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108
The Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire, Seventh
Edition, Compiled by Alonzo J. Fogg. Concord, N.H.: D.L.
season. To show the popularity
of the Concord Spring water, it is
stated that two thousand gallons
are annually sold by the glass in
the city of New York alone. The
house and springs are owned by
Dr. Robert Hall, of Concord.
Manufactories. The manufac-
turing business of Concord is con-
siderable, various, and, many of
its branches, important. If Con-
cord possesses, as it is often stat-
ed, water power nearly equal to
some of her sister cities, it is evi-
dent that it has not been utilized,
except at Fisherville, to any great
extent, to propel the machinery
now in use in its various manufac-
tories; neither have they, finan-
cially received much foreign as-
sistance, but depended upon capi-
tal belonging to the people of Con-
cord. The carriage business has
been an important branch of in-
dustry for many years. There are
four manufactories, the largest of
which is the Abbott, Downing Co.
This firm has acquired a world-
wide reputation for its fine car-
i’iages, both for durability and
neatness of work.
In 1813 the late Mr. Lewis
Downing, then a young man of
one and twenty years, came to
Concord, from Lexington, Mass.,
and opened a wheelwright shop at
the north end of Main Street. The
capital with which he commenced
business was $125, $75 of which
he invested in a good set of tools.
He commenced building common
wagons with the bodies fastened
down to the hind axle, and work-
ed alone, finding ready sales for
all the carriages he could make.
After the first year his business so
increased, that he employed two
hands, which number was after-
wards increased as the business
demanded. |
In 1825 he commenced erecting
shops at the south end of Main
street, near his house. For twelve
years he manufactured only wag-
ons, the style of which underwent
several changes. The first attempt
at a spring was a wooden one
reaching from the hind axle to the
rocker; which was soon followed
by the leather thoroughbrace, and
successive styles of eliptic springs.
The first chaise he made in 1826,
and sold it to the Rev. Dr. Bouton,
now residing in Concord.
In 1826 he commenced the man-
ufacture of coaches, which have
since made the name of Abbott &
Downing famous the country over.
That year he went to Salem, Mass-
achusetts, and engaged J. Stephens
Abbott, then a journeyman coach-
body maker, to come to Concord
and build three-bodies. Mr. Ab-
bott arrived in Concord, Christmas
eve., 1826, and made the first coach
body ever built in New-Hampshire.
The first coach was completed and
went out of the shop in July, 1827,
and was sold to Mr. jWm Shep-
herd.
Mr. Abbott, after completing his
job with Mr. Downing, went to
Framingham, Mass., for the pur-
pose of forming a business connec
tion, but concluded otherwise, and
went to Providence, R. I., and
worked a short time, but not feeling
contented he returned to Concord
in the fall, and became a partner
with Mr. Downing, January 1,1828.
Coach building became a leading
feature of their business, and for
the reason of the lightness, dura-
bleness, and elegance of finish of
their coaches, they soon found
their way into every part of New |
