5/3/2023 0 Comments Hickey freemanA Hickey-Freeman suit was, and still is, one of the most expensive suits made. never altered the price of its product for its retail customers, nor did it compromise quality. Although the new factory was one of the most complete facilities of its kind in the country, it became necessary for Hickey-Freeman to add space to the building twice more during the 1920s, to accommodate the company's increased volume and over 1700 employees. This location was chosen in order to retain the company's skilled workers, after a survey showed that a majority of the company's employees lived within walking distance of this area. at the corner of Avenue D on the city's northern outskirts. had amassed enough capital and business to build a larger, more modern factory on N. At that time, ready-to-wear suits were seldom made with hand-craftsmanship of any quality, but Hickey-Freeman recognized the importance of quality in the manufacture of men's clothing.īy 1912, Hickey-Freeman Co. Baum was largely responsible for Hickey-Freeman's decision in 1908 to manufacture only high quality clothing. was Emmett Baum, who became vice-president of Hickey-Freeman Co. The president of Beckel, Baum & Leopold Co. Hickey-Freeman grew even more, and in 1908 it merged with Beckel, Baum & Leopold Co., retaining the Hickey-Freeman name. By 1902, the company was able to take over the business and the larger premises of Michael Kolb & Co. In the beginning, progress was slow but steady for Hickey-Freeman. Paul St., near the hub of Rochester's clothing district. The business was originally located in small quarters on St. Mahon, who made no original investment, left the firm in less than a year, and in 1900 the name was changed to Hickey-Freeman Co. Jeremiah ("Jerry") Hickey contributed the most capital, giving him a controlling interest in the firm. in 1899, after rejecting job offers in prestigious clothing firms in Boston and Chicago. Brayer, they formed Hickey, Freeman, & Mahon Co. Together with fellow Wile, Brickner & Wile employees Thomas Mahon and George A. Freeman (d.1925) was a private contractor of the firm. Hickey (1866-1960) was a bookkeeper for Wile, Brickner & Wile, then the largest manufacturer of men's clothing in Rochester. was the most notably distinguished and enduring of these firms.ĭuring the 1880s and 1890s, Jeremiah G. At the turn of the century, however, many new clothing firms were established in Rochester, when the industry was rapidly growing and reaching new levels of production. The once booming men's clothing industry of Rochester, NY had begun to decline in the middle of the 20th century, and today the only remaining manufacturer is the Hickey-Freeman Co. Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
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