Leading Business Men of Fairfield County

This business was inaugurated but six years ago, and, as has been hinted, was conducted on a small and contracted scale at first. But grad- ually as the time went on, as the superior merits of the firm's manufacture became more plainly manifest and more generally known ; in short, as brains and integrity began to tell, the orders came in more and more rapidly until now the services of fifty men, and the occupancy of three floors and a basement, each 40x60 feet in dimen- sions, supplied with a seventy-five horse-power boiler and three steam engines are necessary to properly handle the still rapidly growing trade of the house. The efforts of the firm are confined exclusively to turning out Hats in the rough, ready to finish and trim, and a very fine grade of Hat body they produce too. The firm consists of Messrs. Win. B. Hubbell, a native of Orange, N. J., and Otto Barthol who was born in Germany. Mr. Hub- bell certainly needs no extended introduction to our readers, as he is the present very popular Mayor of South Norwalk. He is a gentleman oi' great executive ability and is winning new hon> ors in his high official position. LBADING BUSINESS MEN OF SOUTH NOB WALK. 14o Crofut & Knapp, Manufacturers of Fur Hats, 125 Greene Street, New York. Factories: South Norwalk, Connecticut, corner Main and Union Streets and corner Water and Tolles Streets. — With two extensive factories located at corner of Main and Union streets, and at corner of Water and Tolles streets, this well known firm are conducting a business of immense pro- portions as manufacturers of Fur Hats, and the concern is the oldest aud leading industry of the kind in South Norwalk. This business was inaugurated in 1858 and has been conducted without change in the name or personnel of the firm for nearly thirty years, with unvarying success. The firm occupy two large buildings, three stories in height, the one on Main street being 50x60 feet in dimensions, and that on Water street having an area of 40x200 feet, and both are thoroughly equipped with valuable machinery, operated by steam engines of enormous power. Such is the extent of the operations of Messrs, Crofut & Knapp, as to necessitate the employ- ment of over 300 operatives, and the aggregate of the hats placed upon the market by the firm annually, is very large. The firm manufacture the best qualities and most stylish aud serviceable Fur Hats, stiff and flexible, in the market, and have facilities for supplying the most desirable goods, perfect in workmanship and finish at low prices, and the punctuality in filling orders, liberal policy and honorable methods have long since established the house in the confidence of the trade through- out the United States. The salesrooms and principal offices of the firm are at No. 125 Greene street. The large output of the factories is consigned to all parts of this and many foreign countries, and the volume of the trade of Messrs. Crofut & Knapp, home and export, rank them as successful leaders in this field of industry in the United States. Messrs. A. J. and Jas. K. Crofut, Jas. H. and B. N. Knapp comprise this representative, responsible firm. They are Connecticut men by birtli and at home and abroad are esteemed for their personal and business worth. Dennis & Blanchard, Finishers and Trimmers of Straw Hats and Manufacturers of Braid Hats. — Instances of the ingenuity shown by man in turn- ing natural products to his own uses are too fre- quent to excite remark, but certainly he who first thought of using straw as a head-covering show- ed a power of application of means to ends wor thy of the highest intellect. Think how admira- bly straw is suited to the purpose of a head-cov- ering. Light, a non-conductor of heat, capable of bearing prolonged exposure to the elements, perfectly water-proof (when properly braided), it combines in a marked degree a multitude of good qualities. That these are appreciated is shown by the enormous demand for Straw Hats in this country alone, a demand of the size of which some faint idea may be formed when we state that a single factory here, that of Dennis & Blanchard, has a capacity for turning out 150,000 dozen per sea- son. This well known house hagbeen conducted under its present name since 1881, business prior to that date having been carried on by Mr. Dex- ter Dennis, father of the present member of the firm. The firm now consists of Messrs. L. E. Dennis and A. Blanchard the former gentleman being a native of Birre, Massachusetts, while the latter was born in Petersham, same State. From thirty to fifty hands are employed in the shop, which is 60x300 feet in dimensions. The finishing and trimmiug of Palm Leaf, Leghorn, Mataga, India, Panama, Canton, and other for- eign hats, and the manufacture of Jiraid hats are extensively carried on, an exclusively wholesale business being done. W. A. Wheeler, Manufacturer of Hatters' Tools, Heaters, etc. — Commanding the univer- sal confidence among the manufacturers of this city and section Mr. W. A. Wheeler has for four years past successfully conducted one of the im- portant industries of South Norwalk. He occu- pies two extensive buildings 30x60 and 30x80 feet in dimensions respectively, fitted up in the most complete manner for forging and iron work generally, and the valuable machinery is driven by a steam engine of 25 horse- power. A force of twelve skilled workmen are em- ployed in the establishment in the manufacturing of Hatter's Tools, Heaters, etc., and the out-put the establishment both in design and general excellence is unsurpassed. He manufactures the Extension Box and Rod for Water, Steam and Gas, and supplies these desirable appliances at lowest margins above cost of production. All special work is made to order in the most ac- curate manner, and in prices as in workmanship, this reliable iron master successfully competes with any manufacturer in this section. Mosher & Curran, Manufacturers of Hat Blocks and Flanges, Hatters' Tools, etc., Water Street. — Nothing is more interesting for those who have a fondness for looking into such sub- jects than to see how surely one industry gives birth to another, and that, perhaps, to still an- other, and so on until finally from the establish- ment of one great manufactory to do a certain kind of work, perhaps a dozen smaller shops are founded to perform widely different operations. Take the hat business, for instance. We must all wear hats a good part of the time, conse- quently hatters are numerous and prosperous, and as the work which they carry on requires certain tools, blocks, forms, etc., many large factories are employed in supplying these articles. Prominent among the manufacturers of Hat Blocks and Flanges, Hatters' Tools, etc., stands the firm of Mosher & Curran, located on Water street, South Norwalk. The business was started in 1882, and has now reached large proportions, requiring the occu- pancy of two floors 48x32 in dimensions, and the employment of 35 horse-power. Both a wholesale and retail business is carried on, principally in Hatters' Materials, although Variety Trimming in quantity is also done. The firm consists of Messrs. W. H. Mosher and J. F. Curran, both of these gentlemen being natives of Yonkers, New York. Work is done at the lowest market rates and perfect satisfaction is guaranteed. 146 LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF SOUTH NORWALK. J. W. Studwell, Agent for B. Shoninger & Co., and Dealer in Pianos and Organs, 12 Railroad Place. — A business agent is a man whose ser- vices are valuable both to the buyer and the seller, and he who devotes his entire time to this business is certainly as well if not better pre- pared to act wisely and with good judgment than either owner or purchaser probably could. Mr. J. W. Studwell, who is agent for several of the best manufacturers of Pianos and Organs, established his business in South Norwalk in 1879. The attractive warerooms utilized for the transaction of the business covers an area of 24x 60 feet, where a fine assortment of the best makes in Pianos and Organs may be found. Among the most celebrated are the Emerson, Shoninger and Weber. He has the assistance of a thor- oughly capable clerk who is conversant with all the details of the business, and his already large retail trade is steadily increasing. These instruments are sold at very reasonable prices for cash or on the installment plan. Mr. Studwell has had several years' experience in this line of business, and is considered one of the best judges of Pianos or Organs in this section of the country. Mr. Studwell is a native of Connecticut, and his long business career in South Norwalk has gained him many friends. We recommend him heartily to all who desire any of the above named instruments as being a man entirely capable of conducting his business in an intelligent and successful manner to the financial advantage of his patrons. The Volk Hat Company, Successors to Joseph A. Volk & Co., Manufacturers of Fine Wine Stiff Hats, Cor. Raymond and Day Streets. — Of late years South Norwalk has attained dis- tinction as one of the leading hat manufacturing cities in the country, and her fame for quality as well as quantity of these productions is rapid- ly extending. Among those concerns whose energy and resources have produced these results, the Volk Hat Company maintains a prominent position and since its incorporation four years ago it has exercised a most beneficent influence, and met with most gratifying success. The company's factory is located at corner Raymond and Day streets, and consists of two large three-story, brick and frame buildings, 40x70 feet, and 30x80 feet in dimensions, respec- tively, and the establishment in its equipment and appointments is a pattern of completeness and convenience. The extensive business of the house affords employment to several hundred operatives. The output comprises a full assortment of Fine Wine Stiff Hats of the best quality, and in latest and most fashionable styles and colors, and the ability of the company to meet all the requirements of an exacting trade, make this a favorite source of supply for the leading jobbers and dealers in all parts of the country.