Hurlburt and Sweet Family Photograph Collection, ca. 1920-1954

Summary

Extent:
15 Photographic Prints Three folders.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Hurlburt and Sweet Family Photograph Collection. [folder #]. Local History and Genealogy Division, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County N.Y.

Background

Scope and content:

15 photographs from Frank Hurlburt and family. Hurlburt was a captain in the New York Central Railroad police ca. 1920s-1930s; most photographs depict the railroad in some manner. Three of the photographs depict an "Old Timers' Dinner" of Rochester Folding Box Company in 1954; Ronald Sweet's mother and stepfather were employed by this company.

Biographical / historical:

Frank E. Hurlburt was born in Darien Center, NY, in 1873. His father was a private detective. The family spent several years in Buffalo prior to moving to Fairport, then Rochester. At 15, Frank went to sea as a cook on a lake freighter for three years. He followed this by becoming a brakeman for the Erie Railroad, from which he moved to the same work for the New York Central Railroad. Later, he joined the New York Central's police force in Buffalo before moving back to Rochester in 1909. Ultimately, he became the New York Central police captain in Rochester, with his jurisdiction extending to Syracuse. His colorful career, as documented in a lengthy Arch Merrill interview, included chasing railroad car burglars, guarding visiting royalty and greeting every circus train entering town. A life member of the Elks Club, he left behind his wife, Florence, two daughters and five sons at his passing on November 2, 1944.

The Rochester Folding Box Company was founded in 1895 under the leadership of A. B. Cowles. It purchased the former Post Express newspaper printing plant and focused on producing cigarette boxes, for which Cowles held a patent on production machinery. By 1915, the company had moved to Commercial Street. In that year, Harry Stevenson became general manager. Stevenson pushed the company to develop nwew product lines focused on shipping cartons and containers, along with building a new plant on Boxart Street between 1917 and 1919. Under Stevenson's 30+ years as manager, the company flourished. A merger with large, Chicago-based Eddy Paper Corporation occured in 1938, but Rochester Folding Box retained its own identity as a subsidiary. Eddy Paper was purchased by Weyerhauser Timber in February of 1957. Weyerhauser initially operated the plant under its established name; Rochester Folding Box was fully merged into Weyerhauser as the Boxboard and Folding Carton Division in 1961. While Rochester Folding Box ceased to exist at this time, the Boxart Street factory continues operating (as of 2023) under the control of International Paper.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Leona Sweet from the estate of Ronald Sweet, 2023.
Arrangement:

This collection consists of 3 folders.

Physical description:
Most of the photographs are in good condition; a few have creases and/or fading.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.

Preferred citation:

Hurlburt and Sweet Family Photograph Collection. [folder #]. Local History and Genealogy Division, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County N.Y.

Location of this collection:
Rundel Memorial Building
115 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
585-428-8370
lochist@libraryweb.org