the interest of his partner, and established a shoe factory on Hamilton
street near Division street, where he for several years carried on an exten-
sive shoe trade. In the year 1877 Frank E. and James T. Kilpatrick
formed a firm for the manufacture of leather shoes, styled Kilpatrick
&: Company. A large brick factory on the corner of Neilson and Hamil-
ton streets was occupied ; women's, misses' and children's grain, pebble,
goat and kid, also men's, youths' and boys' calf and fine calf splits boots
and shoes were manufactured. While the firm did an extensive home
trade, they also found a market for their productions in the Eastern and
Southern States.

Among the present industries of New Brunswick is the Consolidated
Fruit Jar Company, established in 1858 and incorporated in 1871. They
commenced operations under the combined patents of three or four
former factories, with a paid up capital stock of $500,000. They are the
proprietors and manufacturers of the Mason fruit jar trimmings ; Boyd's
and Chace's oillers, can screws, spouts, and general white metal goods,
making a specialty of collapsible tubes, rectal and nasal tubes, sprinkler
tops for perfumes and toilet waters and tooth powders. Their factory
is situated on Water street, near Railroad street.

Among other prominent industries was the saw mill of Isaac Rolfe
& Son, which was established by Mr. Rolfe in company with G. W.
Metlar, on Burnet street, at the foot of New street. The old Neilson
mill, which supplied the public with sawed lumber, had for many years
been shut down. The new mill measured 180 feet on Burnet street, was
300 feet deep, and had a canal front of 340 feet. Engaged in a kindred
enterprise was William S. Van Doren's sash and blind factory midway
between Morris and Oliver streets, on Neilson street. The business
was started in 1852 by William Wright, but was purchased in 1866 by
Mr. Van Doren, who enlarged the works. He suffered considerable loss
by fire in November, 1872, which destroyed half of his premises, but
within a month the factory was in operation again. There was estab-
lished in 1856 another sash and blind factory on John street, foot of
Morris street, by A. J. Butler, where a large amount of work was pro-
duced annually. Mr. Butler was also interested in a pottery located on
Burnet street, which was celebrated for its line of terra cotta.

One of the thriving industries of its day was the furniture manu-
factory of Cornelius Powelson. The business sprang from a small shop
on the corner of New and George streets ; the trade increased, and in



304 MIDDLESEX

1S47 ^ four-story brick structure was erected on the corner of George
and Schureman streets, where exclusive first-class furniture and uphol-
stery work was made for customers all over the country. Equally
unique was the confectionery establishment of William Frank, who
opened in 1850 a small place on the east side of Peace street for the
sale of candies ; to this was afterwards added toys imported from Ger-
many, and the manufacture of French and American candies in over
two hundred varieties. His wholesale trade was limited to the various
country towns within twenty miles of the city. Three brothers by the
name of McCrellis in 185 1 established on Somerset street a factory for
the manufacture of carriages, wagons and sleighs. A large number of
workmen were employed, and it soon became one of the most extensive
manufacturing firms in the city. Mention has already been made of
the Waldron Machine Works ; there was also the National Iron Works,
established in 1847 by Elijah Kelly, that specialized in rubber goods
machinery, also manufactured a newly patented powder-making machine.
The Empire Machine W^orks made improved knitting machines. The
New Brunswick Carpet Company was established in 1871 for the manu-
facture of tapestry Brussels carpets. They built extensive brick build-
ings covering some three acres of grounds on Water street near Somerset
street. They employed nearly three hundred hands, producing nearly
$1,000,000 worth of goods annually. The business was relinquished in
1877, the company closing their works. In a large substantial brick
factory on the corner of Hamilton and Union streets, in 1882, D. McNair
& Son were actively engaged in the manufacture of buckram, mosquito
netting and light muslin, employing a large number of hands, weaving
these materials which had a continual demand in the market. The senior
Mr. McNair established the business in the early sixties of the past
century The Home Valley Preserving Company was established in
1884 by Benjamin F. Holmes with a capital stock of $25,000; the com-
pany were growers and packers of all kinds of fruits and vegetables,
also conducted a farm of two hundred acres within the city limits, in a
high state of cultivation, besides contracting for the products of some
three hundred or more acres in the immediate vicinity. The factory
purchased and utilized for this industry was originally the old Raritan
Steam Mills, a brick structure on Water street. The tin containers
were manufactured on the premises ; some six hundred thousand cans
comprising apples, pears, peaches, plums, grapes, strawberries, rasp-
berries, blackberries, cherries, etc.. corn, asparagus and other vegetables,
also poultry, beef and mutton, jams and jellies, were preserved and
packed annually.

Today the principal manufacturing industries not already mentioned
are the laboratory and chemical establishment of Johnson & Johnson,
which gives employment to 2,100 hands; the Neverslip Works, manu-



CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK 305

facturing Red Top horse shoe calks, horses' and mules' shoes, soft steel
rivets, with branch offices at Catasauqua, Pennsylvania; Montreal,
Canada ; New York. Chicago and Boston ; employment is furnished for
about 250 employees. The cigar manufacturing industry is one of the
most thriving of New Brunswick ; Bayuk Brothers & Company employed
in the neighborhood of 300 males and females ; the New Brunswick
Cigar Company have on their payroll 750 employees ; the Forty-four
Cigar Company, Incorporated, gives employment to 185 ; the Cans Broth-
ers have about 85 in their employ; the Tri-State Cigar Company has
employment for about 40; and there are other small cigar manufacturers.
William Black & Company do an extensive business in supplying these
and other manufacturers with cigar boxes.

Besides the United States Rubber Company, previously mentioned,
who carry on their payroll 500 employees, there are engaged in the rubber
industry the Howe Rubber Company, who manufacture automobile
inner tubes, employing 225 hands; and the Indian Tire and Rubber
Company, who manufacture hard rubber goods, furnishing employment
to 400. The Somerset Rubber Reclaiming Works are situated on George
road. There are two machine shops manufacturing knitting machine
needles — the Loyal T. Ives Company, employing in that industry about
250 employees, and Fred J. Potter Company, on Somerset and Bethany
streets, while knitting machinery is made by the Crawford Manufactur-
ing Company and the Kilboum Manufacturing Company. The manu-
facture of aprons is carried on by J. M. Barkelew & Company on the
corner of Weldon street and Remsen avenue. Instead of a carpet factory
there are two weaving establishments that convert rags into carpets and
rugs. The Ringwalt Linoleum Works are also engaged in the manufac-
turing of floor coverings.

The Brunswick Refrigerating Company at their plant at the end
of Jersey avenue, manufactures refrigerating and ice making machinery,
employing 175 hands. The National Musical String Company on
Georges road, near the city line, gives employment to 125 hands; musi-
cal strings and harmonicas are produced. The Janeway Button Com-
pany, employing 150 hands, are engaged in producing a vegetable ivory
button. The New Brunswick Brass Foundry produces brass, bronze
and aluminum castings. The Cronk Manufacturing Company furnishes
doors, sashes, mouldings, interior finish, mantels, tiles and packing cases.
The Consolidated Fruit Jar Company, already mentioned, employs 325
hands. The Webb Wire Works on Liberty street manufactures musical
wire and is vhe largest factory in the United States for the production
of this article of merchandise. The Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation,
of which the celebrated engineer, General George W. Goethals, was
president, occupied during the war the plant of the Simplex Automobile
Company on Jersey avenue, near Sandford street. Here aviation and

Mid-20



3o6 MIDDLESEX

Liberty engines were manufactured, three shifts being employed daily
during the duration of the war, employment being given to over 8,ooo
employees. The works are now operated by International Motor Com-
pany, who employed at the present time about 1,500 hands. These
industries have been further dealt with in another chapter of this work,
devoted to the manufacturing industries of the county.

The introduction of rapid transit marked an important era in the
history of New Brunswick's progress and enterprise. The legislature
on February 13, 1867, by an act granted a charter for a street railway
which included an ordinance of the city for a franchise passed November
30, 1866. The parties interested in this charter never availed themselves
of its privileges. Matters laid dormant until in September, 1885, when
George W. Ballou and F. M. Delano, residents of New York, came to
the city, looking for an opportunity to develop street railway territory.
After the investigation of several routes, they employed C. T. Cowen-
hoven as their counsel to take the necessary steps to procure them a
legal status. Judge Cowenhoven discovered the existence of the former
charter, and that it was still alive and effective. In February, 1886, he
secured from the surviving charter parties a transfer of their rights to
the New Brunswick City Railroad Company. This corporation after
being duly organized elected C. T. Cowenhoven, president ; George C.
Tolle, secretary ; Carroll Sprigg, treasurer, and Josiah Tice, superinten-
dent. The directors were C. T. Cowenhoven, R. H. Becker, George
Berdine, C. W. Kent, all of New Brunswick, and F. M. Delano, Carroll
Sprigg. George W. Ballou, all of New York.

While these movements were in progress, Woodbridge Strong, rep-
resenting New York capitalists, filed a certificate of incorporation under
the general incorporation act for the New Brunswick & Suburban
Railway Company. The two eminent attorneys, Cowenhoven & Strong,
soon locked their legal horns, and a struggle was commenced before
the city council as to which company should be granted the city fran-
chise. This rivalry soon assumed a partisan aspect, but was of short
duration, it being decided in favor of the Cowenhoven road. The ordi-
nance granting the New Brunswick City Railway Company the franchise
was passed by the common council, March 26, 1886. Work on the
railroad began on Somerset street, but in a week's time, owing to lack
of material, it was suspended until May 26, 1886, when a formal contract
was made with Philip Richardson, of New York, to build and equip the
road, he agreeing to have it in running order September 15, 1886, which
was in compliance with the terms of the ordinance granting the fran-
chise. Mr. Richardson sublet the contract to Thomas B. Conway of
New York, who commenced work about July i, pushing it forward with
vigor until September i, when he stopped and filed a mechanic's lien
for the work already done. This trouble was settled in a few days,



CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK 307

George W. Ballou furnishing funds to meet the indebtedness to the
contractor. This delay necessitated an application to the city council
for an extension for completion to October 15, which was granted.

In the meantime Judge Cowenhoven resigned the presidency. The
railroad from its inception has been known as "the Cowenhoven road,"
to distinguish from "the Strong road." Judge Cowenhoven had been
its godfather at its birth and during its sickly infancy ; it was to his
patience and perseverance that its completion was due; he had fulfilled
every pledge given to the public or the city council, and shirked no
legal or moral obligation in connection with the enterprise. He resigned
the presidency and directorship in the company and was succeeded by
F. M. Delano.

The road was opened for public travel October 14, 1886, and in honor
of the occasion the city buildings, business blocks and residences were
decorated with flags and bunting. Soon after noon, along George street
the people began to collect ; five cars were promptly lined up, the first
carried Union Cornet Band, the second, members of the city council
and press, the others being filled with the clergy and citizens. The
train started at half past two o'clock and proceeded to the Elmwood
Cemetery ; on its return trip passed St. Mary's Orphans' Home, finally
landing the passengers at the Central Hotel, where the cars were given
over to the public for a free ride during the afternoon. The invited
guests were entertained with a collation given at the hotel ; while salads,
both lobster and chicken, with bread sandwiches, cold ham and corned
beef, played an important part on the menu, the liquid wants of the
invited guests were not neglected, as both brandy punch and claret punch
added their charms, to be dispensed to the hungry and thirsty partici-
pants. The tracks for this road were laid on College avenue, but later
were taken up and the Easton avenue route substituted.

The days of street horse car railroads have long since passed into
oblivion ; those of the elder generation can recall when they had to
leave their comfortable seats to place their shoulders at the front or
back of the car to help the overworked equines to proceed on their
journey Electricity in course of time was applied to the street railroad
system of New Brunswick, and with its introduction the city became
the center of a trolley system diverging north, south, east and west,
giving connection with New York, Philadelphia, and neighboring cities
and towns.

The oldest fire organization formed in New Brunswick was in 1764,
when a bucket company was established; in 1796 two engines were
purchased by the city. There had been previous to this several dis-
astrous fires. In the dead of night on February 17, 1741, the home of
Philip French, with its entire contents, was destroyed. The residence
was one of the largest and most complete in the province of New Jersey,



3o8 MIDDLESEX

and had only been built a year. Mr. French and his family hardly
escaped with their lives ; two of his daughters were forced to jump out
a window two stories high. A noted conflagration was that of April 14,
1768, when a fire broke out in the house of Widow Dilldine ; the residence
of the widow, also the bake shop and house of John Van Nordan, Jr.,
were a total wreck. A high wind spread the flames across the street
to the house of James Neilson, which was destroyed, with cooper shop
and bottling establishment. The dwelling house and store of Peter
Vandenburg and the residence of Widow Cramer were also burned ;
with the help of the military and citizens, adjoining buildings were
pulled down to stop the progress of the flames. At one o'clock on the
morning of February 28, 1771, a fire broke out in the barn of John
Dennis, which resulted in the loss amounting to over £1,000. During
the occupation of the city by General Howe and the British troops, the
house of Brook Farmer, with adjoining residences, was completely
destroyed by fire.

The Washington Engine Company was organized October 11, 1795.
They were equipped with buckets only ; later a hand engine was supplied,
and in 1867 the first steam engine was purchased, which was kept in use
until 1902, when another engine was purchased from the American
Steam Engine Company. The Neptune Engine Company was organized
within the same year. Its first home was on the Christ Church grounds,
corner of Neilson and Church streets. The company was reorganized
and at the time they received their first hand engine became known as
the "Red Jackets." Later the company removed to the corner of Bayard
and Neilson streets. In 1857 they were housed in the City Hall on
Liberty Street, but in December, 1877, they removed to New
Street. The first steam engine was purchased in 1865; it was
replaced by a La Franc engine in 1888. The Phoenix Engine Company,
organized in 1798, had three engines before receiving their first steam
engine, an Amoskeag apparatus, March 31, 1866. This was replaced in
1902 by a Metropolitan engine. The first home of the company was on
Little Burnet street. Later they were located on the corner of Neilson
and Bayard streets. Their third removal was to the old City Hall on
Liberty street, and finally to their present quarters on Dennis street.

The first great conflagration took place in 1796, when nearly the
entire city was wiped out. The State at that time appropriated $5,000
for the relief of the sufiferers. The Christ Church steeple was struck
by lightning on Washington's birthday in 1802, causing the spire to
burn to the l>ase of the tower, when a snowstorm put the fire out. In
1813 the city was visited by another disastrous fire; this was of an
incendiary origin. A negress nursing a real or fancied grievance against
a resident of the city, fired his house in revenge. Five years later there
were twenty-five wells in the city to be used for fire protection, and in



CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK 309

1818 fifteen more were added. It was about the year 1820 that the
common council named nine citizens to act as "bagman." Their duties
were to attend fires, with large leather bags in which to place valuables
and remove them to a place of safety. This was one of the first salvage
corps organized in the State. A fire broke out October 18, 182 1, in a
paint shop near Dennis and Church streets. The flames quickly spread
to the Schenck homestead; it was thought at first that A. V. Schenck,
later a mayor of the city, then an infant of two weeks, had perished,
but later developments revealed the fact that the baby had been bor-
rowed by a neighbor before the commencement of the fire. Two hotels
and stables on Water street were destroyed by fire July 11, 1832. In
that year the Raritan Engine Company was formed with a roll of thirty
members. Their first apparatus was the box engine originally used by
the Phoenix Company. The company's first home was a frame building
on the corner of George and Schureman streets, where it remained for
fifty years. After a temporary location of seven years, the company
secured quarters on Remsen avenue. Previous to obtaining its Clapp
& Jones steam engine in 1881, it had used several hand apparatuses.
The company was furnished with a new engine in 1907. The Protection
Engine Company's history dates back prior to the year 1830, when it
was located on George street. In 1843 ^t moved to George and Somerset
streets, and is now ensconced in a handsome building on Wall street.
Like other companies in the city, it started out with a hand engine.
After it entered the city department it was supplied with a Hope steamer,
which was replaced in 1885 by a Silsby engine. Before the organization
in 1835 of a Hook and Ladder Company, ladders were placed in the
homes of various citizens for the use of firemen. An up-to-date truck
was purchased in 1876. The White Hall Hotel stables were for a sec-
ond time destroyed by fire July 3, 1834. A large fire took place May
21, 1842, when the Raritan Hotel near the depot was destroyed. The
Liberty Hose Company was organized July 31, 1853. It was later
equipped with combination wagon with hook and ladder outfit, chemical
apparatus and a full supply of fire hose. The Hibernia Engine Company
started in 1865 with a hand engine, which was replaced by a Dennison
steam engine in 1871.

Among the other important fires of the city was that of the Baptist
church in 1849; the previous year the steamboat "Raritan" on its pas-
sage from New Brunswick to New York was totally destroyed ; the
machine shop of Randolph & Holmes, July 15, 1850, the rubber factory
on the corner of New and Drift streets in 1853 also suffered loss by fire.
The fire on Commerce square occurred January 15, 1862; the Star Lin-
seed Oil Works were a total loss November 21, 1871 ; was rebuilt and
burned again in September, 1875. The Canal stables suffered a loss by
fire October 24, 1873, and were totally destroyed by another fire March



3IO



MIDDLESEX



i6, 1874. The grocery stand of Suydam & Nevius succumbed to the
flames in November, 1875, and in the same year the old Swan stables
near Washington street were destroyed by fire. The Augustus Hyatt
Rubber Company's works on Neilson street suffered a complete loss of
property and machinery in 1876; the same year fire broke out in Charles
Lemon's dwelling on the corner of Suydam and Drift streets, its owner
being consumed in the flames.

The Pennsylvania railroad's wooden bridge was burned November
9, 1878. Its successor was an iron structure which in turn was replaced
by the present stone bridge, the first train passing over the latter May
II, 1903. The railroad shops on Easton avenue were the scene of a
fire November 22, 1879. The next year, June 30, Hammell's store was
reduced to ashes and George Rebotham was killed ; the same year,
November 20, the old ice house at the upper lock was destroyed. The
important fire in 1882 was February 28, when the Holmes canning shop,
foot of Albany street, was a total loss ; the following year, on May 6,
Jarrod's cigar factory was burned. The great oil train fire occurred
February 7, 1883, Frank Deeman, brakeman, and Patrick Dougherty
were burned to death. The fire was caused by two oil trains colliding
on the Pennsylvania railroad bridge. The flaming oil ran into the
sewer and reaching the buildings of Janeway & Company, completely
destroyed the building. The well known landmark "The Rink," was
burned July 28, 1891. The steamboat "New Brunswick," when on its
regular trip between New Brunswick and New York, was consumed by
fire August 7, 1902. It was a total loss, and the remains of the steam-
boat were towed to Gregory's Graveyard at Perth Amboy. The large
factory of Janeway & Carpender on the corner of Schuyler and Pater-
son streets was destroyed by fire in 1907; the present factory was then
built in Highland Park. Fire swept the plant of the Empire Foundry
Company on Jersey avenue, March 19, 1909, causing a loss of $100,000,
the pattern storage house, the engine house and one or two other small
buildings were destroyed. The plant was originally built by the New
Brunswick Foundry Company in 1897. Gray iron castings, gas and
coal stoves and automobile cylinders were manufactured.

The present paid fire department of six companies is equipped with
four steamers, one hook and ladder truck, one chemical engine ; all of
automobile construction.

Free Public Library — The foundation of a public library in New
Brunswick was agitated in the latter part of the eighteenth century,
when a meeting was called January 15, 1796, for establishing such an
institution. The library of Rutgers College, founded thirty years pre-
vious to this, was exclusively for the use of the students. The fifteen
gentlemen who attended the primary meeting agreed that a share in
the new library should be five dollars, subject to an annual tax of one




PUBLIC LlHRAin, \KW HRUXSWICK



CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK 311

dollar and fifty cents. The name chosen was the "Union Library Com-
pany." It was located on the northwest corner of Albany and Neilson
streets. The librarian was John Hill, who continued to perform the
duties until his death in 181 1, when he was succeeded by Miss Hannah
Scott. During the War of 1812, the library was wholly suspended, but
later was revived by a few of the original members.

A second library was incorporated in 1820, but in May of the fol-
lowing year the two libraries were merged into one, under the name of
the "New Brunswick Library Company." This company continued in
existence for over a quarter of a century, but finally suspended; the
books were consigned to the trustees of Rutgers College for safe-
keeping. In May, 1868, they were transferred to the Young Men's
Christian Association for the foundation of their library, and continued
under their control until 1888, when the directors presented about
2,900 volumes to the New Brunswick Free Circulating Library, incor-
porated March 3, 1883, which was opened to the public March 23, 1883.