Born in 1883, Johnny Sicotte was 20 years old and probably working as a fireman aboard a locomotive when this photo was taken. (Later, he worked for the Buckle Factory.) In 8 years time, John would settle down and marry Mary Rodier, but in 1904 he seems a rather jaunty turn-of-the century young man in celluloid collar and cap.
The "Buckle Factory" was actually the Judson L. Thompson Manufacturing Company which was locted on property now belinging to Brandies University in Waltham adjacent to the B&M Railroad tracks. The area was formerly know as "Roberts" and the train stom is now called "Roberts-Brandies". JL Thompson was known for its manufacture of rivets. More than a few members of the Sicotte Family were employed there during the life of the company. John was a machine operator and mechanic. Irene, his daughter worked for years in the shipping room and Ernest, his son, worked there for a short while before being called into the US Army at the start of World War II.
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Judson L. Thomson Manufacturing .Co., for about a year after the second world war. As I was told, the name "Buckle Factory," referred to the fact that the factory at one time made buckles for overshoes. Early overshoes had clasp type buckles instead of laces. Later on, rivets were indeed the major product.
ReplyDeleteEd