Leading Business Men of Fairfield County

C. A. Kane & Co., Druggist and Apothecary. 61G Main Street. — Among the many attractive business enterprises of Bridgeport, none is more deserving of notice than the pharmacy of C. A. Kane & Co., located at 616 Main street. This establishment was founded in 1875. The present firm assumed control in April, 1887, and has since occupied an enviable position in the trade. The premises occupied are spacious and conven- ient, being 18x55 feet in dimensions, and the stock shown embraces a full and complete line of drugs and chemicals, together with an assort- ment of such specialties as are usually to be found in a first-class pharmacy. The display of case goods and fancy articles rivals that shown by many of his competitors. The large retail trade of this house requires the employment of two thoroughly skilled and reli- able clerks, and Mr. Kane being an experienced druggist, the prescription department is managed with a skill and intelligence which has given the house an enviable reputation in the trade. The neat and attractive appearance of this store and fine stock of toilet goods, etc., handled, has done much to make it a favorite resort for those desirous of obtaining first-class goods in this line. Mr. Kane is a native of Massachusetts. Edu- cated to his profession he has acquired a profi- ciency that has placed him in a high position in the trade. Enterprising and reliable, cautious and exact, he has secured the confidence of the public to a marked degree, a confidence to which his early training has made him the just recipient. LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT. 89 Bridgeport Patent Leather Manufacturing Company, Camion Street. — The old saying lias it — " There's nothing like leather," and certainly when you come to think of it you find that, sure enough, it is a unique material and one whose place could be filled by no substitute. The raw hide is made up into very many widely differing products, prominent among these is that in which a beautiful and brilliant gloss is given to the surface, and which is so universally known under the name of " Patent Leather." One of the oldest established and most successful concerns manufacturing this article is the Bridge- port Patent Leather Manufacturing Co., which was established under its present name in 1849. the same business having previously been carried on by Mr. S. J. Patterson, now the president and treasurer of the company. The works are very extensive, eight buildings being occupied, cover- ing ground of the dimensions of 226x165 feet, and the motive power is afforded by an engine of forty-five horse-power. Fifty hands are employed The General Manager and Secretary of the com- pany is Mr. John E. Pond, who is one of the best-known men in the city, he having been Town Auditor, a member of the Common Coun- cil, and also of the Board of Police Commis sioners. Mr. Patterson was also formerly con- nected with the Common Council, and is very highly respected in the community. The Board of Directors of the company consist of the fol- lowing gentlemen: Mr. S. J. Patterson, Mr. John "E." Pond. Mr. F. C. Nichols, Mr. 8. H. Patterson, and Mr. C. H. Capen. Henry Carstesen, Proprietor of State Street Stables, 236 State Street, and West End Stables, Colorado Avenue, Livery, Sales and Boarding; Strict attention given to Boarding of Private Horses; Weddings, Parties and Funerals promptly attended to. — One of the greatest con- veniences of a large city is a complete and well regulated livery, sales and boarding stable, and one of the most popular of these, located in Bridgeport, is the one owned and conducted by Henry Carstesen. These stables were established in Juljr, 1885, by Raymond & Carstesen, and continued by them until September, of the same year, when Mr. Carstesen assumed full control, since which time he has succeeded in making his stables so popular, that they to-day rank among the most prominent in Bridgeport, The premises, which are located at 236 State street, comprise a three story brick building, which have excellent accommodations for sixty head of horses and every facility for the comfort and rest of horses while in the care of this stable; the stalls are large, well lighted and ven- tilated, in fact, every convenience is to be ob- tained here that can be found in an}' first-class livery, sales and boarding stables Particular at- tention is paid to boarding of private horses. All orders for weddings, parties, and funerals promptly attended to. Stylish and first-class teams furnished for all occasions. Also most re- liable and competent drivers, if desired. Mr. Carstesen's long residence in this city, his genial manner and honorable business transac- tions has gained him the high esteem and respect of our citizens At the West End Mr. Carstesen has recently opened another fully appointed livery and board- ing stable on Colorado avenue, called the West End Stables, where residents of that section will find every advantage in the way of fine horses and carriages. Telephone connections from both. The Wheel and Wood Bending Company, Manufacturers of Wheels, Spokes, Bubs, Bent Felloes, Carriage Bows, Shafts, Poles, Beds, etc., 76 John Street. — As a source of supply i for carriage builders, the wheel and wood bend- I ing establishment of the company of that name I at Bridgeport has long occupied a prominent I place among the industrial interests, and has largely contributed to the great volume of the trade of the city. The business was inaugurated in 1850 by Messrs. Smith & Barlow, and the trade of the house outgrowing the resources for supply, the stock company, as at present con- stituted, was organized and incorporated about twenty years ago, since which time, with greatly increased facilities, the work has been conducted on a scale of large proportions. The bending works comprise a large three-story building 30x125 feet in dimensions, supplied "throughout with valuable improved machinery driven by steam, and the extensive trade of the concern necessitates the employment of fifty hands. The output of these works embraces wheels, spokes, hubs, bent felloes, carriage bows, shafts, poles, beds, etc., in all the most desirable styles, and in quality, warranted unsurpassed in every partic- ular. The company carry in stock a large assort- ment of seasoned wood work for carriages,, available for immediate use, and orders for special work of every description in this range of merchandise are executed with dispatch. Mr. Horace Smith is the president, Mr. Horace W. Smith, secretary, and E. C. Smith, treasurer^ of this representative company. They are natives of Connecticut, and possess unmistakably the executive ability, tact and energy which insures success in any field of business enterprise. N. Buckingham & Co., Manufacturers of and Dealers in Furniture of all kinds, 387 and 389' Water Street. — One of the most universally known and probably the oldest established house of the kind in Bridgeport, is that conducted by Messrs. N. Buckingham & Co., at Nos. 387 and 389 Water street. This firm are manufacturers of and dealers in furniture of all kinds, the busi- ness having been founded by Mr. N. Buckingham half a century ago. The business is now owned and conducted by Mr. C. B. Buckingham, under the present style. Four floors are occupied, each of the dimensions of 80x100 feet, and upwards of twenty hands are given constant employment. A large and varied stork is carried of all descrip- tions of furniture, and as the goods are manufac- tured under the personal supervision of Mr^ Buckingham, the high standard so long ago es- tablished for the productions of this house is strictly adhered to. Many beautiful and novel designs arc shown and the workmanship and material exhibited in these articles are honest and first-class in every particular. A full guar- antee is given that all goods will prove to be precisely as represented, and the prices at which they are sold are wonderfully low for goods of such uniform and high excellence. 30 LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT. John Rutherford, Mason and Builder, and Dealer in Brick, Lime, Cement, Building Stone and Plaster; Office, West End Lower Bridge (opposite Railroad Depot). — A very old-estab- lished business enterprise and one that long ago was accorded the high position which it now holds in the trade and with the general public, is that so ably and successfully conducted for the past 26 years by Mr. John Rutherford. This gentleman carries on the business of a mason and builder and dealer in brick, lime, cement, build- ing stone and plaster, in an office situated at the West End Lower Bridge (opposite Railroad De- pot), the docks and yards for the execution of the mechanical portion of the business being located in East Bridgeport, on the corner of Pembroke and Steuben streets. Mr. Rutherford's orders are important and abundant, and during that portion of the year (from April to Septem- ber) in which in this climate the most of a mason's work must of necessity be done, from 80 to 90 hands are employed by him and are found none too many to properly handle the business transacted. Plain and ornamental cor- nices, renter pieces, brackets, etc., are manu- factured and put up, and some of the choicest and most artistic and pleasing designs in these goods are controlled or made by Mr. Rutherford. Orders for any and all kinds of mason work will receive early and careful attention, and the past reputation of this house is sufficient guarantee that all orders will be fulfilled skillfully and well. Among the prominent buildings constructed by Mr. Rutherford we would mention the Connecti- cut Bank Building, Seaside Institute, Barnum Building, and a number of others.