Snippets of Information Regarding the Gorham Company

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Edmund C. Mayo, president of the Gorham Mfg. Co., was re-elected a member of the Rhode Island Council of the New England Council of Manufacturers at the annual conference held last week at Hartford, Conn.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular- 1st December 1926

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DEATH OF JOSEPH BAKER

Retired Department Head of Gorham Mfg. Co. Expires in His Seventy-sixth Year

Providence, R. I., Nov. 27. — Joseph Baker, jr., a retired department head of the Gorham Mfg. Co., and for many years prominent in the activities of the employes of that concern, died suddenly at his home, 138 Ontario St. yesterday morning in his 76th year. Prominent in Masonic and political circles for many years, he was one of the best known men in this city. His funeral will be held from the Woodbury Unitarian Memorial Church, Adelaide Ave., at 12 o'clock tomorrow and burial will be at the North Burial Ground.

Mr. Baker was about the house on Thanksgiving Day as usual, and in the evening joined members of his family in playing bridge and retired at his usual hour. When he awoke in the morning he complained of pains and a physician was called, who pronounced it an attack of acute indigestion. He relieved the sufferer and left with the intention of calling later. Shortly afterwards Mr. Baker suffered another attack and before the physician arrived he had passed away.

Mr. Baker was born in London, England, Jan. 2, 1851, the son of Joseph and Eleanor (Scott) Baker. His father was an expert silversmith and the late John Gorham, then the head of the Gorham Mfg. Co., of this city, became acquainted with him while on one of his visits to London, and persuaded Mr. Baker senior to come to America and enter the Gorham employ. This Mr. Baker did in 1853, removing his entire family to Providence, and for more than half a century was an employe of the concern.

The son, with one brother, received his education in the public schools of what at that time was a part of North Providence, and upon leaving school in 1865 was apprenticed to the Gorham Co., at that time on N. Main St., to learn the trade. He was advanced from time to time in the various departments. until 1878, when he became head of the hub and die department, and several times represented the concern at important industrial expositions and conferences. He was retired in 1913.

While associated with the Gorham Co., Mr. Baker, Jr., was interested in every welfare movement for the benefit of the workers and held offices and responsible committee-ships with the various organizations connected with the company. He was one of the original members and incorporators of the Gorham Savings Bank, and a member of the Silver Workers’ Mutual Loan Association, of which he was president for many years from its origin in 1906. He was also a member of the Silversmiths’ Mutual Aid Association from 1866 and was its vice-president for seven years and president for five. He was also a member of the old Elmwood Club and later of the Providence Central and West Side Clubs.

Before the Gorham company removed its plant from N. Main St. to Elmwood, Mr. Baker purchased property on what is now Ontario St. and built a home. He took an active interest in the political affairs of Ward 6 and in 1907 was elected to the Common Council from that ward and continued until elected to the Board of Aldermen in 1919. At the election in 1922 he declined renomination, but at the organization of the municipal government in 1923, was elected a member of the Board of Tax Assessors for three years and served until March 4, 1926, when he resigned.

Mr. Baker was active in Freemasonry, in which he attained the 32nd degree. He was raised in Nestell Lodge in 1887 and was the Worshipful Master in 1893. His father was the first Master of this lodge and his only brother was also Master. The deceased was Grand Pursuivant and Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Rhode Island. He was a member of Providence Royal Arch Chapter No. 1; Providence Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters. He was knighted in Calvary Commandery, Knights Templar. in 1891, and was elected Eminent Commander in 1900. He was a member of the four bodies in Rhode Island of the Scottish Rite Masons for the Northern Jurisdiction of the United States.

In 1871 he became a member of the historic independent military organization, the First Light Infantry Regiment, and later was Orderly Sergeant of Company A for 11 years. He was for several years a director of the Roger Williams’ Savings Fund and Loan Association, succeeding his father, and for a number of years was president of the association. He is survived by his widow, one son and two daughters.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular- 1st December 1926

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The Gorham Co. - New York - 1911

'PLYMOUTH'

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The Gorham Mfg. Co., of Providence, R. I., contemplate the erection of a two-story addition to the Casino, a building especially devoted to the use of their employees. The new addition will be of brick and wood and will contain shower baths and many other comforts and conveniences.

Source: The Keystone - September 1906

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Congressman Bull has purchased from the Gorham Manufacturing Company, and shipped to Miss Elizabeth Hodgon Boutelle at Bangor, Me.,a heavy oak casket containing a handsome silver service,the gift of the Naval Committee of Congress as a wedding present to Miss Boutelle, the daughter of Congressman Boutelle, who is chairman of the Naval Committee. Miss Boutellewill marry Mr. William Walter Palmeron Monday evening next at Bangor.

Source: The Jewelers' Review - 24th November 1897

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Benedictine bottle ticket by Gorham:








1917

See: https://www.925-1000.com/Gorham_Date_Code.html

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There was a rumor last week that the Gorham Manufacturing Company had decided to remove further uptown, and that its present store at the north west corner of Broadway and Nineteenth street would be occupied by Lord & Taylor as soon as the Gorham people moved out. William Berrian, the representative of the Goelet estate,who owns the property, denied the rumor very positively, however. He said the Gorham Company's lease was renewed only a few years ago; that it has about fifteen years yet to run, and that the company has expressed no intention of moving.

Source: The Jewelers' Review - 19th May 1897

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The trial of the suit of Joseph Boyes, administrator, against the Gorham Manufacturing Company, came to an abrupt ending in Judge Rogers' court last Wednesday. The trial of the case was begun that morning and the plaintiff sued to recover $10,000 for the killing of his son Joseph Boyes, Jr., a sixteen-year old lad, who was employed by the defendant corporation in his lifetime as a chore boy, and while holding a ladder was fatally injured by the falling of some shafting. The plaintiff's counsel had to rely chiefly on witnesses now in the employ of the defendant corporation, and could not ascertain the exact manner in which the accident occurred. When the testimony was all in for the plaintiff it was ascertained that the manner in which the shafting was placed was differently stated in the plaintiff's declaration from what was the actual fact, and his counsel then asked that they might have an opportunity to amend the declaration. Counsel for the defendant corporation objected to the amendment on the ground of surprise, and stated he was not ready to defend against a new statement of the case the defendant desired to make. He therefore asked for a continuance. Judge Rogers granted the motion for a continuance and the jury was discharged from further continuance of the case. Thomas F. West and Hugh J. Carroll were attorneys for the plaintiff and William G. Roelker attorney for the defendant.

Source: The Jewelers' Review - 9th June 1897

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George E. Wells, 30 years old, of Hackensack, N.J., mounted on a bicycle, was on his way to work in the Gorham Manufacturing Company, at Nineteenth street and Broadway, last Friday morning, when he collided with a cable car at Broadway and Fourteenth street, and was rendered senseless. His head was badly cut and his body bruised, but otherwise he was not seriously injured.

Source: The Jewelers' Review - 23th June 1897

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Gorham M'f'g Co. - New York - 1905

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Portsmouth letter-opener from the Gorham Archive Collection:






YC2139/PORTSMOUTH/LETTER OPENER


GORHAM/YC2139

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Gorham Mfg. Co. - New York - 1898

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In the Gorham Mfg. Co. Bowling League, with 12 teams, the pen-pushers representing the office force are giving all the rest of the silversmiths a run for their money in the annual alley argument, and at the present time are leading the race with a couple of games leeway over the Prep Department. The first division finds the teams closely bunched, with prospects of several shifts in the leadership before the season comes to a close. The office quintet has won 32 and lost eight games for a total pinfall of 13,493, or an average per game of 449.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th December 1927

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E. J. Dingee, Jr, with the Gorham Manufacturing Co., is one of the directors of the Ulster Landing Ice Co., of Brooklyn, recently Incorporated.

Source: The Keystone - August 1898

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Thos. Y. Midlen, Chicago manager for the Gorham Manufacturing Company, is at his desk again after a two weeks’ trip in the East.

Source: The Keystone - May 1898

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A quarterly dividend of one and one-half per cent on the preferred capital stock of the Gorham Mfg. Co., has been declared payable on and after April 1, to stockholders of record of March 25.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 3rd April 1918

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Albert T. Studley, 69 years of age and for 36 years a silver polisher at the Gorham Mfg. Co.’s plant in this city, died at his home on Princess Ave., Cranston, last Monday morning, after a brief illness. He suffered a severe intestinal attack Sunday morning and died within 24 hours. He was born in Pawtucket, R. I, but lived in Cranston the most of his life. He is survived by his widow, three sons, a brother and a sister.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 3rd April 1918

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Sixty-one specially designed tablets, cast in heavy gauge bronze, are being placed in the new Homeopathic Hospital here in acknowledgment of gifts to that institution. These were designed and executed at the Elmwood plant of the Gorham Mfg. Co. and are excellent examples of bronze art. Among the donors of these tablets are: George H. Cahoone, George H. Cahoone & Co.; R. Livingston Beeckman, International Silver Co. ; Charles F. Irons and Charles A. Russell, Irons & Russell Co.; Samuel M. Nicholson, Nicholson File Co.; Edward B. Hough, Wightman & Hough Co.; Arthur Henius, Henius & Co.: Walter S. Lederer, S. & B. Lederer Co. The Boston Store has subscribed for tablets in memory of its founders —Walter Callender, John McAuslan and John E. Troup.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 9th March 1927

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The Gorham Company - Providence, R.I. - 1927

'PRINCESS PATRICIA'

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The case of James Cassidy against the Gorham Mfg. Co. for relief under the Workmen’s Compensation act was heard before Presiding Justice Tanner in the Superior Court on Tuesday and decision given for the petitioner.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 7th March 1917

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