Norwalk After Two Hundred & Fifty Years

The firm of Martin Bates, Jr., & Co., is one of the pioneer establishments in the line of furs, its origin dating back three generations when Martin Bates, father of the senior member of the present firm, estab- lished it at the beginning of the century just passed. This firm has recently moved into their new office and store in New York City, 23-29 Washington Place. The industry of cutting furs for hatters' use is of great im- portance to the hat manufacturing interest, and no firm in the business has the confidence of hat manufacturers more fully than that of Martin Bates, Jr., & Co. Their factory is located at 79-91 Spring street, South Nor- walk, and is under the management of Franklin A. Smith, who has had charge of it since it commenced business here in 1879. About ten years ago Mr. Smith purchased the Blanchard mill property and water rights at Silver Mine, some four miles north of Norwalk. The factory was remodelled and equipped with new machin- ery and has since been kept in operation in the manu- facturing of cheaper grades of hatters' fur for the firm. The goods manufactured by this firm are sought after by the leading hat manufacturers of the country and command the highest price on account of their uniform excellence. There are employed one hundred hands and are singularly noted for working full time at all seasons of the year. During the twenty-two years of their business here not a single Saturday's pay day has ever been missed ; they never run on short time, always having work ahead on order and contract. At the pres- ent time the demand for their goods far exceeds the capacity of their present facilities for manufacturing. Joseph J. Asch, manufacturer of Hatters' Furs, oc- cupies a commodious factory on Monroe street. The firm was established in 1876 and has grown to be one of the important industries in South Norwalk. A fire destroyed the originl factory in 1884, the building now occupied by Mr. Asch on the old site being rebuilt. In connection with the extensive fur business the firm car- ries on hat forming to a considerable extent. The im- portation of all kinds of furs used in the manufacture of hats is an important factor in the business of the firm. Mr. Asch gives employment to about two hun- dred operatives. R. G. Millard, West Norwalk. Established in 1875. Manufacturer of Hatters' Furs. Employs 16 hands. OVERCOATINGS. Norwalk Mills Co., located on the line of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. at Winnipauk, N., is one of the oldest and most substantial manufactories of the town. The company was originally established in 1863 and reorganized in October, 1877. The capital stock is $100,000. The officers are as follows: J. A. Osborne, president ; E. J. Hill, vice president : F. A. Hill, secre- tary and treasurer; T. J. West, general manager. The company manufactures Overcoatings exclusively. The quality of the goods is of such a high order that the product of the extensive plant is favorably known throughout the country. The area of the plant is 480x200 feet. Two hundred employees are given steady employment. As a result oi their labor the annual out- put of the factory is 300,000 yards. 360 BOXES. Charles S. Trowbridge, 129 Washington street, S. N., manufacturer of all kinds of Paper Boxes and Wooden Cases. Established by Robert H. Rowan in i860. Succeeded by Charles S. Trowbridge in 1881. Mr. Trowbridge employs over one hundred box makers. It is the largest box manufacturing establishment in Norwalk, having an extensive business throughout New England and New York State. Charles S. St. John, maker of Cigar Boxes and dealer in Ribbons, 27 Marshall street, S. N. Estab- lished by Giles Haulenbeck in 1873. Succeeded by Charles S. St. John in 1888. Employees, 5 ; daily output, 400 cigar boxes. The first and only cigar box factory in Norwalk. Norwalk Box Co., 42 North Main street, S. N., manufcturers of Paper Boxes and Wooden Cases. In- corporated July 13, 1899. Henry F. Clark, president; F. A. Hine, secretary and treasurer; F. A. Burr, man- ager. William H. Knapp, 134 Water street, S. N., maker of all kinds of Wooden Boxes. Established in 1882 by Edward F. Knapp. Succeeded in 1897 by William H. Knapp. Employs 10 men. Capacity, 250 boxes per day. POTTERY. One of the oldest manufactories in Norwalk is the Norwalk Pottery Co., located at 6 Smith street, foot of Mill Hill. It was established in 1833 by Asa E. Smith, succeeded in turn by Asa Smith, Hobert Smith and James Lycett. The firm as now conducted was es- tablished in 1898 by Thomas L. Peck. All kinds of Pottery is manufactured. FELTS. Lounsbury, Bissell & Co., Winnipauk, N. Estab- lished in 1840 by J. D. Lounsbury, who was succeeded by E. C. Bissell. The company was incorporated in 1869 with a capital stock of $200,000. The following are the present officers: C. C. Betts, president; E. L. Boyer, secretary and treasurer. E. L. Boyer, J. C. Ran- dall, G. S. Holmes, J. A. Osborn, C. C. Betts, directors. The main mill is a large stone structure, 68x113 feet in 870 dimensions and three stories in height. The company's plant also includes many other buildings. All told the plant covers an area of about 50,000 square feet, fitted with every modern appliance and machinery. In times past the company manufactured all kinds of feltings and felt linings, but at present the capacity of the plant is taxed in the manufacture of gun wads. The com- pany gives employment to 60 operatives. SODA WATER. H. J. & G. S. Grumman, 41 Main street, N. Es- tablished in 1870 by Sylvester Grumman at 55 Main street. Succeeded by the present firm in 1882. Manu- facturers of all kinds of carbonated beverages. The firm's specialty is "The Olden Time Root Beer." This has been on the market over fifty years, the receipt for making the same having been handed down from their grandfather. The output of root beer is 15,000 gallons annually. The daily output of other beverages is 150 cases. Employees, 10. Walter T. Gray, manufacturer of Soda and Mineral Waters. Established by Walter T. Gray in 1874. Suc- ceeded by Mrs. W. T. Gray, after husband's decease, in 1895. Output 100 cases per day. Employees, 4. Baker & Curtis, 19 Wood street. Established by Samuel S. Baker and John W. Curtis in 1902. Manu- facturer of Soda Water and all carbonated beverages. Employ 2 men. Capacity, 50 cases daily. SHOES. One of the oldest industrial establishments in Fair- field county is the firm of Lounsbury, Mathewson & Co., manufacturers of Fine Shoes, at 5 Haviland street, S. N. Some of the original partners have withdrawn from the business, but a progressive policy has always characterized the firm, resulting in a prosperous busi- ness. The present partners in the firm are Ex-Gov- ernor George E. Lounsbury, Col. Edwin H. Mathew- son, Herbert A. Mathewson, Lewis R. Hurlbutt and George L. Rockwell. The company occupies a large brick building, thirty-eight feet front and two hundred and twenty-five feet deep, and four floors, supplied with the latest and best improved machinery for the making of shoes, and employs three hundred hands. The product of the factory is ladies' fine shoes. No shoe 371 manufactory enjoys a higher reputation for excellence of goods put upon the market. H. S. Brown, 172 Washington street, S. N. Es- tablished in 1896. Manufacturer of Children's Shoes. Employees, 8. Output, 175 pairs weekly. MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS. Austin & Craw, 71 Water street, S. N., manufac- turers of Toys, Games and Novelties. Established in 1892. Employees, 15. Charles S. Ireland, 12 Elm Grove street, S. N., manufacturer and repairer of Awnings. United States Alcohol Refining Co., Day street, S. N. Incorporated in 1901 ; capital stock, $20,000. Offi- cers: R. J. McFarland, president; William B. Hubbell, treasurer; O. P. Kauffmann, secretary and chemist. Refiners of wood alcohols. Employs 2 men. Output, 20 barrels daily. Tilly Carriage Works, 61 North Main street, S. N. Established 1874 by Henry Tilly. Manufacturer of Wagons, Carriages and Signs. Employs 9 men. Luther M. Wright, 3 Madison street, S. N. Estab- lished in 1886. Manufacturer of Wagons, Carriages and Automobiles. Mr. Wright has a commodious car- riage repository and does an extensive blacksmith busi- ness. He employs 20 men. Norwalk Launch Co., Pine Island. Established 1899 by G. F. Betts, C. R. Taylor and C. L. Barker. Succeeded in 1902 by C. L. Barker, who conducts the business at the present time. The capacity of the plant is taxed to the utmost in the manufacture of Launches and Gas Engines. Ten men are employed. Andrew W. Fowler, Sail Maker, 149 Washington street, S. N. The business was originally established in 1868 by Benjamin Robinson, who carried on the business of sail making for thirty-three years. He was succeeded by Andrew W. Fowler. He manufactures Sails and Awnings. Mr. Fowler is 88 years of age and has been employed in the sail making business for 73 years, having in his possession the documents showing when, at the age of 15 years, he was "bound out." Challenge Mfg. Co., 29 Haviland street, S. N. Es- tablished in 1899 by William H. Meeker. Manufacturer of Water Heaters and Gas Stoves. Employees, 15. Yearly output, 900 Heaters and 1,500 Stoves. Loxa Pharmaceutical Co. Established in 1889 by 372 G. C. Stillson. Succeeded in 1902 by Stillson-Powell Corporation. Manufacturers of Stillson's specific for chills and fever, "Loxa Tonic." Raymond Remedy Co., Elm Grove, S. N. Estab- lished in 1882 by A. A. Raymond. Manufacturers of Medicated Soaps. Dr. Dicks Medicine Co., 64 South Main street, S. N. Established June, 1901, by Miss Gertrude Bohan- nan. Manufacturers of Proprietary Medicine for rheu- matism and malaria. James L. Hoyt, 3 Cove street, E. N. Manufac- turer of the celebrated Le Count Cribbage Boards. Succeeded William G. Le Count in 1897. F. Boylston, Rowayton. Established in 1872 by Francis Boylston. Mr. Boylston has the distinction of building- the first baby carriage, on springs, offered for sale in the United States. He is a large manufacturer of Invalid Chairs. Employees, 4.