The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-08

dren OF samuel " aud Rachel Andrews
/ Durham lie wa one Of the ninth gen
Grafton IN lIncal descent " Deacon John
| Durham. who came from England and
settled IN Plymouth. Mass His boyhood
days were spent on his fathers farm and
he received hi. education IN the district
schools and at Paris academy, afterwards
teaching in sumner. Woodstock and Deer
Island, Me Soon after becoming OF age
he worked two years as clerk III the gen
eral store Of his father and then engaged
in the flour and grain business with his
father in West Paris under the firm
name OF c. W Durham & company Mr..
Durham came to Brattleboro july !, 1855,
with the intention Of starting IN the re-
tail shoe business He was accompanied
BY his brother, George l.. Durham, then
teacher in Portland. Me, the latter
intending to remain here for day only.
Plans were changed, however. and the
brothers became proprietor, OF the shoe
store owned by II. W Simonds and stu
ated in what Is now the south section Of
the Durham Brothers company's retail
department,
The story Of the firms rapid develop
ment is one closely identified with Brat
tleboro's industrial history during the
last quarter century. The policy OF buy
ing always for cash gave the concern a
business standing that worked greatly to
its advantage, and increased business
soon made necessary the requirement OF
additional space. When the adjoining
store, formerly occupied by the \. NJ. c.
A.. was leased the firm began a whole
sale business in small way, and in 1894
Lyndon l.. Durham, a younger brother,
was taken into partnership. Constant
growth followed, making necessary the
erection of two siX-story buildings IN the
rear of Hooker block after all available
space in that structure had been occupied;
In January 1909 the firm Incorporated
under the name of the Durham Broth
ers company and today enjoys one of the
largest wholesale shoe and rubber bust
nesses in the east, being selling agent for
New England and Greater New York Tor
Mishawaka Ball Band felt and rubber
footwear and Straight Line rubbers.
As senior member of the firm and direc-
tor of its financial policy Charles W
Durham played an allimportant part IN
its development and was potent factor
in its success. His determination, per-
severance and keen grasp OF business
methods enabled him to foresee every
need of the rapidly growing business
and meet each contingency with tirmness
and decision Yet in spite of these exact
ing duties he found time to interest HIM
self in matters pertaining to Brattleboros
general welfare. and gave them the same
persistent work In l9U2 MI.
Durham was appointed member OF the
citizens committee chosen to take charge
of the movement looking toward the de-
of the water power OF the Con
necticut river at this point and was made
Al, Tow ha bar or
granted by the Vermont legislature of
that year. He was also chosen a member
of the corporators' committee to interest
outside capital in the project and with
the Others was instrumental in inducing
the Chace- Hartman combination to
finance the venture which resulted in the
hydro-electric plant at Vernon.
Throughout the struggle which preceded
the organization of the Connecticut River
Power company Mr.. Durham worked
with characteristic energy and determine
ton, and those most conversant with the
obstacles that had to be met and over
come are most appreciative OF his unceas-
ing efforts. Mr.. Durham was president
Of the Connecticut River Power company
and one of the local stockholders; He
took personal interest in the erection OF |
the big dam and looked forward with |
enthusiasm to the benefits it promised the |
industrial life of this section.
In the fall of 1908 Mr.. Durham built a |
handsome bungalow on the New Hamp-
shire side of the Connecticut river about |
three miles north of this village and
had taken great pleasure in spending |
part of his time there. Two years ago |
he bought of o. NJ. Lawton the Dalton
place on Linden street, occupying it last
spring. Last summer he built large
modern greenhouse on the premises and
had interested himself in raising fruits,
vegetables and flowers under glass.
To know Mr.. Durham best one had to
70 with him into the woods and share