Caroline Mead, With Bolt Co. 40 Years, Notes Her 80th Birthday (1938)

Source: Greenwich Press. Thursday, January 13, 1938.

A lifelong resident of East Port Chester, kindly neighbor, and an employee of the Russell, Burdsall & Ward Bolt & Nut Company for about 40 years, quietly celebrated her 80th birthday at her home on Gold Street last Sunday. 

Miss Caroline Mead was born in 1858, daughter of the late Nathaniel Tyler and Abigail Merritt Mead. She was brought up in the family homestead on Byram Road. She attended the old Byram School, which then stood on the rocky summit near the intersection of the Post Road and Weaver Street. Not long after leaving school, she started work for the belt concern, which then stood near the bridge over he Byram River at Comley Avenue, Pemberwick.

Miss Mead did not have a birthday party but she received 123 greeting cards, besides flowers and other gifts from her many friends. The day before her birthday, the postman brought 70 cards at one time. One neighbor sent her a handsome cake.

Miss Mead lives at the house she owns on Gold Street. She takes her meals, however, at the home of her niece, Mrs. Sadie H. Smith, and her grandnephew and niece, Mr. and Mrs. George A. Smith, who reside next door. Mr. Smith is head of the Mathematics Department of the High School. Another next door neighbor is her brother, N. Tyler Mead. Still quite active and interested in the world around her, Miss Mead walks to town frequently. She does not go to the movies very often, although she voted in the last election.

Miss Mead's family has long been connected with the history of Greenwich. Her father, Nathaniel Tyler Mead, was captain of the sloop New York, which made the run to New York City from Port Chester harbor, laden with farm produce. He died almost 50 years ago.

When Miss Mead went with Russell, Burdsall & Ward, the bolts and nuts were threaded by hand. When she retired about 20 years ago, she had risen to the rank of forewoman of all the girl workers at the factory.

Miss Mead told a Press reporter shortly before her birthday that she had led a rather quiet life. She was too modest to tell of the many times she had visited friends in distress or poor health and brought cheer and happiness to brighten their days. Since she left the bolt and nut concern, there have been many instances where she visited friends and helped them through trying times. She is an active member of the North Baptist Church, Port Chester.