Business / Manufacturing

Business is what the streets of the North End were filled with during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many of the buildings that were on Endicott street were large, 4-7 stories tall brick buildings. Most would consist of a storefront on the first story followed by apartments or work spaces on the other floors. The storefronts overall in the North End consisted of small grocery stores, butcher shops, bakeries, dressmakers, cobblers, and shoe stores. Above many storefronts hid an unseen reality of people working manufacturing jobs during this time period.

Corner of 63 Endicott and 26 stillman STreet:

This property was home to many different manufacturing plants in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The building itself is a 6-story brick structure that sits on 635 square feet of land.  In 1913, the land was assessed at $45,000. After the death of Robert Moore, there are 3 different companies that move into this property over the next 35 years that all are unique in their own way.

Corner of 63 Endicott and 26 Stillman Street: Tri-colored map close-up partially of Morton Street with lot marked “Cigar Factory” Emma :. Waitt et al 6370 with a building marked.
Corner of 63 Endicott and 26 Stillman Street: Color photograph angled up with three-quarter view of brick building marked Wiatt Bond 1891 with lower story glass face and street lamps.

(This is a picture of the corner in 2011)

Corner of 63 Endicott and 26 Stillman Street: Black and white newspaper clipping reads: Wiatt and Bond Blackstone cigars. The recent addition to the Wiatt and Bond building has enabled us to consolidate our business under one roof, and we have fitted up a new and enlarged Salesroom and Offices at our Factory. 67 Endicott St. Boston Within one minute’s walk North from Haymarket Square through Stillman street. Our offices are unsurpassed by those of any other cigar firm in the New England States. We may be found after July 31st at our NEW LOCATION Waitt and Bond, Inc. 67 Endicott Street Boston. (Boston Daily Globe Ad)

(Boston Daily Globe Ad)

Cigar Factory:

The Waitt and Bond cigar factory was one of the occupants in this space.

Throughout the time the factory was in business, it was one of the largest manufacturers in New England at the time. It experienced many ups and downs, including worker strikes, robberies, and eventually having to shut down. For many people at the time, this factory created opportunities for work, especially for immigrants. 

Newspaper clipping reads: “Not a question of Wages.” Cause of Strike at Waitt and Bond’s Factory given by one of the firm.

A Boston Daily Globe article profiled a 200-man worker strike outside Henry Waitt's home. Waitt said that the workers did not agree with the system at hand and wanted a new one. Waitt rejected this by claiming that his system had worked for the last 15 years. He did listen and give extra stock and claimed he gave them all they asked. Looking back at labor laws and working conditions at this time, you have to assume that these workers had good reason to be on strike.

Color photograph of a Blue, yellow and white sign. The Sign reads; Waitt and Bond BLACKSTONE smoked from coast to coast.
(Armed burglary on the property 1906) Image part one, Partial newpaper headline- Given Little Surprise Men Caught in Endicott Cigar Factory as a result of Burglar alarm.

(Armed burglary on the property 1906)

(Armed burglary on the property 1906) Newpaper headline Wiatt and Bond, Inc To Leave Boston. Labor Troubles Cause of Removal to Newark. Old Cigar Farm, Before he Strike, Employed 1200 Hands Here

With ongoing labor issues going on at the company, they made the decision to relocate to Newark In 1913. Wages at the time were $3.50 per 1000 cigars made showing the lack of money for manufacturing jobs paid at the time, while at the same time selling them for $.10 cents each. One thing that many Boston locations lacked at the time was the infrastructure to run manufacturing plants in such old buildings which was another reason for relocation. 

The company was then sold to the Turner Center Dairying Association of Maine shortly after.

Partial newspaper headline-63 to 69 Endicott at, corner of Stillman and Morton Streets , North End, has been conveyed by the Charles II. Bond Trust and the Emma L. Wiatt estate to the Turner Center Dairying Association of Maine
Partial newspaper headline-Manufacture of Candy in Boston. Growing Industry which ranks third in value of product-New England Confectionery Company and other large and successful producers
Tri-color map of a street corner reads Candy Factory and in cursive Hoehle & Johnson 6370 Inc.

Candy factory

Following the departure of the Turner Center Dairying Association of Maine, a candy factory owned by Hoehle & Johnson Inc. was created, continuing the theme of manufacturing in the North end at this time.

J.W. Bailey & Sons

Across the Street, at 62 Endicott Street, J.W. Bailey ran his carpentry business.

Though it says, 14 Charlestown Street, J.W. Bailey operated out of 62 Endicott Street. I mention Bailey because in the North End at this time, especially near Haymarket Square, there were businesses of all kinds. To the left is a catalog made by him. Throughout it are design techniques, building material information, and so much more. You can still today go and buy his work on Amazon.

Works Cited

Nichols, Guild. “North End History – the Italians.” Northendboston.com, https://www.northendboston.com/north-end-history-volume-5/.

“Former Waitt and Bond Cigar Factory.” Foursquare, https://foursquare.com/v/former-waitt-and-bond-cigar-factory/4e792210cc3f01bb4d124bfe.

"GIVEN LITTLE SURPRISE.: TWO MEN CAUGHT IN ENDICOTT-ST CIGAR FACTORY AS RESULT OF BURGLAR ALARM." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Mar 13 1906, p. 11. ProQuest. Web. 12 Dec. 2022 .

MANUFACTURE OF CANDY IN BOSTON: GROWING INDUSTRY WHICH RANKS THIRD IN VALUE OF PRODUCT --NEW ENGLAND CONFECTIONERY COMPANY AND OTHER LARGE AND SUCCESSFUL PRODUCERS." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Nov 19 1914, p. 11. ProQuest. Web. 2 Dec. 2022 .

J.W. Bailey & Sons Co. (Boston. “Catalogue for Carpenters and Builders. 1883.” HathiTrust, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc2.ark%3A%2F13960%2Ft2m67q56g&view=1up&seq=3. 

G.W. Bromley & Co. Atlas of the City of Boston, Mass. (1895). Philadelphia. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 

G.W. Bromley & Co. Atlas of the City of Boston, Mass. (1898). Philadelphia. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 

G.W. Bromley & Co. Atlas of the City of Boston, Mass. (1902). Philadelphia. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 

G.W. Bromley & Co. Atlas of the City of Boston, Mass. (1908). Philadelphia. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 

G.W. Bromley & Co. Atlas of the City of Boston, Mass. (1912). Philadelphia. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 

G.W. Bromley & Co. Atlas of the City of Boston, Mass. (1917). Philadelphia. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 

G.W. Bromley & Co. Atlas of the City of Boston, Mass. (1922). Philadelphia. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 

G.W. Bromley & Co. Atlas of the City of Boston, Mass. (1928). Philadelphia. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 

G.W. Bromley & Co. Atlas of the City of Boston, Mass. (1938). Philadelphia. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope.