Leading Business Men of Fairfield County

This establishment was founded in 1856, by Mr. John Benz, who was succeeded in 1876 by Mr. A. Wintter, who became associated, in 1882, with Messrs. J. McMahon and P. Wren, under the firm name A. Wintter & Co. Mr. Wintter was formerly connected with the city council, and Mr. Wren, who was previously a member of the same body, and also of the Legislature, is now president of the board of public works. The brewing operations are carried on in four build- ings, a thirty horse-power steam engine being utilized. The output of the concern last year was 16,000 barrels, and the indications are that that large figure will be greatly surpassed the present year. Burns, Silver & Co., Manufacturers of Cabi- net Hardware, Railway specialties, etc. ; Factory, 131 Railroad Avenue. — As supplementing some of the leading industries of the country in pro- ducing cabinet hardware and railway specialties, this well known company has for nearly two years occupied a prominent position among the manufacturing interests of Bridgeport. The company was incorporated in November, 1885, and have from that date, on a scale of large proportions, successfully conducted a driving business. Messrs. Burns, Silver & Co. 's works on Rail- road Avenue, are very thoroughly equipped with valuable, improved machinery operated by steam. The factory building is three stories in height, and 35x70 feet in dimensions. An addition 40x 100 is now being erected to accommodate their rapidly increasing trade, and a force of seventy- five skilled workmen are at present employed in the several departments of the business. The output comprises the best qualities and a large varkty of specialties in cabinet hardware and railroad supplies, of standard excellence, which are supplied to jobbers at smallest possible advance on cost of production. The New York office is at No. 13 Barclay street. The officers of the company are as follows: President, S. A. Burns; vice-president and sec- retary, John S. Silver; treasurer, C. A. Cook, and in their hands the important interests of the company are well and faithfully subserved. H. H. Robinson, Furniture Moving, Truck- ing; also, Livery and Boarding Stables, 21 Elm Street. — A well equipped and popular establish- ment is that conducted by Mr. H. H. Robinson, at No. 21 Elm street, as a livery, sale and board- ing stable. It was founded some two years ago by Mr. W. R. Lewis, having been in the hands of its present proprietor about a year. A two- story brick building is occupied, having accom- modations for twenty horses, and a brisk and increasing business is done. Horses and car- riages will be promptly furnished for all occa- sions at reasonable rates, neat and stylish tf ams only being supplied. A specialty is made of the removal of furniture and general trucking, and as all the facilities for such work are at hand and only skillful and experienced men employed satisfaction is confidently guaranteed. The most costly and delicate furniture may be entrusted to Mr. Robinson, with a surety that it will be carefully and properly handled, and that no accidents will happen during its trans- portation that can be avoided by skill and long- experience. The lowest prices are charged for this service, and many orders are executed. Trucking work of all kinds will be faithfully and promptly done, and every effort made to please customers. For the convenience of parties wishing to store their property, Mr. Robinson has a commodious store- house where he will let space at very reasonable rates. The building is of brick, with ele- vator. 82 LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT. A. H. Taylor, Manager Loomis' Temple of Music, 16 Fairfield Avenue. — The Bridgeport branch of the well-known "Loomis' Temple of Music" — so ably managed by Mr. A. H. Taylor who has had charge for the past four years, is located at No. 16 Fairfield avenue. The busi- ness has grown to enormous proportions and is still on the increase, and extends throughout this section. The store is a commodious structure and an additional room of the same size affords storage for the immense stock of pianos of leading makers and for general purposes of trade. The appearance of the interior of the store is sugges- tive of that efficient careful supervision which pervades the entire management of this vast con- cern. The music room located in the rear con- tains a large number of piano? and organs, among which may be found Chickering & Sons, Malhu- shek, Steck & Company, Hallet & Davis, New England, C. fl. Stone & Company pianos, Wil- cox & White, New England, and Smith Ameri- can organs. The C. M. Loomis Company, under the manage- ment of A. H. Taylor, are the sole agents for these celebrated instruments; several experienced salesmen are employed in this store, and every thing denotes the energy and ability shown by Mr. Taylor in conducting this enterprise. We commend this house to our many readers at home and abroad as a thoroughly reliable one with which to deal. A full stock of all kinds of musi- cal instruments,violins,banjos, accordions, guitars, strings, etc., etc., and sheet music, including the latest publications will always be found at this es- tablishment, and Mr. Taylor is always prepared for any demands made upon him. No business firm in the State is more reliable than this, and from the grand success it has achieved in the past and the present rate of increase in business, it is difficult to estimate the future possibilities which await the progress of this enterprising house. The pianos and organs dealt in by this firm have a world wide reputation and the aggregate sales in the course of a year reach a very large figure. Mr. Taylor is a native of Salem, Mass., and his thorough knowledge of musical instruments is of great service to all desiring to purchase or rent a piano or organ. Hubbell & Curtis, Dealers in Furniture of all Descriptions, 385 Main Street, Citizens' Building. — The oldest established and also one of the most widely and favorably known furniture establish- ment in Bridgeport, is that conducted by Messrs. Hubbell & Curtis, at No. 385 Main street, Citi- zens' building. This enterprise was started forty years ago, and has steadily grown in popular favor and patronage. Three floors are occupied each 100x80 feet in dimensions and an enormous stock of furniture of all descriptions is constantly on baud. Both a wholesale and retail business is done, and all goods are offered at the very low- est price, consistent with good and honest work- manship. The firm consists of Messrs. F. Hub- bell and C. Curtis, both these gentlemen being universally known and very highly respected citizens. Mr. Curtis is a director of the Bridge- port National bank. The goods handled by this firm are as varied as they are reliable, and it should be mentioned that Undertaking in all its branches is done, this department being on Can- non street, second door from Main. This house is one of Bridgeport's representative in- stitutions, and is a splendid example of what may be accomplished by energy and integrity. J. M. F. Peterson & Co., Painters and Deco- rators, Interior Decorations in Fresco and Wall Papers, 270 Main street, corner Union, opposite Recreation Hall. — One of the most enterprising and successful houses engaged in business as painters and decorators in this city is that of LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT. Messrs. J. M. F. Peterson & Company, located at No. 270 Main street, corner of Union. It was established here four years ago but Mr. Peterson had been in business since 1862 and had had seven years experience before then. As the excellence of work became quickly known he soon built up a very large and increasing busi- ness. Two rooms are occupied for an office and show parlors, the paint and work shop being op posite. From fifteen to twenty hands are em- ployed, and the very finest and most artistic work is done. A very extensive and varied stock of wall papers and other decorative ar- ticles is carried, and orders for paper hanging will be executed with the highest skill and the greatest despatch. Interior decorations in fresco form an im- portant department of the firm's business, and great skill and taste is displayed in the filling of orders in this line. Designs and estimates of any work desired will be furnished on applica- tion to all parts of the country, and perfect satis- faction is guaranteed to all customers, both as regards design and execution. The office has telephone connections and all orders so received will be given prompt attention. Mr. Peterson is a, native of Sweden and has had a large and ex- ceptional experience in the business he pursues both in that country and the United States. His taste is unimpeachable and his charges moderate. W. B. Bostwick & Co., Manufacturers of But- tons.— When one, either in the line of business or otherwise, has occasion to investigate to ^some degree the button manufactories of the country he is tempted to put beside the famous -conundrum "What becomesofall the pins?'" an- other one — "What becomes of all the buttons'?" Pins are at the best but a makeshift and are chief- ly used as temporary substitutes for buttons, so that logically there should be more buttons used than pins, and there can be but little doubt but what there are. A single concern in Bridgeport, making a specialty of vegetable ivory and wood- en buttons, turns out from 330 to 500 gross per day, and of course this house is but one of many of varying extent • W. B. Bostwick & Co., the concern referred to above, occupy a factory containing two floors, each 40x100 feet and employ seventy-rive hands. This enterprise was original^ established in 1866 and in 1884 come under the control of Mr. W. B. Bostwick, being ihen located in New Milford. In 1885 the present firm was formed Mr. D. B. Seward being taken into partnership, and the business was removed to this city. Both partners are natives of New Milford, Con- necticut, and are keen, energetic business men. The goods manufactured are recognized as stand- ards in the trade and the rapid growth of the business indicates a bright future for this repre- sentative house.