CONNOLLY, Thomas

CONNOLLY, Thomas. (County Tipperary, Ireland, Mar. 2, 1837-Dubuque, IA, Dec. 29, 1903). Vice-President, National Carriage Builders of America. Connolly began business in Dubuque on August 23, 1858, with the purchase of a small factory on the corner of Locust and Eighth STREETS. At about the same time, he established a small wagon factory on Bluff Street across from the WALES HOTEL. In 1860 the Eighth Street factory was burned to the ground. The building was an uninsured loss, and Connolly was forced to pay 25 percent interest on money he borrowed to resume business.

Business letter.

Connolly built a large wagon factory on Seventh and Iowa streets in 1872. The quality of the workmanship was realized the following year when at the IOWA STATE FAIR. His company was awarded the "red ticket first premium" was its three-seated carriage, track wagon, and two seated sleigh and cutter. The company won the sweepstakes premium for the best and largest display. (1)

The company was destroyed by fire four times, but each time came back larger than before. (2) By 1885 Connolly's factory produced one thousand buggies, carriages, and sleighs annually ranging in price from $100 to $1,500. That same year, Connolly's "manufactory" or carriage-manufacturing plant contributed sales of $200,000 to the local economy by 1885 with such products as buggies, carriages, sleighs and bicycles. The first "paddy-wagon" for transporting criminals was purchased from the company on August 31, 1887. (3) In 1910 the company occupying a building 125 feet by 100 feet and five was recognized as the largest carriage manufacturer west of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. (4)

Unlike Augustine A. COOPER, a business rival but friend, Connolly was interested in automobile production. In 1905 an ADAMS-FARWELL AUTOMOBILE automobile with the chassis built by the Connolly company finished third in a cross-country endurance race beginning in Chicago (5)

Financially successful through his carriage factory, Connolly had one of Dubuque's most elegant mansions built in 1893 on the 1600 block of Iowa Street. (6) Fine woods floated down the MISSISSIPPI RIVER from forests in Wisconsin and Minnesota were used in the construction. (7) Connolly personally supervised the selection of the planks, discarding all but the perfect. (8) The home was one of the few in Dubuque with a carriage step, a raised platform three feet off the ground enabling visitors to leave their carriages without soiling their clothes. (9) The home was still present in 2013 adjacent to JACKSON PARK although it had been reduced from its former state by fire.

Notice upon the death of Thomas Connolly. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Connolly was an active civic supporter of Dubuque. He encouraged the construction of the Julien Hotel and the BANK AND INSURANCE BUILDING. He served as president of the DUBUQUE FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANYand the Bank and Insurance Building and was director of the Hotel Julien Building Company, Iowa Trust and Savings Bank, and the KEY CITY GAS COMPANY. (10) He was succeeded in his business by his son Maurice CONNOLLY. (11)

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Source:

1. "The State Fair," Dubuque Herald, Sept. 12, 1873, p.. 5. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Qg9eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-18NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2244,4979481&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en

2. "Dubuque Has Largest Carriage Factory West of the Mississippi," Telegraph Herald, January 24, 1910, p. 1. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ESlCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gKoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3202,239641&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en

3. Bielema, Ross, "Equipment Would Past Men of Law Stare in Awe," Telegraph Herald, Feb. 23, 1988, p. 45. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UY5dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j1wNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5243,4668086&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en

4. "Dubuque Has Largest Carriage Factory..."

5. Ibid.

6. "First Enclosed Auto Was Built in Dubuque," Telegraph Herald, Jan. 29, 1939, p. 17. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gtdBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BaoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3207,4929966&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en

7. Wright, David. "Little Time Remains for the Nagle Mansion," June 15, 1972, p. 19. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dQ9RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BsQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5276,6747849&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid.

10. Ibid.

11. "Rich Manufacturer Dies," Davenport Daily Republican, Dec.l 27, 1903, p. 32. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4Q5cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AFUNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3793,4196341&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en

12. "Dubuque Has Largest Carriage Factory..."

"Our Spirited Years," Telegraph Herald, 1976 Telegraph Herald, January 24, 1910