Old North Manchester Industries

All information related to industries in North Manchester in this issue is based on and follows William E. Billings material compiled for the News-Journal in 1950.

There are several industries which operated in North Manchester for a time which might bring a smile today - definitely activities of another time.

Dr. Stauffers Balsamic Oil

Dr. Stauffer's factory for making his famous horse remedy was at his home in Riverside and was started in the early 1890s. At first he had difficulty with the process and burned a chicken house and another small building to the ground when the medicine boiled over the kettle. He then invented the cold mixing process and was able to supply the demand safely. At his death in 1911 the formula was sold to an attorney Lon D. Fleming and the medicine was made in a distant laboratory. But the death of Mr. Fleming following and then there were many calls for Dr. Stauffer's Balsamic Oil which could not

be filled.

Dr. Stauffer was the first graduate from the Chicago Veterinary College. And for many there was clear evidence of the effectiveness of his remedy. For one example: About 1902, a woman from the country drove a good horse to town. It was taken with a severe attack of colic and the crowd that gathered thought it was going to die. Dr. Stauffer was out of town. J. A. Cook was in the crowd, but had not yet gone far enough in his veterinary course to legally dose a horse. J. B. Williams, the veteran druggist was called and with a long necked bottle administered the Balsamic Oil. In a few moments the horse shook himself and grabbed a whisp of hay from John Cox's hay wagon which was passing by.

Naz Bussard's Ashery

So long ago that even an old timer hesitates to set the date Naz Bussard on West Third Street ran a lye making plant and did not have to lie when he said it made good lye. Wood was the almost universal fuel and Mr. Bussard developed a good business by gathering the ashes people threw away. These ashes were put in a "V" shaped hopper, rain water allowing to leach through and the result was sworn to by the old fashioned housewives as far superior to the famous Lewis Lye of a later period. Bussard was in a way a benefactor, making a product from what otherwise would have been an unsightly nuisance and making lye for all the soap making activities of the time.

Manchester Bonnet Company

This factory was on East Seventh Street opened about 1919 by Mrs. Mattie Miller and Mrs. E. G. Butterbaugh. The product was a type of bonnet in demand by members of the Church of the Brethren and the selling territory was the whole of the United States. Individual shipments in large numbers were made by mail. Eight hundred to a thousand bonnets would frequently be sold just prior to an Annual Meeting of the Church. At the death of Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Frank Swigart came into the firm. Business continued very good until about 1935 when demand decreased and the business was closed.

Hoosier Skirt Factory

Shortly after 1900 Eli Isenbarger in connection with J.W. Strauss

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started the Hoosier Skirt Factory on West Main Street, just west of the Pennsylvania railroad. Thousands of sateen petticoats, gorgeous with tucks, frills and ruffles were turned out. Many women were employed to operate the power sewing machines. Rush orders for ten thousand or more at a time were not uncommon. But women changed their tastes, as women have always claimed the right and almost overnight quit wearing petticoats. For a time canvas gloves were made but that field was already overcrowded. The factory was idle for a time, was damaged by fire and then torn down.

Warren Manufacturing Co.

About 1950 Verling Landis was rummaging through old "stuff " in the Landis drug store building and found nearly a gross of cartons, each containing a gross of penholders bringing to light a forgotten North Manchester industry. According to Mrs. Etta Browne, sister of George Burdge who operated the drug story on this corner for many years, about 1895 Mr. Burdge backed a man named Warren in the pen manufacturing business. The penholders were made of spiral wrapped paper and the nibs were fastened into the holder in such a way they could not be replaced with new points. Fine pointed Spencerian pens were used and samples of them are just as bright as the day they were inserted into the holders. They were made in the front room of the second story drug store building. Whether fountain pens put these penholders out of business or perhaps Mr. Warren simply moved on to greener pastures is not clear but evidently Mr. Burdge was left holding many unmarketed pens. They can be frequently found about town in old collections - reminders of the Warren Manufacturing Co.