Norwalk After Two Hundred & Fifty Years

The R. & G. Corsets are so universally known that it is a matter of pride for a Norwalker to refer to the fact that this well known commodity is manufactured in our midst. The manufacture of corsets in South Norwalk was commenced in 1880 by Roth & Gold- schmidt in the factory on Water street erected for the purpose, now occupied by Austin & Craw. The firm soon found the factory too small for the rapidly in- creasing business and in order to meet the demands of the trade, they had erected on Ann street the present commodious and model five story factory which they now occupy. The building is equipped with every modern factory convenience. The employees are treated liberally as to wages and are the recipients of the blessings derived from a well selected library, ample protection from fire and many other comforts. The R. & G. Corset Co. was incorporated January I, 1897, with a capital stock of $200,000. Th e officers are : Emile H. Roth, president ; William A. Marble, vice president; Julius Goldschmidt, secretary and treasurer. The New York offices are at 395-399 Broadway and 21-23 Mercer street. Charles T. Dimond is the super- intendent of the South Norwalk factory. One thous- and employees are given steady work during the year and as a result the firm produces 650 dozen corsets daily. The quality of goods manufactured is first class and as a consequence the firm's business is increasing yearly. CIGARS AND TOBACCO. The Old Well Cigar Co., 83 Washington street, S. N. Established 1868; incorporated 1880"; capital, $10,- 000. Officers: Matthew Corbett, president; Christian Swartz, secretary and treasurer. Employees, 40: daily output, 10,000 cigars. Fernandez-Ernst Co., 83 Washington street, S. N. Manufacturer of all Havana cigars. Established July, 364 1900; capital, $11,000. Officers: Modesto Fernandez, president; George C. Ernst, secretary; Charles C. Swartz, treasurer. Employees, 40; daily output, 6,000 cigars. The Hoyt & Olmstead Co., 12 South Main street, S. N. Established 1877; incorporated 1885; capital, $ic,ooo. Officers: George M. Olmstead, president; T. G. Hoyt, secretary and treasurer. Employees, 30; daily output, 5,000 cigars. John Oldenschlager, 104 Washington street, S. N. Established 1883. Manufacturer of Cigars and To- bacco. Employees, 9; daily output, 1,200 cigars. John T. Sheehan, 36 Main street, N. Established June 1, 1895. Employees, 5; daily output, 1,000 cigars. John Fitzmaurice, Main street, N. Established Sept. 13, 1900. Employees, 5; daily output, 1,000 cigars. Other makers of cigars: John Schaeffer, Newtown avenue, N. ; S. K. Stanley, 142 Main street, N. ; John Mohring, 166 Washington street, S. N.; Frederick T. Schlitt, Stuart avenue, S. N. LOCKS AND BUILDERS' HARDWARE. The Norwalk Lock Co., S. N., for many years has been one of our most important manufacturing estab- lishments. It was incorporated in 1856 During the busy season the works have employed on an average of 400 to 500 hands. The capital of the company was originally $50,000 which later was increased to $230,000. Following are the officers: E. Beard, president and treasurer; D. E. Disbrow, secretary. Directors, John H. Ferris, E. Hill, Augustus F. Beard, A. N. Wildman, W. F. Bishop, Robert H. Swayze, E. Beard. TEe specialties of the company include every variety of locks and builders' hardware, with several hundred patented and leading designs. The company are general de- signers, founders and workers of artistic house trim- mings in brass, bronze and iron. Their New York office is at 32 Warren street, where they carry a heavy stock of goods. The Lockwood Manufacturing Company, manu- facturers of Builders' Hardware, was incorporated May 19th, 1888, under the Connecticut laws, with a paid-in capital of $200,000; the officers being Henry S. Lock- wood, president and treasurer; Washington Youngs, secretary. The works cover a large area extending through almost from Day to Water street, South Nor- ses walk, and consists of a series of buildings ranging in height from one to four stories. In the various depart- ments of the works from two hundred and fifty to three hundred operatives are employed. Mr. Lockwood per- sonally supervises the factory, his extended experience insuring a successful business. WORKERS IN METALS. The J. W. Craw Laundry Machinery Co., 40 Water street, S. N., manufacturers of Laundry Machinery and Hospital Specialties. Incorporated 1899. Capital, $7,000. Employees, 12. John W. Craw, president; Frank C. Craw, secretary and treasurer. William G. Le Count, 246-278 East avenue, E. N., manufacturer of Machinists' Tools. Established by Charles W. Le Count in 1863. Succeeded by William G. Le Count in 1895. Julius W. Miller, 136 Water street, S. N., manu- facturer of all kinds of Hatters' Tools and Machinery. Established 1893 by Julius W. Miller. Employs 7 men. Output about $500 monthly. Norwalk Pattern Works and Manufacturing Co., Keyser avenue, E. N. Established in 1896 by Aisthorpe & Hatchman, manufacturers of Stoves, Ranges, Wood and Iron Patterns and general jobbing castings. The firm employs thirty hands. The business is increasing to such an extent that the capacity of the plant is. short- ly to be doubled. The firm at present turns out mer- chandise to the amount of $3,000 monthly. Automatic Tool Co., R. R. avenue, E. N. Estab- lished by C. H. Jimmerson and E. B. Robertson in 1900. Manufacturers of Sash Locks, Curtain Fixtures, Belt Hooks, Small Tools and Milk- Bottle Stoppers. Ten men are employed and goods amounting to $1,000 monthly are manufactured. The firm has a capacity for turning out 1,000,000 Milk Stoppers daily. The Duncan Iron Railing Works, 10 Steamboat Place, S. N. Established by Duncan & Waterbury in 1865. Succeeded by William H. Hoyt in 1883, who continued the business under the same firm name. Manufacturer of Iron Fences and Railings. Em- ployees, 4. William A. Wheeler, 133 Water street, S. N. Es- tablished by William A. Wheeler in 1885. The original plant burned in 1888, but was rebuilt the same year. Manufacturer of Hatters' Tools and Caps for water 860 and gas pipes. A brass and iron foundry is run in con- nection with the factory. Employees, 8. Norwalk Brass Co., Mechanics street, N. Estab- lished December, 1900, by C. F. Mills, A. D. Crossley and H. E. Dann. The company was reorganized in 1901 with a capital stock of $50,000. Manufacturers of Brass, Bronze and Aluminum goods, Launch Engines, Etc. Officers: Wallace Dann, president; Reed Hav- iland, secretary; Oscar H. Banks, treasurer; H. E. Dann, general manager. The company employs 50 men and from the rapid growth of the concern the industry will undoubtedly soon be one of the most important in Norwalk. Meeker's Union Foundry, Smith street, N. Estab- lished in 1887 by A. J. Meeker, S. B. Meeker and E. S. Meeker. The firm manufactures a large line of Stoves and Furnaces and does a general jobbing business. Thirty men are employed. Ephraim Merritt, 52 Water street, N. Established in 1859. Iron Fences, boat repairing and jobbing. Arnold & Co., Hoyt street, N. Manufacturers of Door Hangers and Hardware Specialties, Stoves and Ranges. Established in 1870 by Arnold & Son. Suc- ceeded in 1883 by Arnold, Doane & Co. Later suc- ceeded by F. E. Smith and A. J. Doane under the pres- ent firm name. Mr. Doane assumed the business at the death of Mr. Smith, and at the death of Mr. Doane in 1901 the control of the business reverted to the estate. The concern does a prosperous business and gives em- ployment to 60 men. CONFECTIONERY. F. R. Starr, 62-64 Wall street, N. Established at 3 Wall street in 1884 Moved to 39 Main street in 1886 and to the present quarters in 1891. Manufacturer of Ice Cream and Confectionery. F. A. Lane, 51 Washington street, S. N. Estab- lished in May, 1889. Mr. Lane does an extensive cater- ing business and manufactures Ice Cream and Confec- tionery. Harrie A. Smith, 39 Main street, N. Established in 1897, succeeding John Colby. Manufacturer of Ice Cream nd Confectionery. C. B. De Klynn & Son, 27 Main street, N. Manu- facturer of Ice Cream and Confectionery. The firm does an extensive bakery business. 367 K. Kasteantoes, 24 South Main street, S. N. Es- tablished in 1898. Manufacturer of Ice Cream and Con- fectionery. Employees, 3. Norwalk Confectionery Co., 21 Main street, N. Established in 1895 by John Boggraino. Manufactures Ice Cream and Confectionery. Employees, 4. SHIRTS AND SHIRT WAISTS. Hutchinson, Pierce & Co., whose large factory is situated on Merwin street, N., is one of the most sub- stantial establishments in Norwalk. Established in 1840, the concern with the many changes occurring in the meantime, has gained a reputation enjoyed by few manufacturers of shirts and shirt waists in the country. The present company was incorporated in 1895. The officers are: H. B. Pierce, president and treasurer, and Ira Cole, vice president. The firm employs about 250 hands and turns out a large product. The Star shirts, shirt-waists, and underwear of this house are familiar to the trade of the country for their uniform and superior workmanship. The factory comprises three large con- necting buildings, two of four stories, one three story high, giving a combined floor space of over 50,000 square feet. FURS.