Silver Shoe Factory

The G. & D. Silver Shoe Factory was a footwear manufacturing plant located in Tarrytown, New York.

The G. & D. Silver Shoe Company was established in 1857 by brothers George and David Silver. Their primary office and warehouse was located at 18 Warren Street, New York, New York.

In 1871 the company opened a factory on Washington Street, along side the Andre Brook, where they manufactured high quality footwear. When electric lights were installed in 1887, the factory was producing up to 200000 pairs of shoes per year.

The company employed around 200 workers in 1895 at an average wage of $0.27 per hour, roughly $7 per hour with today's inflation. The employees voted to unionize for increased wages, but in response, the factory was closed.

List of employees

• Odber Miles Hartt, plant superintendent (1887 – 1897)
• Edward Seymour, foreman (– 1886)
• William Kelly, trimmer
• Ann A. Ackerman (1880)
• Alice Ackerman (1880)
• William Adams (1880)
• Martin Igo (1880)
• John A. Newell (1880)
• Hugo M. Deyo, traveling salesman

Sources

1. The New York Times; Titlte: Lost His Second Wife; Date: 3 Sep 1883.
2. Congressional serial set; Year: 1895; Text: Reply of G. & D. Silver of Tarrytown, N. T., manufacturers of shoes. [Established in 1857. Capital invested, $200000.] The value of my production is $300,000 to $400,000 annually in men's and ladies shoes. I ran less than full time in 1892, and especially in 1893, owing to competition and dull trade. The facilities for the manufacture of shoes in this country put us beyond competition, and most of the elements of a shoe are produced here cheaper than abroad. There has been an increase in competition in my line during the past four years, altogether domestic. I desire no duty; if any, we prefer specific. My output now is very much less than in 1892, because of the depression caused by financial distrust. In 1893 I had increased competition and lower prices. Wages have been lower during the past twelve months. My workmen earn from $12 to $20 per week. Some at $12 save a little. Some at $20 spend all. At $15 per week a family of four could respectably and comfortably in our locality. From 1870 to 1885 the cost of living was constantly decreasing; from then the tendency rather upward. The causes of the present depression in trade were overproduction for domestic wants, distrust engendered by outflow of gold and buying of silver in the fall of 1892 and spring of 1893, delay in repealing the purchasing clause of the Sherman bill, and now the delay in passing the Wilson bill. Remedies: A foreign outlet, decrease of manufactured product, return of financial confidence, and settlement of the tariff. Every component part of a shoe is the manufactured product of the party from whom we buy it and is our raw material. My goods are necessities. Immigration has a good effect on my business, as it increases the field of consumption. All my labor requires some skill. Reduction of duty would not effect me. I employ 70 women and girls, 75 to 80 men, and 50 boys and youths. They work fifty-four hours per week. Foreign goods do not enter into competition. None of my goods are exported. The cost of manufacture has decreased 10 to 20 per cent since 1883. The decrease has been in both materials and labor-labor a full half, partly from improved machinery and other facilities. My selling prices have decreased since 1890. No customs duty is necessary with free raw material. Make all duties specific; give us free coal and iron, any way. The Wilson bill, with the income tax, is in the right direction.
3. The New York Times Archive; Title: City And Suburban News; Date: 24 Jun 1885.
4. The New York Times Archive; Title: Not Amenable to Rules - Knights Who Observe An Agreement When It Suits Them To Do So; Date: 24 Jun 1885.
5. The New York Times Archive; Title: A Lock-out Impeding - Cause And Probable Effect Of The Gardiner & Estes Strike; Date: 1 Feb 1887.
6. Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage, & Death Announcements, 1851-2003; Newspaper: New York Times (1857-Current file); Event: Obituary; Publication: 5 Sep 1899 - New York, New York.
7. 1880 United States Federal Census Results
8. Boot and Shoe Recorder, Volume 55; page 87; Year: 1909; Text: G. & D. Silver's factory was located at Tarrytown, N. Y. This boot and shoe factory was one of the oldest institutions in the trade, having been established in the pioneer days of the East. The firms principle office and warehouse was at 18 Warren street, New York. The Chicago office, 75 Madison street, room 58, was under the superintendency of M. T. Swarthout. This gentleman, who was a though and practical business man, was appreciated with the boot and shoe trade in Chicago for many years, and was intimately conversant in the city and Western trade.
9. Their Season, of Idleness Ended; Newspaper: New York Times (1857-Current file); Publication: 18 SDec 1893 - New York, New York.
10. Annual report of the factory inspectors of the State of New York; Year: 1888.
11. Recollections of sixty years in the shoe trade; Year: 1916.
12. Proceedings of annual meeting; Year: 1883.
13. Boot and Shoe Recorder, Volume 26; Year: 1894.