The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-03-08

)dDIy tue lOliON iu6 llol uoeo Hol III
Jude them all. Anyone knowing
more will confer favor upon the In
acknowledgements and upon the
'kowhegan Historical Society by cal
ing attention to them:
The following articles, products or
.inds of business formerly manufac-
ured, produced or carried on in
skowhegan have been discontinued
Axes
Bedsteads
Blinds
Brooms
Cant dogs
Cant dog stocks
Carriages
Castings, brass, lead and
iron
Chisels
Grating
Crochet sets
Doors
Driving calks
Excelsior
Farm wagons
Pulling (cloth)
Harnesses
Hatchets
Hoops
Hoop skirts
Horse rakes
Hose supporters
Iron ore
Laths
Marbleized slate
Matches
Meat blocks
Milk can shoppers
Paint
Pottery
Potash
Pulp hay caps
Pulp battery jars
Raspberry syrup
Saddles
Sash
= Shovel handles
=" Silk B.
Skates
Sleighs
Soap, hard and soft
Starch
= Slaves
Tanning of hides
= Toy hoops
Vapor bath cabinets
/ Wool carding
Axes were made by Barnet Wharf
and by several other individuals
The industry hourished from 1863 to
about 1885. This was located on
Mill street.
Chisels were manufactured by G.
A. Wiiii9na 81 Son Co This was
also on Mill street. They commenc-
ed business in 1853. This firm later
on manufactured skates and finally
hatchets. The excelsior mill, sit
uated at the junction of Mill and
Main street was burned long years
ago. Hoop skirts were manufactnr-
cd at several different points on Wa
ter street Skowhegan's only match
factory was located on the Island.
Paint was made by slate rock haul
cd here from the Mayfeld quarries.
The factory was in operation in 1889
in building which was then stunt
ed on Mill street just south of the
South Channel bridge Pottery was
first made by Samuel Philbrick at
the foot of Neal Hill. This bust
ness was moved to the southside of
the river on East Front street and
continued there until about 1870.
Potash of course was made by
many different people in early DAYS.
In the time when wood was consider
cd an encumbrance on the land it
was burned where it fell, the ashes
were scraped up and leached to get
out the potash. AS late as 1856
George c. Dane was carrying on this
business in different way. He
bought ashes of any one who would
supply them and had an establish
ment for teaching on Kennebec street.
Pulp hay caps and pulp battery
Jars were made in the factory which
has now become the Skowhegan Pa
per Company. The building. which
was situated on this location, was
devoted to the manufacture of starch.
1t was burned and the starch busi-
ness discontinued sometime about
1850.
Wool carding was carried on for a
long time and at many diherent
points. Perhaps the last mill of this
kllu was uH lllc hVA ihf - VIZ
the northern end of the present Maine
Spinning mill.
Tsnneries flourished here for good
many years One of them was on
Madison avenue at the present loea-
tion of the f. G.. Danforth green
houses This was carried on by
man by the name of Written. An
other was at the foot of Eddy Hill
The location at present Is covered
by willow trees which look to be
forty years old. This establishment
at one time was conducted by Vos-
mus & Batchelder and later on by
the Leland Tanning Company.
Shovel handles were manufactured
by VIM. p. Bragg. father of the pres
ent c. ~ Bragg This factory at
one time was at the head of Show
hogan Island.
Vapor hath cabinets were manu-
featured by DR.. S. F. Conant, grand
father of Mrs. A. r. Jewett. DR.
Conant built the building which has
been enlarged and is now known as
the Somerset Hospital. He did not
manufacture his bath cabinets there
but carried it on as a health sana'
forum. Vapor baths were promin'
~. HE hatb nah,