Chase Organ Company a Norwalk staple in 19th century industry
Photo from Firelands Museum highlights the A B Chase Co. organ and piano maker once a leading Norwalk industry. From 1875 incorporation to 1904 capital growth, the firm faced fires, expansions, and economic swings including the panics of 1893 and the 1918 war, with a White House piano in 1900.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Calvin Whitney
Firelands Museem
L.L. Doud
Norwalk Furniture Corp
A.B. Chase Co
Museem
Umbrellas Were Big Business in Norwalk at Turn of Century
Norwalk saw a thriving umbrella industry with Sprague and French Novelty Works beginning around 1887 on West Main Street. They produced advertising devices and the Sprague Patent Giant Frame Umbrella, later expanding to a large workforce. Hull Umbrella Manufacturing Co opened in 1899 at 49 55 N Hester Street, growing from five employees to over a hundred within five years, later sharing space with Fisher Co and Westinghouse Electric.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Norwalk
Sprague and French Novelty Works
West Main Street
Hull Umbrella Manufacturing Co
N. Hester St
The
Fisher Co
Lawrence and Battles, Inc
Westinghouse Electric
Norwalk man Paul Wilbur's 1912 aviation milestone at Cook farm
On Columbus Day 1912 Norwalk native Paul Wilbur flew a Curtis Pusher from the Cook farm near Norwalk and Monroeville, later touring Norwalk with exhibitions. Witness Walter Hoyt notes Wilbur rebuilt the craft after crashes, planned cross country flights, and the era's rising aviation fever.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Huron County
Norwalk
Paul Wilbur
Curtis
Summit Street
Wilbur
Rochester
N.Y
Walter Hoyt
Norwalk Township
Hoyt
Ralph Cole
Hester Street
Cole
Cook Farm
Monroeville
Fred Cooke
Whitney Field
New London
Mansfield
North Fairfield
Halcyon and Hermit Clubs Remembered in Norwalk Reunion
Norwalk residents recall the Halcyon and Hermit social fraternities formed in the 1910s and 1920s as teens socialized without cars. Members recount rivalries with the Billikin girls club, pranks at parties, and club headquarters on Linwood Avenue with stories of beer and a faulty phono horn incident.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Carole Sprowls
Norwalk
Main Street
Halcyon and
Hermit Clubs
H.P. Stewart
The
Hermits
Halcyon
Hermit
Billikin Girls
Billikin
Howard Marks
Walter Straub
Elisabeth Laning
Billikin Club
Halcyons
Frazier
Linwood Avenue
East Main
Marks
Tom Bond
Courthouse Alley
Halcyon Club
Grell
Bob Holliday
Tom Christain
Bob
Tom
Jim Cole
Billikins
Armory
Haycyon
Hermit Club
Robert Cooper
Cleveland
Halcyon and Hermit Club Histories in Norwalk high life
Reminiscences recount Halcyon and Hermit Club activities in early Norwalk including dances at the Armory, par ties, and sports gatherings. Members like H P Stewart and Bob Holliday are noted for later success while stories of pranks and the clubs’ rise and dissolution reflect student life under the superintendent's eye.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Firelands Museum
Chase
By Janet Conway
A. B. Chase
Sprague
Hull Umbrella Company
R.P
F.C. Hull
Waldo Schock
R. E. Wildmair
Tor
Bill Proctor
Marcus Kahn
Millard Delevan
Fred Harkness
Asher Kahn
Carroll Gilger
Stewart Parker
Mark Hendrixon
Harlan Stewart
Front Row
Ned Markley
Loren Hester
Reed Rowley
Fred Whickham
Harold Winters
David Taylor
Herb Harkness
Robert McDonald
Clarence Stillwell
Walter Wagner
Mrs. Straub
United States
Huron
Eversharp Pencils and Shaving Instruments Co
Tom Christian
Toledo
Bill Erb
Corporation
Ed Graham
Haiti
NHS
Los Angeles
Palm Springs
San Francisco
Nevada
William Randolph Hearst
Stewart
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!