Cortland Forging Co. To Rebuild After Fire

 

Rebuilt Cortland Forging Co. factory as it appeared in 1912.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, May 22, 1896.

CORTLAND FORGING CO.

TO REBUILD, BUT UNDER SOMEWHAT CHANGED MANAGEMENT.

Crandall, Stone & Co. of Binghamton Buy Out the Interests of D. F. and J. H. Wallace—New Owners and Directors.

   The Cortland Forging Co. has decided to rebuild its plant which was burned on the evening of April 7, but there will be a change in the management. The firm of Crandall, Stone & Co. of Binghamton, manufacturers of the same line of goods, has purchased the interest of Messrs. D. F. Wallace and J. H. Wallace, who retire from the company. The formal transfer of stock was made this afternoon. The capital stock of the company remains the same—$100,000.

   A meeting of the new stockholders was held at 2 o'clock this afternoon and the following directors were elected: Curtis L. Kinney, C. M. Stone, W. E. Stone, C. E. Titchener, C. E. Brooks. At a subsequent meeting of the board of directors the following officers were elected:

   President—C. L. Kinney.

   Vice-President—C. M. Stone.

   Secretary and Treasurer—C. E. Titchener.

   It has been decided to rebuild at once. Plans and estimates for new buildings have already been submitted, but have not yet been accepted and it is possible that they may yet be somewhat changed. It appears though that they will probably occupy more surface on the ground than the old buildings, but will not be more than one story high. As soon as the plans can be decided upon the contracts will be let and work will be rushed so as to be ready for this fall's trade. It is likely that more men will be employed than ever before.

   Though the Messrs. Wallace have retired from this company they have by no means retired from business in Cortland. They anticipate starting a new company for the manufacture of special work, particularly bicycle forgings. They will take their time for getting the new concern under way and it may be two or three months before the arrangements are all completed, but they will keep steadily about it and a strong company will result,

   It will be exceedingly gratifying to Cortland people to have this result come about. The Forging company was considered one of the strongest business concerns in the place and it was doing a flourishing business six days (and sometimes nights) in a week and fifty-two weeks in a year. It was a bad blow when the fire came. Now it is to be rebuilt and under as favorable circumstances as before. Furthermore new capital is brought to Cortland and the outgrowth of one strong company seems likely to be two companies each equally strong with the original one. Things are really looking brighter in Cortland.

 

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, May 26, 1896.

THE CONTRACT LET.

Frank Groat to Build the New Works of the Forging Co.

   The Cortland Forging Co. yesterday let the contract to Frank Groat for putting up their new buildings. Work was begun at once and is to lie completed by September 1. The buildings are to be of brick, except the forging room, and all one story high. The roof will be of iron. They will occupy the site of the old buildings and will be of much the same form. The frontage on the north will be 120 feet. Two wings will run back from this front building which is quite shallow. The west one along the Lehigh Valley road will be 340 feet long. The east wing will be a little shorter.

   A shipping and crating and japanning building will be 100 by 80 feet. The storehouse which was built since the fire will be moved into a convenient place and will continue to be used as a storehouse. About 20,000 square feet of surface will be secured in the buildings when completed.

   The contract was let yesterday for a new electric plant for the works. It is to be furnished by the Thompson Electric Welding Co. of Lynn, Mass. Mr. John W. Orr goes to Lynn Thursday to superintend its construction.

   The company will also use the aerated fuel oil system in the new works.

 

IN A CISTERN.

Valuable English Fox Terrier Remains There Thirty-six Hours.
 

   Last Monday morning as "Dick,” the English fox terrier owned by Wallace & McKean, was coming up town with Mr. Wallace, when opposite the Central hotel on Court-st., he suddenly disappeared in the driveway, probably after a rat. Nothing was thought of it at the time, but the dog, which is a valuable thoroughbred, did not return, though a search was made for him to no purpose.

   His barking could be heard somewhere about the building and the search was continued until Tuesday morning when a carpenter employed in repairing the hotel found him in a dark and abandoned cistern under the kitchen in about eight inches of water. He had been there thirty-six hours. He had gone in through a small hole in the wall and in his efforts to get out had worn all the toe nails off from each foot. He has nearly recovered from the effects of the long confinement in the dark and in the water.

Reference:
Cortland Forging Co. Fire: http://jeffpaine.blogspot.com/2013/08/1896-fire-destroys-cortland-forging.html