Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-12-06

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stantial brick building on its site. Since retiring,
the Rev Edward Kennard, who now resides at
No. 6l9 Shipley street, has been a preacher in
the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was born
Kent county, Md, on September 18th, 1902,
came here In 1919, and is the oldest Wilmington
carriage manufacturer now living. He learned
his trade with the Humphreys in 1919 and served
"a years.
frame building on the site OF our magnificent
Masonic Temple, wherein Thomas Richardson
built stages for the Union Line, !" running from
New Castle to Ffenchtown Md, and for the
Philadelphia andsBaltimore Lue. He was sue
ceeded by Joseph Chandler, who continued the
same business for several years, until the father
Of George G. and Charles Gordon bought the
estate, and Mr.. Smith rented 1t for his marble
works.
Jonathan Pierson went into the carriage man
pfacturing business about 1874, in wooden
building at Sixth and Orange Streets, which for
several years was used for that purpose, and
tn en-, like all the other ''old frames, sacrificed
to the improvement and safety of our city.
About 1824-5, there was brick and frame
manufaetory at Fourth and French, on the site
Of the Second Baptist Church, which William
Brown built, and occupied in making carriages.
The order of succession in this shop was Will
liam Brown, James Murdoch, John Kirkman,
John Merrick, Fred Klund, Flaglor & Fleming,
Alex. Jameson, (who subsequently, about 1876,
converted the building at Third and French into
a carriage msnufactory) and Henry Pretzchner.
In 1859, the Second Baptist Society bought the
estate, and in 1854 tore down the old building
and erected their present handsome church ed
ifice
A few years later, about 1890, an old stone
barn on the West side of French street, between
Seventh and Eighth, was converted into a car
riage mandatory, and used as such by William
Robinson for few years, when he was succeeded
by Mr. McReynolds.
Only few people bought carriages in those
years. Mr.. Kennard made from 10 to Is per
year, and shipping abroad had not commenced
There we're shops In the early part of the 18th
century, as described in the foregoing The
business then, as now, had its times Of pros
perity and depression.
Having thus traced the early history OF the
manufacture of carriages in Wilmington, Prof.
Harkness turns his attention to short biograph-
ical ske tches Of those at present engaged In the
business and description of their works. We
commend the curious to the Magazine itself for
these sketches, they being too ponderous for our
columns.
1t must not be supposed that, from the date
OF its inception, the carriage trade was lead
ing industry in the city The business never
amounted to much until the opening OF the p.
w. Il b. II. r., since which time it has gradually
expanded to its present proportions.
Steam power and machinery were introduced
into the manufacture of carriages in 1864.
The Oldest manufactory is the one located at
the Southeast corner of Second and French
streets, it having been built in 1913, and subse-
quently occupied for II consecutive years by
John Merrck. 1t has always been a successful
establishment. Two great advantages it pos
sesses, lie in its proximity to the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore depot-one and one
half squares-and its central business location.
II is considered one of the best locations in
town for selling carriages
e-s=a STATISTICS.
Wilmington employs SO proprietors, 625
jOurneymen, 189 apprentices and II clerks in 20
manufactures Total 1868. She runs from 102
to 12O forges and consumes $511,0O0 worth of
raw material
The average of wages to each employee, in-
Guiding proprietors,. ID $454 per year. Including
only mechanics and apprentices about $500
each per year. The highest salary paid an em-
ployee is $1,000 per year. The annual amount
Of wages is 1891 ,913. The cost of living is worry
low, the worldngmen intelligent and satisfied.
With building and capital capacity for produ-
cling IL, 487 carriages per year, she builds less
than half that number, viz: 1860, because she
makes the very best. The largest number she
has ever built in one week iA 14t. She employs
capital of 1857 900. Her carriages annually
produced are worth $1,081 43S, which would
give a profit Of 20 per cent. on her capital if,
by having no bad debtors, she received justice
from others and were not too generous to be
true to heraelf