Re: History of old glove factory
NEVILLE, MUNFORD, NUTTING
Posted By: Pat Rowell (email) In Response To: History of old glove factory (Vicki Scearce)
Date: 9/3/2012 at 08:17:24
Here is an article that I wrote for the genealogy library about the glove factory. I do not know without searching when it closed. I know that there are photo's of the factory at the library, but I'd have to do that as a paid search. I'm sure there are ads in some of the atlas' there, also. Hope this helps. Pat
The manufacture of gloves in Grinnell first came about by the establishment of a small tannery in 1856 by F. M. Morrison. After tanning his skins, Mr. Morrison, with the assistance of his family, made gloves, principally of goat skin, at his home. About 1876, others were employed at their homes by Mr. Morrison. All of the output was sold at retail.
About 1875 Mr. Morrison had taken over a small stone building on South Main, where he established a small factory. Here he remained some time and then moved to store rooms in order to have more space for the growing business. Eventually D. S. Morrison became a member and the firm name was changed to F. M. Morrison & Son.
The firm changed names from time to time depending on ownership. Benjamin J. Ricker was a member of the firm as early as 1895. In 1907 the name was changed to Morrison-Ricker Manufacturing Company to reflect his part ownership.
The plant was built in 1896 and was enlarged two different times. The original building was a two-story brick with a basement. An addition was built and afterwards another wing.
The company made mittens, driving gloves, fur gloves, and one of it’s specialties was an automobile gauntlet, named the “Rist-Fit.” One hundred people were in the employ of the factory and tannery. It’s salesmen numbered twenty, and they covered much of the United States. The factory had its own tannery in which was prepared much of the leather used in the factory. Goods were also shipped to foreign countries
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