Leading Business Men of Fairfield County

Theo. Leavenworth, House Furnishing Goods, Hardware and Paints, 169 East Washington Avenue. — Among the successful business enter- prises in this part of the city, the House Furnish- ing Goods establishment of Theo. Leavenworth occupies a prominent position. This business was established in 1871 by its present proprietor, who has been successful in building up his pres- ent prosperous trade. The premises are located at 169 East Washington avenue and are 20x50 feet in size, where may be found a full and com- plete stock of everything in the house furnishing goods line including glassware, lamps, crockery and silverware. Through his enterprise and perseverance Mr. Leavenworth has built up an extensive and lucrative retail trade, which neces- sitates the employment of two clerks, who are courteous and attentive to all patrons. In con- nection with the house furnishing goods this house conducts an extensive trade in hardware and paints. Mr. Leavenworth's fifteen years' experience in this business has given him a thorough knowledge of all its details, and his business is conducted upon principles of the strictest integrity and most advanced liberality, and it is with pleasure that we commend our readers in want of the above named goods to this establishment, which has such a wide- spread reputation for fair and honorable dealings. Mr. Theo. Leavenworth is a native of Connecti- cut and a geutleman who is held in high social esteem. 116 LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT. West End Shoe Store, also Hats, Caps and Gent's Furnishings, Corner State Street and Howard Avenue. — The boot and shoe interests of Bridgeport form a very important item of its commercial undertakings, and is represented by a class of houses which stand unusually high, both in point of magnitude, reputation and in- dividual enterprise. Of them not the least men- tionable is that known as the " West End Shoe Store," and conducted by Mr. Geo. H. Wliite, as manager, whose business was instituted in February, 1887, which lie has since continued with unusual success. The premises utilized for the bu iness are located at the corner of State street and Howard avenue, and consist of a store 40x25 feet in dimensions, which is well stocked with a first class assortment of boots and shoes of every description. In addition to the above- named branch of trade, Mr. White carries a full line of hats, caps, and gent's furnishing goods, which are always sold at the lowest prices in the city. The trade of the house extends throughout the city and vicinity. Mr. White is a native of Bridgeport, and has a thorough and complete knowledge of all the de- tails of the business, gained by long experience. He is well and favorably known throughout this community, of which he is an active and enter- prising citizen. O. S. Lupton, Dealer in Groceries, Meats and Vegetables, 364 Fairfield Avenue. — One of the most important grocery establishments in this section of the city is that of Mr. C. S. Lupton, located at No. 364 Fairfield avenue. This is an enterprising house, and the store is admirably adapted to the business. The stock carried com- prises choice meats, fine groceries, flour, butter, foreign and domestic fruits, and the supplies generally found in a first-class grocery and pro- vision store-house. An excellent trade is done in the vicinity, the proprietor being alive to the wants of the public. Customers are attended to with politeness and dispatch, and goods are de- livered promptly. The stock is a large one, em- bracing syrup, molasses, teas, coffees, spices, and canned fruit in variety. Employment is given to several, and the great- est attention is given to customers. The business was established about two years ago, and has been successful from the start. Mr. Lupton is a native of Bridgeport, and a stirring active man, and one who seems to have gained the entire respect of the community, both for business ability and integrity. W. L. Ferris, D.D.S., Dental Rooms, 354 Main Street. — There are many dentists in every city or town but unfortunately many of them are inexperienced and unequal to execute the work required of them, while on the other hand there are those who are thorough masters of their pro- fession, regular graduates of a dental college and have made their profession a study, in order to perfect themselves in its many branches. In this connection we would call the attention of all to Dr. W. L. Ferris, whose spacious and well appointed dental parlors are located at No. 354 Main street. This gentleman is a dentist of experience in every branch of his profession and has been es- tablished here since 1875. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery and is prepared to fill, clean, straighten or otherwise improve the condition of the teeth. Also makes artificial teeth in a very natural manner and at most reasonable prices. He has an experienced assistant in Dr. C. F. Gibbs who is also a practi- cal operator, and employs three other skilled dentists in his extensive profession. His parlors are centrally located and are well arranged for the extensive patronage he enjoys. They cover an area of 50x25 feet and are divided into recep- tion and operating rooms, etc. Dr. Ferris is a native of Bridgeport and is too well and favorably known to need any personal comment at our hands. Bennett & Healy, Horse Shoeing and General Jobbing, Court Street. — One of the most necessa- ry and convenient institutions of the times is a well conducted blacksmith shop, and the one to which we refer here is well-known as the best arranged and most ably conducted establishment of its kind in Bridgeport. The proprietors, Messrs. Bennett & Healy, are artists of merit in their line. Their shop is located on Court street and covers an area of 70x35 feet in dimensions and is gener- ously supplied with all the modern and improved appliances requisite for the prosecution of their large and extensive custom blacksmithing. The energies of this firm are devoted to horse shoe- ing. The shoeing of lame, interfering and gen- tlemen's road horses a specialty. No one who has any regard for the comfort of his horse will be careless as to how he is shod, and those at all acquainted with the habits of horses know how much their comfort, safety and speed depends on the knowledge of tbeir shoer. Thus it is quite important that we should mention in this work the above-named firm, which have attained a celebrity for trustworthiness and skill in their trade. This establishment was founded in 1887 by its present proprietors. Mr. J. B. Bennett is a na- tive of Connecticut, and Mr. Healy of Massachu- setts. Both gentlemen have had years of experi- ence in the business, which has given them a knowledge possessed by but few others in this trade. O. Bray, Dealer in Choice Beef, Pork, Poultry, Fish, Vegetables, etc., Market Corner Main and Whiting Streets, below South Avenue. — Among the many meat markets in Bridgeport we know of none more deserving of praise than that of Mr. C. A. Bray, located at the corner of Main and Whiting streets, not only from the choice line of meat, etc., to be found here; but also from its uniformly neat and attractive ap- pearance. Mr. Bray established this market in 1884, and has experienced a rapid increase of trade. The premises occupied embrace a store 18x40 feet in area, well arranged for the disposal of the stock, as well as cold storage for his meats, etc. His trade is exclusively retail, and his patrons are very numerous in this vicinity. He keeps constantly on hand a fresh assortment of choice cuts of beef, pork and ham; also, poultry, lard, etc., fish, clams, oysters and vegetables of all descriptions in their season. LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT 117 Thes-e goods be sells at remarkably low prices, and in every instance they will be found exactly as represented. Orders are promptly filled and delivered, and several attentive assistants are ever ready to wait upon customers. _ Mr Bray is a native of the city, has had twenty-four years experience in the business, and is universally esteemed by all who know him. C. W. Hall, Manufacturer of Trucks, also Light and Heavy Vehicles of Every Description, No 15 Housatonic Avenue.— In tbe manufacture of hardly any article in common use is more faith- ful and honest work required to achieve satisfac- tory results than in that of wagons and other vehicles. Subjected as they are to great and constantly varying strains and jars of every descrip- tion the wonder is, not that they occasionally breakdown, but that they wear half aslongastbey do It requires no small degree of mechanical skill to design a vehicle that will be strong enough without being too heavy and that will be as well adapted as possible to the many uses to which it may be put, and the selection of the materials and their construction into the finished article is of itself a task of no mean magnitude. A man who has been in the business lor twenty- seven years may reasonably be expected to know- about as much as can be known about it, and this is the case with Mr. C. W. Hall, whose place of business is at No. 15 Housatonic avenue. Here are situated his store-houses and factory, among them being one three-story building 40x 60 feet iu dimensions and a two-story edifice 24x 150 feet, as well as several minor structures. Fifty-seven hands are employed and heavy trucks as well as vans, wagons, and light and heavy vehicles of every description are made in larse quantities. Mr. Hall is a native of thi? city and one of our best known business men. His long experience and extensive operation enable him to purchase his materials to the best advantage and he gives his customers the benefit of this state of affairs, doing the very best of work and furnishing all kinds of vehicles at the very lowest rates. A. Ayre, Tea, Coffee and Provision Merchant, 174 Railroad Avenue. — Among the various, popular and growing enterprises of Bridgeport which bears the marks of increasing prosperity, is the establishment of A. Ayre, located at 174 Railroad avenue.