The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-07-30

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CAPSULE NO. II.

CAPSULE NO. IL.
>T HERE was oe man in Newark who. in 1890. had made more money than
he needed. He admitted IS much and such al admission a not Sc
dangerous in those days a it is at the present This man with the surplus was
a1osesc Combs, a pioneer manufacturer of III town. He had made boots and
shoes to sell as early as 1890 and sold them. In 1900. when he had 1T to spare he
had extended his market far and wide. principally toward the South With
which hi used as a combination school for his apprentices nd a church. This
was the first free school in Newark. Combs had been a member of the First
Church N had contributed literally toward the structure. but being a
preacher himself. had allowed his expert criticism to get the better of him. His
Independent church endured through his lifetime and after his death was
merged again with thu parent church.
combss success a a manufacturer had inspired many to emulate hin, SO
that he was directly responsible for the great shoe manufacturing industry of
Newark. One of the hobbies developed by his prosperity was his opposition tt
slavery. It reached such a critical stage that he freed his me slave 1t is nc
reflection on Mr. Combss attitude that this man was later hanged in Military
ark after being convicted of numbering his wife. 1t may ave been that the
manufacturer far-sghted and did not wish the lady to die on the premises
The industry which Combs founded grew with marvellous rapidty until New
ark was known fr and wide in thu thirteen original states for the excellence
of its boots and shoes. So intimately associated with Newark vas shoemakdng
at that period that a mp of the town drawn in 1906 a embelnshed with the
picture of a shoemaker busny at work. It ws ever anerward known as the
shoemakers NAP of Newark
Another great impetus was furnished for the Industrial growth If the tow
in 1904 when its first banking institution vas established. 1t vas know al the
Newark Banking nd Insurance Company 1t had as its first president Judge
Elisha Boudinot and William whitehouse, father of the New Jersey historian.
was sits first cashier The bank ws opened in the parlor of the residence Of
Judge Smith Burnet While this may sound a rae informal for the scene of
the opening of a lew bank the first days deposits showed just TO- seriously
it ws taken and how prosperous vas the community it "a to serve. That
day $4,000 came into the panor bank 1t vas placed in a large wooden box
bound with iron. The box was considered safe, I'M on the manel two long
two horse pistols were laid right out where everyone could see
them. The site for a bank building wa purchased the following year at
Broad n Bank streets. The latter thoroughfare was called Maiden Lane at
that time The Importance it acquired through furnishing part of Thu site for
the ms financial institution o. the town caused it shame to be- changed The
lot on which this first bank building was erected had a frontage o. Broad
street of 50 feet and a depth N Bank street of 100 feet It costs @sss. Any
one of a curious inqurng urn of mind car discover how real estate values
have been elevated since that day by endeavoung to acquire a squares foot of
that same property for the m amount The bank building which was
erected here vas storesi in height, If brick, with White stone trimmings
.Whitehouse, he cashier lived lin the upper story The townspeople we're very
proud of this bank a of the building. n exhibited their pride In the sub
santal form OF deposits Af-