The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-05-26

regarded as one of the most generous
and fairminded of employers.
The largest industry in Bennington is
that known as the Bennington wooden
mills, owned and operated by the firm
of Holden, Leonard q Co. About four
years ago John S. Holden of Palmer,
| Mass, and Geo. f. Leonard of Boston
went to Bennington and purchased the
| mills, which had been built by the late
S. Il. Hunt, and which since that gentle
man retired from business had been I'M
successfully operated by other parties.
When the new firm started in there were
those who predicted that they would go
to the wall inside of a year. Pluck and
energy conquered, however. From the
start the firm succeeded. New and eX-
tensive improvements have been made
to the plant from time to time until now
it is perfect in every respect. Its out
put of fine wool dress fabrics, cloakings
and cassimeres, unexcelled by any man
ufactory in the country, grows larger
each year, SO great is the demand for
their goods. The plant comprises mill
built of brick 227x53 feet, four stories
high, carding, weaving and picking room
243X123 feet, Office 30X40 feet, dye house,
machine shop and boiler house covering
an area of 106x42 feet, and a brick build
ing S0x42 feet containing the storing,
wool dyeing and sorting departments.
In addition there are some fifty tene-
ment houses, occupied by the operatives
of the company. Other structures en-
brace dye house, gas house, carpenter
shops, blacksmith shops, coal sheds,
stock house and minor buildings. At
present there are 300 hands employed,
and the monthly pay roll, the largest in
town, contributes much to the prosperity
of the village. The mill is run by either
water or steam, and is arranged for
lighting either by gas or electricity.
The present members of the. firm are
John S. Holden, who is also vice presi-
dent of the Bennington County National
bank and one of the village trustees;
Charles w. Leonard, who resides in
Waltham, Mass. and has charge of the
Boston Office, and George F. Leonard of
Bennington. Both of the resident pro-
prietors are well known as public spirit
ed men.
In 1887 the Stark Knitting company
was organized, and in 1890 the name was
changed to the Bennington Knitting
company, under which it has gained a
national reputation The mill, which
can be run be run by either $ cam or
water, is 100x50 feet in size, three stor-
les high. Electricity is used for light
ing purposes. The boiler room and
bleachery are separate from the main
building. The firm employs sixty hands
in the manufacture of ladies' and chill
| dren's white underwear of an especially
fine quality. About 10000 dozens are
turned out yearly. So great is the de-
mand for these goods for several months
the plant has been worked to it's utmost
capacity, and now the firm is several
IL, LII, 1, nI,n,
GERS of the company are: Wells Valen-
tine, president; N. NJ. Puffer, treasurer
and general superintendent.
The firm of George lockwood & Co.
was founded in 1863 by George and Buel
lockwood for the manufacture of knit
underwear The works are situated in
the east part of the village. Fine ladies'
and gents underwear are the company's
specialties, the principal production be-
ing mems wear, in which the output
ranks among the best. The company
gives employment to 125 hands, who
have work the year round. The original
partners are both dead, the plant being
conducted by A. Buel Sibley and f. S.
Pratt, both of whom personally supcrin-
tend the business.
The Aldine Knitting company was or
ganized in 1891, few years after the mill
now operated by it was built. During
the past year an addition to the com
pany's plant was made necessary by the
increasing business. There are now sew
about seventy-five dozen balbriggan un-
derwear per day. The mill is run by
steam and lighted by electricity.
Among the members of the firm are Ed
ward j. Hall, who is county clerk; Har-
rison |. Norton and d. E. Moore, the
latter having general charge of the mill.
The Bennington machine works, of
which Olin Scott is proprietor, is the
outcome of the old Bennington iron
foundry, which was the first one estab-
lished in Vermont, its origin dating back
to 1910. During the year 1858 Mr.. Scott
purchased an interest in the works, and
in 1868 became sole proprietor. In 1865
the Eagle foundry and machine shops
were merged with the original plant,
since which time they have been con-
Quoted under the present name. The
works rank among the best in the state,
and the gunpowder machinery manufac-
tured there stands at the head of any
made in this country, being sold in many
foreign countries Another feature is
, the manufacture of wood pulp machin-
cry, orders for some forty sets having
T6C6uUly Deeu T6CelVeu. lucS0 WOlho
have been an important factor in the
prosperity of Bennington, the owner be-
) ing one of the most public spirited and
generous men in the village.
Enos Adams and Grin D. Adams con-
, stitute Bennington firm. They are en-
, gagged in the manufacture of several diff
ferent articles, the leading one being
Adams's mineral soap, which has alarge
sale. They also produce a fine quartz
for polishing purposes, which is taken
= from their bed in Cheshire, Mass, and a
superior quality of yellow ochre. Con-
f nected with their works is machine
shop. The firm employs about thirty
, men.
= One of the most successful plants in
Y the village of Bennington is that of H.
. w. Putnam, located on North street
= From thirty to fifty men are employed
g in the manufacture of clothes wringers,
!, cork fasteners, syrup gauges, double
/ pointed tacks and other useful articles
| Mr.. Putnam is also the owner of the new
: opera house and block, the Hotel Put
q nam and several other model business
/ blocks, and it was principally through
q his efforts that the water works were
}, put in few years ago. The business
+ here is under the personal supervision
l. 4 u n A