USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 38
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The Cooper Manufacturing Company (incorporated 1886) .- In 1869 Charles Cooper started in business on the site of the east building of the company's present works, in the manufacture of needles for knitting-machines ; but the place was formerly occupied by George Benton and sons as a paper-mill, and after them was leased to the Globe Button Works Company, but the latter was not particularly remunerative and only lasted about one year or so. Then Mr. Cooper took it as above stated. The building was burned in 1869, but soon afterward rebuilt, and Mr. Cooper again resumed here his needle manufacture, continuing until 1883, when he started on knit goods in connection with his other industry. About 1884 Mr. Putnam built the mill on the west side of the stream, and this the Cooper Company use for the manufacture of yarns. In 1886 the Cooper Manufacturing Company became incorporated, the following being the present officers: President, Charles Cooper; vice-president and treas- urer, Alexander J. Cooper ; secretary, Benjamin F. Ball. The capital stock of the company is $100,000.
In 1886, in order to increase his facilities for manufacturing knit goods and yarns, Mr. Cooper built a large factory on the old Buckley Squires tannery site, in rear of Mr. Cooper's present residence, and called it " Factory No. 2." This business with the company's works on Main street, run eight regular sets of machinery, and other sets that are used in manufacturing Balbriggan goods, and altogether furnish work for about two hundred employees.
The needle manufacturing industry which Mr. Cooper started in Benning- ton in 1869 was formerly carried on by him at Thompsonville, Conn., but in that year was moved to this place. In connection with it the proprietor also commenced here the manufacture of rib frames to supply the trade. In 1870 Eli Tiffany acquired an interest in the business, upon which the firm name be- 42
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came Tiffany & Cooper. This firm leased room sufficient for temporary use, and until Colonel Olin Scott built for them the large factory now used and owned by E. Tiffany & Son. This building Tiffany & Cooper occupied until 1886, when Eli Tiffany purchased the whole firm interest, and Mr. Cooper re- tired. The latter then erected his extensive machine and needle works near Factory No. 2. In addition to the manufacture of knitting machines and needles Mr. Cooper also makes anklets for jean drawers, or, as they are other- wise known, drawer " bottoms and tops." This special industry employs about fifty hands.
Tiffany Brothers .- The present members of this enterprising firm are Eli, Frank, Amos, and Eli J. Tiffany. This business was started in 1879 in the building now occupied by the firm on Scott street. Eli J. Tiffany is manager of the business. The goods manufactured by Tiffany Brothers are of the qual- ity commonly known as full fashioned Balbriggans, the yarn for which is pur- chased in other markets, and the knitting only is done here. The firm is en- tirely successful, and employ about fifty hands.
Eli Tiffany & Son .- The factory of this firm is adjoining that of the in- dustry last described. Their business is that of constructing knitting machin- ery for the manufacture of ribbed shirt cuffs, drawer bottoms and shirt borders; also machines for making full-fashioned shirts and drawers. In 1886 this firm succeeded Tiffany & Cooper, and occupy the building formerly used by the latter. In the machine department are employed about fifty persons. The firm is composed of Eli Tiffany and Frank M. Tiffany, father and son. They have also a branch shop at Amsterdam, New York State.
Monument Knitting Mills .- This industry was established in the year 1886 by John F. Maxwell and John Wylie, their factory being situated on the cor- ner of Dewey avenue and Putnam street. Their product is that known as Balbriggan undershirts and drawers, in the manufacture of which there are used five sets of knitting machines, the yarn being purchased. In 1887 Mr. Max- well retired from the firm and was succeeded by Benjamin G. Myers, the firm style changing to Myers & Wylie. About fifty persons are employed in this mill.
Stark Knitting Company .- This is the youngest of Bennington's knitting industries, and was established in July, 1887, in a building erected for its use on lands of Major Valentine, on Park street. The company consists of D. E. Moore and N. M. Puffer, both of whom were formerly connected with what is now the Valentine Knitting Company. The Stark Company runs two full sets of machinery, forty-eight inch cards, and employs about forty-five hands.
H. W. Putnam's Works .- The buildings in which are carried on the various manufacturing enterprises in Bennington are situate on North street, south of the Walloomsac River, from which power is taken. On the east side of the street is the grist and feed-mill, a substantial stone building erected by Major
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Samuel H. Brown soon after 1842. This is also the site of the old furnace in which Major Brown was at one time interested. Mr. Putnam purchased this property in 1867.
About the year 1850, or not far from that time, Mr. Grover established the Eagle Iron Works, a foundry and machine shop, the latter on the west side of the street and south of the river, where were made stoves, plows, and other iron wares. This property also came by purchase to Mr. Putnam, who con- tinued business on both sides of the street, at one time being associated with Colonel Olin Scott, but becoming sole proprietor in 1864, Colonel Scott re- tiring and taking the machinery, except that in the grist-mill, to his present location on Pleasant street. Mr. Putnam still continues the grist-mill in the use for which it was built, but has a variety of manufactures in the building opposite, among them bottle stoppers, double pointed tacks, fruit jar tops, clothes wringers, and other light hardware and wire goods, many of which are patented articles about which no person appears to know much, except the employees of the concern, and these are not particularly communicative. The works are in charge of Elbert Putnam, brother of the owner.
Adams' Machine Shops .- About the year 1850 Enos Adams bought the old Conkling tannery property on North street, and continued its business some two or three years, in connection with a pottery ware factory that he started there; but after the two or three years he converted the property into a machine shop, making a specialty of water-wheel governors. This business has been conducted by Mr. Adams to the present day, and gives employment to about twenty-five men. Mr. Adams also has ochre works, but not in the village.
Bennington Machine Works .- The lands upon which the extensive foun- dry and machine shops of Colonel Olin Scott now stands has a history, at. least so far as manufacture is concerned ; and much of this history has been brought out before the Court of Equity of the State, though it can hardly be within the province of this sketch to narrate the events of that long litigation.
As near as can be learned the water privilege where the machine shop stands was first utilized about the year 1800 by one Babbitt, a wagonmaker. He was succeeded by Captain Abell, a carpenter and builder, and the latter by Abel H. Wills, of like occupation. Then for a time A. P. Lyman and others had a wadding-mill on the privilege, and still later, or about 1853, fire brick were made here by the proprietors of the old pottery. After this occu- pancy ceased nothing seems to have been done here until 1864, at which time Colonel Scott bought the land and built his machine shop.
The upper or foundery building stands on a site that was granted in 1811, and after that was used as a chair shop. There was also in operation here, but subsequently, the old Allen Safford woolen. mill that burned in 1827. It was rebuilt, but burned again in 1837. After the second burning Mr. Crossett
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built a cooper shop on the privilege, but when this proprietor vacated, the priv- ilege remained unused until Colonel Scott made his purchase in 1864, and erected the foundry building.
The center building, or that now used as the office, has also been put to use as a manufactory at various times. Here H. T. Cushman had a cork fac- tory on the upper floor, and after his retirement George Millard carried on the same business, but eventually moved to New York State.
The business conducted by Colonel Scott at his extensive works is that usually done in well appointed founderies and machine shops, making general castings and machines, but his speciality is the manufacture of gunpowder machinery, also paper and marble mill machines. In the special production of powder- mill machinery Colonel Scott's works stand alone in this country. This forms a busy little community on Pleasant street, and gives steady em- ployment to about sixty men.
The Old Booth Mill .- About a quarter of a mile west from the central part of the village, on the road leading to Bennington Center, is a large and dilapidated brick building, an eyesore to the community, that has been idle for a number of years ; but there is hardly a building in the village that has experienced the vicissitudes of this old structure. The sorry appearance of this mill is not due so much to the ravages of time as to the persistent efforts of the average small boy of the town, each one apparently striving to outdo his mates in the destruction of windows, with the result of not leaving an unbro- ken pane in the whole building.
The use to which this mill was originally put by Asahel Booth, the builder and owner, was the manufacture of wadding, but the precise time of its erec- tion, or how long Mr. Booth made wadding here is not definitely known to present residents, but it was about 1835 or 1840. In 1846 the building was supplied with machinery for the production of "chintz," which business was carried on by Harrington, Robinson and others, but the policy of President Polk relating to the tariff worked disastrously to the proprietors, who were obliged to suspend operations. The machinery was taken out and stored in a building on the west side of the street, near the twin houses on the hill, where it remained for a long time, but was finally sold to Colonel Scott and by him melted and run into castings, and now probably forms a part of some powder-mill machinery.
After the decline of the " chintz" industry the building was put in opera- tion by Asahel Booth as a grist-mill, and was managed, so it is said, by Will- iam B. and Henry Booth. This occupancy gave it the name of Booth's grist- mill. About 1854 or '55 the grist mill machinery was purchased by Major Brown and transferred to his stone-mill on North street. There, after a term of idleness and a brief use as a cork factory, the property passed, by purchase, to Seth B. Hunt. Among the early tenants under Mr. Hunt were Rockwood
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& Co., and George S. Bradford and Sons, each of whom made knit goods here, but only for a short time.
Mr. Hunt died, and in closing his estate this mill and other property was bought by S. S. and M. Fisher, who put it to use as a shoddy-mill in connec- tion with their other business in the larger factory further north ; but using water to run this mill lessened the power of the larger factory, so they took the machinery out and used the building for storing rags. Since that time the building has had no regular tenants except vermin.
The Benningten Woolen Mills .- In 1865 the firm of Hunt & Tillinghast erected a mammoth building in the northwest part of the village, and named it the Bennington Woolen Mills. Here the firm commenced the manufacture of Paisley shawls. This undertaking would have been abundantly successful but for the fact that when this mill had got in full operation the supply of this grade of ladies wear was largely in excess of the demand, in fact the manufac- ture had already begun to decline. In 1872 Mr. Hunt became sole owner of the property. but died not long afterward. Then the Fishers, above men- tioned, became owners of the whole property, and commenced the manufac- ture of overcoatings, made principally of shoddy, and made specially for the purpose of making money. These proprietors enlarged both building and machinery, expending for this purpose some $200,000. But these partners both died, and the property was sold to Haines & Co., who afterwards failed. Since this failure the building has had no tenant. It was sold at forced sale and "bid in" by Troy parties."
Considerable money has been invested in this property in one way and an- other; the structure built by Mr. Hunt is understood to have cost about $575,- 000. The Fishers bought it for about $100,000, and expended in additions some $200,000. After their death Haines & Co. paid about $50,000 for the property, and after their failure it was sold for some $43,000.
Bennington Pottery Works .- This important industry of Bennington was first established in the south part of the township on the road leading from Ben- nington Center to Pownal, on the farm of Captain Jonathan Norton, in the year 1793; and after Captain Norton, his sons, Luman and John, succeeded and continued the business. Up to about 1825 native clay only was used in the manufacture of earthenware, but at that time the proprietors commenced using clays from South Amboy and Long Island, continuing, however, the partial use of the native material for some time. In 1833, John Norton having before with- drawn from the firm, Luman Norton and his son, Julius, the latter having then acquired an interest, moved the business and machinery to this village, and built new works on Pottery street, then so called, but now Park street, where the present owners are still established. After a time the firm name changed to Norton & Fenton, and under their proprietorship, in 1845, the works were de- stroyed by fire, but were at once rebuilt of brick, the first being a frame build-
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ing. In 1851 Edward Norton became a partner, and the firm style then changed to J. & E. Norton, but in 1858 Luman P. Norton acquired an inter- est in the business, and the name of J. Norton & Co. was adopted. In 1861 Julius Norton died and E. & L. P. Norton succeeded. In 1882 Luman P. re- tired, and in 1884 Welling Thatcher purchased an interest, the firm then becom- ing and to this time remaining Edward Norton & Co. The business of this firm is the manufacture of stoneware of all descriptions, and in connection therewith they also deal extensively in glassware and crockery.
Fifty years ago, or in 1839, Luther R. Graves and Henry G. Root formed a copartnership for the conduct of a general tinsmithing and manufacture of tin- ware business at the old village of Bennington; but after a few years their plant was moved to the east village. This firm has been continued in this manufac- ture to the present day. Mr. Root formerly had charge of the mechanical branch of the business, while Mr. Graves drove the wagon and sold goods on the road ; but this business grew at length to large proportions, and the firm established branch shops in other States as well as in Vermont, and supplied them with stock from their Bennington factory. Neither of the partners is now actively engaged in the tinware trade, though the works are still carried on and they are its proprietors. The firm name of Graves & Root is probably the oldest in this region of the country.
Postmasters at Bennington .- The early pages of this chapter have already mentioned the old controversy between the people of the old and new villages of Bennington, and the removal of the old post-office building down the hill to the corner of Main and North streets, and its subsequent compulsory return to the hill. After this discouraging turn in affairs the East Bennington people had not long to wait before they were accommodated not only with a post- office but with the name formerly held by the west village; for on the 12th of April, 1849, the post name of Bennington was discontinued, and in its place was given the name of West Bennington. Almost simultaneously with this action a new office called Bennington was established at the east village, and Horace T. White was commissioned postmaster on the very same day. East Ben- nington was made a post-station on August 17, 1848, but this was discontin- ued upon the change of name and the appointment of Mr. White. The latter kept the office in the store building of Wills & Fairbanks. The second post- master of the village was Truman Huling, whose appointment bore the date of April 30, 1853. Under Mr. Huling the post-office was kept in the Adam's block, corner of Main and South streets. John R. Gates next succeeded to the office, his commission bearing date April 7, 1857. He moved the office to a building nearly opposite the Methodist Church on Main street. The fourth incumbent was James I. C. Cook, whose appointment was made April 9, 1861, and who was twice reappointed-March 2, 1867, and February 18, 1871. Mr. Cook kept the office near the present Adams block, as did his successors in
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office until 1882, at which time it was moved to the library building on Main tert. But at a later day the business men around the intersection of Main with North and South streets made a united effort (aided by a united fund), and induced a removal to their vicinity. Mr. Cook was succeeded by Thomas J. Tiffany, whose first appointment was made April 22, 1872, and who was reap- pointed January 17, 1876, and February 2, 1880. On March 26, 1884, Thomas .1. Hutchins, superseded Mr. Tiffany and held the office one term, or until Jan- uary 16, 1886, when, under the new administration, the present incumbent, Her- bert H. Martin, was appointed to the position.
Prominent Institutions .- The Soldiers' Home.1-The question of a Soldiers' Home in Vermont was agitated for some years, but did not take practical direc- tion until 1884, when numerous petitions were sent to the Legislature at Mont- pelier, for the establishment of a home for Vermont's veterans, and the result was the passage of a bill incorporating a board of trustees. A splendid estate situ- ated in Bennington, which was given by the late Hon. T. W. Park for the pur- pose of an Old Ladies' Home, but which, on account of the sudden death of Mr. Park, was not sufficiently endowed, was offered by the trustees of the Old Ladies' Home to the trustees of the Soldiers' Home for the purposes set forth by the act above referred to. The offer was gladly and thankfully accepted, and the Legislatures of 1884 and 1886 made ample appropriations for the en- largement of the buildings and the support of Vermont's disabled veterans.
The grounds of the home consist of two hundred acres, meadow and pas- ture, with several beautiful groves, all surrounded by mountain scenery rarely equaled. Pure spring water in abundance is brought from the adjacent hills to supply the wants of the home and to make one of the finest fountains in the world, the waters of which are thrown in a steady stream one hundred and eighty feet high. With comparatively small expenditure the old buildings have been enlarged so as to accommodate all the veterans of the State needing such a refuge. The extensive grounds, homelike buildings, beautiful surroundings, and kind care, make this a home in fact as well as in name. Comrade R. J. Cof- fee, a veteran of First and Fourth Vermont Regiments, is now the superintend- ent, and his wife the matron of the institution. General William Wells, of Bur- lington, is president of the board of trustees. The general supervision of the home and its financial management are in charge of a special committee of trustees, of which Comrade A. B. Valentine is the resident member.
The Bennington Free Library.2- In 1865 a free library was established in Bennington by the joint action of Seth B. Hunt and Trenor W. Park. The do- nors purchased an unfinished commodious brick building situated in a central place in the village, and fitted it up for the use of the library. The building is two stories in height, the upper story containing a library-room and a reading-
' Contributed.
" Taken from sketch written by Governor Hiland Hall.
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room, a large hall for lectures and public meetings with an entrance-room at- tached; all well provided with tables, shelves and other suitable furniture. The lower story is divided into rooms for offices and stores. The original cost of the whole building to ths donors was about ten thousand dollars, of which each shared equally.
The terms and conditions on which the library was given are specified in the deed of trust from the donors to Hiland Hall, Benjamin R. Sears, Daniel McEowen, Thomas J. Tiffany, and John V. Hall, which terms and conditions are as follows: In order to perpetuate the trust it is provided that in case of the death, resignation, or removal from the town of Bennington of any one of the trustees, the fifth part of the premises conveyed shall revert in the residue of them, which fifth part they are required to convey to such person as they shall name as their associate trustee. The trustees, their survivors and successors are to permit the premises to be occupied and kept for a library for the free use without compensation of the inhabitants of the town of Bennington and its immediate vicinity, and to which a reading-room may be attached, and under such regulations for the safe keeping of the books and papers, and the proper care and return of such books as may be taken from such library for reading, as may from time to time be approved by said trustees. The third section of the deed provides that the large room on the second floor shall " forever be set apart for a public hall, and may from time to time be rented by the trustees for public meetings, lectures, and other assemblies of the people," etc .; also that the rent receipts shall be used as a maintenance and improvement fund. The fourth section permits the trustees to delegate the care and management of the institution to " the association already formed for the taking charge thereof, or to any other association hereafter to be formed, or to individuals in their discre- tion," etc. Subsequent sections of the deed made provisions for other contin- gencies -that the library should not be allowed to become a sectarian institu- tion, that the use intended by the donors should not be in any manner diverted, upon penalty of a reversion to the grantees, besides other provisions of import- ance in the premises.
The society known as the Young Men's Association was organized for the express purpose of assuming the care and management of the property do- nated. The ceremony of investing this association with such care occurred on the 23d day of June, 1865, at the hall in the library building, and since that time the charge of the gift has been in the society.
The Young Men's Association is a somewhat informally constituted body, to which any person can become a member upon payment of one dollar; and this payment grants membership for one year, but at the end of that time members can renew their connection by the payment again of a like sum. The citizens of Bennington, especially the young men, take much interest and pride in the organization, therefore the membership is numerous. The officers of
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the association, chosen at the annual meeting last hield, March, 1888, are as follows: President, Frank M. Tiffany ; vice-president, James E. Weld; record- ing secretary, Charles H. Darling; corresponding secretary, Dr. H. J. Potter ; treasurer, Wells Valentine ; managers, E. W. Bradford, E. D. Bennett, H. S. Bingham, I. E. Gibson, Dr. F. S. Pratt, E. S. Harris. The librarians have been, in succession: Charles W. Swift, John Kehoe, Helen Breakenridge, Eliza Break- enridge (filling vacancy caused by death of her successor), Lidia Dixon, and Miss lda May Sharpe, the last named being the present librarian. The library at present contains about four thousand five hundred volumes of all kinds, his- torical, scientific, religious and miscellaneous, together with valuable files of old newspapers and periodicals.
Societies and Orders .- Mt. Anthony Lodge No. 13, F. and A. M .- This lodge was the successor of an older organization of the same character, but of which we have no record. Mount Anthony No. 13, was chartered October 13, 1824, the following being the charter members : Isaac. Tichenor, David Henry, Samuel Scott, Nathan Bowen, Robert Gillespie, Rodney C. Royce, Asa Hyde, Charles Cushman, Anthony J. Haswell, Francis Breakenridge, Miles H. An- drews, Luman Norton and Oliver Abell. The lodge was organized as one of the institutions of the old village of Bennington, on the hill, but when the east village became the leading center of the town the society was transferred to the place. Regular communication is held Tuesday evening on or before full moon, at the Masonic Hall in Park building. The present officers of Mount Anthony are as follows : John T. Shurtleff, W. M .; E. D. Bennett, S. W .; A. S. M. Chisholm, J. W .; G. B. Sibley, treasurer ; C. M. Lambert, secretary ; Fred Godfrey, S. D .; Fred L. Bowen, J. D .; J. E. Walbridge, S. S .; E. S. Chandler, J. S .; Alfred Robinson, chaplain ; J. N. A. Williams, tyler.
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