The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-10-31
Oilcloth Factory to Close.

Our citizens will learn with much
regret that the manufacture of Oil
cloths, carried on in this place for
more than half century, is to be dis
continued. The firm of c. M. Bailey's
Sons & Co., have decided to withdraw
from business here and the machinery
is now being made ready for ship
ment to Winthrop.
This business was established in
about 1855 by A. & P. Coburn, the late
B. M. Norris being superintendent.
About ten years later, his plant at
Winthrop having been destroyed by
fire, G. NJ. Bailey came here and
leased the plant of the Coburns, the
original contract being for six months.
Mr.. Bailey found his business increas
ing and as Skowhegan proved salts
factory location for him, he after
wards bought the factories. The
business was done In the name of G.
M. Bailey until about 1888, when it be-
came partnership, the principal
members of the firm being understood
to be G. l. and E. A. Bailey and Joseph
E. Briggs, and the title taken at that
time is that by which the company is
now known, G. M. Bailey's Sons &
Company. Mr. G. M. Bailey, the
founder of the business has continued
very active in it's affairs, and, although
now in his eighty eighth year, has
continued to make trips from Win
throp to this place as often as three
times a month.
The first superintendent after the
Coburns retired was John W. Bailey,
brother of @. M. Bailey above men
toned and another brother, William
P, succeeded him in the management
of the Skowhegan factories in 1870.
In 1888 u lillian P. Bailey was trans
ferred to the sales department. and
moved to Massachusetts and since
that date, G. Wallace Nash has been
the manager of the Bailey's Skowhe-
gan business. Mr. Nash had worked
in the factories at Winthrop and was
just returning from the war at the
time MIR. Bailey commenced opera
tions here. His Management has al
ways been considered very efficient
and owners and employees alike can
not fail to retain a warm regard for
him. The names of twenty five men,
who, including Mr.. Nash, had previ-
ously worked for Mr.. Bailey at Win
in,
here given. Seven of them, like Mr..
Nash, were just returning from the
war at the time.
G. H. Cushman, Simon Nudd, Frank
Nicke rson, Geo. P. Williams, Andrew
Bradbury, G. w. Nash, Frank Phil
brook, G.. w. Williams, E. c. Chase,
William Adams, Levi Gordon, Stephen
Gray, Chas. Gray, Samuel Nash, Alvin
Sedgley, John Towle, Geo. Cushman,
Edgar Healey, Gorham Chandler,
Prince Clifford, John Hutch nson,
David Huntoon, Stephen Brownen, w.
S. Phibrook, Andrew j. Williams.
OF the above named, those who be-
gan work in Decemb 1866, but two,
G.. Wallace Nash and Simon Nudd,
now remain i'll their employ. S. P
Durrell, who commenced work in 1866
has had an unbroken period of service
with the firm since that date.
The industry has been one of the
: best that the town ever had. 1t ran
: very steadily and seemed to attract
workmen who were of thrifty habits
and inclined to build homes and be
! come permanent residents and desir-
able citizens. In the busiest times as
many as So men have been employed,
and a fair estimate of the average
, number would be IS. The cessation
of this industry here will be great
disappointment to many of these EN-
, ployes and result deeply regretted
by the entire community. Oilcloth
> factories are especially liable to de-
struction by fire and it has been known
for years that, should these factories
! burn, it would be almost certain to
lead to removal of the business. AT
the time that one of the buildings was
> burned, in 1899, the decision hung in
the balance, but as business was ther
very good and the rest of the build
ings were left, it was decided to re-
build. Regarding the cause for the
! closing of the factories here at this
time, we'll founded rumor is current
that the consolidation of many of the
large oilcloth manufacturers into a
| trust, of which, however, the Baileys,
though one of the largest makers in
the country, are not part, has
( brought about changes which has
made it necessary for them to concen-
trate their business in Winthrop.
, The firm of G. NJ. Bailey's Sons &
Co., remains the owner of the real es-
tate for the present, consisting of six
! acres of land and eight large wooden
buildings with total floor area OF
, over 100000 square feet. OF course
. no one knows at the present time
, what use will be made of them but il
can only be hoped that they will be
. used by some one for manufacturing
purposes. The bulk of the machinery
, will be removed from them by the
middle of November.