Gale Shoe Manufacturing

The industrial revolution marked the end of hand production with the introduction of new manufacturing processes - factories with machines that could mass produce goods.  While this revolution began in the late 1700s, the second wave of change came later. 

During the mid 1800s, trains, steamships, and the electrical telegraph were introduced but they couldn’t keep up with the rapid growth of the times. Technology truly exploded in the late 1800s, early 1900s and this time became known as the “Second Revolution.” 

It took manufacturing to a whole new level with such things as machine tools, interchangeable parts, and new ways to mass produce steel. Expanded railroad networks, gas, water & sewage systems all contributed to the unprecedented movement of people, goods and ideas. Factories were remodeled with electrical production lines and unions dug in!

While Gloversville in New York was literally named for the glove making industry, Haverhill in Massachusetts was nicknamed the "Queen Slipper City" during the late 1890s.  Haverhill was the hub of shoe making, known for the advancements in the turned-shoe (sewing on the inside and turning the shoe inside out once done) and mass producing "Ladies" and "Gents" fine shoes.

The Gale Shoe Manufacturing Co was one of the factories which was started by a couple of brothers whose humble beginnings stoked the fire for something better.  

After the death of their father, Elbridge Gerry Gale, their mother had to sell most of the farm to have the money to raise the kids & ensure they received an education. Along with school, Stephen Henry Gale and his brother John Elbridge Gale began working in shoe industry - the work was being shipped in via rail to East Kingston, NH from Haverhill, MA. 

As it turned out, the 2 brothers ended up taking a keen interest in shoe making. While Stephen remained near home, John E left home at the age of 14 and headed directly to Haverhill where he eventually landed a job in a shoe factory.  

Eventually Stephen joined John E in Haverhill and together they started up their own shoe factory - the Gale Brothers Shoe Factory & the Exeter Boot & Shoe Company - which became the largest employer in Exeter, NH of men, women & children.

 

Gale Brothers & Exeter Boot & Shoe Factory - 1905 Postcard

John E Gale, also a successful banker, remained in Haverhill during the expansion in Exeter and around 1900, he separated himself to create the Gale Shoe Manufacturing Company with his son Herbert Elbridge Gale.  John E was now the President of the Haverill National Bank and the Gale Shoe Manufacturing Co which had 2 factories - one in Haverhill, and one in Portsmouth, NH.

1893 Haverhill

Herbert's son John Elbridge Gale is where we join up with the family.  

John, 'Jack' married our Natalie Cameron Kemp, the daughter of William H Kemp & Isalbell F Nathan. Together they had 3 children - Elizabeth, Natalie & Herbert - John & Herbert's obit are below.

Berkshire Eagle, Sat, 13 Jul 1974
John E Gale; Manufactured Shoes in North Adams
Newton Centre - John E Gale, 79, of 775 Commonwealth Avenue, president of the former Gale Shoe Manufacturing Co in North Adams, died Tuesday. Funeral services were private. Born in Clifton, he received his preparatory education at Milton Academy before attending Harvard College. After working five years in his father's shoe firm in Haverhill, he moved to Manchester, NH where he manufactured shoes for 15 years. Mr Gale then opened the shoe factory in North Adams, which he operated until retiring 22 years ago. He divided his retirement years between Ft Lauderdale, Fla, West Harwich on Cape Cod and his home here. He was a veteran of World War I and was a member of the Brae Burn Country club. In 1948, his employees at the North Adams firm voted to waive their week's paid vacation so that the company might use the money to purchase new machinery. The company had suspended operations a week earlier and Mr Gale told the 500 employees that if the new machinery were purchased, the operations would be able to resume. He finally sold in 1950. Besides his wife, the former Natalie Kemp, he leaves two daughters, Mrs Elizabeth Hussey of Topsfield and Mrs Natalie McMasser of Williamsport, Pa, a sister, Mrs Edson Andrews of Andover and four grandchildren.

Berkshire Evening Eagle, Tues, 20 May 1947
Funeral of Shoe Company Manager At North Adams
North Adams - Funeral services for Herbert Eldridge Gale, 22, assistant manager of the Daytime Shoe Company of this city, a subsidiary of the Gale Shoe Manufacturing Company, also of North Adams and of which his father John E Gale is president, were held this afternoon at 2 in Trinity Church, Newton. Burial was in Forest Hills, Newton. Mr Gale died Saturday at Faulkner Hospital in Boston after an extended illness. The Gale Company plant and also the Daytime Company offices were closed today and delegations from both places attended the services. A native of Newton Center, Mr Gale attended public schools there and later Berkshire School in Sheffield where he was on the varsity football, baseball and hockey teams. He made his home at the Williams Inn since he became associated with the business here two years ago.