Norwalk After Two Hundred & Fifty Years

J. C. Wilson & Co., manufacturers of fine fur hats, occupy a commodious factory on the corner of Cross and South Main streets, S. N. The first factory on this site was erected in 1885 by the Co-operative Hat Co., as the outcome of the great strike. The building burned and in its place was erected the present build- ing. J. C. Wilson took possession in 1886 and has since conducted his large business there, giving employ- ment to 150 hands. A fine grade of hats is manufac- tured and the business is rapidly increasing. WOOLEN GOODS. The Norwalk & Fairfield Worsted Co. is one of the substantial manufacturing concerns of the town and does a large business in the manufacture of woolen goods. In November, 1901, the present company was established and it was incorporated in March, 1902, with a capital stock of $50,000. The officers are EM. 877 Andrews, president; E. H. Smith, treasurer; W. R. Adams, secretary. The large plant on Belden avenue and Cross street might be referred to as one of the town's landmarks owing to the many years it has been used for the manufacture of felt and woolen goods. The company gives employment to 125 men. WORKERS IN WOOD. H. W. Mathers, 131 Water street, S. N. Estab- lished in 1895. Manufacturer of Sash, Blinds and Trimmings. Mr. Mathers also does a general carpen- ter business, giving employment to 12 men. The out- put of his factory is about $1,000 monthly. Riverside Mills, Riverside avenue, E. N. Estab- lished in 1889 by M D. Randall. Succeeded by Nor- walk Building Co. in 1898. Succeeded by Leslie Gam- ble in 1900. Manufacturer of Sash, Blinds, Doors, Window Frames, Mouldings and Trimmings, and all kinds of turned work. Employees, 17. Weekly output about $2,000 completed work. Carman & Seymour, Riverside avenue, E. N. Es- tablished in 1899 by S. T. Carman and F. S. Seymour. Manufacturers of Mouldings and Wood Trimmings. Employees, 3. Hatch, Bailey & Co., corner of Water and Marshall streets. The business was originally carried on by Burr Knapp and Henry R. Fitch. They dissolved partnership in 1878 and the business was continued by Burr Knapp. He was succeeded by the present firm in 1881. The firm is composed of James S. Bailey, Edward F. Bailey and Stephen S. Hatch. Manufacturers of Doors, Sash, Blinds, Window Frames, Mouldings and all kinds of turned work. Employees, 15. A. R. Malkin & Co., 3-7 Mechanic street, N. Es- tablished in 1885 at 74 Franklin avenue. Have occu- pied the present commodious quarters since 1890. Manufacturers of Mantels, Office Fixtures and all kinds of wooden trimmings. Employees, 50. J. S. Morgan, 12 Steamboat Place, S. N. Estab- lished in 1890. Builder of Stairs. East Norwalk Lumber Co. Incorporated in 1896. Capital stock, $12,000. M. D. Randall, president and treasurer; Horace Hubbell, vice president; James Hall, secretary. Succeeded by Hubbell, Hall & Randall Co. in 1902. Capital stock, $49,000. 3^8 OYSTERS. An article appears elsewhere on the oyster industry which is one of the most important of Norwalk's en- terprises. Our oysters are known around the world for their superior quality. Among the prominent planters and shippers are William H. Hoyt & Son, the H. Row- land Co., the Northport Oyster Co., Richard J. Cutbill, James W. Hoyt, Martineau & Lawson, Addison H. Merrill, George H. Shaffer, Sharrott & Son, Ernest W. Tallmadge, George N. Warren, Charles W. Rem- son, Theodore S. Lowndes, Elbert F. Lockwood, George W. Kinsley, S. J. & C. S. Byxbee, Isaac Ste- vens, Charles W. Bell, Edward Smith, John De Waters, George Stevens, John L'Hommedieu, John Planter, Jr., Albert Crockett, Hiram Taylor, Andrew Mills, Daniel Wicks, Hickson Cole. S73 PRESIDENTIAL VOTE OF THE TOWN OF NORWALK FOR SIXTY YEARS The following figures represent the number of votes received for the electoral ticket pledged to support the candidates for President below mentioned. The figures of the highest electoral vote have been furnished by the Secretary of State of Connecticut. 1840. William Henry Harrison Whig 426 Martin Van Buren Democrat 119 1844. Henry Clay Whig 471 James K. Polk Democrat 256 1848. Zachary Taylor Whig 482 Lewis Cass Democrat 182 1852. Winfield Scott Whig 489 Franklin Pierce Democrat 342 1856. John C. Fremont Republican 570 James Buchanan Democrat 375 Millard Fillmore Native American. 101 i860. Abraham Lincoln Republican 746 Stephen A. Douglas Democrat 244 John Cabell Breckenridge Democrat 144 John Bell Native American . 89 1864. Abraham Lincoln Republican 818 George B. McClellan Democrat 610 1868. U.S.Grant Republican 1117 Horatio Seymour Democrat 751 1872. U. S. Grant Republican 1122 Horace Greeley Democrat 972 1876. R.B.Hayes Republican 1358 Samuel J. Tilden Democrat 1245 1880. James A. Garfield Republican 1586 Winfield Scott Hancock Democrat 1271 1884. James G. Blaine Republican 1351 Grover Cleveland Democrat 1560 1888. Benjamin Harrison Republican 1591 Grover Cleveland Democrat 1940 1892. Benjamin Harrison Republican 1974 Grover Cleveland Democrat 2101 1896. William McKinley Republican 2299 William J. Bryan Democrat 1129 1890. William McKinley Republican 2525 William J. Bryan Democrat 1551 CITY OF SOUTH NORWALK Joseph R. Taylor. [outh Norwalk, formerly called "Old Well," was organized a city August 1 8, 1870, under a charter granted by the Legislature of Connecticut, July 5th of the same year. This charter was revised by the Legislature April 19, 1882, and the city continued its existence under this revised charter until May 27, 1897, when the Legislature approved a revised and amended charter, under which the city has since continued and worked. The city is beautifully located on the shore of Long Island Sound, and has direct communication with New York City by rail and water. These means of communication with the commercial metropolis of the country have been of great advantage in the encouragement and development of the manufacturing interests of the city. The result has naturally been that the city has become the manufacturing part of the town of Norwalk, and within its borders are located manufactories that supply their trade world- wide. The population of the city at the time of its organization was about 2,200. Its population in 1900 was 6,591 ; a steady and healthful growth, proportion- ately far greater during the later years of the city's life than the earlier. The city has 17 miles of streets. Many of the streets are macadamized and others are paved with brick and Belgian block. The executive functions of the city are vested in a Mayor, and its Legislative in a Council of six mem- bers, all elected annually. The expenditures made by the Council are appropriated by city meeting, and no special expenditure exceeding one thousand dollars can be made by the Council until approved at a city meeting. In recent years the labors of the Council have been considerably lightened by the establishment of commissions in several of the departments, all but one of which (the Board of Water Commissioners) have 381 been established by, and work under the direction of, the Council. The city has for years owned its water system, and has been constantly and wisely adding thereto. This system is managed and conducted by a board of three commissioners, one of which is elected annually for the term of three years. The Fire Department of the city is voluntary, and consists of one hook and ladder company and one hose company, comprising together upwards of 150 active members. The service has been of the best, as the comparative freedom from fire loss throughout the city will attest. The high order of excellence of fire service has ever been maintained with very small expense to the city. The executives of the city, since its organization, have been as follow: Dudley P. Ely, 1870, 1871 and 1872; Walter C. Quintard, 1873, l874 and t875; Dudley P. Ely, 1876 and 1877; Winfield S. Hanford, 1878; Walter C. Quintard, 1879; Christian Swartz, 1880; Edwin Adams, 1881; Christian Swartz, 1882; Peter L. Cunningham, 1883; Richard H. Golden, 1884; Nelson Taylor, Jr., 1885; John L. Richards, 1886; William B. 'Hubbell, 1887 and 1888; Frank Comstock, 1889; Edwin Wilcox, 1890; William B. Reed, 1891 and 1892; George Lock- wood, 1893; Mortimer M. Lee, 1894, 1895 and 1896; Charles G. Bohannan, 1897 and 1898; J. Milton Coburn, 1899; Charles G. Bohannan, 1900; Mortimer M. Lee, 1901 and 1902. The clerk of the city is ex-officio clerk of the Council. A remarkable fact in connection with this office is that every incumbent since the city's incorpor- ation is now living. The clerks of the city, since its organization, have been as follow: Walter T. Buckingham, 1870, 1871; Edwin Wilcox, 1872, 1873; John W. Craw, 1874, 1875; John W. Craw and Edwin Wilcox, 1876; Edwin Wilcox, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 18S1, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886 and 1887; Robert M. Wilcox, 1888; Edmund E. Crowe, 1889, 1890; Robert M. Wilcox, 1891, 1892 and 1893; Edmund E. Crowe and Joseph R. Taylor, 1894; Joseph R. Taylor, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902. Doubtless the institution of which the citizens are most proud is the municipal electric light plant, owned 382 and operated by the city. It was the first plant of its kind to be constructed within the state of Connecticut, and one of the early ones in the United States.