History Of The "Old High School" 1828-1840
by Charles Wells Chapin






        THOMAS N. DALE. — Went on a whaling voyage; was absent three years. On his return he engaged in the business of selling buttons and tailors' supplies. Soon became the leading tailors' trimming house in the United States. As an importer he went to Paris, France, and having an elegant mansion there he dispensed a princely hospitality, especially to Americans. He owned a residence in New York, and a handsome villa in Newport, R. I. In 1855 he engaged in the manufacture of silk braids and bindings at Newark, N. J. In 1862 he removed his manufactory to Paterson N. J. He built the "Dale mill" at a cost of $185,000. He was a member of the board of trade, and the first vice-president of the Silk Association of America from 1876 to the time of his death. He was a member of the United States Centennial Commission for New Jersey. He was one of the pioneers in originating and devising plans for the introduction of technical instruction as necessary for the success of American industries in order to compete with those of the old world. Mr. Dale resided at the time of his death (July 17, 1879, at the age of 66) with his son, Thomas N. Dale, Jr. This affecting incident occurred at his death: "He left the dinner table and went to his study, taking a newspaper with him. A member of the family wanting it sent his little Granddaughter, three years old, to get it. She not returning for some time, another one of the family entered the room and found the little girl playing with the listless hand. 'Grandpa's asleep,' she said, 'I can't wake him.'" Nor could any one arouse him from that death sleep, the result of a stroke of paralysis.

        HARVEY D. CHAPIN. — Was clerk and agent for Sargeant & Chapin (Horatio Sargeant and Chester W. Chapin), stage and steamboat proprietors, prior to the advent of railroads to Springfield, Mass. In 1849 he entered the service of the Erie Railway Company, and as conductor ran the first excursion Train, which took the officials of the road from Piermont to Dunkirk, N. Y., when first opened. In 1853


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