Hubbell Chimney, Northville, NY: North Second Street.

This was once a part of Ray Hubbell's Globe Metallic Binding Co. established in 1880. He invented, patented and manufactured a metallic binding for oilcloth and metallic corners and bindings for floor oilcloth.

In the 1950's Walker LaRowe, a local businessman, observed that each evening hundreds of birds would fly around the chimney and at dusk, would descend into the chimney.

He discovered that these birds were "Swifts" and that they arrived each spring after wintering in the Amazon Valley in Brazil! Interestingly, they arrive on May 6th, the birth date of Ray Hubbell.

Other Links:
Historic photo
Listen to a memory (if sound doesn't play, please install RealPlayer)

Speaker: Harry Robert Van Arnam
Transcript: "It was built, specifically, for the manufacture of gloves, leather gloves. There's no question about it and it was a big, active shop for years. They made many styles and cuts. There was periods when you had all different gloves being made. They did all those different things. But what was interesting - the workers were relatively well-paid. It was a good industry. It was a good business."

 

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