Post by jdhinkle on Apr 19, 2012 14:21:04 GMT -5
I WAS LUCKY TO BE BORN IN THE YEARS THAT ALLOWED ME TO KNOW A LOT OF THE FAMILIES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE GREATNESS OF COLUMBUS
I WAS IN THE SAME CLASS WITH THE SOME OF THE CHILDREN OF THE THE THREE SONS OF B F HAMILTON
I ASKED GEORGE , SON OF CLARENCE TO READ AND SEE IF HE MIGHT ADD INFO TO THIS THREAD
THIS IS GEORGE HAMILTON'S RESPONSE
I read the thread you sent to me on Cosco, which I believe to be mostly accurate.
I can fill in some gaps from memories and stories, but I am short on documentary support.
Whoever put the “first manufacturing site” in as 8th and Jackson, NE corner is right as far as I was told as a boy. We recognized it in the 50’s and later as the Plantation Bar, South Side Tavern, and others.
I believe that the next site was 3rd and Franklin, NE corner, across 3rd street from what became the Elks Club and across Franklin from the Belvidere Hotel. I don’t have a clue about dates. Only vague stories.
I think they went from there to 22nd and Cottage for a brief time. No real stories about that.
Then to 1501 Cottage, the low brick building on the north side of the rail tracks. That building was “added to” with the new construction, concrete and steel, on the south side of the tracks. Everything was located in those two buildings until the move to 2525 State Street. The building south of the rail tracks was sold to Cummins after Cosco moved to State Street. I lost track of what happened to the brick building at 1501.
The last parts (#4) I can verify from personal experience. I lived through those years and those steps.
The office furniture line was moved to Tennessee – I can’t remember the date, but it must have been middle or late 1950’s. I might have a record somewhere. That division operated until the late 1970’ when it was divided and sold to two different organizations.
Cosco acquired a number of smaller companies in the 1960’s and 1970’s. They were located in various places around the U.S. Then in 1979, the whole company was sold to KIDDE, Inc. They bought the stock from all the shareholders. KIDDE kept most of the company intact until about 1983-84?? when the Columbus plant and operation – kitchen products, baby products, folding tables and chairs etc. – was sold to an organization of Columbus-based employees bought it and operated the business (quite successfully I think) for a few year and then sold it to Dorel. (I had left in early 1982 to go to seminary, so I lost the details of the flow after that.)
Most of this is accurate. I just don’t know which parts are questionable or open to other interpretations.
You can send on whatever you want from here that you think might be relevant for others in our e-mail group.
George
I THANK GEORGE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ANSWER AND CONTINUE TO SAY IF WE DONT GET THE INFO HISTORY WILL SUFFER
The 1959 directory lists the following as officers:
William S. Hamilton V-President, Chairman of the Board
Earl F. Hamilton President
Clarence O. Hamilton Executive V-President
Thomas R. Henderson V-President
Robert L. Wendling V-President
Frank Zeigler V-President
Walter Miller Secretary Treasure
Today Cosco is owned by the Dorel Industries. Dorel has headquarters in Montreal. In the past few years the 2525 State Street location has been expanded. Most of the lush green lawn along state street is a parking lot.
Below is an ad that appeared in the 1955 Log.
I WAS IN THE SAME CLASS WITH THE SOME OF THE CHILDREN OF THE THE THREE SONS OF B F HAMILTON
I ASKED GEORGE , SON OF CLARENCE TO READ AND SEE IF HE MIGHT ADD INFO TO THIS THREAD
THIS IS GEORGE HAMILTON'S RESPONSE
I read the thread you sent to me on Cosco, which I believe to be mostly accurate.
I can fill in some gaps from memories and stories, but I am short on documentary support.
Whoever put the “first manufacturing site” in as 8th and Jackson, NE corner is right as far as I was told as a boy. We recognized it in the 50’s and later as the Plantation Bar, South Side Tavern, and others.
I believe that the next site was 3rd and Franklin, NE corner, across 3rd street from what became the Elks Club and across Franklin from the Belvidere Hotel. I don’t have a clue about dates. Only vague stories.
I think they went from there to 22nd and Cottage for a brief time. No real stories about that.
Then to 1501 Cottage, the low brick building on the north side of the rail tracks. That building was “added to” with the new construction, concrete and steel, on the south side of the tracks. Everything was located in those two buildings until the move to 2525 State Street. The building south of the rail tracks was sold to Cummins after Cosco moved to State Street. I lost track of what happened to the brick building at 1501.
The last parts (#4) I can verify from personal experience. I lived through those years and those steps.
The office furniture line was moved to Tennessee – I can’t remember the date, but it must have been middle or late 1950’s. I might have a record somewhere. That division operated until the late 1970’ when it was divided and sold to two different organizations.
Cosco acquired a number of smaller companies in the 1960’s and 1970’s. They were located in various places around the U.S. Then in 1979, the whole company was sold to KIDDE, Inc. They bought the stock from all the shareholders. KIDDE kept most of the company intact until about 1983-84?? when the Columbus plant and operation – kitchen products, baby products, folding tables and chairs etc. – was sold to an organization of Columbus-based employees bought it and operated the business (quite successfully I think) for a few year and then sold it to Dorel. (I had left in early 1982 to go to seminary, so I lost the details of the flow after that.)
Most of this is accurate. I just don’t know which parts are questionable or open to other interpretations.
You can send on whatever you want from here that you think might be relevant for others in our e-mail group.
George
I THANK GEORGE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ANSWER AND CONTINUE TO SAY IF WE DONT GET THE INFO HISTORY WILL SUFFER
Hamilton Manufacturing Corporation was located at 1501-31 Cottage Avenue in the 1953 City Directory. This business was manufacture of Cosco Products and metal specialties. In the 1957 book they are listed at 2525 State Street.
The 1959 directory lists the following as officers:
William S. Hamilton V-President, Chairman of the Board
Earl F. Hamilton President
Clarence O. Hamilton Executive V-President
Thomas R. Henderson V-President
Robert L. Wendling V-President
Frank Zeigler V-President
Walter Miller Secretary Treasure
Today Cosco is owned by the Dorel Industries. Dorel has headquarters in Montreal. In the past few years the 2525 State Street location has been expanded. Most of the lush green lawn along state street is a parking lot.
Below is an ad that appeared in the 1955 Log.