May 17, 2012First Sash Factory
Located on Winsor Street along the north shore of the Chadakoin River
The first sash factory in Chautauqua County was built in 1826 by Sedgwick Benham and Smith Seymour. Later, there were numerous changes of ownership.
Production soon exceeded the regional market reached by wagon driving salesmen. In 1828, a boatload of sash was sent down river to Pittsburgh and in 1829 the firm unprofitably floated a load to New Orleans. Southern markets were hesitant to accept factory-made sash, but after a few years this product monopolized the market. In 1853, the old building was replaced by a larger one and doors and blinds were added to the product line.
Nathan Brown, who operated store boats down the river, took on the company’s goods in 1852 and helped popularize the products. In 1873, he sold $75,000 worth and also nearly as much from two other sash factories in Jamestown and Falconer.
John T. Wilson acquired the firm in 1873 and greatly expanded the business into a general lumber mill and construction supply, which became part of the United Lumber Company, 1919 – 1962.
FIRST SASH FACTORY
BUILT HERE IN 1826. IN 1845 DOORS AND BLINDS WERE ALSO MANUFACTURED. FROM 1829 THESE WARES WERE SHIPPED SOUTH ON FLAT BOATS MANY YEARS.