Leading Business Men of Fairfield County

Mr. Leonard H. Bacon, of Hartford, is the President, Mr. O. C. Smith is the Secretary and Treasurer, and Mr. W. W. Keys is the Superin- tendent, and under his direction the practical details of the work are conducted with most gratifying results. Montignani, Photo Artist, 304 Main Street, over Pequonnock National Bank. — If " a thing of beauty is a joy forever," as we hear so fre- quently asserted, surely a faithful and artistic re-production of a " thing of beauty " is equalty entitled to that high distinction. If such be the case, then Mr. F. M. Montignani, the celebrated photographic artist, of No. 304 Main street, over the Pequonnock National Bank, has been the means of furnishing a source of continual joy to an immense number of people during the fifteen years which he has been established in business here, for as his work is uniformly good, and the faces of those we love ever beautiful to us, his portraits are " things of beauty" from an emotional, as well as from an artistic point of view. At the above address a most elegant suite ot rooms is occupied — one of the handsomest gal- leries in the State — extending over two floors, and replete with all the costly apparatus and magnificent furnishings of a metropolitan photo- graphic studio. Each floor is 28x60 feet in size. All kinds, sizes and styles of portraits are made in the best manner known to the art, and such of our readers as contemplate being photographed but are undecided as to what establishment to pa- tronize may be assured that they cannot possibly do better, both as regards satisfactory results and reasonable prices than they can here. Mr. Montiguani's experience is great, and bis taste unimpeachable. He has had thirty years' experience in Europe and this country, photo- graphed the Queen of England, Prince of Wales, Princess Louise and numerous others — have the references to prove assertions. It will pay to call and examine work. H. M. Purdy, Dealer in Masons' Building Materials, 400 Water Street. — The increase in buildings in and about Bridgeport has made great demand for building materials and energetic and enterprising men have entered 'he field, fur- nishing increased facilities for this branch of business, and prominent among those in Biidge- port is Mr. H. M. Purdy, dealer in masons' building materials. This enterprise was established in 1881 by its present proprietor, and is located at 400 W ater street, covering an area of 220x40 feet, where will be found a large stock of masons' building materials. His arrangements with the manu- facturers of and dealers in the various brands of cement and plaster enable him to quote such materials at the lowest price, he also carries a full line of such building materials as are in demand. Mr. Purdy is a heavy contractor and the extent of his business requires in the building season the employment of fifty very capable workmen, whose skill and ability is evident in the many elegant buildings and private residences in and about this city which have been erected by this able and reliable contractor, among which are: Block of six brick houses on Park avenue, for O. B. Jennings; brick residence for Mrs. Foote corner Broad street and Fairfield avenue; the Myrtle avenue and the Oak street schools; Dew- hurst block. Harriet street; Renickes block, East Main and Hamilton street; G. C.Waldo's resi- dence, Golden Hill street; Griffin & McElroy's packing house, the residences on Park place of H. F. Greenman, F. S. Andrew, T. L. Bartholo- mew, Mrs. Julia Billing, H. C. Clark's resi- dence, Clinton avenue; L. H. Mill's residence, Fairfield and Clinton avenue; Wheeler Beer's block corner Main and East Washington avenue, and many others. This necessarily brief sketch gives at least but a limited account of the resources of this promi- nent contractor, which without exaggeration are equal at least to those possessed by any one in Bridgeport or vicinity, and all interested in this line of business will say that he offers such inducements as render dealing with him profit-' able and ■satisfactory to all concerned. 80 LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT W. H. Horr, Dealer in Pianos, Organs and Sheet Music, 96 State Street. — The music trade is well represented in this city. Among the enterpris- ing merchants engaged in this line is Mr. W. H. Horr. Although his business is of but rectnt in- ception, having been established in September 1886, he conducts a very promising and lucrative retail trade in musical instruments and merchan- dise of all kinds. The premises where he conducts his business at present are located at 96 State street, 60 feet in depth, with an adjoining room for the sale of the celebrated Baker pianos, also organs of different makes. Any musical instrument not offered for sale in Bridgeport can be furnished at special prices. These accommodations being inade- quate for the conduct of his steadily increasing business he contemplates moving very soon to larger and more commodious quarters. The musical instruments and merchandise handled by this house comprise some of the best to be ob- tained in the country and the citizens of Bridge- port are respectfully solicited to call and examine this elegant and extensive stock before purchas- ing elsewhere. Mr. W. H. Horr is thoroughly conversant with every branch of the music business and is consid- ered an excellent judge of pianos and organs. He is a very agreeable gentleman to deal with and an expert musician. Ohas. E. Hubbell, Wholesale Dealer in Flour, Grain, Salt, Hay, Straw, etc., 428 and 432 Water Street. — In this work, which is designed to repre- sent the different and diversified character of Bridgeport's resources, it is of course obvious that the flour and grain industry should occupy a very important place. We have elsewhere discoursed on the various houses engaged in this branch of business and we are now about to devote a space to the enterprise of Mr. Chas. E. Hubbell, whose place of business is located at 428 and 432, Water street. This establishment was founded some time ago but was last under the control of Frank O. Green, who was succeeded in May, 1887, by the present proprietor. The business is conducted by him in a first-class manner and has of late largely gained in popularity. Mr. Hubbell is a wholesale dealer in feed, flour, grain, salt, hay, straw, etc., making a specialty of the sale of Jones' Superlative flour so widely known, in which a very extensive busi- ness is thus transacted, which is mainly through- out the State. Mr. Hubbell is well-known to the community having been on the street for the past twenty years and was a member of the old firm of E. E. Hubbell & Sons, which was found- ed in 1848. We will not indulge in personal comment fur- ther than to remark that he is possessed of a complete knowledge of the business and what is required of the trade. William L. Wolfram, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Choice Family Groceries, etc., corner East Main and Maple Streets, East Bridgeport. — Largely engaged in this line of trade we would mention Mr. W. L. Wolfram, who for the past sixteen years has been recognized as a prominent one in promoting the commercial interests of East Bridgeport. This business was established in 1871 by Mr. Wolfram and from its inception gave promise of vitality, which the succeeding years have only rendered more apparent, and at the present time it leads the trade in East Bridgeport and is one of the largest in the city proper. LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT. 81 The premises occupied by him for trade pur- poses comprise an elegant three-story brick build- ing (erected for the purpose) 75x50 feet in dimen- sions. This building was erected under the per- sonal supervision of Mr. Wolfram, who has in- troduced a great many novel inventions which enable him to transact the immense business without any confusion, and at the same time wait on all customers promptly. This stock is without exception the most com- plete in the State. He carries an immense stock of English, French, German and Italian grocer- ies, cheese, Wines, etc., and is enabled to suit the large variety of tastes catered to. He does not charge the fancy prices prevailing in stores of this kind, but everything is sold at most reasona- ble prices. It may safely be asserted that in freshness, quality, and especial variety, the stock carried here has no superior in the city. Aside from a -complete assortment of choice family groceries, teas, coffees, spices, etc., the stock embraces fine brands of family liquors and cigars. All these are offered to the trade and consumers at guar- anteed lowest prices, and are warranted to be genuine and of the best quality. Several assist- ants are required in the orderly management of the business, which is both wholesale and retail. Mr. Wolfram is a native of Germany, and has resided in this city many years, where he is widely known and esteemed. A. Wintter & Co., Lager Beer Brewers; City Brewery, 76 North Washington Avenue. — Amer- icans have some prominent peculiarities which distinguish them as a nation from any other peo- ple on the face of the earth, and one of the most pronounced and most universally recoguized of these idiosyncrasies is a desire to " get The best." We have been lectured time and time again by traveled persons on the shameful lack of economy which even the most humble workingman shows in his purchase of meats, by buying rump steak when a few cents worth of shin bone contains just as much nutriment, even if it has not so fine a flavor. As in food so it is in drink, we "want the best," and the result is, that in the matter of lager beer, for instance, as fine an article is now brewed in this country as is to be found in the world. This statement is made on the authority of our German fellow-citizens, who certainly ought to know, and to whose knowledge and skill this fact is mostly due. Among the many brewing establishments in the Eastern States the " City Brewery," No. 76 North Washington avenue holds a most euviable position for the excellence of its product and the magnitude "of its business.