The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-08-14
r1AINE TOWNS.

legislature for the olassed towns, of New
CASTLE, Alma, Boothbay and Nobleboro.
YARMOUTH.
Hodsdon Brothers, the well-known
shoe manufacturers of Yarmouth, have
tnis week commenced making SHOES in
their splendid new factory, which has
been building Tor them this summer
Though q small one comparatively, tho
new plant is Ii model of it's kind, and one
in which Yarmouth taxes great pride, as
well itLnay.
Hodsdon Brothers are known among
shoe men everywhere as one of the most
prosperous concerns in New England
Mr.. j. Y. Hodsdon, the senior member
of the firm, came to Yarmouth in 1850
and built factory on what is known as
the Old forge lot remodelling an old
tannery located there, until the structure
YVES practically rebuilt.
This factory had normal capacity
OF about 5000 pair day, although it was
possible TO make 800 pairs more than
that.
:. With all the fluctuations of the market.
and hardly any manufacturing industry
suffers more in this direction than does
the shoe business, the concern did a
steady and remarkably prosperous bust
ness until last October when the remod-
elled tannery building was burned to the
ground.
This left the Messrs. Hodsdon with q
large quantity of orders on hand and no
factory.
They Immediately removed to Manches-
ter, whore they proceeded 10 fill their or
ders, and at the same time commenced
laying the foundation for the structure
which now stands completed and ready
for business,
The new shop is model shoe factory
IN t. In; -Ho
with basement and a roomy tower, con-
tanning four fioors the entire floor sur
face being little less than II, 500 feet.
Its timbers are all of hard pine with
iron knees, hardwood fuorings, and in
fact none but the best of materials are
used any where in it's construction.
The power used is water. the factory
being situated on the Royal river, where
splendid fall and an unfailing supply
of water is secured.
A 2S-horse power Hercules horizontal
wheel ia used, supplanting turbine tax
en- from the old building.
On the top floor are the roomy and
well-lighted cutting and stitching rooms,
with capacity for az cutters and 60
stitohers,
From this floor the shoes are taken to
the lasting rooms below, and from there
to the finishing room on the same floor.
In the basement 10 set of machinery
for manufacturing another line OF shoes
than those made above. Here is also
the machinists' room, and adjoining the
boiler room with is fire proof. The boil
er, which is used for heating purposes,
is of 40 horse power and was made for the
Messrs. Hoasdon by Moulton of Portland,
who also did ali the steam fitting and
piping
For protection from fire the building is
filed throughout with automatic sprink-
lers, connected with the water system.
and also in case that should fail, with
5500 gallon tank in the tower.
The machinery throughout this build
Ing Ia new, every piece Of it, land excepting
two or three machines, which were used
in Manchester last winter, touched q
shoe. Everyone is of the most modern
make and contains all the improvements
that have made up to the time of pur-
chase.
The building is lighted through Out
by electricity by private plant.
The shoes made are ladies', misses
and ohildren's entirely. The firm makes
speciality Of making shoe for Jobbers
at special price and are able to make
a better shoe for the same money than
almost any manufacturer, on account of
the cheap power, low taxes and insurance
and other advantages which are to be
found at Yarmouth.
Inc nrm was Incorporated this week,
and hereafter will do business under the
name of the Hodsdon Shoe Company.
Mr.. G. A. Hodsdon is president. Mr..
J. 7. Hodsdon, treasurer and general
manager, and Mr.. G. H. Hodsdon of
Pownal the third member of the board
of directors. The capital stock of the
corporation is $780, 900.
The capacity of the new mandatory
is about 1900 to 1900 pairs of shoes day.
Tho president, MIR. G. A. Rodsdon,
attends to the Boston end of the bust
ness.
Mr.J. W. Hodsdon, the general mana
ger. and the head of the concern. COM
menced making shoes by hand in 1862
when IS years of age working fer Mr.
Davis, the gentleman who is now his ma
chinist. He afterwards worked for Roak
and Packard Of Auburn. the pioneer
concern of what is now Names shoe cen
tire. In 1869, as the junior mem Der of the
firm of Caldwell & Hodsdop. he was en-
gagged in the!shoe manufacturing busi-
ness in Portland. on Union street and
afterwards built the factory now occu-
pied by A. =. Cox & Sen.
AS has before bean stated, he removed
to Yarmouth in 1880.