Sonoma County CA Archives History - Books .....Manufactures Of Petaluma 1877
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Book Title: Historical And Descriptive Sketch Of Sonoma County, California

MANUFACTURES OF PETALUMA.

   Petaluma is favorably situated for the successful prosecution of many
branches of manufacturing. There is a constantly increasing local demand for
manufactures. The town has already made a creditable start in this line, and its
mechanics have an enviable reputation at home and abroad for skill and fair
dealing.

   CARRIAGE FACTORIES.—The most important industry in Petaluma is the
manufacture of wagons and carriages. The first establishment in the place was
started in 1852 by its present proprietor, William Zartman. The factory is
complete in all its departments. Its machinery is propelled by steam.

   The next oldest factory is that of J. Loranger, established in 1864; then
follow, in the order named, B. Harter, Weir & Spottswood, Hopes & Cameron, R.
Spottswood & Co., D. W. C. Putnam & Co., D. Jay, and Rutherford & Roberts.
Petaluma wagons and carriages are sent to various portions of the State,
especially to the southern counties; and several vehicles have been sent to
Nevada. At each of the above named establishments, plows, harrows, cultivators
and other agricultural implements are made. The business may be summarized as
follows: Number of men employed, including carriage painters, fifty-four; number
of carriages and wagons made annually, two hundred and forty-five,—value of
same, fifty three thousand nine hundred dollars; value of agricultural
implements manufactured, seven thounsand [sic] dollars; other work, fifteen
thousand dollars; total value, of all, seventy-nine thousand five hundred dollars.

   HARNESS AND SADDLERY.—Next in importance to the above is the manufacture of
harness and saddlery. Gwinn & Brainard commenced business in 1867, and employ
eight men; W. Davis employs four men, and C. Burgtorf, four men. Number of sets
of harness made annually, five hundred; value, sixteen thousand dollars.
Saddles, five hundred; value ten thousand dollars. Carriage trimming to the
amount of four thousand dollars is done at the several establishments. Total,
thirty thousnd dollars. Petaluma harness and saddles have a wide reputation, and
shipments of goods have been made to all parts of the State; also to Nevada,
Utah, and Peru, South America.

   BOOTS AND SHOES.—There are nine places at which boots and shoes are made. The
most extensive manufacturer is M. Walsh, who makes nine hundred pairs per year.
Total number pairs made annually, two thousand; value, fifteen thousand dollars.
A considerable portion of the leather used is Petaluma manufacture.

   FOUNDRY.—C. P. Hatch, proprietor. Established in 1859, and first in Sonoma or
adjoining counties. Annual value of manufactures, ten thousand dollars. 

   CLOTHING.—Nine men are employed in making clothing for men and boys. Clothing
made annually is valued at fifteen thousand dollars.

   FURNITURE AND CABINET WORK manufactured annually equals in value six thousand
dollars. In the same department churns, fruit-dryers and butter-tubs, etc., are
made to the value of six thousand dollars.

   TANNERY.—Jacob Wick is proprietor of the business.   Three hundred cords of
tan-bark, all of Sonoma growth, are used every year; eight thousand hides are
tanned annually; sole, harness and shoe leather of all kinds is made; value of
manufacture, fifty-six thousand dollars.

   POTTERY.—Petaluma pottery was established in 1866; all kinds of stoneware
manufactured; twenty thousand gallons of stone-ware made in the past year.

   FLOURING MILLS.—Central Mills, McCune Bros., proprietors, was established in
1864; it has four runs of stone; capacity, seventy-five barrels in twelve hours;
nineteen thousand seven hundred and twenty-five barrels of flour made annually;
seven men are employed. The flour is sold in Sonoma and Marin counties, and in
San Francisco. Oriental Mills, established in 1863; George P. McNear,
proprietor; it has two runs of stone; thirty barrels made daily, and seven
thousand eight hundred and ninety annually; five men employed. Both mills do a
general milling and jobbing business; value of flour, etc., made, 'me hundred
and sixty-five thousand six hundred and ninety dollars. Two-thirds or more of
the annual product is sold in Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino counties, and balance
is shipped to San Francisco. Petaluma flour enjoys a good reputation.

   PLANING-MILLS.—Petaluma planing-mill was established in 1867, and was the
first in the county, also most extensive and complete in Sonoma or adjoining
counties; Nay & Broocke, proprietors; work sent to various parts of Sonoma and
Marin counties; six men are employed, manufacturing doors, blinds, sash,
mouldings, brackets, boxes, tanks and all kinds of mill-work. The Centennial
planing-mill was established in September, 1876, Sloper & Fuller, proprietors;
three men are employed; articles manufactured same as above, except doors, sash
and blinds. The machinery of both mills is propelled by steam-power. The
material used comes mostly from Sonoma county; value of manufactures, twenty
thousand dollars.

   TIN SHOPS.—There are four tin-shops in Petaluma, the first of which was
established in 1867. The proprietors are Thomas Schlosser, J. J. Buckins, Harris
Bros, and A. W. Barnes. All kinds of tin, sheet-iron and copper ware are
manufactured. Dairy-work constitues a considerable portion of the business.
About one thousand sacks of charcoal, which is manufactured in the county, is
used annually. The other material is purchased in San Francisco or imported from
the east; value of manufactures, twenty thousand dollars.

   COOPERAGE was established in 1868, Isaac Fuller, proprietor. Fifteen thousand
kegs and firkins, two hundred barrels and twenty tanks are made; material mostly
imported from the east, and some procured in Lake county; value of manufactures,
three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars.

   BRICK-YARD, established by Jordan Peter in 1867, and now owned by him. The
material abundant and of first-class quality; capacity of kilns 1,200,000
bricks; number made annually 3,500,000; value $4,200.

   GLOVE FACTORY—M. Berger, proprietor. It was established in 1870; 500 dozen
buck-skin gloves made; 12 persons employed, mostly females; value of
manufactures, $9,000.

   BREWERIES.—Petaluma Brewery, established in 1855 by Christlich & Erbe, was
the first in Sonoma county; Baltz & Schierhold are the present proprietors.
Sonoma Brewery, established in 1872, Mechele & Griess, proprietors; they ship
fifty tons annually to San Francisco. The capacity of the two breweries is 5,000
gallons per week, and the quantity made about 81,000 gallons per annum. They use
200 cords of wood, 850 tons of barley, 12$ tons hops, mostly California grown.
Their beer is sold in Sonoma and Marin counties; value of same, $20,000.

   GAS WORKS.—Established in 1863, Peter Donohue, proprietor; 400 tons of
English and Australian coal used annually; 2,800,000 feet of gas made; value of
same, $15,800.

   SADDLE-TREE FACTORY, M. Haar, proprietor, was established by him in 1861, and
probably is the most extensive in the State outside of San Francisco; all
materials, except a small quantity of Oregon pine, procured in Sonoma county;
trees sent to all parts of California, also to Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and
Texas; number of trees made 2,500; value of same, $10,000.

   MARBLE WORKS, Thompson & Meek, proprietors, established March, 1875; Italian
and Vermont marble used; work sent to various parts of Sonoma, Marin and
Mendocino counties, and to other parts of the State; four men employed; value of
manufacture, $10,000.

   SOAP WORKS.—Established July, 1875, G. W. Manville, proprietor; 3,000 boxes
of 18 pounds each made annually; value of same, $4,500.

   SODA WORKS—B. F. Connolly, proprietor, established in 1860; makes 12,000
dozen bottles of soda and sarsaparilla, and 700 dozen champaigne cider, which
are distributed in Sonoma and Marin counties; amount of sales $10,000.

   CIGAR FACTORY.—A. Horstman, proprietor, established in 1871; 50,000 cigars
made annually; value $3,000.

   BAKERIES.—Three; W. B. Matzenbach, J. T. Rugg, and George Stroebel,
proprietors; amount of flour consumed 840 barrels; value of bread, cakes, etc.,
made $12,768.

   SUMMARY.—Number of persons employed in manufacturing 201; value of
manufactures $535,150.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORICAL
AND
DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH
OF
SONOMA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
BY
ROBERT A. THOMPSON,
EDITOR OF "THE SONOMA DEMOCRAT."
PHILADELPHIA:
L. H. EVERTS & CO. 
1877.


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