Читать книгу History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 3 - Группа авторов - Страница 33

Mr. Hobby is one of the most enterprising young business men of Westchester county, his success in the past few years being nothing short of phenomenal, yet accounted for only by his excellent methods of transacting and managing his financial affairs. He deserves great credit for the prosperity and high standing he has achieved, and the future for him is one of much promise, judging from what he has already accomplished. In political matters he is liberal, using his ballot for the nominee whom he considers best qualified to fill any given position, and he has served as a city committeeman. For the most part, he uses his franchise in favor of the Democratic platform and party. Fraternally he is a member of Hiawatha Lodge, F. & A. M. ; of Mount Vernon Encampment of St. John of Malta; the Ancient Order of Foresters; the Mount Vernon City Club, and at the .present time is a member of the Central Hose Company. In all matters affecting the city and community he takes zealous interest, his influence being ever given to progress and improvements in all lines.

W. O. Hobby is a son of James R. and Kate C. (Gent) Hobby, and was born in the city of New York, February 18, 1867. He received his education in the schools of the metropolis, graduating in the same. He then entered the employ of Acker, Merrill & Condit, of New York city, and remained with them for five years, thoroughly learning the details of the wholesale liquor business. Afterward he was for a short time an employee of Luyties Brothers, of the same city, that firm being in the same line of trade.

Seven years ago Mr. Hobby came to Mount Vernon and established a bottling plant at Boston road and Third avenue. He began this enterprise on a small scale, at first employing but one wagon. At the end of two years his business had doubled and two wagons were necessary to deliver his goods, and at last he was impelled to seek increased facilities for handling his large and remunerative trade. Then, for a few years, he did business at No. 37 South Fifth avenue. In 1898 he was again obliged to extend his business and increase the capacity of his plant, and he accordingly organized the Hobby Bottling Company, of which he is the president and general manager. He is also the agent and collector for the Henry Zeltnor Brewing Company and the William A. Miles Brewing Company, of New York city.

The handsome new brick building which the Hobby Bottling Company occupies at Nos. 21, 23, 25 Prospect avenue, is constructed in a modern manner, the style of architecture being particularly pleasing. The front is of pressed brick and the building, three stories in height, is fifty by one hundred feet in dimensions. The brick stables and wagon-house in the rear of the lot are thirty by one hundred feet in dimensions. The machinery with which the works are fitted is of the most approved modern style, every possible device for convenience and rapidity of working, etc., being found here. Everything that can possibly be done by machinery is done, and the high grade of the goods turned out here is all the proof necessary of the merits of the system in use. Only the best class of hotels and families are catered to, and only the finest and most expensive materials are utilized in the manufacture of the various "soft" drinks and other styles of liquor bottled here. Tanglewylde spring water, positively pure and sweet, and Saratoga spring gases (in use in carbonated waters) are used exclusively, and pure fruit syrups and extracts are manufactured in the plant, by cold process, in porcelain tanks. Two carbonators, one for high, and one for low pressure, are used, thus keeping the waters charged absolutely free from all vitreous and marble dust. From the time when the pure spring water enters the tanks until the sparkling beverage is corked and labeled in the special bottles of the company (corked with a specially fine "Crown" cork), the entire process is carried on. automatically. This finely-equipped plant cost upwards of forty-seven thousand dollars, and in 1897 one hundred thousand dollars' worth of business was transacted by the company. In the manufacture, sale and delivery of the beer, ale and lager, carbonated waters, "soft" drinks, etc., forty men are afforded employment and fifteen wagons are kept running continuously. The firm has branch agencies at Mamaroneck and White Plains. All things considered, the works here are as complete as any to be found in New York, city and they are far superior to many of the bottling establishments in various other large cities. The Hobby Bottling Company contemplate enlarging their plant and buildings by the addition of another floor to the main building in the spring of 1899, doubling its capacity.

William Oakley Hobby was united in marriage, July 14, 1887, to Miss Kate Agnes Rehil, a daughter of Thomas and Rose Rehil, and to this union have been born three children, viz. : Kate, William and Charles.