When
you hear the name LaFrance in Elmira, most people think of fire engines but the
name was also associated with flowers. The LaFrance Carnation Company operated
here from 1906 to 1915. The company was founded by T. Everett LaFrance and
Frederick L. LaFrance, sons of Truckson LaFrance who was one of the cofounders
of the famous fire engine company.
T.
Everett was a machinist and engineer before getting into the watchmaking and
jewelry business in the late 1880s. In 1895, he was a partner in LaFrance &
Swarthout Jewelers at 100 W. Water Street in Elmira. His brother Frederick
started out as a coppersmith before taking a job at a florist on Maple Avenue
in 1897.
In
the spring of 1906, the brothers formed the LaFrance Carnation Company and
announced that they would be constructing a 30,000 square foot greenhouse on E.
Miller Street. In early June, they broke ground for the greenhouse where they
would grow carnations for the wholesale market. The entire product of the new
venture was already promised to two firms in New York City and Philadelphia. The
company was officially incorporated in 1907 with F.L. LaFrance, T.E. LaFrance,
and Della A. Kent (their sister) listed as the owners.
Tragedy
struck on July 28, 1907 when Frederick died unexpectedly of a heart attack. His
father had died ten years earlier in the same manner. Frederick left behind his
wife Sarah, and two children, 11-year-old Eleanor and 9-year-old Delia.
T.
Everett and his sister Della continued to operate the Carnation Company and
expanded the business into retail sales. In 1909, they opened an office at the
Longmate Jewelry store at 139 W. Water Street to sell cut flowers for all
occasions. They also sold tomato plants out of the greenhouse on Miller Street.
Business seemed to be going well at that time. Several help-wanted
advertisements appeared in the local newspaper seeking workers. The company
sought to hire two boys, 16 or 18 years old, to work at the greenhouse for 75
cents a day and two good strong men for $1.50 a day.
Elmira Star-Gazette, Feb. 11, 1909 |
Business
seemed to have taken a turn for the worse in those years. In May 1913, and
again in August of the same year, the LaFrance Carnation Company greenhouse on E.
Miller Street was listed as part of a tax sale. The United State Cut Flower Co.
purchased the greenhouse and continued its operation through 1919. T. Everett
run LaFrance Florist until 1915 when Mrs. C.W. Mathews took over the business.
The next year, LaFrance Florist was purchased by Katherine Jackson who ran the
business for 26 years until 1942. T. Everett does not appear in any city
directories after 1915.