New Year's Eve

"Happy New Year", Currier & Ives, lithograph,
mid-19th century

Best wishes for the coming year to the readers of Recollecting Nemasket!

Sleigh Racing

The onset of winter snow brings with it the refrain, “It’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you”, a reminder of one of the recreational pastimes of town dwellers a hundred years and more ago.

"The Sleigh Race", Currier & Ives,
lithograph, 1859.

For years, the relatively straight stretch of Main Street (both North and South) had formed a more informal race course and continued to do so into the early twentieth century, particularly in winter when hard-packed snow formed an exceptional surface for racing, sleighs replacing sulkies. Sleighing and sleigh-racing was a popular pastime in Middleborough and one frequently reported in the pages of the local newspapers. “Very fair sleighing here now” was a typical notation from the Middleboro Gazette in 1867. “The sleighing continues good in our village and the prospect is that it will be better, as there is snow in the air.”

For South Main Street races, drivers and horses would begin at the Middleborough-Lakeville line before charging the mile back to Middleborough Four Corners. Grace E. Clark writing as Eve Lynn in the Middleboro Gazette in1960, recalled “a day almost sixty years ago”, with “men folk with their snappy turnouts … racing up and down South Main street trying their best to beat each other. I remember Matt Cushing had one of the fastest little pacers on the road and he was so proud of her.” Possibly Clark was recalling December, 1896, when “the sleighing the first week was very good and on Monday and Tuesday afternoons South Main street was the scene of many hot brushes. J. A. Miller, was as usual at the head of the bunch, and the more interesting races were for second place.” Two years later, between Christmas and New Year’s, “sleighing was fair … and lovers of horse flesh were out on the Main street speedway” including “Thomas & Sisson’s Aland, driven by C. W. Morse; John A. Milller’s wonderful little mare Maude Elenah [sic], Thomas Sisson with Grey Ghost and Jennie Wilkes and Fletcher Barrows with Claynette”.

Following the turn of the century, snow racing moved to North Main Street where, during the winters of 1903-04 and 1904-05 near daily racing occurred.

“There was some speeding on North Main st. yesterday afternoon [December 30, 1903] by local horse owners. Among those out were John McNally, Cecil Clark and H. P. Thompson.”

“Yesterday afternoon [December 31, 1903] there was some lively trotting on North Main st. Among the horse owners who were out were Dr. A. C. Wilbur, Samuel Shaw, Norman Smith, H. A. Baker, Thomas Sisson, Bert Flanders, William Horne, John McNally and F. L. Barrows.”

“Snow speeding on Main street has been a popular diversion with owners of fast nags, this week” [December, 1904]

Sleigh racing on North Main Street remained the rage each winter, when local sportsmen were keen to demonstrate the abilities of their trotters, as well as to show off their sleighs and exhibit their driving abilities. North Main Street was favored not only for its relative straightness and central location, but probably more so because it was the location of the Nemasket House hotel.

The Nemasket House stable was the center of racing activity in Middleborough Center in the years around 1900. Owner Thomas G. Sisson had once been a partner in the livery firm of Thomas & Sisson at Middleborough’s “West End”, a position he relinquished in 1895. Nonetheless, Sisson remained a keen horseman, being described as “one of the few surviving old-time horsemen, whose life was identified with the sale and trading of horses, and whose delight was in holding the ribbons over one of his favorite speeders.”

The location of the Nemasket House and the proclivities of its owner made it a natural base for racing during the off season. The late Lyman Butler recalled that the hotel’s stable “was kind of a clubhouse for the jockeys in some of the sleigh races they used to have…”

"Trotters on the Snow", Thomas Worth,

Harper's Weekly, January 23, 1869

Near daily horse racing on North Main Street remained the fashion through the winter of 1906-07, if not into the following season, when wool-clad pedestrians would stand aside, mouths agape, as the horses came thundering down North Main Street, hooves in the air, clods of snow flying and lightly-built sleighs careening hard behind. During Christmas week, 1906, the roadway was described as “Middleboro’s favorite speedway, and many a hot brush has been pulled off on the snow, this week, the trotting being very good.” Among the contenders were Ben H. (driven by Bart Perkins) which “has kept the bunch guessing, Otis Briggs’ Belle Sheldon (2.24) driven by William F. Murphy, Fletcher L. Barrows’ Gamhurst which “showed a steady even gait”, and Ed Lovell’s Impudence which “traveled in good form, and Thursday led Ben H. down the snow path.” North Main Street trotting was again lively during the last week of January, 1907, “the increasing snowfall from day to day adding to the sport.” Prominent among the week’s winners were Ben H. (Thomas G. Sisson), Mountain Mist (William F. Murphy), and Marcus Daly (Bart Perkins). Other noted horses were Cecil B. (George E. Gove), Baby F. (Frank Fields), Gamhurst (Fletcher L. Barrows), Cleo (C. E. LeMunyon), as well as Dr. A. C. Wilbur’s chestnut roadster and Fields’ two-year-old colt.

Eventually, sleigh racing on North Main Street came to an end. The obvious safety issue notwithstanding, the increasing popularity of the automobile ultimately put an end to horse racing.

Click here for historic photographs of sleigh racing.

"An Old Fashioned Winter", 1893

"Snow-Bound", engraving from The
Complete Poetical Works of John Greenleaf
Whittier (Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and
Company, 1884).

The image depicts the Whittier Homestead
at Haverhill, MA, the setting for Whittier's
most famous poem.  James Russell Lowell
remarked of the poem that "it describes
scenes and manners which the rapid changes
of our national habits will soon have made as
remote from us as if they were foreign or
ancient."

Today, most of us believe that New England winters have grown milder, and only seldomly are we visited by storms leaving heavy amounts of snowfall.  We consider snow-filled winters a "thing of the past". 

Surprisingly, Middleborough residents over a century ago were no different, nostalgically viewing the snows experienced in their childhood as well as the winter pastoralism so beautifully evoked in Whittier's Snow-Bound (1866) as relics of a by-gone era. 

When large storms in late February, 1893, passed through southeastern Massachusetts, leaving in their wake nearly twenty-four inches of snow, a correspondent for one of the local newspapers was prompted to label the season "an old fashioned winter."

Two feet of snow on the level this week confirms the truth of the impression which lingers in the minds of the populace that this is an "old-fashioned" winter. The roads outside the village have been badly drifted in many places. The drifts were especially deep on Titicut and Blackstone streets [across the Taunton River in Bridgewater] and some of them could only be passed by hard shovelling.

While "hard shovelling" is certainly not an enviable task, heavy snow and snow-bound households are nonetheless welcome and nostalgic reminders of winters past.

Source:
Unidentified newspaper clipping, February 23, 1893, Collection of the Middleborough Historical Association

Christmas Greetings from P. H. Peirce Co., 1909

At Christmas, 1909, P. H. Peirce Co. which operated a grocery store in what is now the Middleborough Police Station on North Main Street, sent Christmas greetings (courtesy of Wood's Coffee) to local residents by means of this decorative postal card.

In turn, I now send it to the readers of Recollecting Nemasket, wishing you a Merry Christmas and may you have a happy, healthy new year.

Methodist Christmas Concert, 1877

Religious concerts and pageants have been a central part of local Christmas observances since the mid-nineteenth century.  One of the most largely attended of these was a concert held on December 23, 1877, at the Central Methodist Church on School Street. 

On Sunday evening, Dec. 23, a Sunday School Concert was held in the Centre M. E. Church. The principal feature of the evening consisted of an allegorical representation of the Star in the East, or the birth of Christ. Over eight hundred persons were present at the close of the exercises, and many left before the close, and, a large number were unable to gain admission to the audience room. It was, as are all the concerts gotten up by the Superintendent of the school, Mr. F. M. Sherman, a grand success.

Indeed, "success" was a bit of an understatement.  Given that the population of Middleborough was probably just over 5,000 at the time, the concert was remarkably well attended, by both Methodists and non-Methodists alike.

Source:
Old Colony Memorial, “Middleboro’”, January 3, 1878, page 4.

Christmas Greens

A century ago, the harvesting of live greens for Christmas was a lucrative business and one which brought numerous outside entrepreneurs to Lakeville in search of evergreens, holly and laurel.  Greens were taken from the woods of Lakeville in large quantities, frequently by the wagon load, and brought to Boston where they were processed for sale.  The automobile increased access to rural Lakeville and Middleborough so much so that ultimately greens were removed in such quantities as to raise concerns about over-stripping the woods, as well as the taking of greens from private property, the latter issue prompting the attention of local police by 1930.

“The evergreen harvest here has begun," noted one account from Lakeville dated December, 1904, "and many representatives of decorating houses are now cleaning the holly, evergreen, princess pine and laurel from the woods. Mountain laurel, which is found in quantities in this town, and in Acushnet and Freetown, is shipped to Boston, where it is made into wreaths and streamers for decorating purposes. There the streamers sell for about 6 cents per yard, allowing a good margin for the makers. Some have arrived with tents, and will remain for several weeks, gathering the material. The shipment of trees is light, as there are but few good cedar trees suitable for Christmas, and these are carefully guarded.”

A heavy snowstorm on the evening of December 17 which dumped a foot of snow in the region brought the 1904 harvest to a halt.  “The evergreen harvest here has been stopped by the heavy snows, and no more will be gathered before Christmas unless a big thaw comes. For the past few weeks the woods have been well scoured in search of green stuff, and a great quantity of it has been gathered and shipped to the Boston market. A quantity of holly and mountain-laurel has been cut and shipped from here.”

Each year larger and larger quantities of greens were removed from Lakeville, leading to concerns of over-stripping the woods.  “The collection of greenery, holly and laurel for Christmas is underway here. As has been the custom with collectors of this holiday decoration they have invaded Lakeville, and are carrying off the stuff in team loads,” recorded the Middleboro Gazette in December, 1908.  One new innovation which contributed to this process was the automobile.  Where city residents had previously been dependent upon intermediaries to acquire their Christmas greens, the automobile permitted city dwellers to enjoy a day-trip to the country where they would pick pines, holly and other specimens with which to decorate their homes.  “The greenery business in the section for Christmas was the heaviest [in 1912] for years. There were large numbers engaged in the pursuit, and one man alone marketed 400 wreaths. The advent of the automobile, cruising through the country, caused a large amount of greenery, especially holly, to be carried away by the drivers to their homes.”

The annual search for Christmas greens in Lakeville and surrounding communities continued throughout the first decades of the twentieth century and appears to have contributed to the decline of a number of species locally, most notably American holly (Ilex opaca) which was formerly abundant in local woods.  In 1929, the scarcity of holly inlocal woods was lamented and attributed at the time to a "severe and protracted drought" in the summer and fall of that year.  What holly could be found was quickly taken by gatherers of Christmas green, irreparably damaging trees and furthering the ecological decline of the plant locally.

By 1930, many local property owners had had enough, and began reporting the removal of greens to the local police as indicated by the following news report from December, 1930:

There have been several complaints received by the police from land owners in various parts of the town that their woods are being entered and stripped of holly and other evergreens without authority and in some cases holly trees have been stripped to such an extent that they will die.  One man reports that automobiles have come to his place Sundays and leave full of small spruce or pine branches while others come and get small cedar trees.  Arthur Winslow and Edwin C. Bennett of Marion road are among those who have reported to the police.  Chief Sisson is checking up on this trespassing and prosecutions are likely to follow.

Middleboro Gazette editor and owner Lorenzo Wood commented upon the situation in late December.  Clearly unapproving of the unauthorized removal, Wood was at a loss to provide a solution, as the geographic expanse of Middleborough (as well as Lakeville) did not easily lend themselves to prevantative patrols by local law enforcement.

Christmas Greens advertisement, Middleboro Gazette,

November 24, 1933, page 8

During the winter of 1933, Susan B. (Merrihew) Brackett of

Rock Village was advertising winter greens for sale culled

from local woods.  Among the greens offered was holly

which at the time was still present in local woods though

increasingly difficult to locate.

From the number of complaints received by the police this holiday season of the reckless slashing and taking away of Christmas greens from the woods in this section without permission from the owners makes one wonder what kind of complex these people are laboring under and where the principles of the rights of others comes into the picture.  Holly trees, which in a great way are becoming extinct in many localities, have been hacked and stripped of their branches leaving them to die, trailing evergreens have been pulled up by the yards and small cedar and hemlock trees have been carted away by the hundreds, all without the slightest regard to the owners of the land or tees thereon.  In some of these instances, the trespassers have probably cut a tree for their own use, but in most cases it has been a commercial proposition and the trees no doubt have found their way into the markets of the nearby cities.  One of the rankest cases of this utter disregard for others' property came to the attention of the police this week when a local farmer complained that a fine blue ornamental spruce of nine years growth which stood near the roadside had been cut down and taken away.  Last summer the owner refused $25 for this fine tree and now probably with a few days use as a holiday ornament it is of no use to anybody, and to think that a tree that would serve the purpose just as well could be bought from regular Christmas tree dealers for 50 cents.  It all fits into the jig-saw puzzle of conditions of today when apparently there is disregard for law on all sides.  In the case of these tree thefts, what can be done about it?  Nothing much except when one happens to catch the intruder and hail him into court.  To watch for these depredations would take a police force as large as a regiment.

Illustration:
"Budding Pinecones", photograph by Caro Willis, November 23, 2008, used under a Creative Commons license

Sources:

Unidentified newspaper clippings, James H. Creedon Collection, Middleborough Public Library, “Evergreen Harvest at Lakeville”, December 5, 1904 and “Lakeville”, December 20, 1904

Middleboro Gazette, “Lakeville”, December 18, 1908, page 2; “Middleboro”, December 27, 1912, page 5; "Woods Stripped of Evergreens", December 12, 1930, page 2; "The Spectator", December 26, 1930, p. 1.

Central Cafe Christmas, 1927

Originally located on Center Street near the Four Corners and operated by James Kanakis, the Central Cafe was later run by the Dascoulias family, relocating to its present home near Oak Street in 1940.  While the Central Cafe has long been known for its pizza, it has also featured (and continues to do so) a variety of menu offerings.  Among the most festive was certainly its 1927 Christmas day dinner which included a traditional plum pudding as advertised in the pages of the Middleboro Gazette.

Source:
Middleboro Gazette, December 23, 1927, page 6.

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington Operatives

At its peak, Hathaway, Soule & Harrington’s Middleborough branch is said to have employed about 200 operatives. While no definitive records exist detailing exactly who was employed in the plant, town directories for 1895, 1897 and 1899, combined with the federal census record of 1900, are useful in creating a partial list of operatives during the final years of the branch plant’s operation, as well as the roles which they occupied within the factory.

Not surprisingly, given their lack of transportation, most operatives of Hathaway, Soule & Harrington needed to live close by the factory. The presence of the plant provided impetus for the residential growth of the district north of Everett Square and east of Cambridge Street during the last two decades of the nineteenth century. By the mid-1890s, certain streets within the district had become closely wedded to the plant. Most notable was Everett Street itself where one out of every two households had a member employed by the firm.  Frequently, more than one family member was employed by the firm, a circumstance which further strengthened the connection between industry and community within the neighborhood.

The rapid growth of a residential neighborhood, in turn, promoted commercial development within the district. The Spooner Block on the northeast corner of Everett and Arch Streets was constructed at this time and the inclusion of a grocery on its first floor provided nearby residents with a store within walking distance. Still other businesses were established around Everett Square at what was then known as Middleborough’s West End (in distinction to the West Side on the opposite side of the railroad line). These developments created a closely knit community where residents not only lived and shopped together, but worked closely together, as well. 

There are no known records detailing the closure of Hathaway, Soule & Harrington’s Middleborough plant, but it is likely to have been both financially and emotionally devastating at the time, given the dependence much of the neighborhood had upon the firm for its livelihood. Though HS&H offered its Middleborough operatives positions in the New Bedford plant it seems that few accepted. Among them was Wilkes H. F. Pettee, the engineer of the Middleborough plant, who temporarily joined Hathaway, Soule & Harrington at New Bedford before returning to Middleborough in 1906 when he took a position with the George E. Keith Company which opened a local branch in that year. Most former Hathaway, Soule & Harrington operatives however remained at Middleborough where they were likely absorbed into the workforces of Alden, Walker & Wilde which opened in 1900; Leonard & Barrows which was expanding its workforce at the time; and Leonard, Shaw & Dean. Additionally Brockton remained an alternative for many and several former Hathaway, Soule & Harrington operatives relocated to that city where the larger number of shoe manufactories promised greater opportunity and seemingly better job security.

List of Middleborough Residents Employed by Hathaway, Soule & Harrington

1895

Names and addresses are taken from Resident and Business Directory of Middleboro and Lakeville, Mass. (Needham, MA: A. E. Foss & Co., 1895).  Occupations are noted where listed in the directory. Boarders are listed as “bds.” followed by the name of the person with whom they boarded (which in most cases was a parent).

Andrew Alden, superintendent, 149 Center
Arthur H. Alden, foreman stitching room, 64 Everett
J. Gardner Alden, 42 Forest
George E. Aldrich, 73 Everett
Eunice A. Allen, bds. Nathaniel L. Allen 6 Elm
Charles E. Ashley, 45 Vine
George Henry Bailey, bds. George Bailey 10 Myrtle
Harry Banwell, 12 Arch
Ella F. Baker, bds. Marcus M. Thompson 7 Everett
Earl G. Besse, Jr., East Main
Isaac P. Breach, 13 Everett
William E. Bryant, Plymouth
Andrew P. Bunker, 78 Everett
Luke Callan, 11 Clifford
Luke F. Callan, bds. Luke Callan 11 Clifford
Herbert L. Caswell, 67 Cambridge
S. H. Caswell, 56 Vine
Henry H. Chace, 18 Pearl
William B. Chandler, 55 Everett
William F. Chandler, bds. William B. Chandler 55 Everett
Nellie M. Chickering, bds. Edgar W. Tinkham 61 Everett
Will L. Chipman, 5 West
David R. Clark, overseer, 4 Forest
John M. Conant, bds. Isaac Shaw 15 Everett
Walter A. Coombs, 12 Southwick
Charles H. Crandall, night watchman, 9 Lane
John H. Cronan, bds. Andrew Cronan 67 Vine
Asa F. Crosby, Jr., bds. Asa F. Crosby 10 West
Joseph H. Crosby, bds. Asa F. Crosby 10 West
Carrie Cudworth, bds. Mrs. Annie Lloyd 18 Southwick
William Curran bds. Mrs. Hannah Stevens 41 Forest
Messup David, 9 Cottage Court
Flora M. De Maranville, bds. Mrs. Eliza J. De Maranville 270 Center
Nellie F. De Maranville, bds. Mrs. Eliza J. De Maranville 270 Center
James Dorigan, bds. Cornelius Dorigan 55 Vine
Gertrude Drew, bds. William H. Downey 147 Center
Ellis D. Dunham, 27 Elm
Henry A. Eaton, 53 Everett
George Egger, 15 Arch
Philip L. Egger, bds. Philip Egger Plymouth Street
Charles A. Englestad, 238 Center
Walter Farmer, bds. Thomas A. Churbuck 44 Forest
Leon B. Farrington, 18 Everett
J. Emma Finney, bds. Mrs. Isabel H. Finney 131 Center
George Fosberg, bds. Charles F. Fosberg 19 East Main
Ansel Fuller, 10 Webster
Charles F. Fuller, bds. Albert S. Sparrow 2 Lincoln
Herman W. Fuller, bds. Ansel Fuller 10 Webster
Frank Gardner, bds. Mrs. Hannah Stevens 41 Forest
William H. Goodwin, 77 North Main
Leonard W. Gurney, bds. James L. Gurney 10 Arch
Wilson T. Harlow, bds. Mrs. Lucinda A. Harlow 33 Courtland
Eugene Hathaway, bds. Mrs. Ella E. Estes 12 Frank
Israel T. Hathaway, 13 North
Samuel Hathaway, 29 Courtland
Alvin Hayward, bds. Albert S. Sparrow 2 Lincoln
Arthur A. Holmes, bds. Theodore P. Holmes Grove
W. Frank Holmes, bds. Albert H. Merrihew 10 West
William F. Holmes, bds. Theodore P. Holmes Grove
Waldo E. Jackson, bds. Mrs. Clara Jackson 200 Center
Mabel E. Jefferson, bds. James M. Jefferson 15 West
August P. Johnson, bds. John M. Johnson 70 Forest
George H. Keedwell, 79 Water
Saul Labonte, bds. Mrs. Ella E. Estes 12 Frank
George Henry Lakey, bds. Rodney I. Ellis [boarding house] 104 Center
Mattie C. Landers, bds. William Lumberd 5 Southwick
James E. Leggee, bds. Henry J. Leggee 6 Lovell
Orville N. Leonard, 16 Arch
John L. Luippold, bds. John M. Luippold 17 Arch
Lizzie A. Luippold, bds. John M. Luippold 17 Arch
Charles A. Mabry, 23 Elm
Mary A. Maker, bds. M. Jennie Francis, 54 Everett
Edgar Mason, bds. Rufus J. Brett 14 Forest
Eugene H. McCarthy, 171 Center
Mrs. L. F. McFarland, 85 Forest
Oliver Nichols, 65 Oak
Robert E. Nolan, bds. William Nolan 28 Montello
James J. O’Hara, laster, 48 Vine
Fred A. Orcutt, bds. J. Carter
George Perkins, bds. Mrs. B. F. Johnson [private boarding house] 19 South Main
George A. Perkins, foreman packing-room, boards Mrs. B. F. Johnson [private boarding house] 19 South Main
Hannah M. Perry, bds. Mrs. Narcissa A. Perry Plymouth
Mary L. Perry, bds. Mrs. Narcissa A. Perry Plymouth
Arthur W. Petersen, bds. Rodney I. Ellis [boarding house] 104 Center
Maggie E. Plunkett, bds. Peter Plunkett 49 Vine
Mary A. Plunkett, bds. Peter Plunkett 49 Vine
Emily M. Pratt, bds. Silas Pratt 6 Barrows
William B. Rafuse, 9 Courtland
Myron F. Raymond, bds. Marcus M. Raymond 3 Lincoln
Robert N. Raymond, 73 Everett
Esther Rees, bds. 66 Everett
S. Everett Ryder, Plymouth near the Green
Alfred A. Shaw, stitcher, 41 School
C. Henry Shaw, 22 Pearl
Elmer F. Shaw, 32 Arch
Lewis W. Shaw, 156 Center
Marcus A. Shaw, bds. Samuel Shaw
May F. Shaw, bds. Frank H. Shaw 56 School
Alice Shay, bds. Asa C. Bennett 12 Arch
Lucy Sheehan, bds. Thomas B. Sheehan 16 East Main
Mary Sheehan, East Main
John L. Shepherd, 152 Center
Katie M. Sherman [Shuman], bds. Arthur H. Alden 64 Everett
Mamie F. Sherman [Shuman] bds. Arthur H. Alden 64 Everett
Wilford Shuman, bds. Arthur H. Alden 64 Everett
C. Alice Shurtleff, bds. Virgil W. Shurtleff 11 Lovell
Joseph B. Simmons 30 School
Annie Smith, bds. Mrs. Annie Lloyd 18 Southwick
L. M. Smith, bds. Wilkes H. F. Pettee 59 Everett
Martin Smith, 13 Rock
Fred Southwick, 23 Arch
Harry Staples, bds. Thomas A. Churbuck 44 Forest
John J. Sullivan, 229 Center
Mrs. Mary J. Sullivan, 174 Center
John H. Swift, 62 Forest
Henrietta D. Taylor, bds. Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor 91 Oak
Marcus M. Thompson, 7 Everett
William W. Tinkham, bds. B. Frank Tinkham 75 Oak
Clifford L. Vaughan, bds Mrs. Helen F. Vaughan 9 Oak
Foster Wade, bds. Ezekiel H. Aldrich 14 Barrows
Nelson C. White, 57 Everett
William H. Wilde, supt., bds. Mrs. Frances Wilde 34 Pearl
Thomas E. Wilmot, 16 Everett
Kenelm Winslow, 14 Pearl

1897

Names and addresses are taken from Resident and Business Directory of Middleboro, Massachusetts: For 1897 (Needham, MA: A. E. Foss & Co., 1897).  Occupations are noted where listed in the directory. Boarders are listed as “bds.” followed by the name of the person with whom they boarded (which in most cases was a parent).

Andrew Alden, superintendent, 24 Forest
Arthur H. Alden, foreman stitching room, 64 Everett
J. Gardner Alden, 42 Forest
Eldon L. Aldrich, bds. Ira F. Aldrich Arlington
George E. Aldrich, 73 Everett
Ira F. Aldrich, Arlington
Eunice A. Allen, boards Nathaniel L. Allen 68 Forest
Obed D. Allen, bds. Nathaniel L. Allen 68 Forest
Charles E. Ashley, laster, 269 Center
Charles Bagamian, bds. 62 Arch
Harry Bagamian, 62 Arch
Harry Banwell, bds. 12 Arch
Ella F. Barker, bds. M. M. Thompson 7 Everett
James P. Bolton, stitcher 63 Everett
Edward Bonney, 105 South Main
Charles Borden, bds. 287 Center
Ezra J. Bourne, cutter 35 Courtland
Ella F. Bowker, bds. 7 Everett
William E. Bryant, Plymouth
Andrew P. Bunker, 78 Everett
Luke Callan, 11 Clifford
Luke F. Callan, bds. Luke Callan 11 Clifford
Mary Casey, stitcher, bds. Hannah Casey 13 Montello
Mary E. Casey, bds. 13 Montello
Annie A. Chace, bds. 88 Oak
Henry H. Chace, 18 Pearl
William B. Chandler, 55 Everett
William F. Chandler, bds. W. B. Chandler 55 Everett
Nellie M. Chickering, bds. Edgar W. Tinkham
David R. Clark, overseer, 16 Forest
John M. Conant, bds. 15 Forest
Walter A. Coombs, 12 Southwick
John H. Cronan, bds. Mrs. Ann Cronan 67 Vine
Joseph H. Crosby, bds. 10 West
Messup David, 9 Cottage Court
Flora M. De Maranville, bds. Mrs. Eliza J. De Maranville 270 Center
Nellie F. De Maranville, bds. Mrs. Eliza J. De Maranville 270 Center
Katie Doherty, bds. Neal Doherty 22 Everett
Mary J. Doherty, bds. Neal Doherty 22 Everett
James Dorigan, bds. 55 Vine
Gertrude Drew, bds. W. H. Downing 49 Everett
Ellis D. Dunham, 27 Elm
George A. Earle, 66 Everett
Emma A. Eaton, bds. Henry A. Eaton 53 Everett
Francis R. Eaton, leather cutter, 14 Rock
Henry A. Eaton, 53 Everett
Nellie F. Eaton, bds. Henry A. Eaton 53 Everett
George Egger, 15 Arch
Philip L. Egger, bds. Philip Egger Plymouth
James A. F. Elliot, bds. Lillian B. Elliot 63 Water
Charles A. Englested, 238 Center
Henry A. Farrington, 5 Southwick
Leon B. Farrington, 18 Everett
J. Emma Finney, bds. Mrs. Isabel H. Finney 77 Everett
George Forsberg, bds. Charles F. Forsberg 19 East Main
Emma L. Francis, 54 Everett
Ansel Fuller, 10 Webster
Herman W. Fuller, bds. Ansel Fuller 10 Webster
Stephen S. Gibbs, 17 Everett
William H. Goodwin, 17 Pearl
Annie Gurney, bds. James L. Gurney 10 Arch
Leonard W. Gurney, bds. James L. Gurney 10 Arch
Wilson T. Harlow, bds. Mrs. Lucinda A. Harlow 33 Courtland
Samuel Hathaway, 29 Courtland
Alvin Hayward, bds. Albert S. Sparrow 62 Everett
Maria D. Herman, bds. George H. Herman 244 Center
Elmer E. Holmes, bds. Theodore P. Holmes Grove
William F. Holmes, 15 Oak
Charles Horton, 66 Everett
Waldo E. Jackson, bds. Mrs. Clara Jackson 200 Center
August P. Johnson, bds. John M. Johnson 70 Forest
Henry W. Keith, stitcher, 35 Cambridge
Saul Labonte, bds. 117 Center
Mattie L. Landers, bds. 54 Everett
Ferdinand Landgrebe, North
Saul Lebonte, bds. 33 Pearl
Henry J. Leggee, laster, 7 Lovell
James E. Leggee, bds. Henry J. Leggee 7 Lovell
John L. Luippold, bds. John M. Luippold 17 Arch
Lizzie A. Luippold, bds. John M. Luippold 17 Arch
Carrie Mann, bds. 88 Oak
Edward Mason, bds. 14 Forest
Eugene H. McCarthy, 53 Everett
Sampson McFarland, bds. 54 Everett
William A. Merrihew, 23 High
Oliver Nichols, 273 Center
Arthur Nickerson, 15 Everett
Robert E. Nolan, bds. William Nolan 28 Montello
James J. O’Hara, laster, 48 Vine
Fred A. Orcutt, bds. J. Carter Plymouth
Ellen P. Penley, bds. Mrs. Priscilla S. Penley, 68 Everett
Josiah F. Penniman, laster, 23 North
Hannah M. Perry, bds. Mrs. Narcissa A. Perry Plymouth
Mary L. Perry, bds. Mrs Narcissa A. Perry Plymouth
William H. Perry, 12 Elm
Wilkes H. F. Pettee, engineer, 38 Forest St
Willie Phinney, bds. 54 Everett
Mary A. Plunkett, bds. Peter Plunkett 49 Vine
William B. Rafuse, 106 Everett
Frank C. Raymond, laster, 113 South Main
Myron F. Raymond, bds. Marcus M. Raymond Myrtle Avenue
Robert N. Raymond, 73 Everett
Charles W. Ricker, bds. Union House Center
Albert Rogers, bds. 55 Everett
Charles M. Rounds, bds. M. A. Leahy 19 Everett
Herbert H. Ryder, bds. A. F. Ryder 25 North
Sadie P. Ryder, bookkeeper, bds. Mrs. Jane P. Ryder 28 Peirce
Alfred A. Shaw, stitcher, 55 Forest
Lewis W. Shaw, 78 Forest
Marcus A. Shaw, bds. Samuel Shaw 19 Center
May F. Shaw, bds. F. H. Shaw 56 School
Mary Sheehan, 16 East Main
Levi Sherman, 50 Forest
Mary F. Sherman, bds. Levi Sherman 50 Forest
Wilford Shuman, bds. 33 Pearl
C. Alice Shurtleff, bds. Virgil W. Shurtleff 16 Arlington
Fred Southwick, 23 Arch
Harry E. Staples, 71 Everett
John J. Sullivan, 229 Center
Mrs. Mary J. Sullivan, 174 Center
Harry Swift, bds. Mrs. William H. Swift 8 Forest
John H. Swift, 62 Forest
Henrietta D. Taylor, bds. Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor 91 Oak
Marcus M. Thompson, 7 Everett
William W. Tinkham, bds. B. F. Tinkham 75 Oak
Foster Wade, bds. E. H. Aldrich 14 Barrows
Nelson C. White, 57 Everett
William H. Wilde, clerk, 33 Pearl
Thomas E. Wilmot, 16 Everett

1899

Names and addresses are taken from Resident and Business Directory of Middleboro’ and Lakeville, Massachusetts, For 1899. (Needham, MA: A. E. Foss & Co.,1899). Birth dates and occupations are taken from the Federal census taken in June, 1900, two months following the closure of Hathaway, Soule & Harrington. Shoe manufacturing required skilled workers and shoe operatives typically remained within their area of expertise. It therefore may be presumed that the occupation listed for each operative in June, 1900, was the same occupation that worker pursued while employed by Hathaway, Soule & Harrington. Boarders are listed as “bds.” followed by the name of the person with whom they boarded (which in most cases was a parent).

Andrew Alden (b. 1838), foreman, 24 Forest

Arthur H. Alden (b. December 1864), supt., 64 Everett

J. Gardner Alden (b. January 1862), stitcher, 42 Forest

Eldon L. Aldrich (b. January 1878),”sole laying”, bds. Ira F. Aldrich Arlington
He relocated to Brockton with his father, Ira F. Aldrich, and family following the closure of HS&H.

Ira F. Aldrich (b. 1862), laster, Arlington
He relocated to Brockton following the closure of HS&H.

Ervin O. Allen (b. April 1874), finisher, bds. Nathaniel L. Allen 29 School

Eunice A. Allen (b. August 1876), bds. Nathaniel L. Allen 29 School

Obed D. Allen (b. September 1872), treer, 68 Forest

Charles E. Ashley, laster, 254 Center

Harry Banwell (b. March 1863), treer, 54 Pearl

Charles J. Bopp (b. December 1881), burnisher, bds. Mrs. Elizabeth Bopp 92 Oak

Charles Borden (b. December 1879), bds. Charles G. Borden, 72 Water
Following the closure of HS&H he took work as a day laborer.

Mary E. Boucher (b. December 1862), stitcher, bds. Thomas Boucher 144 Center

Ezra J. Bourne, cutter, 35 Courtland

Ella F. Bowker (b. March 1867), stitcher, bds. 7 Everett
The Bowker family removed to Kingston following the closure of HS&H.

Luke Callan (b. September 1837), 11 Clifford
He took work as a day laborer following the closure of HS&H.

Luke F. Callan (b. January 1873), laster, bds. Luke Callan 11 Clifford

H. Percy Caswell (b. June 1867), upper leather cutter, 16 Barrows

Henry H. Chace B. June 1858), upper leather cutter, 18 Pearl

William B. Chandler (b. September 1845), Goodyear sewer, 25 Forest

Alberto F. [Albert W.] Chase, (b. October 1879), shoe worker, bds. Mrs. Clara A. Chase 6 Coombs

Lizzie M. Chase (b. May 1881), shoe worker bds.Mrs. Clara A. Chase 6 Coombs

Nellie M. Chickering (b. June 1867), skiver, bds. Edgar W. Tinkham 61 Everett

Fred F. Churbuck, cutter, 18 Webster

David R. Clark (b. December 1842), overseer, 18 Forest

Harry L. Clark (b. 1874), cutter, bds. Nelson Thomas Tispaquin

Roy C. Coombs (b. September 1878), sole cutter, bds. William A. Coombs 24 East Grove

Walter A. Coombs, 12 Southwick

John H. Cronan (b. December 1869), shoemaker, bds. Mary Cronan 67 Vine

Othello E. Dean (b. November 1865), laster, 22 Pearl

Harry A. De Maranville, 143 South Main

Flora M. De Maranville (b. August 1872), bds. Mrs. Eliza J. De Maranville 270 Center

Nellie F. De Maranville (b. October 1869), shoeworker, bds. Mrs. Eliza J. De Maranville 270 Center

Katie Doherty, bds. Neal Doherty 3 Station

James Dorigan (b. November 1866), shoemaker, 55 Vine

Elmer O. Drew (b. January 1875), “moulding (shoe)”, 11 Barrows

Gertrude I. Drew, bds 10 Elm

Ellis D. Dunham (b. January 1841), trimmer, 27 Elm

Morton W. Dunham (b. June 1878), 285 Center

William L. Dunham (b. October 1869), heeler, 32 Webster

George A. Earle, 66 Everett

Emma A. Eaton (b. August 1874), stitcher, bds. Henry A. Eaton 53 Everett

Francis R. Eaton, leather cutter, 14 Rock

Henry A. Eaton (b. December 1838), heel finisher, 53 Everett

Nellie F. Eaton (b. August 1861), stitcher, bds. Henry A. Eaton 53 Everett

George Egger (b. April 1860), finisher, 15 Arch

Philip L. Egger, bds. Philip Egger Plymouth

Henry A. Farrington (b. September 1864), “tacker on”, 5 Southwick

Leon B. Farrington (b. September 1870), sole leather cutter, 24 West Grove

Emma J. Finney (b. October 1854), skiver, bds. Mrs. Isabel H. Finney 77 Everett
She removed to Brockton with her mother and sister (who was a stitcher) following the closure of HS&H.

George Forsberg, 55 Everett

Emma L. Francis (b. February 1857), vamper, 54 Everett

Nelson T. Frank, bds. 18 Webster

Ansel Fuller (b. September 1834), “shoe tacker”, 10 Webster

Stephen S. Gibbs, 17 Everett

Leonard W. Gurney (b. May 1880), shoe edge setter/sewer, bds. John Harper 33 Webster

Wilson T. Harlow (b. September 1863), edge maker, bds. Mrs. Lucinda A. Harlow 33 Courtland

Julia A. Harrington (b. October 1872), vamper, bds. Mrs. Margaret T. Harrington 22 Everett

Elmer E. Holmes (b. August 1868), finisher, bds. Theodore P. Holmes Grove

William F. Holmes (b. May 1866), heel finisher, 15 Oak

Edward Jenney (b. February 1863), cutter, 13 Everett

August P. Johnson (b. December 1872), cutter, 63 Everett

Henry W. Keith (b. June 1876), stitcher, 35 Cambridge

Warren King, 68 Forest

Saul Labonte (b. October 1867), cutter, 34 Arch
He took a position with HS&H at New Bedford following Middleborough branch closure.

Mattie L. Landers, bds. 54 Everett

Ferdinand C. Landgrebe (b. March 1855), “Scourer (shoe)”, North

Henry J. Leggee (b. November 1860), laster, 7 Lovell

James E. Legee (b. May 1845), “shoemaker”, bds. Henry J. Leggee 7 Lovell

George B. Leonard (b. May 1847), treer, South Main near Lakeville line

John L. Luippold (b. August 1874), bds. John M. Luippold 17 Arch

Lizzie A. E. Luippold (b. December 1859), stitcher, bds. John M. Luippold 17 Arch

Arthur H. Macomber, bds. William H. Macomber 40 West Grove

Barzella W. Macomber (b. January 1879), edge setter, bds William H. Macomber 40 West Grove

Thomas F. Maloney, bds. Mrs. Kelley’s off East Main

Carrie Mann, bds. 3 Maple Ave

Eugene H. McCarthy, 53 Everett
Probably the same Eugene H. McCarthy, “shoemaker”, resident at Brockton in 1900.

Albert E. Metcalf, bds. 18 Webster

Philip E. Morris (b. September 1870), laster, 15 Barrows

Alice L. Murtagh (b. August 1875), packer, bds. Thomas H. Murtagh Cherry

Oliver Nichols (b. December 1866), “shoemaker”, 273 Center

Frederick A. O’Brien, bds. Francis Warren 107 Everett

Fred A. Orcutt, 27 Lovell

Myron E. Orcutt (b. March 1880), bds. Walter F. Orcutt Plymouth
Following the closure of HS&H, he went to work as a far laborer for poultry dealer George Morse of Plymouth Street

Ellen P. Penley (b. May 1863), “shoeworker”, bds. Mrs. Priscilla S. Penley 200 Center

Ella A. Perry (b. September 1868), bds. Mrs. Narcissa A. Perry Plymouth

Hannah M. Perry (b. August 1870), bds. Mrs. Narcissa A. Perry Plymouth

Mary L. Perry, bds. Mrs. Narcissa A. Perry Plymouth

Wilkes H. F. Pettee (b. July 1846), stationary engineer, 38 Forest
He accepted HS&H’s offer of a position in the New Bedford factory and was employed by them there until 1906 when he returned to Middleborough to enter the employ of the George E. Keith Company which opened a massive shoe manufactory on Sumner Avenue that year.

Mary A. Plunkett (b. August 1874), bds. Peter Plunkett 49 Vine

Michael Quinn, shipper, 23 West

Frank C. Raymond (b. September 1865), laster, Cottage Court

Marcus Raymond (b. August 1876), upper leather cutter, bds. Marcus M. Raymond Myrtle Avenue

Myron F. Raymond (b. March 1872), sole leather cutter, bds. Marcus M. Raymond Myrtle Avenue

Robert N. Raymond, Keith

James H. Rogers, bds. 32 West Grove

Sarah P. K. Ryder, bookkeeper, bds. Mrs. Jane P. Ryder 28 Peirce

Abbie Z. Shaw (b. March 1876), stamper, bds. 21 Arch

Alfred A. Shaw (b. May 1872), stitcher 61 Forest
He was working as a salesman following the closure of HS&H.

C. Henry Shaw, Frank

Elmer E. Shaw (b. April 1862), laster, 79 Everett

Lewis W. Shaw (b. June 1860), 78 Forest

Mary F. Sheehan (b. December 1866), stitcher, 16 East Main

Levi Sherman (b. March 1845), fan stitcher, 50 Forest

Mary F. Sherman, bds. Levi Sherman 50 Forest

Carrie Shuman, bds. Levi Sherman 50 Forest

Wilford Shuman, bds. 32 Pearl

George D. Simmons (b. December 1875), treer, bds. 18 Everett

Clarence E. Smith, bds. Mrs. Mary A. Smith Fuller

Harry E. Staples, 71 Everett

John J. Sullivan (b. April 1870), 229 Center
The closure of HS&H prompted Sullivan to find a new career as a newsdealer. He would later operate a noted news stand near the Four Corners for many years.

Mrs. Mary J. Sullivan (b. September 1861), stitcher, 174 Center

Nora Sullivan (b. September 1861), “shoemaker”, bds. John J. Sullivan 229 Center

Arthur L. Thomas (b. November 1865), laster, 15 Barrows

Henry L. Thomas Jr. (b. August 1867), laster, Plymouth NM

Marcus M. Thompson, 7 Everett

Rayman Tibbetts, bds. 159 Center

William W. Tinkham (b. September 1859), dresser, bds. Benjamin F. Tinkham 75 Oak

Foster Wade (b. December 1871), sole layer, bds. E. H. Aldrich 14 Barrows

Mary E. Warren, bds. Francis Warren 107 Everett

Nelson C. White (b. March 1854), edge maker, 57 Everett

William H. Wilde (b. May 1863), 34 Pearl

Kenelm Winslow (b. September 1856), laster, 14 Pearl

Winfield H. Wood (b. February 1882), “tacker on”, bds E. D. Wood 36 North


Hathaway, Soule & Harrington advertisement, 1899

This ad announcing the sale of Hathaway, Soule & Harrington shoes in

Maine indicates the high quality for which the brand was known.  The high

laced shoe depicted in the advertisement was typical of the styles

produced by the firm shortly before it closed its Middleborough branch.



Hathaway, Soule & Harrington Robbery

The Middleborough branch factory of Hathaway, Soule & Harrington achieved an unexpected local notoriety when during the early morning of October 25, 1895, its safe was robbed.  Fortunately, a clipping from the Middleboro Gazette recounting the incident survives to recount the tale nearly in full.

For the first time for many years safe robbers visited our town, Thursday afternoon and night.  Shortly after 1 o'clock, as watchman Charles Crandall of Hathaway, Soule & Harrington's shoe factory on Cambridge street was descending to the main entry of the factory in making his usual round, he was seized by four men, who immediately blindfolded him and proceeded to blow open and rob the safe.

The burglars evidently watched Mr. Crandall as he went to various points about the building, and when he was on the upper floor forced open the front door.  Seating themselves where they were not seen by the night watchman until he stepped off the last stair they had him completely by surprise and at their mercy in an instant.

Mr. Crandall at first thought it a joke of some of the shop hands.  He carries a cane to assist him in going up and down stairs, and when they first seized him with the remark, "We've got you," he lifted this stick above his head, saying, "You have, have you."  Mr. Crandall still thought it a joke, and had no idea of striking with his stick, but one of the fellows said afterward that he was about to deal him a stunning blow, when thoughts of his own father caused him to change his mind, and Mr. Crandall escaped personal injury.

"You are a cranky little fellow, but it is of no use.  We won't hurt you if you keep quiet."  Realizing that one against four was an unequal contest, he submitted to being blindfolded.  The robbers sat him upon the stairs, and one on either side stood by him while the other two proceeded to the office, where they blew open the safe, as the watchman thinks, by the use of powder, judging from the smell.

Judging from the cool manner in which they proceed, Mr. Crandall thinks confederates were outside.  He remarked to them that he at first thought that they were some of the employees, and that the thought of burglars had not entered his mind.  "How do you know we are not employees of the factory," asked one of them.  "There are only four of you," said Mr. Crandall.  "You don't know but there are twenty of us, but you have the number inside right," was the reply.

Mr. Crandall asked them if they had not been at work near by on another break a short time before, but they said "no," and he thinks that a slight noise he heard a little while before was caused by forcing the door.

The safe was blown open probably at 2.25 a. m., as the clock over the safe stopped at that time.  Two of the fellows were masked and above average height.  The other two Mr. Crandall cannot describe, as he did not see them.  The report made by the explosion was quite loud, and was heard by several residents in the neighborhood, but nothing was thought about it as the trains make so much noise all night.  The door was blown completely off and several chairs demolished and a window broken.

The robbers were sadly disappointed when they rifled the safe.  They secured only a very small sum.

That a former employee was a leader in the break seems to be indicated by several things said.  When they found so little money this man remarked, "When I used to work here the pay roll was kept in the safe."  They seemed very much chagrined when they realized how little they secured.

The watchman asked if they found much, and one of them answered, "Not enough to pay for our trouble."  Mr. Crandall told them that the firm's methods had changed of late relative to money matters.

William H. Wilde, the book-keeper at the factory, is away on his wedding tour, so that the exact amount they secured could not be learned.  The weekly pay roll frequently amounts to $2,000, and today is pay-day.  It was this sum that the gang undoubtedly hoped to secure.  Mr. Hathaway of the firm was in town, yesterday, but the money for today's pay-roll was not put into the safe.

Failing to secure any amount of cash they turned their attention to tools.  They inquired where the machine room was, but Mr. Crandall told them he knew very little about the particular places where tools were kept, as he never visited the factory in the day time.

"How do you get down cellar," asked the apparent leader.  "That's a pretty question for one to ask who has worked here as long as you have," retorted one of his mates.
The gang appeared in no hurry to leave.  They treated Mr. Crandall with the utmost consideration.  Before they left they carried him to the workroom and tied him into a chair, so that he could no get away.

When engineer W. H. F. Pettee arrived, early in the morning, he was greatly surprised to find the door open, but he was speechless when he beheld the watchman bound and blindfolded.  He quickly released him and learned the night's events.

It is stated tat one of the men dropped a 'kerchief and came near leaving it.  When he discovered it, he exclaimed, "I musn't leave that; Emma always puts my name on them."

Their whole conduct seems to indicate that they were not experts at the business.

The same gang probably visited Mount Carmel railroad station, Thursday afternoon, during the absence of the station agent, and secured about $10 from the money drawer.  It was a poor job all round.

The shoe factory break was the most sensational since the memorable "town safe" robbery, nearly 25 years ago, when the robbers secured a large amount in valuable bonds and cash.

Mr. Crandall is none worse for the night's excitement, except that it was quite a shock to his nerves; but he showed no white feather.  He is glad however, that the company are not heavy losers by the robbery.

The greatest loss to the corporation will probably be the damage to the safe.  So far as can be learned, no tools of value were taken.

Little else has been left on record of the crime, although it remained in the memory of the Alden family which managed he factory at the time, and was later passed down through the Barden family.  In 1989, George M. Barden, Jr., recalled the incident in the pages of the Middleborough Antiquarian and told a slightly different version in which Crandall, while not implicated in the robbery itself, was culpable for permitting unfettered access to the factory by the perpetrators.

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington employed a Civil War veteran to serve as night watchman at the factory.  He would come to work in the evening and spend the night all alone in the five-storied building, making the rounds periodically to make sure everything was secure.  When two congenial young strangers made his acquaintance and offered to keep him company through his lonely hours he was only too glad to accept.  For a week or more they spent almost every night with him at the factory, whiling away the time at checkers and listening to his tales of Civil War adventures.  They also took note of his inspection routine.  Finally, one fateful night, after the three had finished the midnight lunch, one of the strangers said:

"Old man, we are going to tie you in your chair to keep you out of trouble and then you will hear an explosion louder than anything you ever heard in the Civil War!"

Within minuted the watchman was securely tied to his chair and the promised explosion, when the strangers blew the door off the safe in the office, was indeed impressive.  Their carefully planned getaway involved the use of a railroad handcar, the old-fashioned kind that was powered by hand pumping, previously placed by the yeggs on the tracks that ran just behind the factory.  Taking their bag of loot, they raced to the handcar and began pumping feverishly to put Middleboro behind them as fast as possible - a scene right out of the Keystone Cops.  Family tradition has told this writer that they made it to Bridgewater before they were apprehended and the loot recovered.

Despite the impression left by Barden's account, the perpetrators appear to have gone undiscovered for at least a short period of time as indicated by the Middleboro Gazette which reported that "the recent Hathaway, Soule & Harrington burglary case is in the hands of two of the most skillful detectives in this section."  While there was much initial uncertainty regarding the amount of money taken from the safe, the newspaper report confirmed that "the amount taken by he cracksmen is now definitely determined to have been less than $50."  Though the burglars had hoped to discover the firm's large payroll in the safe, a number of developments had conspired against them including a recent state law which required employees of corporations to be paid weekly and with which the firm had been in compliance with since the summer.  Most crucially and for reasons now unknown, the payroll was not placed in the factory safe on Thursday, October 24.

Barden, George M., Jr.  Middleborough Antiquarian, "A Shoe Business, A Robbery and a Fire", 27: 3, December, 1989, 5+.
Middleboro Gazette, "Bold Burglars", October 25, 1895:4; "Middleboro", November 1, 1895:4; "Twenty-Five Years Ago", August 6, 1920:2.

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington Images

The following is a series of images of the interior of the Hathaway, Soule & Harrington factory on Cambridge Street which I acquired a number of years ago.  They had once belonged to George M. Barden, Jr., great-grandson of Andrew Alden who had served as superintendent of the Middleborough factory.  The sepia-toned images all measure 8 ¼ inches by 6 inches and are pasted onto sturdy oversized cardboard backings.  One, depicting the operatives in the packing room, has previously been posted.  Unfortunately, the photographs are not marked, save for the identification of Alden and Shuman family members with whom the Bardens were connected.  No notations have been made regarding the people captured in the photographs, nor of the work being conducted.  Most have faded and have a washed out appearance.  Nonetheless, the series constitutes an important visual record of shoe manufacturing in Middleborough and the people engaged in it.  

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington office, Cambridge Street, Middleborough, MA, photograph, late 1890s

Pictured is the management and office staff of the Hathaway, Soule & Harrington plant at Middleborough in the late 1890s.  From left to right are clerk William H. Wilde, superintendent Andrew Alden, assistant superintendent Arthur H. Alden, bookkeeper Sadie Ryder, and Alice Roberts.  The office embodies a no-nonsense business approach with the bare minimum requirements.  Wilde in his role as clerk is neatly-dressed, though both Aldens wear protective overgarments in order to keep their clothes clean while on the factory floor.  A large freight map on the wall indicates the extent of the Middleborough plant's business.  Andrew Alden had initially learned the shoe trade at North Middleborough where he made shoes by hand on Plymouth Street.  In 1881, he was instrumental in the formation of Alden, Leonard & Hammond which relocated to Cambridge Street in Middleborough in 1886.  Following the acquisition of Alden, Leonard & Hammond's interests in 1887 by Hathaway, Soule & Harrington, Alden remained with the latter firm as superintendent.  He retired in 1900 when Hathaway, Soule & Harrington closed the Middleborough branch.  Alden's son, Arthur Harris Alden, had entered the shoe trade following his graduation from the Pratt Free School, and he joined his father at Hathaway, Soule & Harrington where he acted as foreman and later assistant superintendent.  In 1900, he became the senior partner in Alden, Walker & Wilde which was established that year.  William H. Wilde served as clerk of the Hathaway, Soule & Harrington Middleborough operation before joining Alden and George W. Walker in the formation of Alden, Walker & Wilde. 

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington cutting room, Cambridge Street, Middleborough, MA, photograph, late 1890s

One of the first steps in manufacturing shoes was the cutting of the leather.  Leather was procured by experienced buyers in Boston which, thanks to the numerous shoe manufactories operating throughout New England, was the world's largest leather market at the time.  Cutters required both great strength and dexterity and were skilled at maximizing the number of uppers which could be cut from each piece of leather.  By this time, cutters specialized in the cutting of uppers and the cutting of soles.  The worker marked with an "x" in the photograph is August P. Johnson.  The son of Swedish immigrant parents, Johnson worked as a cutter in the local shoe industry for a number of years.  Born in December, 1872, Johnson was about 25 when the photograph was taken.  In 1898, he married Mary F. Shuman.

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington, Cambridge Street, Middleborough, MA, photograph, late 1890s

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington stitching room, Cambridge Street, Middleborough, MA, photograph, late 1890s

This view likely depicts the stitching room.  Once the uppers were cut, they were lined and stitched together.  Much of this work was performed by women.  The gentleman standing to the right and marked by an "x" is James Gardner Alden, the eldest son of Andrew Alden.  Although records fail to indicate his position in the firm, it is likely that he was employed as a department foreman.

 
Hathaway, Soule & Harrington stitching room, Cambridge Street, Middleborough, MA, photograph, late 1890s

Possibly another view of the stitching room.  Carrie Shuman who is seated at the far end of the room is marked by an "x".  She was one of several operatives who went to work at Alden, Walker & Wilde when Hathaway, Soule & Harrington closed its Middleborough plant.  Sanborn fire insurance maps of the era indicate that part of the plant's fire protection included "pails throughout" and a number of these galvanized buckets may be seen hanging near the ceiling.  Although the visible clutter in the room raises doubts about the plant's concern for fire safety, the building was in fact equipped with fire escapes on either end of the structure, one of the earliest Middleborough manufactories with this provision.

 
Hathaway, Soule & Harrington stitching room, Cambridge Street, Middleborough, MA, photograph, late 1890s

Yet another view of the stitching room.  Unstitched uppers appear in the lower left corner of the photograph.  The fabric pieces are apparently linings which would have been attached to the uppers during this stage of the work.  Note that the women not only wear aprons to protect their clothing, but protective oversleeves as well.

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington lasting or McKay room, Cambridge Street, Middleborough, MA, photograph, late 1890s
This view is possibly of the lasting room.  Once the uppers were stitched, wooden lasts were inserted to facilitate the process of bottoming, that is the addition of the soles.  Machines produced by the McKay Company helped revolutionize the process of stitching uppers to soles.

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington, Cambridge Street, Middleborough, MA, photograph, late 1890s

Like his brother Arthur, Frederic Lawton Alden joined the family in manufacturing shoes shortly after his graduation from school.  The younger Alden appears towards the center of the photograph marked by an "x".

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington, Cambridge Street, Middleborough, MA, photograph, late 1890s

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington, Cambridge Street, Middleborough, MA, photograph, late 1890s

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington, Cambridge Street, Middleborough, MA, photograph, late 1890s
The mechanized nature of the shoe manufacturing process is indicated in this photograph by the belts and shafting over the heads of the workers.  While new machines greatly facilitated the production of shoes, they could prove hazardous to workers.  In July, 1888, "a man named Farrington, of Middleboro, employed at Hathaway, Soule & Harrington's shoe factory, cut off a thumb a few days ago in some of the machinery.  Lysander Richmond also cut his hand severely on the same day in the same shop." [Old Colony Memorial, "County and Elsewhere", July 19, 1888, p. 4].

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington History

The posts for today and the next few days are for Carole Tracey who has generously shared her own history in the past regarding Hathaway, Soule & Harrington, the firm established by her great-grandfather.  Although principally a New Bedford company with offices later in Boston and New York,  Hathaway, Soule & Harrington operated a branch factory at Middleborough between 1887 and 1900.  What follows is a history of that branch.

"Hathaway, Soule & Harrington",

from Illustrated Boston: The

Metropolis of New England (New

York, NY: American Publishing &

Engraving Co., 1889), p. 131.

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington was a manufacturer of medium and fine-grade men’s shoes which operated a branch plant on Cambridge Street in Middleborough between 1887 and 1900. Established in 1865 by Savory C. Hathaway of New Bedford, the firm later became known as Hathaway & Soule with the addition of Rufus A. Soule, and in 1874 it was finally organized as Hathaway, Soule & Harrington following the admission of Herbert A. Harrington as a partner.

In late 1887, Hathaway, Soule & Harrington purchased the interest of Alden, Leonard & Hammond of Middleborough which was occupying a manufactory which had been constructed the previous year on Cambridge Street by George L. Soule. A civic booster, Soule had employed salvaged lumber from the disassembled Nemasket Skating Rink to construct the 30x100 foot three-story factory in mid-1886 in hopes of luring industry to Middleborough. Upon completion of the building, Alden, Leonard & Hammond relocated from North Middleborough and occupied the manufactory only briefly before selling their interests to the New Bedford firm.

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington, Cambridge

Street, Middleborough, MA, photograph, late

19th century.
The Hathaway, Soule & Harrington manufactory
stood on the west side of Cambridge Street near
the foot of present-day Frank Street.  The view is

taken from the northeast.  The fence marks the
course of Cambridge Street.

As had their predecessors, Hathaway, Soule & Harrington leased the Cambridge Street plant from Soule, commencing operations there in late December, 1887. Apparently pleased with the plant, the firm was rumored to be contemplating consolidation of its Middleborough and Campello branch factories in the former location, a step "which will about double the business,” according to one local newspaper.

While the rumored consolidation never took place, Hathaway, Soule & Harrington did enlarge the Middleborough facility, prompting the Middleboro News to urge residents to be “up and doing and secure the benefits likely to result from a factory employing 100 to 150 hands.” To facilitate its expansion, in December, 1889, the company purchased the manufactory building from Soule and acquired two adjoining lots in order to construct an addition which was likely raised at that time.

Hathaway, Soule & Harrington, advertisement,

1894

The output of the Middleborough branch was primarily medium-grade men’s dress shoes like the firm's “World-Known” brand which retailed for $3. (The $4 "Hu-man-ic" was produced in New Bedford).  In addition to the quality of its product, the firm was noted for producing shoes which were fashionable, as well.  In 1895 Hathaway, Soule & Harrington responded to the “Trilby fad” by introducing one of their “natiest styles” which featured a Trilby toe. Notably, in 1900, Hathaway, Soule & Harrington was one of only “six shoe manufacturing firms who will be leading exhibitors at the Paris Exposition” of that year.

The firm marketed its product aggressively, and shoes were sold as far away as Australia, an accomplishment which led the Middleboro Gazette to remark, “the people at the antipodes take kindly to the Middleboro shoe.”

Production was increasingly mechanized during this period, and in January, 1895, the firm was testing lasting machines at Middleborough. The test must have proved successful, for in 1897, at least one lasting machine was installed in the factory and by 1898 there were six of them operating in the plant. The use of mechanical lasters, however, created problems when unionized lasters at Brockton struck against the lasting machine companies. Lasters at both Hathaway, Soule & Harrington as well as Leonard, Shaw & Dean at Middleborough were ordered out by the union, though the action had little impact as lasting was resumed by hand.

By 1895, the firm’s three plants were producing some 500,000 shoes annually for $1.5 million in sales. Of the 650 hands employed, about 200 were located at the Middleborough plant. The firm was noted for the high caliber workmen which it employed, “and many men have gone out of their factories to accept responsible positions elsewhere.”  Hathaway, Soule & Harrington salesmen and managers also achieved important positions in other firms, as well.  Henry Dean who had been employed 12 years by Hathaway, Soule & Harrington in 1897 became a partner in the Middleborough shoe firm of Leonard & Shaw which subsequently became Leonard, Shaw & Dean.  Overseeing management of Hathaway, Soule & Harrington's Middleborough manufactory was superintendent Andrew Alden. The Alden family was deeply connected with the business, and Alden's three sons - James Gardner Alden, Arthur Harris Alden and Frederic Lawton Alden - each held positions in the Middleborough operation.  Arthur and fellow Hathaway, Soule & Harrington associates George W. Walker and William H. Wilde would later co-found Alden, Walker & Wilde in Middleborough in 1900.

Production throughout the late 1890s remained high at Middleborough, and the plant appears to have operated at full capacity with 40 cases of shoes being produced daily. In fact, additional workers were hired in September, 1895, due to the pressures of “brisk” business.

Former Hathaway, Soule & Harrington plant,

Cambridge Street, Middleborough, MA, postcard,

early 20th century.

When the former Hathaway, Soule &

Harrington plant was depicted here sometime after

1906, C. W. Maxim's planing mill occupied the first

floor and basement while shoe manufacturers

Keith & Pratt occupied the upper two floors.  The

plant was constructed from lumber salvaged from the

Nemasket Skating Rink which was disassembled in

1886.

The success of the Middleborough branch notwith-standing, as early as 1897, Hathaway, Soule & Harrington contemplated abandoning Middleborough. In response to an understanding that the firm would remain in town should a 40x100 foot addition costing $5,200 be constructed for them, a citizen’s meeting in Middleborough Town Hall raised $2,000 towards the cost, while company employees pledged another $1,000, as an inducement for the company to stay. By September, 1897, nearly all the money necessary to raise an addition had been subscribed, but "contrary to general expectations”, Hathaway, Soule & Harrington in mid-September, decided to close the Middleborough plant and consolidate operations at New Bedford.

Despite this decision which was reported in the local newspapers of the time, no immediate steps were taken to close the Middleborough plant which remained open for another two and a half years during which time business was steady, even overwhelming. Aggressive salesmen flooded the firm with orders in 1899, and demand was so high for the company’s product that the Middleborough plant was compelled to operate at night beginning in February of that year. New markets in Cuba and the Philippines which were opened as a consequence of the Spanish-American War, also fueled demand and the Middleborough plant became engaged in manufacturing “a large number of shoes” destined for Havana and Manila. The volume of work naturally necessitated the employment of additional operatives and not surprisingly the December, 1899, weekly payroll was remarked upon as the largest ever at the Middleborough branch when some $3,000 in weekly wages were distributed. 

"Middleboro, Plymouth Co., Mass.", New

York, NY: Sanborn-Perris Map Co.,

Limited, may, 1891, detail.

In March, 1900, definitive steps were taken to finally close the Middleborough branch and remove operations to New Bedford. The 200 Middleborough operatives were offered employment in the New Bedford plant and while some accepted, others remained at Middleborough, possibly enticed by the announcement in early April that Leonard & Barrows, Middleborough’s largest shoe manufacturer at the time, planned on adding an additional 300 jobs. Additionally, some remained to enter the employ of Alden, Walker & Wilde which opened a plant on Clifford Street at the time of the Middleborough branch's closure.  That spring, in its final week, four railroad carloads of shoes and two of leather shoe findings were shipped from Hathaway, Soule & Harrington's Middleborough plant.

Sources:

Illustrated Boston: The Metropolis of New England. New York, NY: American Publishing and Engraving Company, 1889.

Middleboro Gazette, “Twenty-Five Years Ago”, January 23, 1920:2; ibid., June 4, 1920:5; ibid., August 6, 1920:2; ibid., August 13, 1920:6; ibid., September 10, 1920:7; ibid., October 1, 1920:5; ibid., October 29, 1920:3; ibid., November 11, 1920:3; ibid., January 21, 1921:3; ibid., March 25, 1921:4; ibid., June 3, 1921:7; ibid., February 3, 1922:6; ibid., June 16, 1922:6; ibid., September 1, 1922:8; ibid., September 22, 1922:7; ibid., December 8, 1922:5; ibid., September 28, 1923:10; ibid., November 23, 1923:6; ibid., February 8, 1924:9; ibid., March 7, 1924:6; ibid., December 5, 1924:5; ibid., December 12, 1924:7; ibid., January 16, 1925:6; ibid., April 3, 1925:8; “Middleboro”, December 29, 1905:4; ibid., January 5, 1906:4;

“Middleboro, Plymouth Co., Mass.” NY:Sanborn-Perris Map Co., Limited. May, 1891

“Middleboro, Plymouth Co., Mass.” NY: Sanborn-Perris Map Co., Limited. June, 1896
“Middleboro, Plymouth County, Mass.” NY: Sanborn-Perris Map Co., Limited. April, 1901.
Old Colony Memorial, August 5, 1886:1; “County and Elsewhere”, August 26, 1886:4; ibid., September 2, 1886:4; ibid., June 9, 1887:5; ibid., December 29, 1887:1; ibid., March 22, 1888:4; ibid., July 19, 1888:4; ibid., November 9, 1889: 5; ibid., December 14, 1889:4; March 31, 1900:3