Views of Guilford - 1874

Views of Guilford, Chenango Co., NY

Chenango Union, July 2, 1874

 

A correspondent of the Syracuse Daily Courier, who is visiting this section of the state, gives his views upon Guilford in this County, its business, and its leading business men.  We condense from his interesting article the following:

 

This village is located on the Midland railroad, some eight miles south of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], and is beautifully situated among the fertile hills of Chenango County at the foot of Guilford lake.  This is a small place but alive with business.  I do not remember when I ever visited a more wide-awake little town.  Most of the business places here and also most of the dwelling houses are situated on one street, and that street is about one-third of a mile in length.

 

Here is one grist mill, one furnace and machine shop, three dry goods stores, one hardware store, one drug store, one grocery store, three blacksmith shops, two boot and shoe shops, one hotel, two wagon shops, one cabinet manufacturing shop, one saw mill, one door and blind factory, and three churches.  There are some six hundred inhabitants here.  The following are the business men of the place whom I became acquainted with:  Mr. W.H.H. Hull, who is the proprietor of the Guilford House.  Mr. Hull is a young man much esteemed by the citizens here, and he keeps one of the best of country hotels.  I found everything at this house in "apple pie order."

 

Mr. Frederick Young is a well-to-do farmer.  He has a fine farm some two miles from the village under the best of cultivation.

 

Mr. David Ogden is the mail carrier of the place, and is a first-class shoemaker.  He does general custom work.

 

Mr. John Market is the leading blacksmith of the place.  He is so crowded with business that he desires to employ immediately a first class horse shoer.  No other need apply.

 

Mr. A. Bradbury is the proprietor of the Guilford iron works located in the upper portion of the town.  This is an extensive manufacturing establishment.  Here they make a specialty of manufacturing "the latest improved Teed and other first-class water wheels."  They also manufacture the best variety of planers and matchers.  I learned that Mr. Bradbury is a first-class business man who has the entire confidence of the community.  Mr. A.P. Merchant in the same works manufactures "Merchant's Patent Dowelling Machine."   This machine has an extensive sale.

 

Messrs. Haynes & Miller have a large carpenter shop, and are preparing to manufacture doors, blinds and sash. They are now erecting a planning mill and also putting up a shingle machine.  They are just such men as will make a village lively.

 

Mr. A. Norton is the man who is manufacturing by machinery, butter tubs, pails and butter workers.  he is extensively patronized by the wealthy faming community who live in the vicinity.

 

Before closing this notice, I desire to inform the readers of the Courier that there is a fine water power running through this town, admirably adapted for manufacturing purposes.  Here is a splendid place for live young mechanics to commence business. The land is good and cheap, and the farmers about here are rich and liberal.  I consider such a town as this far preferable to a western town in the far west, for a young man to commence business.