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Frederick Bourne & The Long Island Maritime Museum
Text by Rob Van Wyen on 09/11/2007
Frederick Bourne & The Long Island Maritime Museum
Text by Rob Van Wyen on 09/11/2007
the firm. He was involved in real estate development and had little interest in the management of the Singer Manufacturing Company. From 1882 until 1889, George Ross McKenzie served as Singer's fourth president. Although a board member and majority stock holder, Alfred Clark was not inclined to immerse himself in the company's policy making. Instead he sent Frederick Bourne to attend company board meetings as his proxy. Bourne soon left the Clark family firm, entering the Singer company's direct employ as a stenographer. With Alfred Clark's support, Bourne began advancing to the more responsible positions within the company. Nearly twenty years after first meeting Clark, an article in the New York Times referred to him as the secretary to the company's board of directors. A few years later, on George McKenzie retirement in 1889, and with Alfred's endorsement, the board moved the 38-yearold Bourne into the company's presidency.
The Singer Company did have a tradition of appointing "generals-from-the-ranks." Inslee Hopper, who succeeded Singer, was a former office boy who worked as a general factotum, running the office when the Singer and Clark were away. McKenzie was said to have "entered the company a mechanic, and retired a millionaire."
Doubtless, Bourne had demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities while managing the Clark family estates and their real estate developments. Still, it must have seemed to some to be an intemperate decision. On paper at least, Bourne had virtually no experience with the day-to-day operations of a large multinational company. Yet, despite his limited background and age, history has proven that Frederick Bourne was the right man in the right place at the right time. The selection of Bourne to head the US's first successful multinational company would prove to be a master stroke. As it turned out, this seemingly unlikely young man would guide the company out of horse-and-buggy days into modern times and unexpected prosperity.
Bourne's contribution to the growth of the Singer Company was his commitment to advertising, creating an extremely creative and effective stand-alone advertising department, which set the standard for the companies that followed. He greatly expanded global production, as well as Singer's international sales. He carried out the first decentralization of the company, splitting it into industrial and domestic machine divisions. And it was under his stewardship that Singer produced the first electric sewing machine. Although Edward Clark had originated the hire-purchase plan, the prototype for all installment selling, Bourne is credited with advancing the practice, gaining the reputation of the "world-wide pioneer of installment selling." As a result of his expansion of the company, Singer sewing machines would become commonplace in households around the world.
Bourne had married Emma Sparks Keeler of New York in February 1875. Their first child, Arthur, was born in October 1877, with eight more children following: Alfred, George, Florence, Marion, Marjorie, May, Kenneth and Howard.
In the late 19th century Oakdale had become popular with the rich of NYC. The 2,000-acre South Side Sportsmen's Club as well as Oakdale's relative proximity to the city made it an ideal location for "country homes." Although their primary residence was in the city, the Bourne family had summered in the area for a number of years. In 1889 Frederick Bourne made his first real estate purchase in Oakdale.
This property was on the Great South Bay, south of Montauk Highway, and included the land on which St. John's University and West Oak Recreation Club are now located.
The years between 1890-1910 were the peak years of the oystering industry, when over two million bushels of oysters were harvested a year. The most famous clam and oyster beds in the world were found in the Great South Bay, and the heart…
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The Singer Company did have a tradition of appointing "generals-from-the-ranks." Inslee Hopper, who succeeded Singer, was a former office boy who worked as a general factotum, running the office when the Singer and Clark were away. McKenzie was said to have "entered the company a mechanic, and retired a millionaire."
Doubtless, Bourne had demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities while managing the Clark family estates and their real estate developments. Still, it must have seemed to some to be an intemperate decision. On paper at least, Bourne had virtually no experience with the day-to-day operations of a large multinational company. Yet, despite his limited background and age, history has proven that Frederick Bourne was the right man in the right place at the right time. The selection of Bourne to head the US's first successful multinational company would prove to be a master stroke. As it turned out, this seemingly unlikely young man would guide the company out of horse-and-buggy days into modern times and unexpected prosperity.
Bourne's contribution to the growth of the Singer Company was his commitment to advertising, creating an extremely creative and effective stand-alone advertising department, which set the standard for the companies that followed. He greatly expanded global production, as well as Singer's international sales. He carried out the first decentralization of the company, splitting it into industrial and domestic machine divisions. And it was under his stewardship that Singer produced the first electric sewing machine. Although Edward Clark had originated the hire-purchase plan, the prototype for all installment selling, Bourne is credited with advancing the practice, gaining the reputation of the "world-wide pioneer of installment selling." As a result of his expansion of the company, Singer sewing machines would become commonplace in households around the world.
Bourne had married Emma Sparks Keeler of New York in February 1875. Their first child, Arthur, was born in October 1877, with eight more children following: Alfred, George, Florence, Marion, Marjorie, May, Kenneth and Howard.
In the late 19th century Oakdale had become popular with the rich of NYC. The 2,000-acre South Side Sportsmen's Club as well as Oakdale's relative proximity to the city made it an ideal location for "country homes." Although their primary residence was in the city, the Bourne family had summered in the area for a number of years. In 1889 Frederick Bourne made his first real estate purchase in Oakdale.
Mr. Frederick G. Bourne, Esq., President of the Singer Manufacturing Company, has purchased 400 acres known as Oakdale Farm, of Col. William H. Ludlow. Bourne purchased the property from Mr. Ludlow for $80,000
This property was on the Great South Bay, south of Montauk Highway, and included the land on which St. John's University and West Oak Recreation Club are now located.
The years between 1890-1910 were the peak years of the oystering industry, when over two million bushels of oysters were harvested a year. The most famous clam and oyster beds in the world were found in the Great South Bay, and the heart…
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