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HISTORIAN’S CORNER
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PHELPS HISTORY
BOSSHART & MORPHY
Jewelers
BY FRED GIFFORD
Several decades ago, when downtown Clifton Springs had a thriving business district, the proud firm of Bosshart & Morphy, Jewelers was an active local business firm.
The senior partner was Albert Bosshart, Jr. the son of Alfred Bosshart Sr. who had been head chef at the Clifton Springs Sanitarium. In the summer of 1897, Mr. Bosshart Jr. then a youth just out of high school, left his home here to take a course of training at the Huchinson School of Watchmakers and Engravers at Laporte, Ind. After being graduated in July of 1889, he entered the employment of E. S. Ettenheim & Co., in Rochester, NY where he remained for two and a half years. R. H. Gulvin, a Geneva watchmaker, having offered him a position, he moved to that city remaining there until he opened up his jewelry store in the Walsh Block on Crane Street in Clifton Springs on November 4th, 1904.
Al was busy with both the local traffic and the large influx of summer visitors to Dr. Foster's Sanitarium. The store carried fine jewelry, watches as well as some china and silverware. The main source of revenue was the jewelry and watch sales and the repair hereof.
Mr. Edwin Morphy was born in Clifton Springs on February 20, 1900. While a senior in high school he took a part-time job at what was then Albert Bosshart's Jewelry Store. The year was 1915. He attended New York University for a time and returned to Clifton Springs to work and learn from Mr. Bosshart. In March of 1925 he was admitted to partnership and the firm became known as Bosshart & Morphy. By this time the jewelry store was located in the Foster Block just east of the Devereaux Book Store. This is where we "oldsters" remember the two at work. Here most of the local population went to obtain their wedding rings, watches and plate ware. The walls were hung with clocks and the cases filled with a fine selection of gold, diamonds and silverware. We often wondered how the two put up with the constant ticking of the clocks but to them it was probably like the "background music" of any vocation.
The firm both before and after the forming of the partnership, was successful in attracting an important patronage for many miles around, as well as guests to the Sanitariuim. There was no great secret as to how this was done. Both members seemed to have the qualification, which stood them well.
Mr. Bosshart retired in 1951 and died in 1963. Following his demise, Ed Morphy took over sole ownership of the business. At the time of his retirement, Ed said, " Orginially I wanted to work in the railroad yards in Manchester during World War I, but Mom said I was too young. However, when I went to work for Mr. Bosshart I used to get to the store at 7 in the morning and leave for home at 6:30 at night. I've always enjoyed my work - I like meeting the public and I'm happiest when I'm repairing things, especially watches and clocks." In 1972, when Ed retired, he continued to stay busy as people who knew him continued to bring watchers and clocks to his home at 32 Broad Street for repair. He said, " I never had many hobbies, I guess my hobby was work. Young people nowadays have plenty of spending money, but there is little to keep them at home. They drive to movies in nearby places and we lose their business. It's not that we can't compete with others price-wise, but we don't have the assortment to show!"
Ed thought back over the changes he had witnessed, saying, " They paved Main Street in 1915, the Clifton Springs Hospital has moved into a modern palace and now we have sewers. I suppose that's all to the good and it's progress, but I think how wonderful the good old days were, too."
He recalled that his father was in the hardware business here and had helped build Dr. Foster's last 1896 buildings. (By the time of his retirement in 1972, the old San had been converted into 119 apartments and renamed itself, Spa Apts.) "Those were the days of the Missionary Society and many people came here in the summer. Dr. Foster used to give free treatments to teachers and clergymen. The town was full of rooming houses and it was a cheap and wonderful vacation for many. Then there were the sulphur baths, which it was said contained great healing power. The first automobile in the village belonged to George Lindner, the cashier in the bank. My first car was a Model T Ford and I paid $125 for it second-hand. I've been driving since 1924, before you needed to have a license."
Mr. Morphy was to live ten more years and passed away in 1982 at age 82. He was predeceased by his lovely wife and left two daughters, Catherine and Carol and a son, Charles.
Both of these men were very civic minded. Ed was on the Board of the Ontario National Bank and active at the YMCA & library. He was a member of St. Felix Parish and past president of the Clifton Springs Rotary Club (1948-49). Al Bosshart was mayor of the Village of Clifton Springs from 1918 until 1922 and belonged to several organizations.
The village is proud of these businessmen of yesterday for on the firm foundation they lay, today stands our special " Victorian" community, showing its continued vitality for the days that lie ahead.
(Part of this article was an interview in 1972 of Ed. Morphy by Dave Rosenbloom)
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