Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-06

tened with pleasure To his interesting
"reminiscences regarding the early history
OF shoe manufacturing in Maine. The
oldest shoe manufacturer in Maine today
IN point of continuous service is Ara
Cushman, president of the Ara Cushman
company of Auburn, who in the early fif-
ties in modest way in a little building
known as the Tea Can" at West Mi
not, inaugurated the business that in re-
cent years has assumed such large pro-
portions. The oldest manufacturer. not a
resident of Maine but who operates in
this State shoe factory at South Ber-
Wick. Is David Cummings of Massachu-
sets. he having been in the business
longer time than Mr. Cushman. II was
hfty-three years ago that Mr.. Cummings
engaged in shoe manufacturing in Mas
sachusetts and he has been in the bust
ness ever since. one of the first firms
Mr.. Cummings had dealings with was
Amos +. Tapley x Co. and the same firm
after being in business without any
change the long period of sixty years is
still doing business in Boston, being the
oldest shoe jobbing house in New Eng
land. and probably the oldest in the coun-
Try. Capt. Shaw thinks he comes next to
Mr. Cushman in point of continuous ser
vice as il was thirty years ago in 1861
that he engaged in the business his part
ncr. Mr.. Cooling. becoming associated
with him few months later in the same
year shaw, Cooling * Co for thirty
years manufactured shoes in Portland
and during that time paid out in that city
st61,Wo for labor. Shaw, Cooling < Co.
nave now given up their Portland factory
but are operating the Lewiston factory
formerly run by Gay Woodman a. Co
where there are at present employing a25
hands. and have recently opened a fac
tory at Sprinsvalc in which 125 to $50
hands are al present being employed. The
Lewiston factory has a capacity of $50
dozen mems shoes and the Springvale
factory i50 dozen ladies' shoes Capt
SHAW also for many years operated fac
al Il L.
now conducted by his brother under the
name of A. w. Shaw & Co, manufacture
ing 100 cases daily of mems low priced
shoes George w. Parker of Bangor. SEN
ior member of Parker & Peakes the
widely known shoe manufacturers thinks
he can claim a longer association with
shoe manufacturing in Maine than Cant
ohaW ne having enSagcd in the business
IN Dcdham. this State, in 1865. Mr. Park
or was a native of Dedham and when n
young man went to Massachusetts where
ne worked in u shoe factory at Danyers
and later in a Boston leather house He
theh entered the army and after return
ing from the front worked in a shoe fac
tory at Georgetown. Mass. He then re-
turned to his native town and engaged in
shoe manufacturing in Dedham. After
two years he removed to Bangor and his
present partner, Henry Peakes became
associated with him. From Il small be-
ginning, the business of Parker 4 Peakes
has steadily expanded until today. with n
daily output of 80 cases and a crew of 40
hands, they find their plant too small for
their purposes and have again com
mcnced to enlarge. Work is this week in
progress on the foundation for an addi-
ton SSxiO feet. and six stories The new
factory will be ready for business by No
vember and will give IA frontage for the
entire establishment on Hancock street of
40 feet. With the completion of this ex-
tensive addition Messrs. Parker & Peakes
Will have one of the largest and best
shoe factories in Maine. Their
produce Is mems, youths and boys me-
dunn shoes