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Hibbard Basket Works
| Historic Site #: | 02-022 (Gone) Type: H2 | Town: | Butler | ||
| Site Name: | Hibbard Basket Works | GPS Coordinates: | 43.13078, -76.76572 | ||
| Address: | Route 89 & Butler Creek in Butler, NY | ||||
| Description: | |||||
| Hibbard Basket Works was one of the largest industries of its time (late 1800s- early 1900s) in Wayne County and was second largest basket factory in the United States - second only to a basket factory located in North Hampton, Mass. Hibbard baskets became nationally known for their neat appearance and durability. The founder, Dr. Jerome Hibbard was born in 1830. He graduated from medical school in 1861 and served in the Civil War as an assistant surgeon. Legend has it that he gave up medicine after the death of a patient due to a medical error. Hibbard returned to South Butler and in 1867 founded the Basket Works. Dr. Hibbard has been described as a mechanical genius, because he created all of the necessary equipment for the business. Hibbard passed away in 1888. The Butler Cornet Band led his funeral procession to the Butler Savannah Cemetery. His children, Fremont (Marian Piersall) and Nettie (Dewitt C. Wheeler), continued operating the business until the early 1930's. All the buildings were torn down soon after World War II. A collection of the baskets can still be seen at the Butler Historical Preservation Museum in Butler Center. Interesting side note: The BHPS came into possession of the original steam whistle from the factory in 2019 when Steve Cotton, great-nephew of George Eakins the last owner of the factory, donated it to the historical society. This may also be seen at the Butler Center Church Museum. Jerome Hibbard's Obituary | |||||
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| Traveling north on what is now Rt. 89 there was an iron bridge over Butler Creek, Basket Factory and the white building was Church of Christ Disciples (later the Advent Church). Courtesy Butler Historical Society | Factory workers from 1890's Front: Howard Weeks & Fremont Hibbard, owner Second row: William Eakins, David Skinner, George Skinner, ? , Sheldon Helmer, Henry Wetmore, ? , Dewitt Wheeler, Nathaniel Eakins, Delbert Wheeler, ? , John Eakins, Arthur Skinner. Back row: J. Henderson Potter, William Clapp, Frank Marcellus, ? , ? Vanderpool, Samuel Southwick, George Weeks, William Cox, ? , Dell Crofoot. Courtesy Butler Historical Society. |
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| Wagon load of baskets. Courtesy Butler Historical Society. |
| Historic narrative: | |||||
Post-Civil War basket factories popped up around the county – from Wolcott to Arcadia and Sodus to Galen. One basket factory in Wayne County led the way and was considered the second largest basket factory in the United States. The Hibbard Basket Works in Butler, New York began operation after the Civil War. Born in 1830, Jerome Hibbard’s early life was spent as a carpenter and amateur photographer. In 1861, Hibbard graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Returning to the Upstate area, Hibbard established a doctor’s office in Fair Haven where he practiced for a year before enlisting in the Civil War, serving at a hospital in Virginia as an Assistant Surgeon. After the war, Hibbard spent two years on a fruit farm in Michigan. While there, he invented and patented the Hibbard Farm Gate. Returning to Butler, he sold his invention and after several years building wooden boxes and tubs, in 1867, hired several men to work in a 14-ft by 20-ft building, started making farm baskets for fruit and other crops – the first in Wayne County. By 1888, Hibbard’s enterprise covered two acres. He employed more than 100 men, women, and children. In the year of Hibbard’s death, 1888, the Hibbard Basket Works had sales of over $30,000. (That is $861,855 in 2021.) | |||||