New Britain herald., 1927-09-14
SKETCHES HISTORY
 STANLEY WORKS
Louis ". Young Tells Exchange
 Club Of Its Growth

Louis w. Young. treasurer of the Stanley Works appeared before the New Britain Exchange club at it's weekly meeting last evening at the Burritt hotel and addressed the members on the history of the Stanley Works from Its beginning in 1S43 until the present date, Frederick B. Stanley began a bolt manufacturing business on the cor ner of what is now Washington and Lake streets, erecting q small build ing. When his stock was consid- cred full, Stanley used to load his products into q wagon and peddle throughout the country. returning when he had sold his stock.
 In 1852 the business was incor- porated by a group Of local towns people, it's capital was increased 10 s3o, 900. and the business received US biggest aid in 1854 when a young lad of 19, at that time helping his father run the stage line from the New Britain station to Berlin, was asked to enter the employ Of the Stanley Works. He was William II. Hart.
 'It Is q wonder that the business survived at that time" Young said. Competition was keen and the lit- tle concern was required 10 com pete with big firms in Troy, x. Y.. which had every advantage over the local plant in matters Of transpor- fation and capital. In his memoirs William H. Hart says that every monthly pay day in those times found him borrowing temporary loans about town in order 10 meet the payroll. The next day found him borrowing to meet the tenn porary loans and so things went, the little concern in danger of fail ing daily.
 "Only through Hart's indomtabIc will was the Stanley Works able to struggle through the dark years. He was a keen manufacturer of the old school and he knew every side of the business. He could carry de tails and he loved his business. It IS said of him that on his trips to New York he would have the morn ing mail brought to the station 10 meet the early train he left on. There, standing on the back plat form, he would read the orders and letters, throwing them over the side 70 the office boy who was ready 10 pick them up until the train began 70 gain momentum.
 Tn 1854 the Stanley Works bought a triangular plot at Lake and High streets and as the Civil i war brought much business to the | concern, two stories were added to i the little building which was first i erected. Hart then had the vision ] to sec that the plot at High and 1 Lake streets would not be sufficient for future needs, and although he was called foolish 10 move so far from the center Of town. he pur- chased and erected building on the present location on Myrtle street. The stockholders objected 10 such inflated e&pansion,' claim ing that the firm would never need | tho added building"
 MT. oung then contlNuFd TO '"lI l Of the first experimenting in the in 'roduction of cold rolling methods and the electro plating of door i, butts He outlined the gradual i growth of the concern and later | with the employment of T.. Allan ! Moore and George B. Hart, the cX- parsion into other fields
 Chairman Charles Warner of the . r. s. Marine band committee an- nouncnd that the tickets for the . event would be exchanged at Crow ! alls Drug store on October 20. q ] and 22. The concert will be given . on October g.
 Charles Sicora was awarded the : attendance prize.