Lawrence City (part 6 of 6)

i\ccording to the agreement, after 10 years, Mr. Oswald bought back the business. He formed the corporation of William Oswald Company, and he made extensive improvements in the store. However, at the end of the year his health was such that he was forced to retire, and the present corporation of Reid & Hughes Co. was formed by Adam Reid, James J. Hughes, Eugene T. Adams and Leonard E. Bennink, to which George F. Hughes was admitted later. In 1905 occurred the death of James J. Hughes, followed by that of Mr. Reid in 1907 and that of George F. Hughes in 1914, the interests of the latter two being taken over by Air. Adams and Mr. Bennink.

In 1918 the interests of the James J. Hughes estate were acquired by Mr. Bennink, giving him a majority control of the corporation. He immediately proceeded to make radical improvements, after securing an extension of the lease. The store has a frontage on Essex street of 105 feet, with a depth of 85 feet. The firm occupies the whole building. There are 35,000 square feet of floor space.

Stanley Grain Company

Lawrence has one of the largest grain warehouses in New England in the plant of the Stanley Grain Company, located at the corner of Broadway and Essex street. This concern handles the greater part of the flour coming into Lawrence. Its facilities are such that the city's entire supply of grain and flour could be easily received and distributed by the company.

The concern occupies the old inward freight house of the Boston & Maine Railroad. It is an ideal location for a business of that character. The warehouse is 450 feet long by 50 feet wide. A railroad siding extends the entire length of the building on the west side, while along Broadway, on the east side, is room for delivery trucks and wagons to back up to the numerous exits. A similar number of entrances are on the opposite side, with a great amount of storage space between, so arranged as to make the receiving, storing and delivering of supplies a very simple matter. Twelve cars at a time can be unloaded. At times there are stored between 6,000 and 7,000 barrels of flour. The offices, sales and display rooms of the concern are located in a building adjoining the storehouse on the north end, and fronting on Essex street.

The Stanley Grain Company was organized in 1896, with ex- Mayor George S. Junkins as president and George A. Stanley as treasurer. It was first located at the corner of Common and Franklin streets. The growth of the concern has been vigorous from the start, although its greatest development came upon the securing, in 191 2, of the lease of the Boston & Maine property, which gave much larger room for expansion. In 1901 death deprived the company of the services of its president, and the business has since been conducted under the guidance of Mr. Stanley as treasurer and manager.

The firm carries the Bay State, King Arthur, David Stott and F. W. Stock & Sons brands of flour, besides grain and poultry supplies. Its trade extends into the adjoining towns of Andover, North Andover and Methuen. It specializes in Brooks Mash scratch feed for poultry, the demand for which comes from all parts of New England.

Henry J. Ko Ellen & Company

The business of wholesaleing and retailing imported and domestic fancy groceries and litjuors of all kinds has a leading representative in Lawrence in the lirm of Henry J. Koellen & Co., 166-168 Essex St., and 2 Jackson st. This concern was established in 1900 with a small retail liquor business at 166 Essex St., bv Henry J. Koellen and < )swald 1' reytag, under the firm nan:e of Koellen & Freytag. In 1903 Mr. Freytag withdrew from the business.

Under Mr. Koellen's management the establishment developed rapidly. In 1905 he secured the HENRY J. KOELLEN adjoining store, conducting in a small way a family grocery, cigar and wine store. In 1910 he retired from the retail liquor line, and remodelled the store for the carrying on of a wholesale business. Thei facilities for handling the trade have been enlarged from year to year.

The place is neat and attractive. The fixtures and equipment are of the very best obtainable, while the stock is unsurpassed in variety and quality by any similar concern in Essex County. In fact, this establishment will compare favorably, for its size, with any of its kind in Boston or New York. Mr. Koellen always keeps on hand an excellent stock of goods from the leading manufacturers of the world. It is seldom that one cannot obtaini any particular brand he may desire here, no matter how rarely it is to be found in the general market.

The fancy groceries are of the choicest sort. Besides, there is carried a fine assortment of candies, favors, cigars, tobaccos, pipes and smokers' articles of every description. The concern deals in an extensive line of fancy liquors, foreign and domestic, including sherries, ports, brandies and cordials. The cigar department is patronized by the city's most critical smokers.

The business extends over the states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and IMaine. Mr. Koellen came to Lawrence in 1896. For four years he was a travelling salesman for the Cold Spring Brewing Company of this city.

Siu'Erthorne Studio

Photography, as a business as well as an art, has a leading exponent in Lawrence in the Silverthorne Studio, located in the Bicknell block, 467 Essex street. Few so well equipped studios are found outside of a metropolis.

The concern occupies the greater part of two floors. It is provided with the most modern facilities for turning out high grade photographic work. One floor of the studio is taken up by the reception and display rooms and office, and on the floor above are the light room where the portraits are made, the finishing, JOSEPH SILVERTHORNE dark, enlarging and stock rooms,

This studio was established in August, 1914, at 477 Essex street. The following year the business had outgrown its original location, and it was removed to the present commodious quarters.

The proprietor, Joseph Silverthorne, came to Lawrence in 1898. Although but 14 years of age at that time, he was a skilled amateur photographer. He took up the art as a profession in 1901, starting with Scheriver of Worcester. He worked in several of the leading studios of the country, until he became established in Lawrence in

The excellence of ]\Ir. Silverthorne's work is not only known in Lawrence, but it has won for him a reputation outside of the city. His exhibits which have been shown in New York, Philadelphia and Boston have been awarded certificates of merit, besides a number of special prizes. He has photographed many people of note.

The Silverthorne Studio makes a specialty of portraits. It has introduced many novelties, including clever ideas in posing, coloring and enlarging. Its pictures of children are studies of child life. Worthy of special mention are its productions of enlarged portraits, worked over in oil colors. The result is that they are hard to distinguish from genuine oil paintings, and at the same time the correctness of the drawing is far superior to that which is obtained by free hand.

Napoleon Demara

The theatrical business in Lawrence is largely represented in the enterprises of the Tooniey & Demara Amusement Company. This concern controls four of the leading playhouses of the city, embracing three branches of the theatrical profession, viz., drama, vaudeville and motion pictures. The Empire, given over to vaudeville, is one of the largest and best equipped theatres in New England. It has a seating capacity of 2,300. The Broadway, with a seating capacity of 1,500, and the Premier, with a seating capacity of 700, are devoted exclusively to motion pictures. The Colonial, whose seating capacity is 1,650, provides drama. The last named is at the present writing sub-leased to a stock company.

Thomas Toom.ey, to whom much of the success of the concern is due, came to Lawrence in 1906, when he opened the old Nickel theatre as a picture house, in what had been the Casto theatre. The first day's receipts were only $8.20. The venture was extremely gloomy at the start, and the following several months he sank $5,300 in keeping the house open. Mr. Toomey's optimism, however, was unbounded. He was confident that as soon as the public got the picture idea, success would be certain and substantial. Results proved he was right.

While still striving for success Mr. Toomey took, as a partner in the business. Napoleon Demara, who was general utility man in the old Nickel. They made an excellent team. The business of the old Nickel soon outgrew the premises. The New Nickel came in 1910, and five years later this structure was replaced by the present handsome and commodious Empire theatre.

In turn, the Premier, Broadway and Colonial theatres, the policies of whose managements had failed, were taken over by Toomey & Demara and placed on a sound basis. From a small beginning this concern has grown into one of the largest enterprises of its kind in this section.

Curran & Joyce Co., Inc

The Curran & Joyce Co., Inc., was established in 1877 when Maurice J. Curran and John Joyce formed a partnership and took over the small bottling business of William E. Heald, then located at 34 Hampshire street. From the beginning, energy and enterprise have marked the development of this concern. The business soon 'Outgrew the accommodations of the original location, and in September, 1885, the partners moved into the building on Common street, wdrich then had a frontage of 50 feet. The structure has been enlarged from time to time, and it now has a frontage of no feet, with four floors and a basement, extending from 433 to 443 Common street.

In 1897 the Arm Ijecame known as the Curran & Joyce Company, Joseph Jackson having been admitted as a partner. In;i9i4 Mr. Joyce retired, as also did Mr. Curran shortly afterward, both having other business interests so extensive as to demand all their time. That year the concern was made a Massachusetts corporation, becoming known as the Curran & Joyce Co., Inc. The stock is now held by Joseph Jackson, Philip A. McCarthy, John F. Murphy and Patrick F. Finn, the last three mentioned having been for a number of years employes of the Curran & Joyce Company.

The firm is the sole representative in Lawrence of the Harvard Brewing Company, besides having favorable connections with several of the biggest vineyards and distilleries in the country. The manufacture and distribution of ginger ale, soda waters and tonics have always been an important feature of the business. The concern practically controls the local market for ginger ale. It has well equipped bottling works, with a capacity of 87 bottles a minute. The equipment also includes an artesian well with a depth of 575 feet, which produces 40 gallons a minute.

Besides the building at 433 - 443 Common street, which it owns, the firm has a lease of the four-story Slayton building at 570 Common street and two-thirds of the Boston & Maine inward freight shed. Nearby is a cold storage house which is used and owned by it. The two latter buildings have track facilities for handling of car lots.

There are 55 people employed by the company, and the annual payroll is nearly $50,000. Six auto trucks and 14 delivery wagons are used in connection witli the business.

Houhan Bros

Peter Holihan and Patrick Holihan formed a partnership for the sale of fine groceries and liquors. The original firm was known as P. & P. Holihan. After the death of Patrick Holihan in 1882 the business was carried on by Davis & Murphy, but in 1890 the present firm again took control. Until 191 7 the partnership consisted of James P. Holihan, Joseph P. Holihan and Charles A. Holihan. That year Charles A. Holihan died, and the business has since been conducted by the first two named partners.

The concern is established in a four-story block at the corner of Common and Hampshire streets. It carries a general line of wholesale liquors, including all the leading brands, besides the beers of its own manufacture. Its growth has been steady and substantial, and its goods have a wide distribution throughout eastern New England territory.

In 191 2 the Diamond Spring brewery was built on the site of the old Knowles farm at the corner of Andover and Beacon streets. The main building is a five-story structure, with two four-story storage buildings adjoining, besides engine and boiler houses adjacent. Here are brewed the Dianiond Spring ales, porter and lager. The capacity of the plant is 75,000 barrels a year. For 40 years the spring w^ater, now used in the manufacture of Diamond Spring beers, was sold to the people of Lawrence as the Knowles Diamond Spring water, and enjoyed an enviable reputation for its purity and excer.ence. The beverages now produced from it are admitted to be leaders in their line.

In 191 7 the concern increased the variety of its products, when it began the manufacture of the Diamond Spring ginger ale, the demand for which is growing rapidly. In this connection a large assortment of tonics is also manufactured and distributed by the firm. A specialty is made of fruit tonics, the flavoring for the strawberry, raspberry, orange and lemon beverages being made from the real fruit. This department is developing into an important feature of the business.

M. Carney & Company

M. Carney & Company is one of the oldest liquor houses in New England. It was established over 50 years ago by Michael Carney and his brother, Matthew Carney, under the firm name of M. Carney & Brother. It was first located on White street, and later moved to the corner of Hampshire and Concord streets. Twenty-four years ago, the present location, corner of Hampshire and Common streets, was secured.

Some years after the establishment of the business, the Carney brothers dissolved partnership, and later the firm became known as M. Carney & Company. Matthew J. Carney, a nephew of the original partners, becoming a member. Michael Carney died in 1913, his death being preceded by that of Matthew J. Carney, and on May i, 1914, the estate took James C. Corcoran into the firm. The latter was for a number of years an employe of the concern. He has since been the general manager.

The firm owns the building in which it is located, and occupies the entire four floors, with basement. It carries a general line of liquors, wines, cordials and beers, and has the reputation of dealing in the finest grades, both imported and domestic.

Cold Spring Brewing Co

Among the minor industries of the city, which have a reputation for the excellence of their products, is the Cold Spring Brewing Company, located on South Union street. This concern was established in 1895, being incorporated the same year. Its growth has been steady from the beginning. Today the plant covers three acres. Besides the main building of three stories, there are several smaller structures. The equipment embraces every improvement and facility known to the industry, is strictly sanitary and is scientifically operated.

The products consist of ales, porter and lager, all widely known and largely consumed brands. They are shipped all over Essex County, by case and barrel. The concern has a large bottling trade in Lawrence. The capacity of the plant is 75,000 barrels a year. Under normal conditions, 65 people are employed in the various departments.

The president of the company, August Stiegler, served for a number of years as treasurer and general manager, and the successful development of the concern is due in a large measure to his capable management. He has had many years experience in the brewing business. Mr. vStiegler still acts in an advisory capacity in the management of the plant, which is now under the direction of Walter A. Singer, as treasurer and general manager. Louis K. Siegel is clerk of the corporation and secretary of the board of directors.

The board of directors is composed of August Stiegler, David t>ailey, Herman Yunggebauer, Hugo Moeser, Charles E. Trumbull, Herbert W. Home, Henry C. Schoenland, Henry J. Koellen and Gustav Plisch.

Lawrence Savings Bank

Joseph S. Howe, Alvin E. Mack. William T. ^IcAlpine, James I. Milliken, Charles H. Kitchin, William E. Philbrick, Lewis A. Foye, Arthur D. ]\Iarble, Newton P. Frye, John A. Perkins, James A. Macdonald. Roland A. Prescott, Kendall S. Norwood, Mahlon D. Currier. William \\'. Dean.

Lawrencr Vkstrrday And Today 261

Trolley lines owned and operated by this Company extend from Lawrence to all surrounding cities and towns in ^lerrimack \'alley. Also to Salem and Boston.