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Angie Mangino: Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2011 5:42 PM
Hadkins Beverage Company Last week‘s post about the si350 program at the Tottenville Library introduced some of the history of Hadkins Beverage Company. Now I would like to expand on that introduction. In its time, Hadkins Beverage was the oldest soda business on the east coast, and was actively involved in the Tottenville community. In 1918 the TA Gillespie Company, located in Morgan, (now Sayreville) New Jersey, made ammunition during World War I. The explosion at the Morgan Shell Loading Plant, which caused shattered windows and flying debris into Tottenville, destroyed and damaged homes in New Jersey leaving 6,000 people homeless and 108 people dead, with martial law declared all the way to Perth Amboy. James Haskins immediately took the Hadkins truck to help the people evacuating from Perth Amboy. The teamwork of firefighters and volunteers prevented the main storage shed from catching fire, sparing Tottenville the need for evacuation. In a handout at the Tottenville Memories event, Kathy Marsh shared the process of making the soda in a two-story building at 407 Craig Avenue. “Upstairs in the syrup room were huge hundred gallon vats where sugar and other products were mixed. The syrup was then piped down to the first floor where all the machinery was. A huge bottle washing machine used to scrub the bottles perfectly clean. From this machine the clean bottles had to be taken and put into the filling machine were first the syrup was put in, about one and a half to two ounces of it. Then the bottle was moved slightly and the seltzer was put in and the same machine capped the bottles. The seltzer was made in its own machine. In this way a case was made a minute. The cases were stacked and were ready to be delivered. There were seven and twelve ounce and quart bottles. Paper labels were put on the quart bottles by a machine that had to be run by a person. A case of soda cost ninety cents with a two cents deposit on each bottle.” Collectors still covet empty Hadkins soda bottles. For More Information: Hadkins Beverage Company Morgan Company Explosion
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Angie Mangino: Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2011 4:34 PM
Tottenville Memories On Saturday, July 30, 2011, as part of si350, the Tottenville Library hosted “Tottenville Memories,” moderated by John Grzeskowiak. In the two hours slotted for the program, attendees learned more about Tottenville in the best way possible: from the mouths of those who lived it. I started this blog as a place to share from my years of research on Tottenville. My collection of information came from much time buried in books and searching on line, but the most valuable of the information to me was from former workshops I conducted, hearing from the people who made the history. Then I attend this excellent event, and now know it’s time to divert from my files to explore and share the latest information I discovered. Bill Marsh captivated me with his talk about the Hadkins Beverage Company, which his grandfather (James H. Hawkins) and father (William J. Marsh, Sr.) bought at the start of the depression in 1929, running it until his father closed the company in 1950. Bill would help working as a young boy, and by the time he was a teen he was out delivering soda to all parts of Staten Island and to Perth Amboy, New Jersey. First, let me clarify. Even though the names are very similar, the Hadkins and Hawkins are NOT related. Frank Hadkins, Sr. started the soda business in 1863. His son, Frank Hadkins, Jr. inherited the business from his father, and hired James H. Hawkins as one of his first employees in 1893. There is so much more to share with you from the discussion that day at the library, but I feel it best if you first watch the video clip put together from the event. Here is the link to a 12-minute video of the discussions. After you watch it, please leave your comments.
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Angie Mangino: Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2011 1:45 PM
Nassau Smelting & Refining In 1900, the building of Nassau Smelting & Refining Company’s plant occurred on the Richmond Valley line of Tottenville. Western Electric bought the smelting works (Tottenville Copper Company) was by in 1931, another result of Depression times. In 1971, it became a metal recycling plant and renamed Nassau Recycling Corporation. Howat Ceramics As the Depression had an impact on Tottenville with the closing of Atlantic Terra Cotta and the changeover of Nassau Smelting and Refining, a few unemployed craftsmen went into business for themselves. One of the notable ones was Walter L. Howat, who had been the chef chemist at Atlantic Terra Cotta. He established a small ceramic plant near his home on Hopping Avenue in 1933, which continued in business until the mid 1960’s. Further Information: Nassau Smelting & Refining Howat Ceramics
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Angie Mangino: Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2011 8:45 PM
Begun in 1897, Atlantic Terra Cotta was in operation until the early 1930’s when it fell victim to the Depression, as so many other businesses did. By 1906, the company was employing up to 500 people, making it one of the largest employers on Staten Island. Fondly talked about by current Tottenville residents, many credited the company for providing housing for their employees. Terra cotta was fire-resistant, lightweight cladding and construction material, which was extremely versatile and relatively inexpensive. Atlantic Terra Cotta was the primary manufacturer of architectural terra cotta ornaments used on major skyscrapers and other buildings. The reach of Atlantic Terra Cotta was way more than just Tottenville, examples being the Woolworth & Flatiron Buildings in Manhattan and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The company’s smokestack was a familiar Tottenville landmark for 80 years until 1988 with the demolition of the 135-foot structure. Photos & Information on the Internet
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