DUBUQUE BRASS AND METAL COMPANY

DUBUQUE BRASS AND METAL COMPANY. The 1886-87 through 1890-91 Dubuque City Directory listed 755 Clay.

The Clay Street location had proven too small for sometime when the company found a new site in August 1890. The new location was on Wall Street south of Seventh Street. Architects FRIDOLIN HEER & SON designed a new three-story frame building large enough for three hundred workers. The site was considered ideal because of its location near all railroad tracks. (1)

The company was a partnership between William G. WATTERS and O. F. HODGE. On June 20, 1891 the partners signed a deed to P. H. Halpin mortgaging all its property and equipment except its new building and real estate. This was an action to protect creditors in Dubuque and bring about a settlement between the partners. Hodge, according to Watter's son, had opened a branch office in Chicago without Watters knowledge and had borrowed money. (2) The Chicago branch at 1734 Wabash was the subject of several suits by local creditors. (3)

On July 7, 1892 the property was sold by the receiver to Joseph Horner for $15,000. It was believed that Horner was representing a syndicate of investors. (4)

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Source:

1. "A New Factory," Dubuque Daily Herald, August 28, 1890, p. 4

2. "Brass Becomes Busted," Dubuque Daily Herald, June 21, 1891, p. 8. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18910621&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

3. "Receiver of the Brass Works," The Herald, June 24, 1891, p. 4

4. "Bought the Brass Works," Dubuque Daily Herald, July 8, 1892, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18920708&printsec=frontpage&hl=en