E.G. Alberque and the Silk Business

Jan. 1, 1888                 M. Charavay and N.F. Bodvin found “Charavay and Bodvin” at 172-184 Worth Street, New York City.

 

About this time, E.G. Alberque, about 13 years old, goes to work for them, attending school at night to become a lawyer.  He progresses quickly in the silk business.

 

1895                            Charavay and Bodvin Company opens a branch works in the old mill on Jackson Lane in Little Falls, NJ.

 

1896-97                       Mr. Vermorel runs the Little Falls works until it is discontinued. 

 

1898(?)                       E.G. Alberque, Felix Milhomme, and C.W. Emerson are admitted to the firm as partners and it is incorporated as “Charavay and Bodvin Company”.

 

1905                            Henry W. Boettger founds the “Silk Finishing Company”, Bronx, NY, and Lodi, NJ.

 

1907                            The “Zurich Silk Finishing Company” is incorporated (by the Wirth family of Switzerland?).

 

1912                            The “Silk Finishing Company of America” is formed by  

                                    combining:

                                    The Boettger Silk Finishing Company,

                                    The Charavay and Bodvin Company,

                                    The Zurich Silk Finishing Company,

                                    The Henshall Brothers silk business.

 

All these firms have offices in New York City.  Henry Boettger becomes the chief executive.  It is the largest silk finishing and piece dying business in the United States.

 

1912                            E.G. Alberque decides to retire at the age of 35.

 

1912                            Felix Milhomme leaves to start the Progressive Silk Finishing Company, 622-632 Clinton St., Hoboken, N.J.

 

1913                            The International Workers of the World (IWW), perhaps later knows as the American Federation of Labor (AFL), stages a huge strike against the silk mills in Paterson, Passaic County, NJ. Convicted strikers are later black listed from being naturalized as citizens.

 

1915-1916 (?)             E.G. Alberque comes out of retirement after three years retirement and joins Felix Milhomme at the Progressive Silk Finishing Company.  Its business includes various operations incident to the finishing and refinishing of satins, messalines, tie-silks, taffetas, etc., as well as embossing and moiré work.  They employ about 175 people.  Mr. Alberque is a director of the Dyers' and Printers' Institute of America, a member of the Board of Arbiters of the National Federation of Textiles and a member of the Dyers' and Finishers' Association.  

 

1921                            E.G. Alberque with Felix and son, Alexander Milhomme found the Passaic Piece Dye Works, 418-420 Bloomfield Ave., Passaic, NJ.  They are dyers and finishers of silk and silk-mixed goods, in the piece, and employ about 165 people (called “Operatives”).

 

1924                            Labor strikes hit the Passaic Piece Dye Works.

 

1925-1927                  Passaic Piece Dye Works, 371-379 Howe Ave. Passaic.  Felix Milhomme, President; 
                                    Ernest  G. Alberque, Tresurer; Alex Milhomme, Secretary.

1936                            Labor strikes hit the Passaic Piece Dye Works.

 

World War II               Cuts off the supply of silk from Japan.  The company goes into the “war business”, making parachutes, et al.

 

1943                            E.G. Alberque dies from cancer of the pharynx.  (He had been a long time cigar smoker.)