Asbestos Factory, circa 1910 - Chesterton, Indiana : 無料・フリー素材/写真
Asbestos Factory, circa 1910 - Chesterton, Indiana / Shook Photos
| ライセンス | クリエイティブ・コモンズ 表示 2.1 |
|---|---|
| 説明 | Date: Circa 1910ASBESTOS FACTORYChesTERTON, NDSource Type: PostcardPublisher, Printer, Photographer: A. J. SchumannPostmark: NoneCollection: Steven R. ShookRemark: This photograph shows a production facility of the Sall Mountain Asbestos Company. The present day location of this image would be north of Morgan Avenue and between Jackson Boulevard and Indiana Avenue near the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company tracks.The facility was originally constructed by the American Brass Works, a brass manufacturing concern from Massachusetts during the early 1890s. American Brass Works went bankrupt soon after the start of the Panic of 1893, which resulted in a financial depression in the United States.In October 1895, the Warren Featherbone Company of Three Oaks, Berrien County, Michigan, purchased the site as a branch manufacturing facility. Featherbone manufacturing took place here for only a few years. In January 1905, the property passed into the hands of the Sall Mountain Asbestos Manufacturing Company, a manufacturer of rubber and mica roofing, as well as fire-proofing materials. In 1912, Sall Mountain Asbestos Manufacturing Company had 105 employees, making it the largest employer in Porter County at that time. The company ceased operations in Chesterton in 1923.Between 1990 and 1996, a city park (Jackson Park) was located on this site. The park was permanently closed and play equipment removed when it was discovered that three locations in the park tested positive for asbestos at a depth of six to twelve inches in concentrations as high as 30 percent.A concrete skate park was installed at the location and opened for use in 2010. A parking lot was also established at the west end of the site to allow better access to the Prairie Duneland Trail.-------The following news item concerning the Warren Featherbone Company appeared in the July 24, 1890, issue of The Tribune:The Warren Featherbone company of Three Oaks, Mich., is looking for a new location. They claim their capacity for securing help in Three Oaks has reached its limit and the proprietors are unable to find a sufficient number of women and girls to keep up with their orders, and want to get into a town where they can get plenty of female help. Chesterton don't want a girl managed factory. We're no "she-town" and don't want to be. Those who ever have been in a Massachusetts "she-town" know what one is. Give us factories that emply [sic] able-bodied men and keep the women folks at home, where they belong.-------The October 11, 1895, issue of the Chesterton Tribune, contains this column concerning this site:A NEW INDUSTRY FOR PORTER.The Warren Featherbone Company Buys the Brass Factory.The Warren Featherbone Company, of Three Oaks, Mich., have purchased the Brass Works and taken possession. The sake was made last week, and Monday morning the company sent a foreman here to prepare the plant for operation. The boilers were put in repair, and the building containing the foundry is being floored and changed into a room suitable for the manufacture for featherbone. E. K. Warren, president, expects to start up with a force of fifty within ten days, the only thing to prevent being the inability to get machinery placed. This concern has a large business, and now work a force of 275 at Three Oaks. It also has a factory in Paris, France. The object of coming to Porter was not, as the president emphatically states, to leave Three Oaks, but to establish another plant. That factory has grown to the capacity of the town to furnish help. The buildings are of frame. The company wisely concluded that two factories separated were better than one in a fire. All the machinery used in the manufacture of featherbone is made by the company, and cannot be bought on the market. A great deal of this will be made at the Porter plant. The great attraction here was the wonderful shipping facilities. The Featherbone Company gets feathers from all over the United States, and now have the largest collection of quills on earth -- the product of forty million turkeys. It is the intention to to ship direct to Porter, work up the heavy portion here, and do the finishing at Three Oaks. The concern largely employ women, but also uses a number of men. They expect to be working a force of 100 by spring.One thing about the concern that deserves attention: Its president came here, paid a fair price in cash for the plant, asked for no bonus, and began business at once. Other towns have tried to induce the company to move, but, as Mr. Warren said, "Unless I had business in a town, I would not go to it for all the money its people were worth. I am not in the manufacturing business for bonus."Such concerns rarely fail. They come to stay. The brick company is the same. Of all the bonused companies that have come here, not one survived the first cold blast. We want no more of them.-------The following news item appeared in the October 28, 1904, issue of The Chesterton Tribune:A NEW INDUSTRY SECURED.The Sall Mountain Asbestos Mfg. Co. Buys the Featherbone Property.Will Enlarge the Plant and Soon to be in Operation.Immediately upon his return from Massachusetts in September, Mr. Darling, president of the Porter Land Co., got into correspondence with the owners of the Featherbone plant, which resulted in his having the property placed into the hands for disposal. Among the several buyers to whom he showed the property, one especially, the Sall Mountain Asbestos Mfg. Co., proved to be the strongest financially and from every business standpoint. After a thorough examination of the property and surroundings the above named company decided to purchase, although the present buildings do not contain more than one half the capacity they will require, and two large additional buildings are to be constructed by the coming spring. Monday C. K. Warren was here, when all details were decided upon with the principals, and possession is to be given in thirty days. They pay all cash for the property and ask for no concession.The members of the Sall Mountain Asbestos Mfg. Co. consist of J. W. Bingham, of Milwaukee, president; C. M. Clarke, Chicago, general manager; C. E. Cook, secretary, and ---?--- Wilson superintendent. Within thirty days the company expects to begin the removal of some portion of their Chicago works, although alterations and enlargements of the buildings may cause further delay. By January 1st, they expect to begin the manufacture of their roofing product in the east building.On Oct. 29, 1899, Mr. Clark started the present business by the employment of two men, he doing the office work, and the business has steadily grown until at the present time they are employing 83 men at wages ranging from $2 to $3 a day. Mr. Clarke says he will bring 35 skilled men, mostly men with families, from Chicago, at the start, and that the general office force will also be located at their Porter works.-------The following news item appeared in the November 11, 1904, issue of The Chesterton Tribune:Chesterton Chips.The new purchasers of the Featherbone plant shipped their first carload of machinery here last week. It will be a short time now before the old familiar whistle of the plant will be calling a lot of skilled men to work. We understand that no girls are employed in the works.-------The following news item appeared in the November 17, 1904, issue of The Chesterton Tribune:The Warren Featherbone Deal Consummated.On Thursday of last week the abstract for the Warren Featherbone property near Porter Junction, Ind., was accepted by the purchasers of that property, the Sall Mountain Asbestos Mfg. Co., of Chicago, the deed was passed and the property was paid for in full. The deed has become of record at Valparaiso and names $25,000 cash as the purchase price of the property.Thus the Warren Featherbone Co. of Porter, Ind, passes into history, and one of the largest and most prosperous manufacturing companies in Chicago takes its place, which immediately insures a new era in the history of Porter’s industrial center.J. T. Darling, president of the Porter Land Co., is entitled to the highest congratulations from every one interested in the development of Porter county for his untiring efforts in ensuring a manufactory which means so much to the future of our community.It will be recalled that, nine years ago, Mr. Darling made strenuous efforts to secure the Stromberg Carlson Telephone Co. for the original works known as the American Brass Co., subsequently the Warren Featherbone Co., but at that time he did not have the necessary cooperation to carry out his plans. Since that time it has developed that the Stromberg Carleson Co. has grown into an organization now employing in Chicago, and in their country plant near Syracuse, New York, more than 2,500 hands. All of which Porter should have had and would have had if Mr. Darling had received the cooperation to which he was entitled at that time. Had Westchester secured the Stromberg Carleson Telephone Co. in 1895 we would have had a city of Twelve thousand souls now, with much modern facilities and advantages as only a city can command. Let every citizen of our community put his should to the wheel and help the cause along.He says however that he has now secured a company which promises equal developments as those which the former company have experienced, and he speaks advisedly when he says that the Sall Mountain Asbestos Mfg. Co. will have their entire property, five acres, covered with manufacturing buildings within five years if they secure the hearty cooperation of Porter county people which means the construction for houses for their employes.Mr. Clarke, manager of the company, says emphatically that they are not house buildings, that they are manufacturers straight from the shoulder and propose to push the developing interests just as fast as they are able to meet them.They are removing from Chicago primarily for the reason that they are cramped for space at their present location, and that they move out on account of excessively high rents and with the expectation that they can manufacture their goods much cheaper than they have heretofore been doing.Their rents and cartage bills for the past year have amounted to about $10,000. Quite a little saving in itself, when they get their Porter works into operation.Before January 1st it is their intention to have one building constructed along the entire north end of their combination of buildings, 147 feet in length by 45 feet in width, for a shipping department lying broadside with their private switch.They have also completed plans for the construction of another building to the east of the Featherbone storage building, to be used in connection with the last named building for the manufacture of their roofing products. The storage building is to be somewhat remodeled so as to admit of the setting up of two machines which weigh 40 tons each.Thus the music of the trowel, the saw and the hammer will soon be heard and rapid developments may be confidently expected.-------The following news item appeared in the December 15, 1904, issue of The Chesterton Tribune:Porter Pointers.President Clark and Superintendent Wilson, of the Sal Mountain company, were here last Thursday night, and spent the greater part of the night making plans for the preparation of the buildings for their plant, which will be removed here from Chicago immediately after the holidays. The electric plant was running, and the entire factory was heated and lighted for them. The carpenters are nearly done with their new building, and they will soon be out of the way. A gang of men are now putting in the needed steam fittings, and getting everything ready for the move. The Chicago plant is overwhelmed with orders, and it has been impossible to begin tearing down the machinery until after the holidays, but when the work does begin, it will be rushed. The company is highly pleased over the fact that there will be no trouble in getting help here, and is very anxious to get started so that the men booked can go to work. The community is very fortunate in getting such a good concern here, and appreciates the fact very much.-------The following news item appeared in the January 7, 1905, issue of The Chesterton Tribune:CHESTERTON ITEMS.The Sall Mountain Asbestos M'nf'g Company is now busily engaged in placing its machinery in the plant formerly occupied by the Warren Featherbone company. They are putting in a twenty ton roofing machine and one receiving tank in the east building. This department will be devoted to the manufacture of Reliance Rubber and Mica Roofing. The west building is being fitted up for the manufacture of asbestos pipe covering, and the numerous other articles made of asbestos materials. The north building, just completed by contractor Ameling, is to be used as the shipping department. Two large tanks and a furnace are being placed in the shed east of the east building, for melting the composition used in the work. Every inch of space in the plant is to be utilized. An air compressor is to be installed this week. Mr. Wilson, the superintendent, is out here this week, directing the work. Mr. Clark, the general manager of the concern, is very anxious to have the plant started up at once, as the rush season is now over, and the change can be made better now than later, but the immense amount of preparatory work to be done renders it impossible to say just when the start will be made, but it will not be later than the middle of February, we have reason to believe.-------The following news item appeared in the February 2, 1905, issue of The Chesterton Tribune:LOCAL NEWS OF THE WEEKThe Sal Mountain Asbestos Mfg. Co, have begun dismantling their Chicago plant, now located on Ontario street and by the first of the coming week several cars loads of machinery will be in transit to their new works, formerly the Warren Featherbone Works. During the past two months Contractor Ameling has been constructing new buildings and remodeling the old ones preparatory for the new industry, and a complete plant is now ready for the Chicago equipment. On Friday last Manager Clark informed Mr. J. T. Carling that they hoped to go through the complete transition by March 1, and at that time, to be manufacturing their full line of products in their new works. Mr. Clark expressed much gratification over the outlook and is in hopes to be able to command sufficient labor, unskilled and skilled, to enable the development of their business as rapidly as their growing trade demands. This is the most favorable opportunity for the installation of a new industry as the temporary surplus of labor caused by the destruction of the brick yards, can be utilized until that plant is rebuilt and new conditions adjust themselves.-------The following news item appeared in the March 2, 1905, issue of The Chesterton Tribune:LOCAL NEWS OF THE WEEKThe Chicago works of the Sal Mountain Asbestos company have been closed down, and the work of transferring the plant to this place is being pushed with vigor. A large number of men are now employed in this work, and it will not be long now before the works here will be in operation. The machine for the manufacture of asbestos paper was started March 1.-------The following news item appeared in the March 9, 1905, issue of The Chesterton Tribune:LOCAL NEWS OF THE WEEKSaturday's Chicago Chronicle says -- The Sall Mountain Asbestos Manufacturing company, 123 Ontario street, has closed its plant and removed its machinery to Porter, Ind., where it has completed the construction of extensive manufacturing building which will be put into operation during the present month. The object of the removal is threefold -- first, to enable it to meet the necessary developments of the business; second, immunity from labor troubles, and third, cheaper labor.-------The following news item appeared in the January 9, 1913, issue of The Chesterton Tribune:Local, Personal, SocialContractor Ameling has just closed a contract with the Sall Mountain Asbestos Co., for the erection of a $2,000 addition to their factory on the west side. This factory has shown a growth every since its location here. The company is also expanding its Scranton, Pa., plant.------The following news item appeared in the August 18, 1927, issue of The Chesterton Tribune:SALL MOUNTAIN FACTORY MOVES TO ROCKDALE, OHIOThe Sall Mountain Company, the oldest manufacturing plant in Chesterton, has pulled up stakes and moved its plant to Rockdale, O., and a number of local employes will also go to the new location. The Sall Mountain Company came to Chesterton about twenty-five years ago after purchasing the old brass factory buildings. Additional buildings were added and at one time the company had nearly two hundred names on the pay roll. The company manufactured asbestos roofing and all kinds of asbestos pipe coverings. They also had several factories in other parts of the country. One at Scranton, Pa., and another at Rockdale, Ohio.Several years ago the roofing department of the local mills was transferred to the Scranton plant, and now the asbestos plant has been taken to the Ohio plant. The company will maintain a warehouse here to handle the western business, which will be in charge of Joe Bennett, former assistant superintendent of the factory.the cause of the change is that the greater portion of their market is in the east and great savings will be made in freight and other expenses.It is understood that the Gary Chemical company, which has been operating in the old organ factory building for a number of years, has laid off its force here and will center their holdings in a plant in Gary. Most of the raw materials used by this concern come from the steel mills and to be nearer their source of supply is the cause of this move.Sources:Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; October 11, 1895; Volume 12, Number 27, Page 1, Column 2. Column titled "News of the Week."The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; October 28, 1904; Volume 21, Number 30, Page 9, Column 6. Column titled "A New Industry Secured."The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; November 11, 1904; Volume 21, Number 32, Page 7, Column 4. Column titled "Chesterton Chips."The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; November 17, 1904; Volume 21, Number 33, Page 1, Columns 5-6. Column titled "The Warren Featherbone Deal Consummated."The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; December 15, 1904; Volume 21, Number 37, Page 4, Column 1. Column titled "Porter Pointers."The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; January 26, 1905; Volume 21, Number 43, Page 1, Column 7. Column titled "Chesterton Items."The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; February 2, 1905; Volume 21, Number 44, Page 5, Column 5. Column titled "Local News of the Week."The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; February 23, 1905; Volume 21, Number 47, Page 5, Column 5. Column titled "Local News of the Week."The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; March 2, 1905; Volume 21, Number 48, Page 5, Column 5. Column titled "Local News of the Week."The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; March 9, 1905; Volume 21, Number 49, Page 5, Column 6. Column titled "Local News of the Week."The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; January 9, 1913; Volume 29, Number 42, Page 5, Column 4. Column titled "Local, Personal, Social."The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; August 18, 1927; Volume 44, Number 23, Page 1, Column 5. Column titled "Sall Mountain Factory Moves to Rockdale, Ohio."The Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; July 24, 1890; Volume 7, Number 15, Page 5, Column 2. Column titled "A New Industry for Porter. The Warren Featherbone Company Buys the Brass Factory."Copyright 2017. Some rights reserved. The associated text may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Steven R. Shook. |
| 撮影日 | 2017-09-30 00:55:32 |
| 撮影者 | Shook Photos , Moscow, Idaho, USA |
| タグ | |
| 撮影地 |