Baird-North Company

--  When the flags flying at half-mast on the City Hall at Providence announced to the city the death of Alderman George R. Hussey, the expressions of regret heard on every side were most touching and heartfelt.  Perhaps the thoughts uppermost in the minds of all were best expressed by Mayor Gainer, the dead alderman's intimate and valued friend: 'His services to the city as a member of the board of aldermen for the past four years were of inestimable value.  He was a man of high ideals, of strong character, and of marked ability.  In his death the city of Providence loses a public servant and a patriotic citizen of the highest type, and his associates at City Hall a lovable and faithful friend.'

Baird-North Company

Mr. Hussey has been intimately connected with the city government for four years prior to his death, and was to have retired on January 6, 1919, he having refused to accept nomination for another term as alderman that he might devote all his energy to the affairs of the Baird-North Company of which he was president.  It was his connection with this company that brought him to Providence in 1907, a young man of twenty-three.  His entire business life had been spent with the Baird-North Company, gold and silversmiths, his father, William G. Hussey, its founder and head until his death in 1908.  As executive head of the company from January, 1908, until his own death, December 27, 1918, George R. Hussey developed the company until it ranked with the largest mail order houses of the country.  As a business man he was held in the highest esteem, and it was his high sense of honor and his ability, as displayed in the conduct of his private business, which gave him his standing in the city and brought him prominently into the public eye.  Just how popular he became with the voters of the sixth ward is best attested by the fact that he was the first and the only Democrat ever elected to the Board of Aldermen from that ward.  Not only that, but he was reelected, and could have had a third term but for his positive declination of the honor.

George R. Hussey
was a son of William G. Hussey, of Augusta, Me.; Salem, Mass.; Providence, R. I.; and a descendant of Christopher Hussey, born in England, who came to New England with the Rev. Stephen Bachelor on the ship 'William and Francis', to Boston, July, 1630. 

This Christopher Hussey
was a suitor for the hand of Theodate Bachelor, and could only gain her father's consent to their marriage by promising to come to New England with his father-in-law.  Christopher Hussey was one of the original grantees of Hampton, N. H., the first deacon of the church there, and a captain of militia, town clerk, representative and a royal commissioner. 

Christopher Hussey |
In 1659 he was one of the purchasers of Nantucket, and later was a sea captain.  He died in Hampton, N. H., March 6, 1686, aged about ninety years.  Branches of his descendants settled in Nantucket and in Maine, George R. Hussey belonging to the Maine family.

George R. Hussey
was born in Augusta, Me., May 29, 1884, and died at his home, No. 179 Ontario street, Providence, R. I., December 27, 1918.  He attended the public schools of Augusta until 1892, when his parents moved to Salem, Massachusetts.  There he finished high school courses and attended commercial college, also being for a time a student at Waltham Horological School.  He attended Dartmouth College, and upon leaving became associated with his father who had organized the Baird-North Company, gold and silversmiths.  He passed in turn through the different departments of the business, becoming familiar with its every detail, then in 1907 father and son removed the business to Providence. 

William G. Hussey,
the father, died the year following the removal to Providence, and was succeeded in the management by his son, George R. Hussey.  The removal to Providence had been actuated by a desire to benefit by the prominence of Providence as a jewelry manufacturing city, the business of Baird-North being largely done through the mails.  Upon succeeding to the presidency Mr. Hussey greatly increased the scope of the business, and during the ten years of life remaining him he placed Baird-North in the very front rank of mail order houses.

In 1912 Mr. Hussey became interested in city politics, and in that year was the Democratic candidate for Common Council from the sixth ward.  While the sixth was a strong Republican  ward, the exceptional run made by the Democratic candidate focused the eyes of the party leaders upon him, and in 1914 he was made the party candidate for alderman.  He also received the endorsement of the Independent organization of the ward, and at the ensuing election he won the verdict of the polls over his opponent, John H. Higgins. In 1916 he was reelected, but declined a third term, his private business interests demanding his entire time.  As alderman he was closely associated with the financing committee and its work, he being a member of that most important committee during his entire four years of aldermanic service.  He was a supporter of Mayor Gainer and his policies, there also existing a warm personal friendship between the two men.

During his eleven years of residence in Providence, Mr. Hussey became a well-known social figure, and in club and fraternal life was very prominent. He held all degrees of lodge, chapter and commandery of the York Rite of the Masonic order, and in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite had attained the thirty-second degree.  He was a member of Providence Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and the Boston Athletic Association; his Providence clubs, the Central, West Side, and Metacomet Golf.  In all these organizations he was active and popular, his genial, kindly nature responding to the fraternal and social spirit they engendered.

Mr. Hussey married, November 9, 1907, Julia Agnes Corbett, of Beverly, Mass., who survives him with three children:  Robert Thurston, Ruth Carol and Betty Loraine Hussey. 

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Baird-North Company 1916

eMail: julie@1860-1960.com |

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Below: Baird-North Company Catalogue 1917 |

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Sterling Silver Flatware

These Mille Fleurs Dinner Forks are marked with the International Knights Head, Pat'd, sterling and Baird-North Co. (the Jeweler who sold them). They are 71/2" long. There is a monogram as you can see an L. The back of these forks are also decorated. Circa 1904. This is one of the hard to find patterns. Inventory #INT861. The price is $69.00 each.

Mary Louise Sipler
eMail: sipler97@aol.com|
See: http://www.sipler-sterling.com/Sterlingsilverflatwarepage16.html |

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Baird-North Company

Kensington House Antiques
Kensington, Maryland
(301) 942-0955
eMail: gbeig@aol.com |
Site: http://www.KensingtonHouseAntiques.com/ |
See: Baird-North Company | Forks |

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Baird-North Company

Patterns referenced via "number only" by Baird-North Company

Reprints: http://www.matchsafe.org/Books.htm |

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Baird-North Company

-- a personal link for the children to their father, George R. Hussey

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Home Page | Directory |

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Ruth Hussey Pictures