1829 and their suc- cess was unusual while they were under the controlling ownership of William Almy and the management of John Greene. In 1835 Almy sold out to John Greene and Daniel Howland, 117 shares to the former and 63 to the latter. The same year Howland sold out to Greene, who thus became the owner of three-fourths of the stock which at that time comprised in all 288 shares. John Allen died in 1845 and his one-eighth interest, or 36 shares, was bequeathed as follows: to his wife, 12 shares, to his children, 14 shares, and to various religious societies, the remaining 10 shares. Of these shares John Greene in 1846-7 purchased eighteen which made 234 shares or thirteen six- teenths held by him. This interest descended to his heirs at his death in 1851. Soon after William Almy sold his interest, a portion of the factory which had been converted from a grist
169
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
mill was leased to Brown & Aldrich for the manufacture of a coarse mixed cotton and woolen fabric called negro cloth. In 1846 Christopher Allen and James Waterhouse began, in the same place, the manufacture of cassimeres. In 1850 their machinery was pur- chased by William D. Davis of Providence, a woolen manufacturer, who operated the mill with Waterhouse as partner. In 1851-2 Davis purchased of the heirs of the original proprietors
owner of the property and so continued until the date of his death, June 21, 1894, when, by the terms of his will, his entire estate was placed under the control and management of Mr. John B. Allen as Trustee, for the term of five years.
Mr. Lapham bequeated one-third of his prop- erty to his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth L. Treat, and the remainder to his only grandson, Robert Byron Treat, who, upon the expiration of the
Centreville Cotton Mill, Centreville, Warwick, R. I.
the entire estate of the Warwick Mfg. Co., and immediately sold the "green mill" to Benedict Lapham of Burrillville, R. I., who began operat- ing it in 1852. In 1861 he made a large addi- tion to the mill and in 1871 erected a new mill, of stone, 303 x 72 feet, four stories and base- ment. The additions to the old mill were in- corporated in the new plant, and the original portion was removed a short distance from its former site and converted into a store house. Upon the death of Mr. Benedict Lapham, June 16, 1883, his brother Enos became the sole
trusteeship, purchased his mother's interest in the manufacturing business, excepting her one- third interest in the real estate and machinery, which he leased of her for a term of years. The business, as outlined above, is now owned and managed by Mr. Treat in his name as an in- dividual, the property never having been incor- porated since the days of the Warwick Mfg. Co. in 1807.
The mill property is modern, well equipped and shows evidence of the special care and at- tention given it by its owner, and the mill vil-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
lage is attractive and well laid out for comfort and convenience. The village streets are lined on either side with grand old elm trees, most of which were set out about 1790 by Mr. Job Greene, making the village one of the most at- tractive in the State. Mr. Treat claims that this mill occupies the site of the second mill in this country where cloth was woven from yarn spun on the premises. The plant contains 31,000 spindles, 700 wide looms, and employs about 350 hands. It has a combined 725 horse power by water from two upright turbine wheels and two horizontal wheels; also 600 horse power from a Greene single condensing engine. The annual consumption of cotton is about 3,000 bales and the annual production of cloth about 9,000,000 yards.
In justice to the memory of the founder of the business, Mr. Benedict Lapham, and to the memory of his successor, Mr. Enos Lapham, it is proper to state that while the manufacturing industries of the Pawtuxet Valley will, almost without exception, show a record of failure at some time in their history, yet the record of the affairs of the Centreville Cotton Mill shows continual prosperity from the date of its pur- chase by Mr. Benedict Lapham in 1852 down to the present time, covering a period of over forty-nine years.
Robert B. Treat, son of Franklin and Eliza- beth (Lapham) Treat, is a native of Centre. ville, R. I., where he was born February 1I, 1868. He early attended Mrs. Vaughan's private school at Centreville, and later the public schools, where he remained until 1879, when he entered the Friends School of Providence. Ill health prevented him from pursuing his studies and, after remaining two years, he left the school in the hope of recuperating. In Sep- tember, 1882, he entered Mowry & Goff's school, of Providence, from the English and scientific departments of which he graduated with honors in June, 1886. The following Sep- tember he entered the mill office of his grand- father, Mr. Enos Lapham, as office boy, where, by faithful and persistent application to his duties, he was advanced to a responsible posi- tion which he occupied several years previous to the death of Mr. Lapham, which occurred in 1894, Mr. Treat at that time being twenty-six years of age. After he was fourteen years of age, and up to the time he entered the office, in
1886, he was employed during the summer, for a number of seasons, in the different depart- ments of the mill, and the practical knowledge he acquired during that time has been of great service to him in the management of the busi- ness which has since come to him, and is now under his control and sole management.
Mr. Treat, since his youth, has been promi- inently identified with religious and educational work, being one of the trustees of the Centre- ville M. E. Church, and for about ten years prior to 1900, he was superintendent of its Sun- day school. He is president of the corporation of East Greenwich Academy, one of the oldest in- stitutions of learning in the State, and is a mem- ber of the board of trustees of his school dis- trict, which position he has occupied, some- times alone and sometimes with associates, al- most continuously since his twenty-first year.
In politics Mr. Treat is a Republican and was one of the presidential electors chosen to elect the afterwards martyred President Mckinley to his second term of office. Mr. Treat is a mem- ber of the committee on town debt of the town of Warwick and a member of the school com- mittee. He is also a director of the Centreville National Bank and of the Centreville Savings Bank.
He was married June 1, 1892, to Mary Gay- lord, eldest daughter of Francis S. and Sarah J. Turner, of Oaklawn, R. I. Of this union were born Robert, May 28, 1893, and Hazel, August 30, 1894.
Thomas Townsend .- Manufacturer of wool and cotton combs, used in cotton and woolen mills. Business established in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1885; removed to Manchester, Conn., where after three years the business was located in Providence in 1894. Works at 157 Orange street. Employs about 15 hands. Thomas Townsend is a native of Bradford, Yorkshire, England. He came to America in 1877 and located in Providence, where he worked for William Miller in the same line of business until he began manufacturing in Philadelphia on his own account in 1885 under the firm name of Hood & Townsend. He afterwards bought out his partner's interest and carried it on alone. Mr. Townsend served seven years appren- ticeship in England to learn the trade of a comb maker, and his thorough knowledge of the busi- ness enables him to turn out the finest of work.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Weeks Bros. Co. - Manufacturers of fine chocolates, bon bons and a general line of con- fectionery. The only manufactory in the State
Fred A. Weeks.
where candies are made on a commercial scale. Works located at 167, 169, 171 and 173 Rich- mond street, Providence. Business established in 1867 by Weeks Bros. Incorporated in March, 1899, under the name of the Weeks Bros. Co. Capitalized for $10,000. Em- ploy about 70 hands. Officers : E. Frank Packard, President; Orrin B. Weeks, Vice-President and Secretary; William E. Beach, Treasurer.
Fred A. Weeks, who is the principal stockholder in the corporation, was born in Guilford, N. H., May 29, 1848. In company with his brother, Arthur B. Weeks, he began the manufacture of candies in the city of Providence in 1867 in a small way, under the firm name of Weeks Bros., and their goods gave such excellent satisfaction, their business gradually increased until they felt the necessity of a much larger factory, and in 1889 F. A. Weeks purchased of the city of Providence the old school build- ing on Richmond street, and there in- stalled his plant, and in 1897 an exten- sive addition was built of brick five
stories in height, which gave the concern an additional floor space of 90,000 square feet, mak- ing the plant one of the largest and best candy manufacturing establishments in Southern New England. The accompanying cut gives a good idea of the new five story structure, together with the original school house building which was formerly the property of the city. In 1888 Mr. Weeks bought his brother Arthur's in- terest, and until the incorporation of the con- cern in 1899, he carried it on alone, building up an extensive business in all parts of the United States, although his principal trade was in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The house has won a reputation for using in the manufacture of their goods the finest of pure materials, fruit flavors and colors. While Mr. Weeks has turned over the management of the business to the young men who are filling the offices of the corporation, he still lends a careful oversight and is really the directing spirit of the company, although the burden of the work he is glad to lay aside after so many years of active service in the business which he has built up to such extensive proportions. The power for the works is supplied by an 80 horse power Almy water tube boiler, and an 80 horse power steam engine. The plant is equipped with all of the modern machinery required in the manufacture of all kinds of confectionery.
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