FHS- Kyle Leach]]>
This is a digital file and does not reside in the physical collection.


FHS-Kyle Leach]]> Ned Parker]]> Ned Parker]]>
The article reads:

T h e old stone lobby at the junc-
ture of Church and Uionn streets has:
been perpetuated as a landmark of
the town by many improvements
made by its new owner. Downing V.
Osboune . This old pile of huge
granite slabs that occupies a pretty
plot of ground at the location men
tioned some timeago was threatened
by demolition and its heavy material
became likely'to be used in building.
Mr Osborne, whose home is nearby
saw the ultimate probability and
purchased the lot and lobby. He
since has made repairs to the falling
masonry, which consists of thick
granite slabs fashioned into a square
compartment, and has replaced the
broken iron bars In door and win
dow and restored the huge lock by a
facsimile of the original in order to
preserve for all time this historic
monument. It appears that the lot
and material cost only $175" when
purchased in 1859 and that the subi-
quont structure was the outgrowth
for a secure lobby for the town,
which to confine violators ot the law
who having offended the peace and
dignlty of the state, were required
to await trial. The lobby was built
by reason of a contract made by Col.
Louis Bell, one of Farmington's
early lawyers and trial justices and
also one of the ablest men who ever
graced the state. Colonel Bell is
highly revered In our national military
history, having-been made a
brigadier general on the day he was
killed at Fort Fisher during the Civil
war. The contract further enjoined
Ed Barnard, proprietor of the old
hotel that formerly occupied the site
of the Mrs. Lottie Russell property
on Main street, and William Sampson,
the stone mason of the town at
that town. The last named built
the lobby, it is thought, with the intention
of coverlng it with a frame
structure, which project no doubt
was abandoned because of the open-
ing of hostilities with the South and
it seems to be a fact that the gray
pile of granite never was used for
the purpose intended However, it
is a monument of Farmlngton's early
endeavors and a credit to Mr. Osborne,
who no doubt finally will dispose,
of it as a public benefit.



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FHS-Kyle Leach]]>
The article reads:

OLD STONE LOBBY,
HISTORICAL FARMINGTON
LANDMARK BEING RAZED

One of Farmingtons oldest his
torical landmarks the old stone
lobby situated on the property of
Mrs Loren D Hunt. Sr on
Church street is presently being
razed and altough the large
granite blocks which made up
the structure, will still remain In
Farmington the building itself
will soon be only a memory to lo
cal residents
The lobby isbeing removed by
Murray N Daudelin, who plans to
use the stones for a retaining wall
on his property on Park drive in
the Veterans housing project
area. The work is expected to be
completed this week.
The old lobby was constructed
in 1839 by W illiam H Sampson
according to historical data con
tained in the museum at the
Goodwin library and although
no mention was made of its use it
is generally though to have been
intended for a temporary jail
where lawbreakers were to be
conflned until judgment was
passed on them. It Is doubtful
however if it was ever actually
used for this purpose.
The razing also serves another
purpose a safety precaution. For
many year children of all ages
have made this a playground and
the thought of someone getting
seriously hurt while playing on
or around it was constantly a
source of concern for the owner.


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FHS-Kyle Leach]]>
The article reads:

The signal for the big business and
enterprise that is to contribute largely
to Farmington's future industrial career
was raised on Wednesday morning when
operations were commenced in the cutting
department at the new factory of
the J. F. Cloutman Shoe Company. The
new structure, which was completed on
December 2, has been an undertaking of
almost magic growth, that sprang from
tbe ashes of tbe burned factory that was
consumed ou tbe site in tbe big conflagration
of February 14, 1918. No sooner
was it obvious that tbe old building was
doomed tban it was announced that it
would be replaced with an _up-to date
plant. The fulfilment of tbe prophecy
was commenced early in May, as soon as
the ruins could be cleared away, and a
cement fouudation was laid for the
structure 200 feet long and 42 feet wide,
that would occupy the Main street front
on the area between Garfleld and Elm
streets. As soon as the foundation was
iu the building contract was placed in
the hands of Contractor Frank R. Copp,
and as is characteristic of Mr. Copp's
energy, no time was lost in erecting tbe
towering four-story frame that outlined
the proportious of tbe big shop. In the

course of tbe next few weeks building
materials simply flew ioto place while
the frame was being enclosed, aod a new
contract was placed for laying the
matched hard wood floors. As soon as
his work was completed, the contract
for installing the steam fitting, piping
and automatic sprinkler system was put
into execution and it is expected that it
will be completed the coming week.
Plumbing was done by tbe local Read-
Esty concern and the wiring and electric
fixtures were Installed by the Cloutman
Electric Co. All the contract work has
been done in a thorough, efficient and
expeditious manner that reflects credit
on contractors and workmen alike.
While there are several small details yet
to be attended to on the lower floors, all
will be completed by tbe new year and
all departments should be running at
that time.
The plant covers 9,000 square feet of
ground, approximately. is four stories
high and contains nearly 40,000 square
feet of working floor space which is furnished
with natural light from 400 large
indows. The top story will be occupied
by the cutting and a part of the
stitching departments; the third floor by
the stitching and lasting departments

the second by the making, finding and
treeing, and the ground floor by the sole
leather, packing and shipping, while tbe
150 feet concrete basement will be util
izid for stock storage purposes. When
in full operation, the plant will employ
about 300 hands and will be equipped
primarily to produce 200 dozen pairs of
shoes per day. Tbe big structure has an
imposing appearance and bears on the
front in large black letters the name,
"J. F. Cloutman Shoe Company." Although
the enterprise passed out of the
Cloutman bands some two years ago
and the plant now is owned by Joseph
E. Daly and K.J. Brown, both prominent
manufacturers and leather merchants of
Massachusetts, the Cloutman name is
still retained to identify the business as
the same that built up such a wonderful
reputation in the New England boot and
shoe trade durings a long and successful
history of manufacturing in Farmington.
The building was produced at an estimated
cost of $50,000 and does great
credit to the owners and organization
that have made it possible for the town
to be represented by such a concern. In
connection with the factory and directly
in the rear is located the steam beating

and power plant with adequate facilities
for furnishing these requisite needs.
Tbe office is an attractive one story
adjunct connected with the street floor
of the main building and consists of
three departments, tbe clerical room,
superintendent's office, aud tbe private
suite, all of-which are equipped with the
most modern appliances. Including steel
vault and safes. No unsanitary or unsightly
conditions will be allowed about
the premises, as a complete lavatory system
furnishes all sanitary conveniences
in each department.
During the time that the new building
has been in progress of construction the
firm has been producing from 100 to 125
dozen pairs of shoes per day in temporary
quarters It has occupied in the Roberta
and Curtis factories on North Main
street.
The cutting department alone is in
operation at the present lime, but the
stitching machinery has been moved to
tbe new quarters and the other departments
are moving as fast as possible,and
it is expected that tbe New Year will see
tbe wheels well greased and turning
throughout tbe big factory that is one of
tbe objects of Farmington's civic pride.


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FHS- Kyle Leach]]>
The article reads:

Cloutman Shoe Factory Burns
Two Hundred and Twenty-Eight People
Temporarily Out of Employment
The Biggest Industrial Fire Farmlngton Has Ever Experienced
CONCERN TO RESUME BUSINESS IN FARMINGTON

The most damaging conflagration that
ever visited Farmlngton, reduced to
ruins the J. F. Cloutman Shoe Co's big
factory wbich occupied tbe site at the
junction of Maln, Garfield and Elm streets,
last Thursday nlgbt. In less than two
hours over a $300,000 loss had been incurred
to Messrs. Brown & Daley, owners
ot the plant, and although tbe property
was insured a big unprotected loss was
sustained, the figures of which have not
been set. Two hundred and twentyseven
hands were temporarily thrown
out of employment by tbe raging element,
but before the last timbers of the
factory fell word went abroad that the
structure and Industry would be replaced
with all possible speed. Before
ten o'clock tbe following morning, plans
were being formulated to start the business
in temporary quarters while the
new shop was being built and equipped
for occupancy. A new office of tbe
concern was organized in the rooms of
the farmington National and Savings
Banks and by noon of the following day
those out of employment were reassured
by the dispatch with which tbe emergency
was being handled. The fire
which destroyed tbe plant doomed the
property even before it was discovered
Members of the firm and office force
were at work io the office, a one story
structure, adjoining tbe sole leather and
packing departments, on tbe Main street
side, and were unaware of tbe presence
of the fire until about 9: 35 when some
ladles who occupy rooms in the Frank
McDuffee house, directly across the way,
noticed a lurid illumination through tbe
windows ot the factory and hastened to
apprise those in tbe office of the danger.
Michael Mack attempted to gain
entrance to tbe factory through a door
that connected with tbe sole leather
room and was driven back by tbe intense
smoke and blaze and it was at once seen
that it would be impossible to get inside
to operate the hose from tbe standpipe.
Therefore, a general alarm immediately
was sounded from box 45, corner Main
and Garfield streets. Moving pictures
and other places of amasement were
quickly emptied of their patrons and a
crowd of spectators were on hand before
tbe firemen reached the scene. However,
they arrived promptly and under the
direction of tbe fire chief, Gyros York,
streams ot water soon were turned on
the fire which then was ravaging the
main structure sections of the two lower
stories. Soon, eight lines of hose were
playing on the blazs but seemed to have
little effect as it was impossible for the
firemen to get inside owing to tbe intense
heat and smoke and danger from
falling machinery which by that time
was crashing through the burning floors.
Scorching flames burst from the windows
ana roof and in spite of the warm
and windless night, moving currents of
air sucked in through the seething structure
and sent tbe flames and sparks
mounting several hundred feet in the air
until the heat and falling cinders became
a menace to buildings within a wide area
and a constant watch was kept by citizens
and the boy scouts, while details of
firemen turned their attention to nearby
houses that were in imminent danger.

Lines of hose played constantly on the
house owned by K. T. Willson and occupied
by Dr. Huntress, the garage at the
rear occupied by J E. Ricker, the J . F.
Cloutman house on Garfield street and
tbe McDuffee and W • Uley residences
on Main street. The McDuffee place being
nearest and in tbe greatest danger
suffered tbe worst, the paint being blistered
and some water damage sustained.
Here tbe boy scouts proved their value
as a heroic organization by removing the
furniture from the house and the live
stock from the stable.

The illumination from tbe great blaze
lighted tbe sky for miles around and was
watched from points of vantage in surrounding
towns and cities from whence
came insistent calls for reports of news.
Tbe telephone line connecting this village
with Milton was early put out of
commission by tbe cable being burned
and wire broken, and much more damage
would have been done to the local
system bad it not been for the efficient
work ot the boy scouts, who, working in
well organized patrols, really commanded
the situation as regards the telephone
system. During tbe most exciting moments
ot tbe fire bugle blasts could be
heard calling tbe scouts to points where
their services were most needed,and too
much credit cannot be acoorded the boys
for what they accomplished and the cool
manner in which they did it. Not until
after midnight did tbe crowd begin to
diminish. It was an all ntght vigil for
the firemen who watcbed tbe flaming
mass of burning timbers and debris until
daylight. One feature of importance
and help in fighting the fire was tbe fact
that tbe reservoir was full and good water
pressure was available.

The original structure of tbe plant destroyed
was built in 1873 by John
M. Berry and Daniel W. Kimball, both
prominent shoe manufacturers of the
town at that time. The old shop was a
four story building 72x30 feet and faced
on Garfield street. Here for a period of
years tbe owners did business under tbe
firm name of Berry & Kimball. Later,
Mr. Berry took over by purchase his
partner's interest and manufactured
shoes until 1800 when John F. Cloutman
Sr., bought tbe shop. During Mr. Clout
man's ownership a small addition was
built on Main street. At the death of
Mr. Cloutman, in December, 1905, his
only son, Jobn F. Clontman, Jr., succeeded
to the business which he carried
on with remarkable success until In May,
1917, he sold out to Joseph E. Daley and
Elmer J . Brown who incorporated tbe
business under tbe name of the J. F.
Clontman Shoe Co. During tbe younger
Mr. Cloutman's ownership three addi
tions were pnt on, two on Main street
extending the plant to Elm, and one on
Garfield street. During the present ad
ministration an addition was built on
Garfield,making tbe entire plant contain
50,000 square feet of floor space, with a
manufacturing capacity ot 250 dozen
shoes a day. The pay roll of the concern
when doing this amonnt of business
was $4,000 weekly,so that the temporary
loss of the industry to the town can be
estimated at a large sum.


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FHS- Kyle Leach]]>
This is a digital file and does not reside in the physical collection.


FHS-Kyle Leach]]>
This is a digital file and does not reside in the physical collection.


FHS- Kyle Leach]]> By Ed King]]>
This is a digital file and does not reside in the physical collection.


FHS-Kyle Leach]]>
Photo by George Meyer _

— The Farmington News, 1882 -

The clock was manufactured and placed in position by E. Howard & CO, of
Boston, whose productions are considered to stand foremost in this country.
The following dimensions, while some of them may not be exact, are sufficiently
correct for the purpose: Height of clock frame- 6 feet; length of clock frame-5 feet;
width-22 inches; Diameter of main wheel-16 inches; Length of striking line-140 feet;
length of pendulum- 8 1/2 feet; weight of pendulum ball-75 lbs; and weight of
striking hammer-60 lbs.
continued on page 2

The striking weight weighs 1200 pounds. The hands are moved by four horizontal
shafts connected by bevel gearing to the main shaft, which extends perpendicularly
to the clock below, a distance of some thirty five feet. "What is the matter with the
clock?" is a question for which there has been an occasional reason for asking, more
particularly of late. One cause during the winter is the lodgment of snow and ice on
the dial and hands, but the chief trouble is, and always has been, from the moisture
contained in the warm air which rises from the church below; this condenses and
forms frost and ice on the walls of the tower, and in the shaft box; during warm
days it melts and not withstanding all the means taken to prevent it, will sometimes
find its way to the hangings and gearings connected to the shaft; this afterward
becoming again frozen, stops the clock.

An occasional stoppage from the above caused during the winter season is
unavoidable. The only exception to this was that last autumn, some of the numerous
sets of gearing connected with the shafting in the steeple, became bound in
consequence of the springing of a timber. Being absent from town, the clock
remained at a standstill.

It has also failed to strike a few times, by reason of the breaking of the wire rope
which draws back the striking hammer.

There are three main areas to the tower. There is the clock itself, which is
uppermost. Below it is the bellhousing and below that is the gear room, which
houses the 4*X2! gear assemt%—fhe bell housing contains the giant bell itself,
approximately five feet across at its base. There are three separate clapper motions
to the bell.

A clapper on the outside, driven by the gears, automatically hits the bell to chime
the hours. The inside clapper is attached to two ropes. One moves only the clapper
and arouses a series of short intonations. The second moves the whole bell, and
continuous pulling on this rope causes the tolling sound.

It is not an easy climb into the tower, but a fascinating one. Names of those who
made it to the top are etched on the walls.

In the mid 1940*s Farmington almost lost it's Town Clock, when lightening struck
the bell tower.

continued on page 3



August 6, 1943's Farmington News reported: Farmington and vicinity was the
chief target for the bombardment in the midafternoon last Saturday, when almost
from a clear sky, the lightening, accompanied by deafening thunder, flashed out and
caused considerable damage over a wide area. Damage of major importance was
inflicted on the Farmington Congregational Church when a bolt of lightning struck
the tip of the weathervane and ripped open the tall spire for a distance of over
twenty feet downward, then crossed the space and crashed out through the rear side
of the steeple. Fortunately, it passed out before reaching the clock, so that the
timepiece was not disturbed. No fire resulted, but the damage is not yet estimated.
However, the building was well covered by insurance.

August 20, 1943 Farmington News went on to say: Work is underway in the
repair of the spire on the Congregational Church which was damaged to the amount
of $1350 by lightning which struck during a storm on the afternoon of August 1.
Examination by contractors and adjusters disclosed that the bolt destroyed some of
the supporting timbers for a distance of about sixty feet and had torn open the
steeple to considerable extent. The full amount of the estimated cost of replacement
was granted by the insurance and no time was lost in preparing to restore the spire.
The Hall Brothers of Berwick, experienced steeple workers, are the contractors in
charge of the repairs, and the men working on their lofty rigging have fascinated all
who had the opportunity to observe them.

Operations are progressing rapidly and soon this portion of the church will be
restored to its former appearance.

The Farmington News, Sept. 3, 1943: Everyone within hearing distance of the
Town Clock, welcomed the sound of its striking the hour on Wednesday evening
after a silence since operations started to repair the steeple of the brick church
which was damaged by lightning. The large dials of the clock were removed to the
repair shop of Andrew Foss, chief engineer of the precinct, where they were newly
painted black with gold letters. This completed the restoration work on the spire
which has been in progress for several weeks.









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FHS-Kyle Leach]]>