A Short History of the Fitchburg Steam Engine Company.
Seen below, is a collection of photos and advertisements showing
the Old and New Factories ( including interior photos ) covering the period - 1871 to 1925.
Above, A rare photo indeed -
showing the Original Water Street premises which the Company occupied between 1871 until 1892.
Built in 1870 by Alvah Crocker to replace the previous building totally destroyed by fire in the same year.
Up until that tragic event - a smaller factory had been used by " The Walter Heywood Chair Company " a
very well known Fitchburg Company who had gained a good reputation and were later to export Worldwide.
After the fire of 1870, Walter Heywood was to re-locate to River Street - After purchasing a nine acre
block of land where he built new premises comprising of two very large factories with warehouses.
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( Other Notable Companies on Water Street at this time were :- )
The Company of C.H.Cowdrey Machine Works - First established in 1875 manufacturing paper
converting machinery until 1919 when the company made Dixie machinery, and known as the
Dixie - Cowdrey Machine Corp' later to be wholly acquired by the Dixie Cup Company in 1946. *
The Rollstone Machine Company - The Rollstone Lathe and woodworking machinery.
The Union Machine Company - Manufactures of paper converting machinery.
The W.A.Hardy brass foundry - producing brass castings for industry.
Above
Another very rare photo showing part of the production area inside the Water St Premises -
This photo was actually taken by one of the company engineers ( Charles Emerson ) which
he probably took to remember this completed Engine. - A Large Tandem Compound engine.
- A Master Mechanic employed by the Company at this time was Mr. Francis F Emory. -
A 1891 brochure including the ( Haskins Engine ) make.
Above, The New Factory in or around the 1912 period ( on Oak Hill Road, in the District of Cleghorn )
production on these premises started around 1892 and went all the way through to 1925 when the
Company was wound up - again thanks to The Fitchburg Sentinel Newspaper.
The Fitchburg Historical Society was founded by James F.D. Garfield back in
1892, he was at this stage the Publisher of the Fitchburg Sentinel Newspaper.
In another good photo above - the inside of the Cleghorn Factory
with production in full swing - looking through to the rear of the building.
An old "Power" magazine advertisement - this being one of many from the Company.
( Note the 1870 date!! - the hands of time have been turned back 1 year before the Establishment date )
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which gives an Excellent insight into Worcester's Postal History, as well
as tracing back to many other Historic events - with pages going back
to the early Industrial Age and much more. -
This advertisement features
~ The Fitchburg Cross Compound Engine ~
Note the change of address on Cortlandt Street as well as agent.
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And below
This particular advertisement features " The Fitchburg " and was the most commonly used advert for the company.
~ It comes from the December 1896 Issue - of "Power" magazine ~
~ This one speaks for itself ~
The above letter head - gives a good idea as to the artwork that these companies
were using in the early 1900's - this one obviously coming out of their New York Office.
Interesting to note is also the mixture of seven different font styles, excluding the credit.
The New England Wireless and Steam Museum Inc. - have within their Steam Collection a
" Fitchburg Girder Frame Horizontal Mill Engine " which is complete and in running order
and can be seen running under steam on their Steam Up days during each year.
Have a look at the Site ( included on the links 1 Page of the Index below )
* A History of the Dixie Cup Company ( as mentioned at top of page )
is Below :-
Click here
The above link is made possible through - The Lafayette College Libraries,
Easton, Pennsylvania.
