Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-05-09
DEXTER.
The Abbott Wooien Mill. a Model Institution
Of It's Kind.

DrNrER, MAY 7th.--onc of the local
industries of this town which has developed
very noticably in the last two or three
years, is the WOODEN factory of Amos
Abbott & Co. This is one of the eldest
establishments of It's kind in the State, per
which has never been changed, shipped 10
Boston the first invoice of manufactured
wooiens ever sent out of the State of Maine.
The abbott cloth was a household word
in all This section. wears and wears ago.
The original members of the firm have all
passed from the scene of action, and
another generation, aud yet another, has
succeeded them.
Until quite recently the Abbott mill, So
called, has been comparatively small af-
fair-only two sets of machinery, and the
productions sold almost altogether by their
travelling agent, Samuel Copeland, who
has been in their employ buying wool and
selling cloth, for 81 years. At first he
drove cart through the country, then
he went on the railroad and by
other methods, with line of samples, the
orders being filled and goods sent from
Dexter by express. But IN the last few
so that it now contains six sets of machin-
cry, if we mistake not, and its productive
capacity largely increased. The quality of
the goods has always been of the very hest
and as result the company has
the goods have been handled
very largely by commission houses in New
York and Philadelphia and the past year,
u, Il IL a
heavy that the mill has been run to its full
capacity night and day, two crews being em-
ployed. It is only recently that they have,
to Il certain extent caught up with their or
Aers, so as 10 discontinue night work, but
as the season advances il is altogether like
ly that tho extra force will have to he put
on again.
The unusual activity which has marked
the operations At the Abbott mill i'll The last
few years, has undoubtedly been due, in
considerable measure, to the coming into
the firm of representatives of the third gen
Grafton, in the persons of Messrs. Geo, w.
and Arthur Atbott, sons respectively of
the senior members, George
A. and Job Abbott Both these Young
on natural mechanics, and both are graiu-
atcs of the Boston School of Technology.
has in years past shown his mechanical
skill in the making of steam launches, en-
gnes, etc. and Geo. W, or Walter, as he
is usually called, having specially fitted
himself for that class of work, designs all
the cloth that is made at this factory.
This is II most desirable firm to work for,
and some of their employees have been there
for many years, grown gray i'll the service
in fact. They comprise some Of the very
best people in the town. and are prominent
in the social and fraternity circles, and it
has sometimes been the case that several
of the towns officers have been
found among them The firm are
all workers themselves: one of
the seniors, George A., has general over
sight Of thtatechnical part of the mill. He
is skiIlful macbinist and may almost any
time he found in his shop or at the factory
engaged upon some repairs called for in the
business
The Abbott mill, and its management
may he pointed to nc one of the model
village industries of the good old State of
Mni,