The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-05-26
BUSY BENNINGTON.
THE ENTERPRIsING VILLAGE FULL OF
THE HUM OF INDUSTRY.

hidden under a bushel, but few fully
realize how extensive that enterprising
villages manufacturing industries are,
and fewer still the rapidity with which
they have grown within recent years.
While the knit goods industry is the
largest, it is by no means the only one
of which Bennington can boast. The
busy hum of hundreds of skilled artisans
in many other branches of manufacture
is heard in various parts of the village,
the products of which are sent not only
to all sections of this big country of ours
and of Canada, but to almost every
point on the globe where civilization has
obtained firm fOothold. The following
outline description of Bennington's lead
ing manufactures and those who con-
duct them will be of interest:
The pioneer in the knit goods industry,
which has made Bennington famous,
was II. E. Bradford. Mr.. Bradford in
1854 began the manufacture of cloths.
This he carried on about three years,
when he commenced the manufacture of
knit underwear. The business increased
year by year until larger quarters were
needed, and in 1868 the works were
moved into the new and commodious
mill now standing at the east end of
Main street. The mill proper is about
90X70 feet with two wings, the east one
being 130x30 feet, the west one 100X30
feet. 1t is built of brick, two stories
high and fitted with four sets of sixty
inch and two sets of forty-eight inch
machines for turning out twenty-five
different styles of ladies' and gents un-
derwear in natural white, mixed and red
colors. The firm employs 125 hands and
annually produce $4,000 dozen garments.
The mill, like all the others in the vii
lage, is arranged to run by either steam
or water. The founder of the firm died
in 1878, but the original firm name is yet
used. The company is at present com
posed of Hon. i. +. Abbott, who has
been connected with it since 1868, and
VIM. II. and E. w. Bradford, sons of II.
Z. Bradford. The three members of the
firm are all public spirited citizens.
In 1924 Joel Valentine established the
first wooden mill in the village of Ben
nington. This business was continued
until 1866, when the manufacture of knit
goods was substituted for the original
industry by A. B. Valentine. who erect
ed large mill on the site of the first
one, which was destroyed by fire. The
second mill was burned in 1888, when
Mr. Valentine erected another plant,
first class in both build and equipment.
1t comprises three mills, No. l beng
11x52 feet, surmounted by water tower
Mills numbers and are each 110x35
feet, of brick, and three stories high.
They are furnished with elevators
lighted by electricity, have metal roofs
and are supplied with hydrants, hose,
sprinkers ana force pumps. They are
as near fire proof as possible for build
ing to be. The total value of the plant
is estimated at S225,000. The offices, 10.
Gated in mill No. l, are the finest in town,
being finished in hard wood and tiled
floors and filled with every possible con-
venience. The mills are what is called
an eight-set mill, giving employment to
$50 hands, most of whom work by the
day. The machinery is run by an engine
of 1l0-horse power, consuming 900 tons
of coal yearly, and the annual output is
10000 dozens underwear, in the pro-
duction of which 400 bales of cotton and
100000 pounds of secured wool are used
yearly, the latter representing 100000
pounds of wool in the fleece. The
present name was adopted in 1888. The
company is Qfficered ny IT G.. -Tindlnff
president and treasurer, A. b. Valentine,
vice president and general manager. A.
B. Perkins is also actively interested.
Mr.. Valentine personally superintends
the entire works. Mr.. Valentine has
filled various state and county offices,
has been department commander of the
G. A. r. for two terms, and it was prin
cipally owing to his eXertions that Ben
nington's graded school building, the
best in the state, was erected.
One of the youngest, and yet one Of
the leading manufactures in Benning
ton is that OF the Lasher Stocking com
pany, with capital of 5000, employ
ing fifty hands and turning out daily
eighty dozen pairs of mems patent heel
seamless hose. The business was origi
mated by Frank Lasher, who went t.
Bennington from Philmont, N, Y, a few
years ago and interested William H
Bradford to that extent that copartner
ship was formed by the two. The bust
ness was conducted in the mill of II. <
Bradford 81 Co. until about a year ago
when it was moved to the mill of tn,
company, then just completed. Ii
1891 new organization was perfect
ed and Mr.. Bradford retired. Thu
new mill, which is of brick, is fire proof
150x40 feet, two stories high, with boil
er room 20x42 feet and engine room
21x20 feet. On the ground floor are tn,
store room and securing room, IN tn
south part. In the north part is TIN
machine shop, fitted with the latest i'm
proved machinery, upon which the com
pany makes its own knitting machines
Opening from this is the Office and draft
| ing room, the Office being handsomel
| -, nth
burglar proof vault. In the north hal
of the second story is the knitting room
92x40 feet, in which are now runnin
| twenty-three automatic stocking ma
chimes and six ribbers. AS soon as the
can be finished twenty-five more will b
added. In the south part is the finish
ing, drying and packing room. Th
building is heated by Sturtevant heater
lighted with electricity and supple
with Grinnell's automatic .sWinklers an
hose in long room. The company pul
chase their yarn already wound, it bein
largely made from Peruvian cotton an
foreign wool. The goods made by theI
are in different colors, of high grade
and the demand thus far has been ia
ahead of the supply. The present of
GERS of the company are: Olin Scot
president; Frank Lasher, vice presideI
and superintendent; Charles S. Beacf
treasurer; Ii. D.. Fillmore, secretary.
About two years ago William CAM
bell, who had been engaged in the sam
business in Cohoes, located in Benninl
ton and leased from Holden, Leonard
Co. the mill on West Main street TO
merly known as the Booth mill. Begil
ming with force of about twenty-fiN
hands, he started the manufacture {