One of the many start-up companies with early roots in the Whiting Street building was Ford & Ross. This was a fascinating story of a partnership formed in the late 19th century between a bicycle enthusiast and an awning manufacturer.
Elias Piepoint Ross, born in 1837, hailed from Hampden, Connecticut, arriving in Holyoke in 1868. He opened an oyster bar at 165 High Street, which evolved into a grocery store he owned for 18 years. Along with his brother, he also owned a company that manufactured weatherstripping, located at 224 Dwight Street. This short-lived company was called the Ford Bit Company.
William H. Ross of South Hadley Falls had been in the awning business for two years. In 1891, a partnership was formed with Messrs. Ford and Ross, and the business of bicycle sales and manufacturing of tents, awnings, canopies, and flags began at 58 Main Street in Holyoke. The company also painted business signs. The company was called the W. H. Ross & Co. until 1893, when it was renamed Ford & Ross.
The bicycle industry grew substantially during the final decade of the 19th century. Once a product owned by people of means, the bicycle became a necessity for many for business, employment, enjoyment and health. Prices for many bicycles had dropped from $150 to $50 over 10 years, making them financially in reach of many more people.
Within a year, the company relocated to a more spacious location at 36 Main Street in the Whiting Street building. In time, more space was needed, so several years later, the company moved to larger quarters at 352 High Street.
In 1894, ads appeared stating that the company had the largest supply of bicycles in Western Massachusetts. The many ads reviewed also indicated that the company sold awnings, canopies, and tents.
The store was further evolving beyond bicycles. Bicycle accessories, including caps, suits, sweaters, cyclometers, and bells, were sold. A variety of sporting goods for baseball and football enthusiasts was available. Hunting outfits, guns, and ammunition were on hand. Sports uniforms were procured to outfit local teams.
Bicycles were becoming more sophisticated in the mid-1890s, and inventory was purchased from manufacturers outside the area, such as in New York and Chicago. The Ford & Ross Company also manufactured its own line of “F & R” bicycles. The local Keating Bicycle Co. factory in Holyoke also supplied bicycles to the store. More information on the Keating Bicycle Co. can be found in my June 15, 2025, blog.
The Ford & Ross Company also had a machine shop in the rear of the store and in the basement to manufacture and repair bicycles. Frames for the awnings were also made in the machine shop. The company performed its own enameling, vulcanizing and lathe work. In another section of the store, cutting tables and sewing machines were used to cut and sew the cloth to the awning or tent frame.
In mid 1897, Elias Pierpoint Ford died in a bicycle collision on Fairfield Ave. In the next chapter, the company’s success continued when Mr. Ross purchased the decedent’s interest in the inventory and other assets, forming a new partnership.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Price & Lee Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
Holyoke Illustrated, 1891, H. R. Page & Company
No comments:
Post a Comment