South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-02
HONOR MEMORY
OF B. F GOODRICH
Week Marks Golden Ami
versary of Founding of
Rubber Company.

AKRON, o., Jan. IA man
whose pioneer work in the rubber
industry was destined 20 figure
prominently IN the development of
the automobile but who did not live
10 see a "horseless carriage" was
singularly honored here last week.
His name f. DR.. Benjamin Franklin
Goodrich, founder Of the rubber
company bearing his name.
Last week marked the golden an
niversary OF the founding Of the b.
+. Goodrich Rubber Co, the parent
factory OF the Rubber City" The
company was incorporated Dec 81,
1870. Officials and employees OF the
company. residents of the city, and
thousands OF friends and customers
throughout the country Joined IN
paying tribute 70 the memory Of DR..
Goodrich and IT. observing the ter
mination of full hair century Of
the company he esta blished.
The rubber industry literally made
Af-rOn-chsnged IL in the space of
"A few decades from a quiet little
inhabitants 10 one Of the foremost
manufacturing centers in the United
states. Consequently, the people OF
Akron feel duly grateful to the man
who first brought the industry to
the city and paved the way for fu-
ture growth.
Create Many Products.
Fifty years ago when Goodrich
was founded the uses OF rubber
were few. II was just beginning 90
be appreciated as a factor In indus
trial life. Since that time the i'm
genuity and inventiveness Of man
have created OF this material many
thousands OF products which today
are absolutely essential to the con
tinued progress of the world.
DR.. Goodrich. a resident Of New
York state, was a physician by pro.
fession. However. after serving as
surgeon during the Civil war he
took up real estate and shortly found
himself IN possession OF a small
rubber factory at Hastings -on-the-
Hudson.
Handicapped BY a lack OF funds
his first efforts TO operate this fac
tory We're unsuccessful. Attracted
by Akron's transportation advan-
tages and an offer OF financial as
sistance from a group Of Akron men
he brought his equipment TO this
city
The manufacture OF rubber pro
ducts was first started by DR.. Good
rich In a small tWo-stOry brick build
ing 40 by 100 feet, which could %,
placed I'm one OF the mill rooms OF
the present plant. To start with
the concern employed 25 men. ThL
little factory OF so years ago ma,
grown until today Il comprises g..
buildings Of brick and steeI-cover
ing 10 acres OF land.
Early Struggle Bitter.
The early struggles 20 finance IN,
industry were bitter and discOurag
ing In those days, not many per
sons had much faith IN the futur,
OF the rubber industry and man1
OF the original stockholders droppe,
out, fearing they would lose every
thing they had put into II. DIR
GOodr'ch's persistence and Opt
nlisrn, however. finally succeeded IN
obtaining sufficient capital to en-
a bic the company TO start its marcel
toward prosperity
The first big stride I'm the growtI
OF the Goodrich came with tn,
popularity OF the bicycle. When TN,
high wheelers gave way to what wa
called the safety blcycie pneu
matte tires were introduced ant
Goodrich speedily took up thef
manufacture. Before this time
Goodrich had taken the initial step
IN the evolution or rubber shoe
wheels by perfccting the solid rub
Der tire for carriages
The success OF this carriage tire
followed by that OF the pneumati,
ire for bicycles. naturally led &,