The Cortland Carriage Goods Co. is one of the manufacturing industries that forms the substantial business basis peculiar to Cortland. This company, incorporated in 1897, is now composed of the following officers and stockholders: President,
Edward H. Brewer; treasurer and general manager, Andrew J. Murray; secretary,
William A. Dunn; superintendent,
Charles M. DeVany; and
Jason Brown and Mrs.
Eda A. Brewer. The factory is commonly known as "Brewer's Factory," for it is very largely due to the personal, untiring and far-seeing efforts of Mr. E. H. Brewer that such an industry has been developed. One of the most striking peculiarities of this particular plant and its corps of workers is that many have been promoted along all the steps of advancement, and are now working their ninth, tenth, eleventh, and even twentieth year in the employ of this company.
In 1834 Mr. Henry Brewer established a harness manufactory in Cortland and built up a satisfactory trade in that line. The principles of thrift, coupled with earnest, faithful devotion to business, enabled Mr. Brewer to lay the foundation for a manufacturing plant that is the subject of this sketch.
When the time came for the son, Edward H., to decide whether his life and education should be in the professional or business lines, the influence of his father's enterprises decided the young man to become first a partner and afterward proprietor in the harness business.
High class harness was the first chief line to be attempted. Success came through earnest effort. Soon was established the Cortland Box Loop Co. with a specialty of superior pressed loops and checked winkers. This was again successful, and bow sockets were added to the line.
When a new company, a co-partnership, composed of Mr. E. H. Brewer and Mr. David H. Brown was formed, styled The Cortland Harness & Carriage Goods Co. This company built the present plant. All the previous lines were continued and top joints and shifting rails were added.
The carriage builders' accessories becoming the greater department, the company name became The Cortland Carriage Goods Co., and in 1897 was incorporated.
At the time of incorporation Mr. Brewer had planned to spend the greater part of his year at his Florida home, " The Palms," at Winter Park, and Mr. A. J. Murray entered the company to become treasurer and general manager, and a year later Mr. Brewer and Mr. Murray acquired the greater part of Mr. Brown's interest in the property.
To-day this company is in the midst of their busiest year and season. They aim always to give the best of goods as to quality, style and finish. The best business treatment as to deliveries, courteous, painstaking and untiring efforts in meeting their customers' demands is as fundamental with them as the old saying, that "Honesty is the best policy."
The younger men in the organization are pushing every energy to make the closest of business competitions still leave a little balance on the right side of the ledger. All are alive to the most improved methods, and from office to garret system, energy and wide-awake business push are characteristic peculiarities of this hustling factory. The present policy is to make few articles, each first-class in every respect, and to-day this company's principal lines include: Steel and leather-covered bow sockets, weldless top joints and forged shifting rails. In these lines their capacity is the greatest of any factory in the world. Their smaller lines comprise carriage top trimmings, box loops and bicycle hubs.
In short, what is true of so many of the successful business enterprises of this, as other cities, is that the dominating influence of one such man as Mr. Edward H. Brewer, assisted by well-chosen, loyal and helpful assistants, have built up a successful business by the most untiring devotion to every one of the principles of thrift and business success, and the practice of the truest principles of duty to one's best life efforts.