History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

"Tho difilculttcs oncountered were of no ordinary magnitude, but fortunately the director of the undertaking were men of indomitable determination, and each added obstacle Hcemed but a further incentive to vigoRnis prosecution of tho woik. Among those must prominently concerned, who contiibuted largely, not only of money, but valuable time and attention, should be mentioned the names of 3Ir. Kdward N. Slielton, Dr. John I. llowo, David W. Plumb, Kdwin 'Wooster, Robert N. Itossett, A. II. Ailing, Koyul M. Baasett, William K. Downs, Thomas Elmes, and others. " On the loth of October, 1870, tho completion of the work was signal- ized by u celebration in tho village of llirmiiigliam, participated in by tho Govornor of the State, tho mayor of >'ew Haven, and many other distinguisheil guests. A iirocession exceeding a mile in length wiui fonned, and under military escort p[x>cceded to the vicinity of the dam, where eloquent speeches, the recitation of an appropriate poem, and tho in<*piriting strains of martial music combined to render the commemora- tion worthy of the occasion, and marked the day as one to be borne in remembrance while tho sparkling waters of tho liousatonic continue to furnish the motive power for tho active industries that contribilto to tho welfare of tho entire nation," This privilege is located at the heail of navigation on tho ITonsatonio River, only seventy miles by rail from the city of New York. A dam of solid ma.-<onry twenty-two feet in height, constructed in the most approved and substantial man- ner across the Housatonic River at this point, creates the largest and most reliable water-])owcr in the State. The river extends over one hundrcil miles above the dam, and drains about two thousand square miles of territorj- ; on its tributaries are numerous lakes with a combined area of not less than fen thousand acres, which serve as natural store-houses for water, etjual- izing the flow and afl'ording a large amount at all sea- sons of the year. This, together with the immense reservoir above the dam, five miles in length, insures n ])ermanent sujiply^of nut le,«s than five hundred cubic feet per second, e(iual to two thousand five hun- dred horse-power twelve hours per day. There are at present ten mills in full operation, giving employ- ment to a large number of hands. The water may be used on both sides of the river, and as each factory-lot has a frontage on the river, water-transportation may be had for heavy freights, such as coal, iron, lumber, etc. But little expense for grading or foundation would be requisite, and every- thing necessary for building purposes is conveniently procurable. There are good roads on each side of the river. The company own aliout two hundred and sixty acres of land below the dam, affording numer- ous eligible sites for manufacfuriiig purposes. Since the completion of the dam there liave been erected, and are now in full operation, ten manufacturing es- tabli-shments, including one paper-mill, one zinc-mill, two bolt-factories, one shovel-factory, one silver-pla- ting works, and one woolen-mill ; also one pin-factory, one manufactory of carriage-hardware, and two saw- mills ; the whole, however, is using but a small jiortion of the actual power. About two hundred acres are .suitable for building-lots, and a large number of dwelling-houses are already erected. The entire property is worth not less than one million dollars. As a location fVir manut'acturing purposes this is certainly unsurpassed in New Eiiglanil, whether we consider its natural advantages or the fact that it is but seventy miles distant from New York, with which city there is an established communication by steam and sailing-ve.'scls, railroad and telegraph. There are five trains daily in each direi'tion, both rin New Haven and Bridgeport, making twenty arrivals and departures each day. A great advancement in manufacturing operations will undoubtedly soon be witnessed, and it would be wisdom on the part of those who contemplate new en- terprises of the kind, or desire to remove into a more eligible location than they now occupy, to exam- ine into the advantagi^s attending the factory-sites which are now offered by the Ousatonic Water Com- pany. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to find any other situation possessing equally advantageous features within so short a distance of the great me- tropolis, !ind j>rudence would suggest securing the favorable opportunity now extended, for such chances for i)rofitable inveiitment are not likely to remain very long without due appreciation. Some of the superior advantages of the location are its proximity to New York City, its connection there- with by rail and water, — being distant only two and one-half hours by rail, — the frequency of the trains allowing ami>le time for daily transaction of busini^s, and return, from either point. Transportation by water and two competing lines of railroad, either Bridgeport or New Haven, insures low rates and con- nection with all freight-lines throughout the country. If we com]>are the rate of freight from Birmingham to New York ami the cost of coal at Birmingham with the rate of freight from the other New England man- ufacturing centres to New York and the cost of coal HUNTINGTON. 41.") at these manufacturing centres*, the desirability of the Birininiihani location will be apparent. The average cost of freiglit Ijctwecn New York City and (he principal New England nianufaetining cen- tres is about three times as much ]ier hundred as be- tween New York and Birmingliuni, and the average ])rice of coal at the same places more than twice as high as at Birmingham, which would make a differ- ence in tlie items of freight and coal, lor an average mill of one hundred horse-jxiwcr, of about four thoiLsand dollars annually. This didcrence would pay the rent for a good null-site witli one hundred horse-power at Birmingham and leave a margin of about two thousand dollars. If we also consider the cost of a dam, flowage, and canal, with the repairs necessary to keep them in order, — wliich are usually part of the expenses of the mill-owner, but which in this case are provided and maintained by tlie com- pany,— the difference in favor of the Birmingham lo- cation will be greatly increased. The location in the midst of a manufacturing com- munity, with a jiopulation of ten thousand within a radius of two mile.s, and the proximity <if other man- ufacturing-towns of the Naugatuck Valley, are of great advantage in respect to skilled labor. For beauty of scenery, health, and ediu-ational fa- cilities the location ranks among the first. The l.icau- tifnl views U]> either river, Housatonie or Naugatuck, which form a junction here, are the sulyect of renmrk by all who visit the place. Birmingham lias churches of all denomiinitions, excellent schools, bank with three hundred thousand dollars capital, savings bank with over one million dollars deposit, telegraph- and cxpress-ofiices, also gas- and water-works. Jts j)rox- imity to New Haven, only ten miles distant by rail, adds to its desirability as a place of residence. The company own a large amount of real estate in the immediate vicinity of their works, jiroviding am- ple room for mills and for the accommodation of oper- atives; also lots more remote, admirably adapted for first-ehrss residences. The jiresent officers of the conii)any arc as follows: President, E. N. Shclton ; Vice-President, i). W. Plumb ; Secretary, D. S. Brinsnmde. \ The Derby IS'dver ComiMmij, manufacturers of silver- plated ware, was organized in January, l.S?.'!, with a capital of sixty thousand dollars, which has since been increased to one hundred and forty thousand dollars. The company is now doing a large and successful business. The present officers are: President, E. De F. Shelton ; Secretary, W. J. Miller ; Treasurer, Wil- liam E. Downs; Directors, George W. Cheesman, D. W. Plumb, William E. Downs, E. N. Slielton, E. De , F. Shelton, W. J. Miller, P. McEiicrney. Binnint/ham. Corset Companij. — The firm of J. W. Birdseye commenced business aljout fourteen years ago iu White Hills, Huntington, for the manufacture of hoop-skirts, and seven years ago, in April, moved to the village of Shelton, continuing in same business. They also, two years later, eommencc<l the manufac- ture of corsets in a moderate way. The business has rapidly iiicreasc<l, and at the pres- ent time one hundred dozen enrscts per day are man- ufactured, and over two hundred jiersous are employe<l. Capital, about sixty thousand dulhirs ; value of present annual i>roduct, aljout one luniilred and scvcnty-tive thousand dollars. Tlie ShcltijH Company, Muiiiifarfitrerx nf Tm-ks, DnUs, tic. — This business was established by E. N. Shelton iu l.S.'!(i. In 1S.')4 he was succeeded Ijy the i)rescnt company, ami the manufacture of small bolts was comiiicnccil. Upon the comjiletion of the Oasatonic dam, in 1S71, the works were removed to Shelton. Aliout three tons of snuill liolts, etc., are made per day. The officers of the conii)any arc: President, E. De V. Shelton; Secrctarj' ami Treasurer, tJeorge Blakcman. WilUumn. Brtitherx & Co.'x Pcij,rr-Mi/h.— The first mills erected by this firm in Slielton were of wood, commenced in October, l.S71,and were in operation in November of the following year. Nov. 4, 187.H, the mills were totally destroyed by lire, lint their re- building was immediately comiiieiiciMl, and in four months and eighteen days the iiianuracture of ])apcr was begun.