The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-08-23
FIFTY YEARS WORK
ENDED YESTERDAY
Asa S. Field Left the Estey Organ
Factory on His SD Birthday An
niversary After Spending Half
Century Making Actions.

When the clock whistle blew at
the Estey Organ factory last evening
il meant more, perhaps, to Asa f.
Field than to any other employe in
the establishment for it. marked the
completion of his 30 years of continu-
Gus and faithful service for the com
pany. Yesterday was also the SIND
anniverary of his birth. Mr.. Field
win now retire from active labor and
enjoy his wellearned rest. He is still
AS active as most men of many less
years and no doubt could give excel
lent service for another 10 years II
it were necessary for him to do so. lie
will continue to care for his garden
and lawn at his home on Pearl street
as he has done heretofore in addition
TO his "day's work" in the factory.
With the exception of six months
Mr. Field. has spent the past half
century making actions, first for me.
lodeons and then for reed organs, ana
he has become so skilled that for
many years he has done only the very
finest of action work. He has worked
for three generations of Esteys, first
for Deacon Jacob Estey, then for Gen.
julius J. Estey, and lastly for Col. j.
Gray Estey and Capt. j. Harry Estey,
all of who have appreciated his ser
vices.
Mr. Field began work for the Estey
company Aug. %, 1857, as a cabinet
maker The shop was then where the
Brattleboro House now is, and the
firm name was Estey & Green. The
actions were made in a building which
stood where Milestone building now
stands. and after six months Mr..
Field was transferred to that build
ing. He became foreman of the action
department, and held the position %
years. He is responsible for many
valuable Improvements and patents IN
the department.
No other person in the employ OF
the Estey company has worked Tor
the firm as long as he, and with the
exception of Joseph L. Jones who be-
came an inmate of the Brattleboro
Home for the Aged and Disabled a
wear ago, his length of service for the
company exceeds that of any person
living. He has always been in good
health working steadily 10 hours a
| day the year around with the eXcep-
tion of the summer half-holidays. He
is as active as most men with far less
years to their credit.
Mr.. Field was born in Northfield,
Mass, Aug. %, 1925, great grandson
of Capt. Seth Field, who at one time
was stationed at Fort Dummer, and a
son of Henry and Mary (Simonds)
Field. At the age of II years he came
to Brattleboro and spent one sum
mer carpentering for Isaac Hinds. lie
came again the next year and spent
three years learning the cabinet MAX
ers trade of Anthony Van Doom
At the completion of his apprentice
ship Mr.. Van Doom gave him a silk
certificate on which was printed a
picture of Mr.. Van Doom s shop,
which stood where the Emerson build
ing now stands.
After spending season in Lynn.
Mass. Mr.. Field returned and worked
for Mr.. Van Doom for two years
Then he entered the employ of Jones
& Burdett in the melodeon business
in Centreville. Four years later he
went to California, where he spent
one season in a gold mine and the
rest of the time carpentering, return
ing after one year. For the next two
wears he worked in Jones, Carpenter
& Wood S melodeon factory. lie then
went to work for Estey & Green.
On May 30, 1856, Mr.. Field married
Laura R. Jewell of Nottingham. For
the past AZ years they have lived in
the house which they built on Pearl
street. They have two children, Edith
S. Cutler, wife of Fred A. Cutler OF
Minneapolis, and Frank H. Field OF
Bratteboro.
Mr. Field has given his best efforts
for the Estey company, and he says
that the success of any company is
as much dependent upon the hearty
cooperation of those employed as it Is
upon the necessary capital to conduct
the business.