Frye Village Stories: Degreasing plant comes to Andover (pt5)
A Shawsheen Village 100 Story
Before Shawsheen Village Frye Village Stories
This part of the story takes us back to Andover and Frye Village.
The Degreasing Business: Back in Frye Village
John T. Morse was involved in the set up of the American Degreasing company’s operations in the Frye Village mill.
Morse hired James Brandy, who held several textile processing patents himself, to set up the machinery. Brandy later filed a suit against American Degreasing for non-payment of back wages. The court found for the company on the grounds that Brandy was hired by Morse, not American Degreasing.
Which could mean that this time, John Morse was acting as a consultant to American Degreasing, rather than owning or managing it. Unlike other businesses associated with him, the Frye Village plant didn’t bear his name, which might be significant.
April 10, 1903, the Townsman reported that Charles Scherbler, a Lawrence man who also held several textile processing patents, would be the Frye Village plant superintendent.
“The intention of the company is to inaugurate a new process for treating wool waste and expects to turn out five or six tons a day when in full operations. They have put in two water wheels so that both water and steam may be used. (They) intend to hire 15-20 men, few experienced wool workers. Only buildings on the west side of the river will be used now.”
Who owned the property and who owned the business?
In April 1903 the Townsman also reported that the Frye Village degreasing plant was under new ownership by Babcock and Howland. Charles E. Howland relocated from New York City to Andover to be the plant manager while Babcock stayed in New York.
In 1904, the Babcock and Howland company was listed on the Andover tax rolls, but in 1905 and 1906 the property is listed as General Degreasing.
From last week's story, we know from the Brooklyn Citizen newspaper report that F.A. Conklin was president of American Degreasing company, owner of the Frye Village plant.
At the moment, the connection between the three - American Degreasing, General Degreasing, and Babcock & Howland - is unclear. Further research is needed.
In 1903, Charles E. Howland purchased the John H. Dean house at 77 Main Street, Andover.
The house still exists today at 77R Main Street. Moved back from the road, it sits behind the building that is home to Caffe Nero and other businesses. It faces the municipal parking lot
Charles Howland's Andover residence, the John Dean House at 77 Main Street, ACHC #1989.556.1
One more story to go in this series...the end of the Frye Village degreasing concern.