May 17, 2012The First Metal Furniture Factory
Located at 75 Jones & Gifford Avenue
The Fenton Metallic company was organized by Jamestown business men in the year 1888. Their first meeting was held in the back room of the Crane & Hatch Drug Store on East Third Street. The organizers and first officers of the Fenton Metallic Company were Reuben Earl Fenton, son of the "War Governor" of New York, President; Frank E. Hatch, Alexis Crane, Albert Gilbert, Frank E. Gifford, Arthur C. Wade, and James W. Hine, Directors. Mr. Hine was General Manager.
The Fenton Metallic Company started manufacturing bicycles about June 1, 1889 in the company’s own plant on Jones and Gifford Avenue, which later became the Art Metal Construction Company, Plant #1. At its peak more than 1,500 persons were employed in its four plants in Jamestown.
The company business was taken over by outside interests in 1971. The new plant built by the company on Baker Street Extension has been occupied by Cummins Engine Company since 1974. Plant #1 is now partially occupied by the Resource Center.
THE FIRST METAL FURNITURE FACTORY
HERE STOOD THE FACTORY OF THE FENTON METALLIC COMPANY ORGANIZED IN 1833 BY REUBEN EARLE FENTON ALEXIS CRANE ALBERT GILBERT FRED E. RATLE JAMES W. HINE AND ARTHUR C. WADE. FROM THIS BEGINNING HAS GROWN THE GREAT METAL FURNITURE AND INTERIOR METAL INDUSTRY OF JAMESTOWN.