Worcester County, Massachusetts - X Ci X, 1889

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Pai'ER Machinkuy. - Isaac Goddard was born in South Royalston, Vt., in 1800. He came to Massachusetts in 1812, and was apprenticed to Elijah Burbank at Quinsigamond to learn paper-making. After serving his time, he went to Millbnry, and about 1823 made ]>aper there by the pound for General Burbank. In 1886 he came to Worcester, formed a partnership with Mr. Howe, and, under the firmname of Howe & Goddard, began making paper machinery at the old Red Mills. It is said that six months after starting they jiut in a steam-engine of six horse-power. This they used for two years, in conjunction with their water-power. February 1, 184o, they moved to the Union Street factory, now occupied by their successors. In the summer of 1846 Mr. Howe died, and Mr. George M. Rice shortly after became a partner.'

In April, 1856, Goddard, Rice & Co. bouglit from Isaac Davis, for thirty-one thousand dollars, the factory occupied by them in Uni<in Street. April 1, 1862, Goddard, Rice & Co. dissolved, and May 1st George M. Rice, George S. Barton and Joseph E. Fales formed a company for the manufacture of machinery under the style of Rice, Barton & Co. At this time they advertised to make steam boilers, and in 1868 manufactured the Vandewater Waterwheel.

The Kice, Barton & Fales Machine and Iron Company was organized in 1867, and succeeded to the business of manufacturing paper-making, calicoprinting and dyeing machinery, printing and dyeing-machines for cotton and woolen-mills, bleaching.

Razors. - .T. R. Torrey & Co. manufacture razor strops and dressing-cases, and are situated at the corner of Piedmont and Chandler Streets. The business was begun in a very small way in 1858 by J. R. Torrey. In 1875 his son, L. H. Torrey, was admitted to partnership. The business has increased until they have become the largest manufacturers of razor strops in the world.

The J. R. Torrey Razor Company was incorporated in 1880 - Joseph Turner, president, and J. R. Torrey, treasurer. The present factory was erected in 1882.

This is the only company manufacturing razors in the country. Commencing with eight hands, their force to-day, 1880, numbers seventy-five razor-makers, with more special tools and machines of their own invention than are found in all the razor factories in the world.

The Holyoke Machine Company. - This company was established at Holyoke in 1863. In 1882 a branch factory was built at Worcester, situated opposite the old Wheeler Foundry on Thomas Street. This company manufactures the Hercules Turbine Water-Wheel. One-fourth of their product is sold abroad. They commenced with fifty men and now employ one hundred and fifty. They also manufacture shafting, hangers and pulleys.

Norton Emery-Wheel Comi'Any. - This company was organized June 20, 1885. The industry was started in 1875 by F. B. Norton at the old Pottery Works in Water Street, from whom the wheel takes its name. The pottery business is still conducted by Mr. Norton's sons in Water Street.

In July, 1886, the Norton Emery-Wheel (^ompany began the erection of new works at Barber's Crossing, about three miles from the centre of the city, at the junction of the Boston and Maine and Fitchburg Railroads. The building was finished and occupied about January 1, 1887, and is more complete and thoroughly equipped than any other manufactory of emery-wheels in the world. The method of producing solid emery-wheels by this company is known as the vitrified process and is covered by three patents. The wheels possess great strength and endurance, are thoroughly water-proof, containing no substance that has not abrasive properties which'ensures their fast-cutting qualities. The best Turkish emery ore and pure corundum are used. During the process the wheel is subjected to a white heat, for which purpose the Lawton Patent Down-Draft Kilns are used.

These wheels are used for all descriptions of light and heavy casting-work, car-wheel grinding, cleaning hollow-ware, pearling barley, cleaning wheat and cotton seed, wood pulp, grinding, planing and surfacing work, cutlery work, concaving razors and other uses too numerous to mention.

Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company of Providence, R. I., has succeeded in producing remarkable results with these wheels in (he direction of fine grinding.

Corsets. - In the year 1861 Mr. D. H. Fanning finding that hoopskirts were becoming popular, secured a small room in what was then Clark's Block, situated at the corner of Main and Mechanic Streets, and with one operative began their manufacture.

The product of this small establishment found a ready sale. He continued the manufacture of hoo|iskirts exclusively until the year 1S64, when the manufacture of corsets was introduced into this country and Mr. Fanning added this industry.

The plant was enlarged to meet the increasing demands made upon it. In 1872 the business was removed to the Rice building, 564 Main Street. The manufacture of consets proved the more important part, and at length the manufacture of skirts was discontinued. The name of the firm, at first the Worcester Skirt Company, was changed to the Worcester Corset Company, which was afterwards made the corporate name of the present organization.

The business continued to devebji), and subsequently a section of the Franklin building, adjoining, was added. In 1880 the Hey wood building, located in the rear of the Rice building, was added to the other two. The plant now includes these three buildings with a floor area of fifty thousand square feet.

The sewing-machines used are of the Singer make. The old machines were run at a speed of from four hundred to six hundred stitches per minute, while those now in use have a capacity of from fourteen hundred to eighteen hundred stitches per minute.

In 1885, finding the market for its products reaching over a constantly increasing area, at length covering the entire country, the Worcester Corset Company established branch sales-rooms in Chicago, 111., the great distributing point for the West and Northwest, and also opened an oflice in New York City.

Within the past year the company hRs entered extensively into the manufacture of fine goods in which silks, pongees, satins, French cotilles and American jeans are used.

By engaging in the manufacture of fine goods, the company gives employment to an increased number of skilled workmen of the highest class. These goods are of the same grade and come into competition with the finest quality of French and German corsets ; and there is no concern in the country engaged in this business so thoroughly equipped for the production of fine goods as the Worcester Corset Company.

In size it ranks among the largest producers in the country of all grades of corsets, and probably the largest in the production of fine goods. Five hundred operatives, mostly women, are employed in this establishment.

In 1856 S. C. &. S. Winslow, who had been engaged in mechanical business at Newton Upper Falls, occupied a small room in Cypress Street, in Merrifield's building, doing machine jobbing.

In 1857, observing that skating was becoming popular, they ventured to make twenty-five pairs of skates, of which they sold nineteen pair during the first [

In 1858, in anticipation of the demand, they manu- I factured two hundred pairs, but before the end of the j year had manufactured and sold two thousand five I hundred pairs.

In 1872 Mr. Winslow made roller-skates for J. L. Plympton, of New York, which were used in this country, and exported to Europe and to India, and continued to manufacture them for several years; meantime the business had so increased that a factory was built in Mulberry Street.

In 1880 Jlr. Winslow invented the Vineyard rollerskate, which has been the most popular roller-skate made. The demand in this country for roller-skates continued till the fall of 1885.

Durhig the year 1884 Mr. Winslow built an addition to his factory. In 1886 he sold his business to the Samuel Winslow Skate Manufacturing Company.

At the present time, lS8!t, the demand for rollerskates in the United States has ceased, but the company is exporting them to Australia, India, Japan and South America.

The capacity of the company is twelve hundred pairs of skates per day, including forty different styles of ice-skates and fifteen different styles of rollerskates, which vary in price from fifteen cents to ten dollars per pair.

This company also manufactures an excellent bicycle, which is sold at a moderate price, and which is finding a ready market for the reason that it is as durable as the more expensive machine.

Foi-DINC Chairs. - In 1863, Mr. E. W. Vaill, who had previously been in the furniture business, engaged in the manufacture of camp-chairs, which were in large demand by the army and navy. The business was begun at the corner of Main & Walnut Streets, but in January, 1877, was moved to Union Street, the present location. The old water-wheel, which furnished power for Ruggles, Nourse & Mason, at Court Mills, supplies twenty-eight horse-power for this factory.

At the close of the war the denuuid (or camp-chairs largely decreased, but the principle was carried into all variety of chairs, from the plainest to the most expensive. Over one hundred different styles were made, many of which were patented, and they were sent all over the world. February 5, 1889, the E. W. Vaill Chair Manufacturing Company was incorporporated and succeeded to the business. The Worcester Gas-Light Company was organized

June 22, 1849, with a capital of *45,0I)0. John W. 1 Lincoln was president, and Warren Lazell, agent. The works were built in Eincoln Street, and, under date of July 23, 1849, the company gives notice in the Worcester Spy that the works will be ready to supply gas to the citizens of Worcester in the followj ing streets, early the next fall, viz.: Main Street, from I Lincoln Square to Park Street School, Thomas' Exchange, Foster and Mechanic Streets, severally, '- between Main and the railroads ; also in Front from Main Street to Washington Square, and in Pleasant Street from Main to Chestnut Streets.

Those desirous of becoming consumers of gas were requested to give early notice at the office of the agent, 205 Main Street, in order that supply-pipes might be carried into their buildings, the pipes to be put in at the expense of the company.

The company was incorporated in 1851 ; the works were enlarged from time to time, and in 1870 were removed to the present site near the Junction.

The manufacture of water-gas was introduced in October, 1884, the company having purchased a license under the patents of the Granger Water-Gas Company, of Philadelphia.

Contractors and Buii.deks. - There is a large number of contractors and builders in Worcester, some of whom have attained a wide reputation for tihe character of their work. The wood-work in some of the most expensive houses in the country has been furnished by Worcester firms.

Charles Baker & Co. make a specialty of inside and outside ornamental finish from architects' plans. TheNorcross Bros, stand pre-eminent among builders in Worcester, and their reputation has now become national. They own stone quarries at Long Meadow and have shops eipiipped to produce every kind and variety of work required in the most elaborate buildings.

The Norcross Bros, began business at Swampscott, Mass., in 1864, and 1866 took their first contract of any consequence, which was to build the Congregational Church in Leicester.

Among the buildings erected by them are the Worcester High School, Crompton'a Block, Burnside Building, All .Saints' Church, the First Universalist Church, all of Worcester.

Their most expensive buildings have been erected elsewhere. The gymnasium, Seaver Hall and the Law School at Harvard University ; the Marshal

Field Building, at Chicago, erected in 1885 at a cost of 1900,000; the New York Life Insurance Building, at Omaha, costing over 1500,000 ; another building for the same insurance company in Kansas City, costing a like amount; the Allegheny Court-house and jail, at Pittsburgh, costing $2,500,000; the Union League Club-house, New York ; the Algonquin Clubhouse, Boston ; besides many private residences, the most expensive of which is " Kellogg Terrace," Great Barrington, which cost 1600,000.

It has not been attempted to give an extended account of all the manufactories in Worcester; space and time would not permit of this. The following alphabetical summary of most of those not hitherto mentioned in the text will give .some idea of their variety and number :

Awls. - American Awl Company, 195 Front Street, manufacturers of and dealers in raw-hide mallets, wax thread needles, lasting-machine avvis, wax thread awls, Bigelow heeling awls, Bigelow heeling drivers. New Era drivers. New Era pegging awls, Varney pegging awls, Varney drivers, German pegging drivers, German pegging awls, shoe-knives, shoe-shaves.

Band-Saws. - W. F. Burgess & Co., 66 School Street. Bicycles. - Iver Johnson & Co. ; Samuel Winslow. Bolt Manufacturers. - In 1828 Wheelock & Rice manufactured nuts and washers at the machineshop then recently occupied by William Hovey. In 1839 H. W. Miller was engaged in this business. In 1855 Thomas Smith and William Conkey bought of J. and J. C. Brown and George Dryden their tools and interest in the manufacture of nuts and washers chain links, etc., and fitted up a shop in Cypress Street, Merrifield's building. In 1859 they employed four hands making patent bit pieces and doinir cold punching. Mr. Smith has been an iron-worker in Worcester for fifty-three years ; he made iJhe first die in the world to make a mowing-machine knife. He now manufactures bolts, nuts, rods, building irons for houses, bridges, cold iron punching. In 1835 Mr. Smith worked for Phelps & Bickford, in Grove Street, and worked on the first looms built for William Crompton in this country.

Howe, 163 Union Street. C. W. Humphrey, 42 Southbridge Street, turns out from five thousand to six thousand paper boxes per day. The Whitcomb Envelope Company also make paper boxes.

Brewers. - There was a brewery in ^Vorceste^ in 1822. Sixty-two and one-half cents a bushel was paid for barley delivered at the brewery. In 1827 the Worcester Distillery offersfor sale New England rum, molasses, cider brandy, high wines.

Bowler Brothers, Quinsigamond Avenue, corner Lafayette Street, established the business of brewing ale and porter in 1883. They pay a larger tax to the United States Government than any one outside of Boston.

Brushes. - Ellis Thayer manufactured brnshes in Worcester in 1849. In 1869 the firm became Thayer & Mason; in 1878 Mr. J. Fred. JIason became proprietor. He manufactures brushes of all descriptions.

Die Cutter Stock. - Loring Coes A Co., manufacturers of machine knives, cutter plate for dies to leather, cloth and paper; moulding cutter-plate for wood, marble, etc.; all kinds and sizes of shear plates, and strips for cotton and woolen machinery.

L. Hardy & Co., manufacturers of machine knives, straight cutter ensilage, lawn-mower, meat-cutter, cork-cutter, rag-cutter and bone knives; shear-blades and strips for cotton and woolen goods. Also die cutter stock for boots and shoes ; all kinds of welded stock rolled to any thickness from fourteen gauge to three-quarter inch thick. Wood-working machineknives, planers, moulding-knives and blanks; papercutting, leather-splitting and stripping-knives.

Doors, Sash, Blinds, &c. - Charles Baker & Co., wholesale and retail lumber dealers; manufacture doors, windows, blinds, window and door frames, inside and outside ornamental finish from architects' plans. Yards at Manchester, Grove and Prescott Streets.

Dry Plate Manufacturers. - Phcenix Plate Ciompany, manufacturers of Phcenix gelatine dryplate, argentic plate for positive pictures, ebonized and maroon wood and metal panels ; also japanned iron and tinned sheets of all sizes for painters and lithographers.

Worcester Bleach and Dye Works, dyers and bleachers of cotton, woolen and worsted yarns, threads, tapes, etc. Also black, white and lancy colored warps in chains and beams furnished to order in any desired pattern. Present location. Grove Street. After April 1, 1889, West Fremout Street, New Worcester.

Ferrules. - Worcester Ferrule Manufacturing Co., manufacturers of steel and brass stove trimmings, patent nickel-plated knobs, hinge-pins, towel-racks, foot-rails, steel, iron and brass ferrules, nickel-plated steam-pipe collars, 17 Hermon Street.

John L. Parker & Co., manufacturers of patent seamless sheet-metal goods of every description, stove door-knobs, hinge-pins, towel-rods, 70 School Street.

pjLES._William Hart, 5 ^Vashington Square ; established 1867, now employs seventeen hands. Largest manufacturer of hand-cut files in New England. A large number of files from the manufactories in the city are here re-cut. Mr. Hart makes four hundred

Glue. - John J. Jeffords, manufacturer of glue, tallow, ground bone, fertilizers. Works half a mile south of Quinsigamond, on Providence and Worcester Railroad.

Washburn Shops, for emery wheels. Grist-Mills. - D. & C. P. Stevens & Son. Ground Beef Scraps. - Charles F. Rugg, manufacturer of fine cylinder, engine, machinery and bolt oils. Best grade steam-rendered tallow and soap for manufacturers and family use. Dealer in paraffine, lard and neat's-foot oils. Pure ground beef scraps.

Gutters and Conductors. - A. Bangs & Co., 175 Union Street, manufacturers of eaves troughs, &c. J. B. Cummings, 197 Union Street. Hardware Manufacturers. - A. W. Gifford, 77 Beacon Street

Milk Cans. - James H. Whittle, manufacture of tin cylinders of all diameters. Moulding-Machines. - Blake Brothers. Witherby, Rugg & Richardson. Nails. - Somers Brothers. Tacks and Hungarian nails. Shoe tacks a specialty. Located here because of the large amount of boot-making. Running seventeen machines. The only concern of the kind in the city. Uses tack-machines invented by Thomas Blanchard.

Needles. - Worcester Needle Company, Sewing machine needles. In 1853, F. S. Cox made needles at South Worcester. Overalls. - A. G. Hiidieth, 'M Southbri.lge

Pottery. - F. B. Norton's Sons, Water Street. In 1784 there was a pottery in Worcester, two and a half miles from the meeting-house on the road to Springfield.

George C. Whitney, Art Publisher and Importer ; factory and main office, Worcester ; also ofiices New York, Chicago and Boston. Vises. - Worcester Drop Forging Work. Washers. - Reed & Prince, makers of rivets, blanks for small screws, washers.

Water Meter. - In 1858 a water meter was invented by Dr. E. D. Wetherbee, and manufactured by D. Newton, gunsmith. Union Water Meter Company was established November, 1868, by Messrs. Fitts, John C. Otis, Phineas Ball ; employs sixty hands. Their meters go all over the country, and some to England and Germany. The product is cov- I ered by patents.

Artificial stone is manufactured by C. F. Green & Company, Sargent Street. The stone is made of sand and cement, and is used for building purposes ; chimney caps, thimbles, etc. This is a continuation of the business known as the Frear Stone Works. !