Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 21: The Industries of Taunton, 1924 (part 2 of 2)

The Emery Record Preserving Company does a business of restoring valuable books and records of all kinds which are sent in from all parts of the country to this specializing plant for expert treatment. This firm is a successor to the business of F. W. R. Emery, a well known citizen of Taunton. Mr. Emery was a son of Rev. Dr. Emery, the Taunton historian, from whom he probably received the idea of utilizing his book binding business for the more special work of caring for the deteriorating records and manuscripts which up to this time had been a book binding problem to properly handle, especially where the material was badly broken and decayed, as many of them were. Mr. Emery perfected and patented the Emery process, as it was later called, which consisted in placing the leaves or documents between sheets of transparent silk, which restored and preserved the original record. He treated many of the earlier record books of the surrounding towns and cities. After his death the business was taken over by Edwin A. Tetlow and Allen P. Hoard, Taunton, who continued the work under the name of the Emery Record Preserving Company. Mr. Hoard acted as manager. New forms of treatment have been perfected and additions made to the process. The firm has a plant all fitted with special equipment and fire-proof vault for the special handling of the valuable records and documents placed in their care. The business not only consists of the repairing and restoring of damaged records, but also the binding of collections in special forms of inlaying and mounting. Damaged maps and plans are remounted on new mountings, and also oil paintings, these latter having the painted film removed from the old canvas and remounted on new material.

The Taunton works of the General Electric Company were opened in July, 1917, the General Electric Company having taken over the land and buildings of the Huber-Hodgman Printing Press Company. The Taunton works were started principally to manufacture alternating current induction motors. 'These works employ, when running to full capacity, approximately 650 people; the output from the plant will be approximately 1500 motors per week of sizes ranging from one-half to twenty-five horsepower inclusive. This plant was started in operation under the supervision of George M. Stevens, who is still in charge.

The Phoenix Manufacturing Company, afterwards known as the Phoenix Crucible Company, was established in 1844 by Charles R. Atwood, and was one of the oldest crucible companies in the United States. The product was known for its high quality, and was used at the United States assay offices and mints many years. In 1894, most of the stockholders having died, the works were sold to Henry D. Atwood of this city. In the summer of 1895, the Omaha and Grant Smelting and Refining Company, of

Omaha, Nebraska, and Denver, Colorado, made a contract with Henry D. Atwood and his son, Henry C. Atwood, to make up one thousand of their largest-sized retorts. In the meantime the American Smelting and Refining Company was formed, comprising all the large plants of the kind in this country, with the exception of the Guggenheims'. On May 8, 1899, the former company purchased the old Phoenix works of Mr. Atwood, taking on Henry D. and Henry S$. Atwood for the management, and to manufacture retorts and crucibles. In 1902, the Guggenheims came into the smelters' trust and dominated it. On May 10, 1902, Harry C. Atwood resigned his position with the American Smelting and Refining Company, and on May 16, 1902, that company sold the plant to the Taunton Crucible Company, and they in turn sold out their entire business to the Bridgeport Crucible Company, of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The plant was idle a few years, and then, in 1922, the Oscar G. Thomas Company purchased the property.

The Atlas Buckram Company, at their large plant on Spring street, are manufacturers and dealers in cloths and fabrics of all kinds and descriptions, especially buckram and other cloths of similar make. On August 25, 1903, Herbert H. Shumway was one of the purchasers of the plant of the United Tack Company, that succeeded the Atlas Tack Company, that had been doing business with A. Field & Son as incorporators. The Atlas Buckram Company organized May 11, 1915, with H. H. Shumway as president and A. H. Shumway treasurer. The company had been formed December 28, 1908, under the laws of Maine, with a capital of $5000, the officers at that time being Oswald E. Schneider, president; H. H. Shumway, secretary and agent; and Louis Busiere, treasurer. In 1910, H. H. and A. H. Shumway purchased the business. In 1912, the capital was raised to $10,000; and in 1919 the change was made from a Maine to a Massachusetts corporation, the amount of capital at that time being raised to $58,000. The firm was doing a business of $800,000 annually in 1922.

A. J. Barker Company, druggists and stationers, were incorporated in 1906; president, Ralph E. Barker; treasurer, Merle T. Barker. The business was founded in 1849 by A. J. Barker, and his son succeeded him in 1865, at the close of the Civil War. Ralph E. Barker, grandson of the founder, became affiliated with the business in 1899, and his brother, Merle T. Barker, in 1904.

The Ever Sharp File Company, was started in March, 1920, for the purpose of the reclamation of old files and the re-sharpening of new files. It is located at 148 Dean street, Taunton. The business was incorporated April 7, 1923. Elihu G. Sibley is president, and Charles S. McNulty is secretary, treasurer and general manager. The output of the concern goes principally to the shoe and auto industries and is distributed from Wisconsin and Missouri in the West, to Cincinnati in the South, and points north and east of these places.

The catalogue book and job printing plant of C. A. Hack & Son, Inc., was established in 1844 by the late Christopher A. Hack, who for many years was a printer and publisher in the town of Taunton. Henry S. Hack for a number of years carried on the business, which developed, largely through his skill and business ability. The present firm was incorporated February 3, 1913, by Henry S. Hack, Harold W. Hack and Francis P. Callahan. The business was purchased by Francis P. Callahan, November 8,

1919. The company are high grade printers, who specialize in color-printing, book, and catalogue work. They have a department which handles miscellaneous job printing. They are located in their one-story brick building on 42 Court street, with 10,000 square feet of floor space. The company serves customers throughout New England and in New York City.

Keeping up with the demands of the present, just as the founder of the plant started in business with the same popular plan and intent for his own day, the print shop of Charles W. Davol takes pride in being an establishment of the first class, and with a long record of so doing. Ezra Davol, publisher and printer, made the beginnings of the concern in 1858. He had the misfortune to be burned out in the extensive conflagration of November, 1859, but he started all over again in the Crocker building, where he remained a number of years. Thence the business was removed to the present place, School and Main streets, where the plant has been located since January 1, 1900. Ezra Davol was formerly publisher of the Bristol County "Republican." Charles W. Davol entered the firm in 1898, upon graduation from college, and the business has since increased ten times. A specialty is made of job printing of the better class, specializing in the mill work of this section.

Brownell & Burt, carriage manufacturers, incorporated July, 1919; president, Daniel L. Brownell; secretary, Eugene H. Brownell; treasurer, G. H. Burt. The Chandler Oil Cloth and Buckram Company incorporated in 1922; president, Frank W. Whitcher, of Boston; treasurer and general manager, EK. M. S. Chandler; secretary, Paul D. Dean of Boston. Colby's Clothing Store, incorporated February 10, 1912; president, Eugene Leach; treasurer, Russell C. Paige; clerk, Charlotte Colby. H. L. Davis Company, incorporated January 1, 1918, capital $16,000; president, E. W. Sturgis; treasurer, I. H. Bosworth; secretary, A. C. Lewis. Etna Company, incorporated January 1, 1903; treasurer, Chester S. Godfrey; superintendent, William F. Congdon. Evans Stamping and Plating Company, organized 1902, capital $30,000; president, treasurer and general manager, Richard Wastcoat; clerk, Paul D. Dean. John D. Fahey Company, incorporated 1916; treasurer, John D. Fahey; vice-president, Lawrence P. Fahey. E. A. Fargo Company, aluminum manufacturers, incorporated 1902; capital $20,000; president, Oscar C. Lane; secretary and treasurer, W. H. Cushman. James P. Galligan Company, wholesale grocers, incorporated May 20, 1907, capital $25,000; president, James P. Galligan, Jr.; vice-president, Charles R. Galligan; treasurer, James P. Galligan; secretary, Nellie F. Galligan. Harrington Press, incorporated 1910, capital $8,000; president and treasurer, George S. Harrington. Manhasset Manufacturing Company, incorporated 1919; president, Edwin V. Livesey; treasurer, Roland H. Ballou. New England Brass Company, organized 1916, capital $75,000; president, William M. Lovering; treasurer, Frederick H. Gooch; manager, William H. Rayment. Nobska Spinning Company, organized September 28, 1917; treasurer, F. W. Nichols, Jr.; superintendent, Michael T. Harrison. Pierce Hardware Company, incorporated January 16, 1893, capital | $30,000; president, Bion C. Pierce; treasurer and clerk, George L. White; secretary, Bion L. Pierce. N. R. Reed Company, incorporated 1906; capital $24,000; president and treasurer, Arthur D. Fisher; secretary, Clara N. Reed. Sanders Lumber Company, incorporated 1915, capital $70,000; president and treasurer, Clinton V. Sanders; vice-president and secretary, George H. Robinson. N. H. Skinner Company, capital $80,000; president, Charles L. Coombs; vice-president, Brenton G. Brownell. Taunton Dye Works and Bleachery Company, incorporated, May, 1893, capital $84,000; president, Frederick H. Gooch; treasurer, William M. Lovering. 'Taunton Pearl Works, incorporated 1907, capital $100,000; president, Albert A. Ormsbee; secretary and treasurer, Willard A. Ormsbee. 'Taunton Planing Mill Company, incorporated 1905; president, W. P. Crowley; secretary and treasurer, Allen E. Padelford. Taunton Rivet Works, incorporated 1908, capital $20,000; president and treasurer, William J. Davison. H. K. Perkins & Company, brass founders. Taunton Rubber Company, incorporated 1913, capital $45,200; president, W. L. Gifford; treasurer and clerk, Joseph L. Gifford. Taunton Silk Fibre Company, incorporated 1912; president, William E. Emery; treasurer, George W. Read. Taunton Teaming Company, incorporated 1907, capital $60,000; president, Charles W. Hammett; treasurer, Charles W. Hammett; secretary, R. A. Austin. Taunton Wool Stock Company, incorporated May, 1902; capital $21,000; president, George W. Read; treasurer, William M. Lovering. I. F. Whitmarsh Company, incorporated 1914, capital $5000; president, Edward F. Whitmarsh. Whittenton Hosiery Corporation, incorporated 1918, capital $100,000; president, Louis F. Lyon; vice-president, William A. Haskell; treasurer, John L. Barry. W. W. Gibson & Company, printers. Taunton has twenty-six labor organizations connected with the varous trades and professions in the city.

Williams Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of twist drills, commencing business under management of H. A. Williams, in 1877, and erecting a building in 1880 near Weir Junction. The Old Colony Iron Company was started in 1824, when Horatio Leonard and Company (Crocker and Richmond), built a forge on the Stephen King farm at East Taunton for the purpose of making charcoal iron of scraps and pig-iron. Later, iron was made with bituminous coal. The works were suspended from 1837 to 1842, but in 1844 a new company, the Old Colony Iron Company, was organized with a capital of $260,000. Samuel L. Crocker was the president; Charles Robinson, treasurer. The works covered several acres, where the firm made their own iron, and manufactured shovels and nails and nail-plates. During the fire of August 7, 1881, a large part of the works were destroyed. The last officers of the concern were: Oliver A. Washburn, agent and treasurer; Charles T. Robinson, clerk; Enoch Robinson, Nahum Stetson, Charles T. Robinson, and Oliver A. Washburn, directors; Enoch Robinson, superintendent. Anthony & Cushman manufactured shoe nails and tacks at Weir Village in 1864, but in 1882 they removed to Court street, where over one hundred hands were employed. L. B. West & Company for years represented an enterprising manufactory of stoves. Jathniel A. Peck and William L. White, Jr., as Peck & White, manufactured carriages. Daniel S. Brownell and George H. Burt are carriage builders today. Horatio L. Cushman & Company, beginning business in 1882, manufactured tufting and shoe buttons. E. H. Eldridge & Sons continuing the business started by Eli H. Eldridge in 1848, manufactured coffin plates. D. A. Trefethen was a brass founder and finisher.

The first of the stone ware in this county was produced at the manufactory of Major William Sever on the present Ingell street, opposite the old No. 2 landing-place on Taunton river. It is also claimed that the first American crucible was made at this factory. Major Sever had been engaged in the same business while in Dorchester, with Ebenezer Baker, before

James Sproat in 1837 constructed his well known mills on Mill river to manufacture box boards and nail kegs. He was succeeded by his son and grandson, James H. and James C. Sproat.