USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 71
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The persons and corporations engaged in various manufactures in
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
the city in 1824 were as follows: Joseph Adams, Jr., distiller; Philip Allen. cotton manufacturer, at 104 North Main street; Zachariah Allen, woolen manufacturer, at the same number; Adams & Foster, cotton goods, 17 South Main; Almy & Brown, 57 Cheapside; Samuel Ames, 117 South Main; John Andrews, Butler's wharf; David Anth- ony. Anthony's wharf; Ahab Arnold, 84 Westminster; James U. Ar- nold, 86 and 88 Westminster: Samuel Arnold, 25 South Water; Beaver Hat Company, 41 Market; the Blackstone Company, warehouse, 23 Weybosset; Joseph S. Cooke, cotton goods; Hassard Cory, currier; Joseph Cunliff, cotton goods, 385 North Main; J. Cunliff & Co., weav- ers' pickers, 387 North Main: Thaddeus Curtis & Co., brushes, 42 Weybosset; Peter Daniels, tanner, 463 North Main; Davis & Ray, dressers of clothing. 66 South Main; Thomas Davis, brewer, 61 Paw- tuxet: Calvin Dean, tanner and currier, 60 High; Joseph S. Eldridge, combs, 152 Benefit; Frost & Mumford, jewelry, Cady's lane; Ezekiel Gardiner. currier, Charles; Gorham & Bebee, jewelry, 73 North Main; Isaac Greene, distiller, near Charles; William Hamlin, engraver and manufacturer mathematical instruments, 135 South Main; Sheldon Hawkins, currier. Mill: Benjamin Holbrook, pickers; Hope Manufac- turing Company, 12 Westminster; Lippitt Manufacturing Company, 69 Westminster; Lyman Cotton Manufacturing Company, warehouse, 123 South Main: Merino Manufacturing Company, 10 West Water; Joel Metcalf & Sons, tanners and curriers, corner Charles and Mill streets: Henry Mumford, sugar refiner, Sugar lane; Newel Stanford, manufacturer woolen goods, Charles; Otter Manufacturing Company. 86 Westminster: Pawtuxet Manufacturing Company, warehouse, 9 West Water; Phenix Manufacturing Company, 16 South Water; Samuel Pike, pocket-books, 261 North Main; Plainfield Union Manu- facturing Company, Anthony's wharf; Providence Dyeing, Bleaching and Calendering Company, Sabin street; Providence Iron Foundry, Eddy street; Providence Cotton Manufacturing Company, 26 North Main street: Edward Randall & Co., machine makers, Bark street; Rhodes & Smith and C. & W. Rhodes, both at 9 West Water: Sterling Cotton Manufacturing Company, warehouse. 117 South Main; Peter Temple, currier, rear of 53 Cheapside: Thornton & Lothrop, 19 South Main; S. Townsend & Co., wool hat bodies, 103 South Main: Stephen Tripp, 23 Weybosset; United Cotton Manufacturing Company, 429 North Main; Joseph Veazie, jewelry, 218 North Main: Wool Hat Body Manufacturing Company, 105 South Main street: the Belfont Manufacturing Company; Bowen Bleaching and Calendering Com- pany, John street.
The census of Providence for the year 1820 returns five cotton mills, two woolen mills, two bleaching establishments, three dye houses, one grain mill, one oil mill, two clothiers' work, three rope walks, one gin distillery and four rum distilleries. The Providence Woolen Mill was built in 1813. It was operated by a steam engine
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
made in Philadelphia by the celebrated Oliver Evans, the inventor of the long cylinder boilers now in general use. The superintendent of this mill. Mr. Sanford, was an Englishman, of great inventive genius. Under his direction was made the first self-acting mule spinning machine in use in the United States. The threads were drawn upward, or vertically, instead of horizontally, as is the case in that class of machines at present in use. This woolen mill in its day was deemed the most perfect in New England, and in it were inade very good fine broadcloths, which were sold as high as ten and twelve dollars a yard during the war of 1812. The principal iron foundry was operated by David Wilkinson, where the Franklin Foundry now is. Charcoal was used for melting the iron. The blast was obtained by bellows operated by water power. Ten or twelve years later it was considered a great achievement to burn anthracite ·coal in this furnace. In 1812 a machine shop was put in operation by Samuel Ogden, on Bark street, opposite the old grist mill on Charles street. Cotton machinery was made here, and a large force of ex- perienced mechanics had an opportunity to exercise and develop their inventive genius, and many of them became eminent in their line of work. The old Wanskuck Mill, running 800 spindles, which stood where the new mill of that company now stands, was one of the · earliest cotton mills operated in this vicinity. It is said to have been the first building in the city lighted by coal gas.
The manufacture of jewelry, which had been begun in a small way, soon after the close of the revolution, continued to incicase in importance until. in 1815, it reached the value of $300,000 in its annual products. It received a severe check in 1816 and 1817, but revived with renewed vigor in the following year, and in 1820 about $600,000 worth of jewelry was produced, and the manufacture em- ployed the labor of 300 hands. Among the names of men and films then engaged in the business were: Ezekiel Burr, Frost & Mumford, Gorham & Bebee, Samuel Lopez, Whiting Metcalf, Jonathan B. Nichols. Galen and Arroet Richmond, Franklin Richmond, Christo- pher Burr, Adnah Sackett, Lloyd Shaw, George Simmons, Pardon Simmons, William R. Taylor, Ichabod Tompkins, Joseph Veazie, Ar- nold Whipple, Josiah Whitaker & Co., Davis & Babbitt, Samuel Veazie, Ezra W. Dodge. Ellis Richmond and Edward S. Lyon. There were ten jewelry and watchmakers' stores.
During the quarter of a century succeeding 1820 great advance was made in the material growth of the city, and perhaps to no other cause could so much of it be attributed as to the stimulus of manu- facturing. During that period the population had increased from 15,000 to 40,000. The number of hands employed in the various branches of manufacturing in 1846 was upward of 5,000. In that year there were in the city four bleaching and calendering establishments, bleaching 18 tons of cotton cloth per day, including printing cloths,
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
and employing nearly 500 hands. There were printed every week 13,000 pieces of cloth, or 390,000 yards, employing 500 hands. Four cotton mills were in operation, running 34,000 spindles and turning out 58,000 yards of cloth per week. In these mills 730 hands were employed. Two woolen mills were in operation, manufacturing 375,- 000 yards of satinets and jeans, consuming 126,000 pounds of wool annually and employing 120 hands. Two factories for cutting wocd screws were at work, annually consuming 700 tons of iron and em- ploying 475 hands. There were 14 furnaces, consuming 5,000 tons of pig iron, for machinery and other castings, and turning out annu- ally 14,000 parlor, cooking and counting-room stoves and 550 plows. This industry employed from 250 to 275 hands. Three establish- ments were engaged in building steam engines, employing 240 hands .. One rolling mill employed 275 hands, making 30 tons of railroad iron and three tons of wire daily, from pigs and blooms. One hardware manufactory annually turned out 31,200 dozen plane irons, 100 tons of hinges, 300 tons of bolts, 200 tons of nuts, 100 tons of pickaxes and other forgings, employing 95 hands. Thice India rubber shoe fac- tories were in operation, making annually from 180,000 to 200,000 pair of shoes, and employing 260 hands. One factory for manufac- turing shoe-ties, corset-lacings and braid employed 57 hands, and consumed 1,200 pounds of cotton per week. Four planing mills were in operation, working ten million feet of lumber annually, making 75,000 boxes for candles, soap and other goods. and 100,000 lights of sash. These mills gave employment to 400 hands. Eight engraving shops prepared copper rolls for printing cloths, employing 80 hands. Three butt hinge factories employed 30 hands, and annually turned out 100,000 dozen hinges. There were in the city 5 brass foundries and 17 tin and sheet iron shops. Some 15,000 weavers' reeds were annually manufactured from steel wire. The construction of cotton and woolen machinery employed 1,200 men. There were employed in the city then 500 house carpenters and 350 stone and brick masons. Sixty-five steam engines furnished power for various factories. There were annually paid for labor alone in the manufacture of jew- elry upward of $100,000.
In the following list we notice particularly some of the principal manufacturing enterprises in operation in the city about that time. Philip Allen & Sons' calico print works were in operation at the north end of the city, employing five printing machines and 250 hands. Steam power was used, and about 130,000 yards per week were printed. Austin Shinkwin's Canal Calico Print Works were in operation, employing 20 hands. on the corner of Smith & Charles streets. The Eddy Street Steam Cotton Mills for which Mr. E. W. Fletcher acted as treasurer, were manufacturing yarns numbers 38 and 42. These mills were fitted with 10,000 spindles and 240 looms, and were operated by 220 hands. The weekly product amounted to
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
some 22,000 yards of sheetings and shirtings. The Eagle Cotton Mills in Olneyville manufactured number 30 yarn, employed 6,000 spindles, 200 looms and 150 hands. Some 30,000 yards of sheetings and print cloths were manufactured weekly. The Elm Street Woolen Mills were managed by George A. Allen, agent. They ran 766 spindles, 24 looms, 4 sets of cards and employed 30 hands. Fletcher & Brothers' Cotton Mill, located on State street, manufactured cotton braids. The works contained 725 spindles and employed 51 hands. They used 1,200 pounds of cotton weekly. The Providence Bleach- ing, Dyeing and Calendering Company, employing 200 hands, were at work on Sabin street, under the direction of William C. Snow. the agent. The Rhode Island Bleaching and Cambric Works on Paw- tuxet turnpike, employed 50 hands and were managed by Samuel Dexter, agent. The Canal Bleaching Company was in operation on Charles street. The agent was Mr. C. S. Rhodes. They employed steam power. The New England Screw Company was in operation at 23 Eddy street. They employed 200 hands and manufactured 2,000 gross of screws per day. The works were in charge of Alex- ander Hodges, agent. The Eagle Screw Company was in operation on Stevens street. Its agent was William G. Angell. About 100 hands were employed. The Franklin Foundry and Machine Com- pany were manufacturing all kinds of cotton machinery, calico print- ing machines, iron and brass castings and the like. They made use of water power for driving machinery, and employed 100 hands. The works were located on Charles street, and were directed by Cyril Babcock. The Phoenix Iron Foundry was then in operation on Eddy and Elm streets, the locality then being called Eddy's Point. George B. Holmes was the agent, and castings of all kinds were manufactured, and the general work of finishing and setting up machinery was carried on. The High Street Furnace and Machine Company was being carried on at 140 and 142 High street. Isaac H. Holden was the agent and 50 hands were employed. A foundry was being carried on by Albert Fuller on Point street. The Provi- dence Furnace and Stove and Plough Manufactory located at 160 High street, was carried on by Israel G. Manchester, agent. A cast iron foundry was also being operated at 32 Eddy street, by Lewis P. Mead & Co., who employed in the work 24 hands. Another on the same street was known as the Eddy Street Cast Iron Foundry. This employed 18 hands and was managed by Harris J. Mowry. Freder- ick Fuller's iron foundry was located on Fox Point street, but we have no knowledge of its magnitude. The Providence Machine Company, located on Eddy street, employed 30 hands and was man- aged by Thomas J. Hill, agent. The Steam Engine Works on Fox Point street, manufactured all kinds of steam engine machinery. The business was carried on by R. L. Thurston & Co., who employed 50 hands. A print works and grist mill was carried on in the locality
38
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
known as Olneyville. Messrs. Fletcher & Metcalf carried on a steam grist mill on Charles street. The Providence Butt Company, B. P. Stiness, agent, was at work on Point street, employing 12 hands. The New England Butt Company was located in the rear of 163 and 165 High street. John P. Mumford wasagent. Fourteen hands were employed. Tallman & Bucklin carried on a steam planing mill on Dyer street. Another planing mill was carried on at Fox Point, by Barstow, Mason & Brown. Nineteen hands were employed by them. Messrs. J. H. &. E. J. Martin carried on another planing mill at the corner of Potter and Friendship streets. A paper mill was also in operation in Olneyville. Richard Waterman was the proprietor, and George Annis, agent. A large machine shop was carried on at India Point by Fairbanks, Bancroft & Co., who employed 100 hands. The manufacture of engines, boilers, planing machines, lathes and other machinery was carried on. A marine railway was owned and operated at Fox Point. by Bailey & Mason.
The census of Providence for 1855, taken under the direction of Doctor Edwin M. Snow, reports 56 establishments as then engaged in the manufacture of jewelry and silverware, producing a value of $2,696,000, and employing about 1.400 hands. The census of 1865 reported in this line of manufactures 45 establishments, employing 724 hands with a total value of products of $1,200,025, while three manufacturers of silverware employed 304 hands, and produced a total value of $725.000. The largest establishment of the latter class in Rhode Island, and probably the largest in the world, is the Gor- ham Manufacturing Company, of this city.
The census of 1875 shows 940 different establishments in the city engaged in the various branches of manufacturing industry. These employed a capital in working material, including tools and ma- chinery, amounting to $7.572,137. They were operated by 194 steam engines, aggregating a force of 11,511 horse power, fed by 431 steam boilers. There were in addition 29 water wheels in use. There were employed in these manufactories 20,271 hands, less than one-fourth of whom were females. The total value of products for the census year amounted to $52,782,875. There were ten establishments manufac- turing cotton goods, the machinery of which was valued at $545,358. "These were run by 11 steam engines and 3 water wheels, giving an aggregate working force of 1,549 horse power. There were in use 95.715 spindles, 1.712 looms, 4,500 braiding machines and 15 knitting machines. The manual force required to attend and operate them was 1,537 hands. The manufacture consumed 4,896,791 pounds of cotton, worth $781,831, and the product was 6,254,648 yards of print cloths, 9,136,663 yards of sheeting, shirtings and twills, and 184,780 pounds of cotton yarn, the total value of all products amounting to $1,874,300. This value also includes 95,000 dozen spool cotton, 1,058,- 000 pounds of lacings, lamp wicks and braids, 75,000 dozen cotton
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
braid, and 19,000 pounds of stockinet. The manufacture of woolen goods then employed machinery to the value of $656,000, in 7 estab- lishments. Motive power was furnished by 11 steam engines and 1 water wheel. aggregating 1,310 horse power, driving 83 sets of cards, 420 looms and 39,374 spindles. There were emploped 1,858 hands. using 5,271,390 pounds of wool, and producing 150,000 pounds of woolen yarn, 2,108,308 yards of woolen goods, 250,000 dozen worsted braids, 4,462 dozen cardigan jackets and 750 dozen nubias. The aggregate value of woolen manufactures was $4.291,574.
The number of establishments engaged in the different branches of manufactures in 1880, with the number of hands employed and the annual value of products, were as follows: 62 blacksmithing, 105, $176,463; 5 bookbinding and blank book making, 67. $83,000; 81 boots and shoes (including repairs), 95, $103.298; 4 wooden packing boxes, 36, $64,000; 9 brass castings, 60, $172,921; 6 brooms and brushes, 17, $28,225; 47 carriages and wagons. 165, $271,659; 42 men's clothing, 987, $1,869,819; 7 women's clothing. 65, $137,880; 10 coffins and burial cases and undertakers' goods, 34, $91,293; 5 confectionery. 26, $68,550; 3 cooperages, 29. $60,560; 17 cotton goods. 2.012, $2,250,273; 4 cutlery and edge tools, 45, $45,360; 5 drugs and chemicals, 22. $103,000; 7 dye- ing and finishing textiles, 1.131, $2,273,254; 4 dye-stuffs and extracts, 40. $221,705; 10 electroplating, 61, $208,164; 7 files, 355, $460,950; 4 flouring mills, 36, $458,896; 55 foundries and machine shops, 3,356, $4,522,179; 15 furniture, 319, $686,705; 3 gas and lamp fixtures, 61, $86,600; 6 gold and silver refining and reducing, 25. $1,421,100; 7 hair work, 20, $34,945; 5 hardware, 143, $154,543: 4 ivory and bone work, 68, 872,667; 142 jewelry, 3,264, $5,444,092; 7 lapidary work, 43, $42,333; 3 leather goods, 41, $96,815; 3 malt liquors. 88, $392,163; 5 lock and gunsmithing, 5, $10,515; 7 looking glass and picture frames. 20, $57,- 745; 6 lumber planing. 63, $69,912; 23 marble and stone work, 281, $299,826; 4 mattresses and spring beds, 27, $113,656: 22 patent medi- cines and compounds, 119, $706,442; 17 printing and publishing, 360, $536,598; 3 pumps, 6, $15,000; 26 saddlery and harness, 79, $112,477; 8 ship-building, 83, $133,331: 3 shoddy, 55, $179,795; 6 slaughtering and meat packing, 89. $1,458.740; 6 soap and candles. 10, $37,250; 4 stationery goods, 27, $56,425: 3 straw goods, 16, $10,160; 40 tin, copper and sheet iron, 202, $407,332: 32 tobacco and segars, 105, $105,844; 3 trunks and valises. 12, $35,530; 5 woolen goods, 1,764, $3,602,947; 4 worsted goods, 1,966, $3,537,000. In addition to these, the census shows in the city manufactures of agricultural implements, leather belting and hose, rubber boots and shoes, cigar boxes, paper and fancy boxes, bridges, buttons, collars and cuffs. paper, corsets, cotton- ties, drain and sewer pipe, firearms. foundry supplies, chairs, dressed furs, cut, stained and ornamental glass. hand-stamps, stencils and brands, fancy articles, models and patterns, umbrellas and canes, hats and caps, hooks and eyes, iron and steel, iron forgings, wrought
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
iron pipe, lead bars, pipes and sheets, shot, dressed skins, lime, musi- cal instruments (organs and materials), cotton-seed oil and cake, paints, paving materials, pickles, preserves and sauces, plated and britannia ware, rubber and elastic goods, fireproof safes, doors and vaults, sash, doors and blinds, saws, screws, sewing machines and at- tachments, shirts, silk and silk goods, silverware, sporting goods, starch, stone and earthen ware, taxidermy, toys and games, uphol- stering, watch cases, window blinds and shades, wire and wire work.
One of the most prominent institutions of the city. in promoting its business and material interests, in the line of our present subject especially, has been the Providence Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers. This organization had its beginning about a cen- tury ago, and we may profitably review its rise and progress.
On the 27th of February, 1789, a number of the principal mechan- ics and manufacturers of Providence met at the house of Captain Elijah Bacon, on Union street, to form an association " for the pro- motion of home manufactures, the cementing of mechanic interest, and for raising a fund to support the distressed." William Barton was chairman and Bennett Wheeler secretary of that meeting. A committee consisting of Amos Atwell, Charles Keene, John Davis, Robert Newell, Bennett Wheeler, Elijah Bacon and Nicholas Easton was appointed to draft a constitution and report at an adjourned meeting. The second meeting was held at the house of Daniel Jack- son, on the 4th of March, when the constitution was adopted and the following officers elected for the first term: Barzillai Richmond. president; Charles Keene, vice-president; Amos Atwell, treasurer; Bennett Wheeler, secretary. A petition was forthwith presented. through Levi Hall, to the general assembly for an act of incorpora- tion, which was granted, and the charter was signed by the governor on the 16th of the same month. The association passed a vote of thanks to Governor John Collins, "for his politeness in signing the charter of the Association without the usual fee." The parchment upon which the charter was written was purchased in Boston at a cost of six shillings, eight pence. A seal was adopted, which is thus described: "That the seal be of the size of a French crown piece: that round the edge the name of the Association be engraved: that within the circle containing the name of the Association the seven mechanical powers be displayed by their proper emblems, viz .:- a lever, a balance, axis and wheel. a pulley, a wedge, a screw, an in- clined plane; a circle in the centre, with the motto. . United we stand, divided we fall': within the circle, a beaver gnawing a tree, as an emblem of perseverance; and a bee hive, as an emblem of industry."
The association from the start took high moral ground in matters pertaining to social life and business principles. The members were enjoined to discourage as far as possible all foreign manufactures by using in their own families the goods produced in this country; to
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
avoid extravagance in dress or other expenses; to exercise the utmost punctuality in meeting debts contracted and other engage- ments, and scrupulously to avoid all such as were beyond their abil- ity to perform: to avoid taking advantage of any law to distress an honest debtor or defraud an honest creditor: to look after the conduct of their apprentices and see that such were not strolling the streets late at night, disturbing the inhabitants by their revels; and action was frequently taken looking toward the preservation of a high standard of integrity in the members of the association, as well as asserting and defending the rights of their members in transactions with the outside world, and looking after the welfare, not only of their own members, but of society in general. To this body is due the credit of having been the first influential body to urge upon the general assembly the passage of a free school law, which resulted in the establishment of the excellent free school system of the state, modified somewhat as it appears at the present time. This associa- tion was active and alert for every opportunity by which their influ- ence might be strengthened or exercised for the benefit of society. When the president of the United States visited Providence, August 18th, 1790, this association voted to attend the reception and take place and part in the escort from the wharf to the Golden Ball Inn. They also participated in the public solemnities in commemoration of the lamented death of General Washington, and appeared in the procession, with their standard and warden's wands duly draped in mourning.
The association commenced its chartered existence with 78 mem- bers. The following year it numbered upward of 200. In 1798 it had 250 living members. In 1827 there were 275. The increase for many years kept pace with the growth of mechanic and manu- facturing business in the city. In 1860 it had reached about 700. Since then the membership has declined, the present number being about 250. From its organization to 1825 the business meetings of the association were generally held in the state house. Occasionally they met at the Golden Ball Inn, and elsewhere. As early as 1790 action was taken in regard to securing a permanent building of their own to hold meetings in. Many projects to this end were held up but failure met them all. until the erection of the Franklin Building, on Market Square, in 1824, when provision was made for a hall for the use of the association in that building. It was formally taken possession of with an address delivered by the president, who then was John Howland. A few years later, however, they moved to the Washington Building, where they held their headquarters until 1853, when they moved to a hall in Dyer's Block on Westminster street. From this they moved, in 1860, to accommodations in the Bank Building then erected on the Amos Atwell estate, at the cor- ner of Weybosset and Orange streets. Here they remained until
.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
about 1875. For a short time they occupied rooms at 27 North Main but about 1879 they were quartered at 54 North Main, where they have continued to hold their meetings to the present time. In 1821 the association established a library for its members and apprentices. This library reached the number of 6,000 volumes, and in 1870 it was donated to the city as the beginning of a public library. At the same time members of the association made up about $5,000 for its in- crease and donated the money with the library. Among the other good works of the association as a body, in 1847 it took an active part in the promotion of the temperance cause, and was influential in the establishment of the reform school. In 1850 it instituted a course of lectures to raise money to be devoted to the erection of a monument to Roger Williams, and the sum thus procured was sup- plemented by subscriptions of the members, and deposited as a nucleus of the monument fund.
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