New Britain herald., 1922-03-13
Plalnville News

luLt HllI ilUullOu DUUu
 WILL INCREASE BUSINESS Lad Fire in Home Of Leon A. Spcn-
 cer on West Main Street Saturday y
 Afternoon, Fi,e Department Ham,
 pcred-Othcr Items.
 President A, F. Rockwell of the Standard Steel and Bearings company predicts prosperous future for the plant. MT. Rockwell is confident that things will soon be booming in Plain . vile and although the plans are just being formed, it is with some author ity that he states the loca! factory will soon employ large force and return to it's prc-war schedule.
 Mir. Rockwell has denied the stcr- ies that the Philadelphia plant has been sold but nevertheless says, in time, the entire business of that fac tory, will be removed to Plainville where this town will be the central location of the whole plant. The shop in Philadelphia employees about 800 hands at present, It is probable that some Of the experts in their particu- lar line will be transferred to Plain- vile.
 There are no extra hands being hired now although several of the old CT workers, who were laid off ufter the war, have been called back. The plant now employs about dozen hands, which will be increased this week with the return of others. k c. Miller is general manager The fact that rumors have been out con- cerning the factory throwing open it's doors to workers caused large number of men to apply this morn ing and during the day for work. They were refused. More definite plans will be necessary until the force can be enlarged.
 The Standard Steel closed in Oc- tober 1920. Some 1000 men were l thrown out of employment as the re- suit of this action, and many of them 1 came from as far as Vermont. Elm 1 ployes who had been transferred from l Philadelphia were returned to the l other shop The local factory during | the war worked on three shifts and paid higher wages. Some men re- | ceivef as high as $90 a week. The l sudden business slump following the war and the decreasing orders for | bearings necessitated the closing. 4 few months ago, officials began work ! in the plant again and took on a few l toolmakers and machinists.
 | The residents of Painville are lnxiously awaiting the opening of the | factory as there are many men out of work. With the exodus of the Stan | lard Steel employees after the shut 1 Town, business in town took a decid- ed slump The rooming houses felt the loss of the boarders keenly and the merchants saw a decrease in thelr weekly sales. The factory officials still own three rooming houses on West Main street. Offers for their purchase had been received by them but the officials constantly had in view the re-opening Of the factory and felt that the houses would be needed. Fire in Spencer Home A serious fire caused damages of about l,500 at the home of Leon A.. Spencer of West Main street late Saturday afternoon. It started in the lttic. A younger member of the fami- ly had gone up there with a lighted T ,>1r q rti cles stored away. The child escaped without any burns. It is believed that the child had seen it's mother light candle several days ago when the electric lights of the town were ex- tinguished and evidently followed her example when no one was watching,
 Most of the damage resulted from water.
 The fire company was also handi- capped with the short ladders. They were not high enough to reach the attic window where the fire was burning the fiercest. N
 The result of this fire will prob ably start some action on the part of the town officials in seeing that the fire department is properly equipped. That the fire could have been easily eAtinguishcd without much damage had proper fighting facilities been on hand, was the opinion of Chief Ed ward r. Prior
 Holy Name Whist
 The Holy Name society of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, will hold a public whist Thursday even- ing at the church hall. An enter tainment will also be on the program which will commence at s o'clock. Talent has been secured from Hart ford, Bristol, Southington and Plain vile. In addition to whist, "45" may be enjoyed.
 Rev. William A. Downey, a>member