from
History of the State of Rhode Island with Illustrations
Albert J. Wright, Printer
No. 79 Mille Street, corner of Federal, Boston.
Hong, Wade & Co., Philadelphia
1878.
pp. 224 - 252. (part 33)
"Leather Business.
This branch of business, at the present time, forms an important feature in
the manufacturing interests in the town of Pawtucket. Timothy Greene was
undoubtedly among the first to engage in the tanning business. He was
engaged in the manufacture of shoes, and in connection with this business
ran a tan-yard. Samuel Bowen also was engaged in the tanning business on
the corner of Main Street, where it turns, opposite Dexter Street. It
stood on the Oziel Wilkinson plat. This was about 1828, and the stream
that runs under Main Street supplied the water used in this early
tannery. Daniel Mitchell was also a tanner here in 1827, and was located
at the junction of East Avenue and Pleasant Street.
Mr. John Blackburn was the first to introduce belting made of leather,
which he applied to certain machinery in the old Slater Mill. Lewis
Fairbrother commenced the tanning business in 1834. In 1861, Mr. H. L.
Fairbrother was admitted as a partner in the business. In 1865, Mr. Lewis
Fairbrother sold his interest to Mr. H. E. Bacon, and the firm-name was
changed to H. L. Fairbrother & Co. Mr. Bacon retired in 1870, and the
whole establishment came into the hands of H. L. Fairbrother, the firm-name
remaining H. L. Fairbrother & Co. This firm has grown from one vat, in a
building 15 x 30, to an extensive and well-equipped tannery, occupying as
much floor-room as any firm in the State engaged in this branch of
business. This is the oldest lace and picker leather establishment in the
State or United States, with the exception of a firm in Attleborough,
Mass., where Mr. Lewis Fairbrother learned his trade, in 1824. The
business has continued to increase, until it reaches at present nearly half
a million annually. In 1847, Mr. James Davis began the manufacture of
lace-leather, and both he and Fairbrother commenced the manufacture of
belting in 1850. At this time, the firm of James Davis & Co. enlarged
their works and added a steam-engine of 20-horse power. They introduced at
this time the first fulling-mill ever used in the State for softening
hides. In 1862, the firm was dissolved, and Mr. Davis continued the
business alone. He experienced great difficulty in securing leather to
work properly into belts; he therefore determined to tan his own
belt-leather. In 1864, he had tanned calfskins by a process of his own,
and adapted the same process with success in tanning belt-leather. In
order to protect his invention, he applied for a patent, which was granted
in 1867. Another necessity became apparent in producing a perfect belt, in
the form of a stretcher. Mr. Davis succeeded in producing an instrument so
perfect in construction that no improvement has ever been suggested since
its manufacture. In 1871, W. H. Bosworth, a son-in-law of Mr. Davis, was
admitted to the firm, under the style of James Davis & Son. In 1875, this
firm manufactured double the amount ever manufactured in any one season
before the introduction of the new process. The works have been enlarged,
from time to time, and the process of tanning is known as the Davis
Chemical Tannage. The area of their floor-room is equal to four and
one-half acres. At the Centennial test it was found that leather tanned by
this new process was capable of withstanding double the amount of strain of
that tanned in any other manner.
In 1853, Mr. D. A. Martin succeeded a firm that had previously been engaged
in the tanning of harness-leather, &c. Mr. Martin learned his trade in the
same establishment now occupied by him, in 1843. He is engaged in the
tanning of harness, upper, and sole leather, together with that of
sheepskins, and is doing a safe and profitable business. In 1873, Messrs.
England & Almy began the manufacture of belting and lace-leather. In 1874,
Mr. England retired from the firm, and in 1876, Mr. Heber LeFavour became
interested in the business, under the firm-name of F. R. Almy & Co. They
have two large and well-equipped buildings, located on Front Street, and in
times of business activity, have facilities for the employment of one
hundred and twenty-five or hundred and fifty men. Their brand of goods is
known as the Union-tanned Belt-Leather, being a combination of barks and a
chemical process in tanning. This process is claimed to produce a more
desirable and stronger article, and is also used with corresponding
advantages in the tanning of lace and picker string-leather. This
establishment has a capacity of producing five hundred whole belt hides,
three thousand four hundred sides of lace-leather, and eight hundred sides
of picker and string leather per week. At the present prices, this would
average a business of $800,000 per annum; but owing to the depression of
the times, the business does not exceed $300,000. They produce at present
as much lace-leather as all the other establishments combined."
continued in part 34.