The Niles Star

Banker saved Niles 1870's carriage industry

By Staff
Silverbrook Legacies / By Friends of Silverbrook
Today many businesses are in serious trouble. We think of it as a 2009 problem; however; throughout history a variety of issues like wars, poor economies and even progress has threatened the livelihood of many of Niles' citizenry.
Such was the case with a business begun in 1872 by gentlemen named Rice, Lambert and Griffith. They erected a building in which they manufactured wagons, buggies and carriages. The team had invested $28,000 in real estate, buildings and machinery.
The History of Berrien, Van Buren Co's MI by D.W. Ensign &Co. in 1880 says "the financial difficulties of 1873 caused a discontinuance of the business."
In a New York Times article of October 14, 2008 writer Jennifer S. Lee wrote: "In trying to make sense of recent events, a historian at the College of William and Mary has argued the crisis is not unlike the Panic of 1873, when rampant real estate speculation culminated in a credit crunch, and banking failures that led to broad panic in the stock markets. That crash lasted more than four years."
According to Professor Scott Reynolds Nelson, who specializes in 19th century history, writing in The Chronicle of Higher Education, "the stock market collapse in 1873 – much like the one now – came after a building boom created by easily obtainable mortgages and an ensuing banking crisis."
However back in 1874, it was a banker with the First National Bank, Solomon G. Krick, who leased the property which was now owned by the bank and continued the manufacturing venture. By the time the 1880 article was written he had "increased the business to an amount of $40,000 in annual sales.
"The trade is largely confined to grangers (farmers and homesteaders), to whom he offers special inducements. The engine (operating the plant) has a capacity of 40 horse-power."
Like today, incentives were necessary for the recovery of the business, however, we can note with interest that it does seem that the businesses were still able to take the lead by offering the deals to their consumers as opposed to government intervention to businesses being the deciding factor for recovery.
As part of his business planning Krick leased a planing mill and pill-box factory to others and supplied them with power from the engine of the wagon factory. This combination plan led to employment for about 40 Niles' men.
Among those who found employment was John Dodge-one of those Dodge brothers. Upon returning to Niles on August 8, 1913 to visit his mother's grave in Silverbrook Cemetery, he spoke of his beginnings in Niles saying he and his brother were "the most destitute kids in town…I drove a cow three miles twice a day for 50 cents a week and was mighty glad when pay day came."
Dodge told a reporter for The Daily Star: "When we left Niles I was earning $1.25 a day in the old Krick factory. The young fellows of today don't know anything about adversity."
Krick had been born 100 years prior to the Dodge interview in Pennsylvania. The same year, 1974, he brought the carriage factory back to life; he served as Niles' mayor.
Perhaps someone with Krick's initiative and foresight will again find a way to restore employment to Niles during this current economic crisis. In the meantime we will continue to look to our history to inspire our tomorrows for as Spanish-born American philosopher, poet and humanist George Santayana warned: "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
For more information on Friends of Silverbrook with regards to memberships and work days to help restore and catalog the monuments contact: Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery c/o 508 E. Main St. Niles MI 49120, Tim and Candace Skalla at 684-2455, wskalla@sbcglobal.net or contact Ginny Tyler at 445-0997, SPHINX1974@aol.com.