Barney and Berry Company
Everett Hosmer Barney | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Framingham, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | April 1, 1916 (aged 80) Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, inventor |
| Known for | Patenting clip-on ice skates; founding Barney and Berry Company |
Everett Hosmer Barney (December 7, 1835–April 1, 1916) was a prominent American entrepreneur and inventor originating from Massachusetts.
Early and personal life
Barney was born in Framingham, Massachusetts as the third child among six siblings. His father, Jaries Sidney Barney, operated a manufacturing business in Saxonville that specialized in machinery for woolen mills. Barney received his education at the local public schools in Framingham.
Demonstrating an early enthusiasm for innovation, Barney was one of the initial purchasers of vehicles from the Knox Automobile Company and is credited with bringing the first bicycle to Springfield, Massachusetts. He also pursued leisure activities such as skating and canoeing, through which he gained regional acclaim by winning contests at Thousand Islands and Lake Champlain during the mid-1880s. He played a key role in founding both the Springfield Canoe Association and the Springfield Boat Club and held lifelong membership in the American Canoe Association.
Between 1905 and 1910, Barney was actively involved with several regional groups including the Connecticut Navigational Association and the Connecticut River Improvement Association. Although he did not formally affiliate with any religious institution, his beliefs aligned with Congregationalist principles.
His sole offspring, George Murray Barney (born 1863), exhibited business talent but tragically passed away at 26. To honor his son’s memory, Barney commissioned a mausoleum on his estate where his son, wife Eliza Jane Knowles (1830–1905), and eventually he himself were laid to rest.
Barney passed away in 1916 at his winter residence located in Orlando, Florida; he also owned a seasonal home in Osprey, Manatee County.
Career
In 1851, Barney secured a position as a contractor at Hinkley & Drury, a locomotive manufacturing firm based in Boston. His work required travel to locations including St. Louis, Missouri.
By the late 1850s, Barney relocated to Connecticut to join a firearms manufacturer producing Spencer carbines. During the draft riots, he transferred to their New York facility before returning to assist the Springfield, Massachusetts branch in fulfilling government contracts.
In 1864, Barney became the first individual to patent clip-on ice skates. Together with John Berry, he founded the Barney and Berry Company which manufactured ice skates by leasing equipment from a gun factory. Steel blades were procured from Windsor Locks, Connecticut, while sheet steel was imported from England. The enterprise established a factory in Springfield’s South End in 1866, significantly contributing to local employment. After purchasing Berry’s interest in 1869, Barney retained the company name. A new manufacturing plant was inaugurated on Broad Street in 1872.
Additionally, Barney patented a bank perforation machine in 1868 and developed innovations including a breech-loading shotgun, a saluting cannon designed for boats, and an ice- and water-rescue sled.
Forest Park estate
In 1882, Barney acquired 110 acres adjacent to the Connecticut River in southern Springfield. Beginning around 1884, he cultivated elaborate water gardens featuring exotic plants imported globally. The estate served as a venue for public concerts and riverboat race viewings. Between approximately 1883 and 1885, he constructed Pecousic Villa mansion on this property.
During the 1890s, Barney gifted his estate to the city of Springfield to become part of Forest Park under the stipulation that he and his wife could reside in the mansion for their lifetimes.
Philanthropy
Barney contributed to the community by funding Springfield’s inaugural public playground, Fort Gallagher, and demonstrated his dedication to local education through the provision of boathouses for a high school, underscoring his investment in societal growth alongside his commercial pursuits.