Lorraine, Jefferson, NY

Businesses

SHOPS AND FACTORIES

The first blacksmithing done in Lorraine was done by Ward Fox. William Carruth had a shop for many years. Elihu Gillet worked at the trade thirteen years in a shop on the site of Moon’s store. In 1846, Joel Buel put up another shop, across the creek, where Elijah Bellinger’s shop now stands. The old shop was destroyed by fire, July 4, 1877; the present one was erected in its stead. In 1858, H. B. Harrington erected a large shop on the south side of Hull creek, which furnishes power for his machinery. On the south side of the village, on the State road, Almon Harrington built a shop in 1874, where he carries on the trade.

A man named Curry was the first wheelwright in the town. He carried on the trade in a shop in the rear of Gillet’s blacksmith shop. Thomas White also worked there a number of years. Asa Copeland built a good shop about 1846, on the site now occupied by Elijah Bellinger. He also manufactured household furniture. Bellinger purchased this shop in 1872.

A fulling-mill was erected by John Boyden in the gulf below the old Fox blacksmith shop. The business increased so much that it required a larger building, and a new factory was erected on Hull creek. Boyden was succeeded by Sardis Abbey, who worked the factory several years. While the property of L. L. Bateman, the building was turned into a lumber-manufacturing establishment. A saw-mill and a planer were attached, and it is at present used as a general wood-working factory.

About 1808 Aaron Brown built a distillery on Deer creek, which received the name of "Still creek" from this circumstance. The business was continued only six or seven years; but the old building remained for a long time.

A POST OFFICE

A post-office was established in Lorraine about 1806. The mail-route was from Rome to points north. Simeon Parkhurst was the carrier, and Benjamin Gates the postmaster. William Carruth was also one of the early postmasters, and, as letters frequently came with the postage unpaid, the settlers bartered their maple-sugar at four cents a pound to raise the postage. O. W. Grow is the present postmaster; and there is a daily mail from Adams to Worthville via this place.

Egg-packing is a new process, was begun here in 1867, by A. W. Grow. From a small beginning a large business has sprung. The process consists in immersing the eggs in a chemical solution, which enables them to keep fresh for years. W. R. Grow and L. F. Caulkins are the present proprietors. Nearly 55,000 dozen eggs were put up in 1877.

PHYSICIANS

Dr. Isaac Weston was the first to permanently locate in Lorraine. He was an old-time practitioner in many respects, and it is related that when his services were sought on a certain occasion by a man who had cut himself chopping wood, the good old doctor prescribed blood-letting and calomel as the proper remedies for the case. Other practitioners were Drs. French, Bagg, Hathaway, and Nugent. Drs. Z. K. Babcock and M. L. Overton are the present physicians, both of the allopathic school.

ATTORNEYS

No regularly admitted members of the bar ever lived in Lorraine, although, there were those who practiced in justices’ courts. Among those were John Earl, John Bently, and Parley Brown.

A resume of the business of Lorraine shows the following business firms: general merchandise, C. C. Moore; groceries, C. D. Grimshaw; egg-packers, Caulkins & Grow; hotel, Horace Streeter; harness-maker, H. Wilson; shoemakers, Elihu Gillet and W. R. Steele; joiner, John W. Brown; miller, Joseph B. Wilcox; saw-mill, Abel Wagoner; planing-mill, L. L. Bateman; wagon-maker, Elijah Bellinger; cooper, A. Street; blacksmiths, H. B. Harrington, Almon Harrington, and Elijah Bellinger; physicians Z. K. Babcock and M. L. Overton; and postmaster, O. W. Grow. (Jefferson County History, by L. H. Everts, 1878)

Transcribed by Holice B.Young

Html by Debbie

December 26, 1999

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[Jefferson County ALHN][NY ALHN]