This one continues! Scott Fajack took a photo of a Fairchild Gilmore Wilton Co. contractor stamp on April 26, 2025 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, so I have been inspired to update this post to my current standards!
The company's business "was originally the construction of asphalt pavements, but it has since included public works in general; so successful has been the conduct of their business that they are known all over the Pacific coast and also as far east as Salt Lake City, Utah, where they have had extensive contracts for improvements. In Los Angeles they are the best known company of this character, employing from five to six hundred men and one hundred teams, and enjoying an enviable reputation as to promptness, integrity and thorough responsibility."
John A. Fairchild was "a pioneer upbuilder of the resources of Southern California" and was from a family which "was established in this country prior to the Revolution, in which historic struggle the paternal ancestor achieved prominence as a soldier." His father, also John, married Tryphena Armstrong, from another colonial family, and was an early European settler of New York. John A. was born on July 20, 1849 in Cattaraugus county, New York and attended Lawrence University in Appleton, WI. He didn't finish a degree, though, before moving to California in 1867 to take "up the practical side of life." He arrived in San Francisco on October 27, 1867. He was "interested in the drug business" for several years in Nevada City and San Jose. Then the banking business, "assisting in the organization of what is now known as the First National Bank" in San Jose and becoming a cashier at the Commercial Bank of San Diego. He arrived in Los Angeles in 1883. You'll see above a description of his entrance into the business of topic for us. While already involved in our company, he was also president of Calaveras county's Consolidated Sheep Ranch Mining Company. He was a fervent member of the Republican party and a "prominent mason" who was a member of "Southern California Lodge No. 278, F. & A. M., Signet Chapter No. 57, R. A. M., Los Angeles Commander No. 9, K.T.; and is also a Shriner." He was also a member of the Jonathan Club. He married August Barker from Wisconsin and had three children (at least by 1907) (A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, James Miller Guinn, 1907). According to the Griffith Company News, Fairchild served as president of our company until 1911, when he resigned (they don't say why) (McGrew, Dan. "The Birth of Griffith Company," Griffith Company News, Volume 41, Issue 4, December 2022).
According to L.A. Street Names, George R. Wilton was born in Canada in 1860 and died in 1939. They say his obituary said he was the person the Los Angeles street Wilton was named after, though the author believes it was actually named by Walter Wilton Horne after his mother's maiden name (Guinn, pg. 717). He was elected president of the company in 1911 and resigned in 1920 (McGrew).
The below ad is from Los Angeles City Directory 1906 (Los Angeles City Directory Co. Inc., 1906).
In 1906, they were described as follows: "This is a contracting company, and uses large quantities of building granite, as well as paving blocks, and broken stone for ballast and concrete. Besides the granite quarries at Hammer switch, this company operates a large quarry at Porphyry station. The stone is used for concrete, macadam, and railway ballast."
The macadam quarry in Los Angeles. Apparently it was owned by F. D. Lauterman, though? I would think it would be Lanterman, but I guess not. "Local Boards" - the Los Angeles County, Division No. 7 board was located at 1010 W. Broadway in Glendale, CA and included F. D. Lauterman as Chairman, from La Canada ("Circular No. 350 (Registration and Draft): List of State and Federal Officers Conducting the Operation of the Selective Service Law in the State of California, Members of the District Exemption Boards, The Counties Over Which These Boards Preside, Members of the Local Exemption Boards, The Legal Advisory Boards, The Medical Advisory Boards and Examining Surgeons, State of California." State of California, The Adjutant General's Office, Sacramento, June 30, 1918).
F. W. Gilmore himself was superintendent of a facility for "paving blocks" in Riverside and San Bernardino, CA. They also had a quarry in Corona where granite boulders were worked. "The granite has a yellowish cast. Paving blocks are shipped from this quarry." In this year, they were located at 516-517 Pacific Electric Building. (The Structural and Industrial Materials of California; Lewis E. Aubury; W.W. Shannon, Superintendent State Printing; 1906). The Pacific Electric Building was at 610 S. Main Street, opened in 1905 as the main train station for the Pacific Electric Railway and its headquarters, and is now mixed-use housing and retail.
In 1906, they subdivided and developed the city of Orange's first housing tract, which they named Nutwood Place (Emmons, Steve. "The Old Neighborhood: Living: Nutwood Place in Orange, the city's first housing tract, has kept its 'family feel' through the decades." The Los Angeles Times, March 15, 1992).
In 1909, they moved to 792-798 of the P.E. Building. Around that year, they "secured the services of G. T. McIntyre formerly superintendent of streets for the city of Riverside, as field representative in Arizona and new Mexico." He is described as being "perhaps one of the best known authorities in Southern California on street and highway improvement, and his connection the with the local paving firm will undoubtedly strengthen its already efficient and aggressive organization."
In the same year, they were "granted permission by council to pave portions of city streets by private contract" in Anaheim, CA, including on Center St. between Lemon and Claudina and on Los Angeles from Chartres to Chestnut. This work caused property owners on nearby streets to begin "agitating the improvement of those thorough fares." They were also awarded the contracts to improve a portion of 9th St., to improve a portion of 11th St., to pave portions of Palmetto St., and to improve a portion of 12th from Main to Figueroa St. in Los Angeles, CA.
They submitted a bid to the board of public works of Long Beach, Ca to pave "with crushed rock and oil" E. 1st St. from Alamitos to Independencia Ave. Another one was "for Adams St. from Vermont Ave. to west city limits, and other streets" in Los Angeles, including asphalt paving, cement curb, vitrified block gutters, a culvert on Hobart Blvd. "at engine house," storm sewers and catch basins at Adams and Cimmarron, storm drains, including appurtenances at the Hobart Blvd. intersection.
They lost a bid to pave 3rd St. from G to Santa Fe Station in San Bernardino, CA, one for asphalt paving there on E Street, and another for asphalt paving there on 4th from E to F Streets. They had a lien recorded against Malvin Hogye and L. A. Rose only July 15, 1909.
The famous architects Morgan & walls "prepared plans and George B. Evans (had) the contract for a warehouse for the Fairchild-Gilmore-Wilton Co., to be erected at 1145 Aliso St."
They also are listed as part of a lot of bids, which I don't really understand. I'm wondering if they were also a provider of some kind of pavement ingredient.
They also got a building permit as owners for 1145 Aliso St., their warehouse as we know above. George B. Evans was the contractor for the project.
All of the above 1909 information is from Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer, Volume 3, Engineers and Architects Association of Southern California.
In 1909, J A Fairchild was also president of East Naples Land Company, located at 145 W 5th. This corporation had a principal place of business at 2118 Huntington Dr. in San Marino, CA as of 1950, according to an agreement between them at the City of Long Beach I found on Long Beach's website. G R Wilton was president, Fairchild was VP, and Gilmore secretary of Fairchild-Gilmore-Wilton Investment Co, located in their same office. Interestingly, in 1916, it was just called Fairchild Investment Co.
("Street paving plant of Fairchild-Gilmore-Wilton, Anaheim from the Orange County Tribune, 1910.")
("Steam roller around 1910 in Pomona", McGrew)
The Los Angeles Harbor Commission awarded them the contract to pave Pier A St. at Wilmington. They were also awarded the contract to improve 6th St. between Palos Verdes and Cabrillo Streets; to improve Lyon St. between Macy and Aliso, to improve "the section of 6th street, San Pedro" (very not descriptive!), to pave "with sheet asphalt the approach to municipal dock No. 1 from San Pedro street to the end of the dock," to improve 3rd St (another vague one), "for asphalt pavement on 16th St, to improve E. 7th St. in Wilmington, to pave Hoover St. (I guess these are all going to be vague from this publication!), to improve 8th St. from Center to Gaffey; "for alley improvements," to improve 9th St. in San Pedro; to improve Wilton Place; to improve Union Ave. and Serrano Ave.; "for paving and curbing on Avenue 26;" to improve an alley near Spring St.; "for street improvements in Wilhart Street district;" to improve West 1st St.; to pave Ardmore Ave; to improve Commonwealth Ave.; to improve Catalina St.; to improve Rampart and Clinton Streets.
In Long Beach, CA, they were awarded the contract to grade and pave an alley between Linden and Elm avenues; to pave alleys "with asphaltic cement and broken stone base, and asphaltic wearing surface;" to improve parts of 3rd St., Riverside Dr., "and other streets;" to pave "several alleys;" to improve American Ave.; to improve "several streets." They lost their bid to improve Vermont Ave. between 58th St. and Manchester Ave.
In San Diego, CA, they were awarded the contract to pave Broadway.
They were clearly a large firm, with six offices and three quarries in 1914, per the above ad (Western Machinery and Steel World, Volume 5, Western Engineering Publishing Company, 1914).
In 1914, Ygnacio Lera was involved in a case against defendant Fairchild-Gilmore-Wilton Company regarding injury by vehicles in city streets in the course of employment: "an injury to a workman caused by being run down by a vehicle while repairing or putting down pavements is one inherent in the occupation and growing out of the employment." As such, he was applying for compensation for a foot injury. He received $75.96 and medical and surgical services. I gather there was an appeal about whether this was an employment-related injury and the courts determined it was because "the risks of being run over by vehicles while repairing or putting down pavements are in excess of the risks which the common citizenship runs in going from place to place along the streets of a city." In the same month (!), Leola Curtis Brooks Mitchell applied for compensation Fairchild-Gilmore-Wilton Company and Casualty Company of America because her husband and father of a child (I think it's not her child but maybe she parented the child) died in the course of working for them and left "an illegitimate child who was partially dependent upon him, and to whom he contributed a certain portion of his earnings, that same portion of the death benefits will be awarded to the child." Her husband had fallen from a wagon and was then run over - he received medical treatment and "surgical services" but still died. Leola received 75% of his death benefits and George W. Mitchell, "appointed trustee" for the child, 25% of his death benefits. A little later that year Fairchild-Gilmore-Wilton Company brought a case against Frank Meattauer before the Industrial Accident Commission - Meattauer was found to have no evidence that he was employed by the Company at the time he was hurt (Report of the Decisions of the Industrial Accident Board and Industrial Accident Commission of the State of California, Volume 1, California Industrial Accident Commission, California State Print Office, 1914).
According to a letter to the San Diego Common Council from the superintendent of Fairchild-Gilmore-Wilton Co, they were located at "396 Pacific Electric Building" in Los Angeles in 1916. Their letterhead focuses their business on "Asphalt Pavements." In this letter from April 3, they apply for a lease of reclaimed tide lands 300 by 200 feet "to erect an up to date paving plant and warehouse".
Just later in the same month, they switched to a sans-serif for their wordmark. And, they withdrew their application for the aforementioned lease of reclaimed tide lands, because they learned that neighbors objected to having a paving plant there ("we would undoubtedly be at 'outs' with our neighbors. This we do not wish.") and they learned there would be a new ordinance restricting smoke on that waterfront district, which would make their business quite difficult ("With a paving plant there is always a certain amount of smoke and dust... we would continually be in trouble in trying to comply with the ordinance.").
In 1915, they were listed as general contractors and as asphalt providers.
There were more 'industrial accidents' in the following years. W. L. Bryan, a teamster, applied for compensation in 1915 for spraining his knee and index finger on his left hand. He did get some but limited, because it was determined that some of his issues were likely "tubercular in their origin and had no relation to the injury sustained by accident." Yikes! Matilda J. Osborn applied for compensation because her son, Rennard Franklin Osborn, was an engineer who "was caught in moving machinery on the 18th of May, 1915, at Long Beach, the accident resulting in his death." She was found to be due his death benefits. Mrs. Grace A. Tamplin applied for compensation due to the death of her husband, Henry Tamplin, who had been a laborer for the company and died after being struck by a heavy piece of machinery, which then required his big toe to be amputated. "The Commission found that the evidence was not sufficient to establish as a fact that the death was proximately caused by the accident" so she didn't get any compensation (Report of Decisions of the Industrial Accident Commission of the State of California, Volume 2, California Industrial Accident Commission, California State Printing Office, 1916).
From 1916-1919, they had their home office was located in Anaheim, CA. The aforementioned George P. Griffith was George Perry Griffith, who was born in 1868 ("History in Bakersfield Sidewalks, 1893-2011." Gilbert P. Gia, Historic Bakersfield & Kern County, California, gilbertgia.com, 2011").
In 1919, they were listed under "Street and Highway Contractors" as being located at the P E building, which is the aforementioned Pacific Electric Building. In the city directory, they were described as "General contractors paving and grading" and had moved to 394 in the PE Bldg, and their investment company was in room 396. They worked all over southern California.
They lost the bids to improve Palisades Ave., Adelaide Drive, "and portions of Montana, Alta, Marguerita and Georgina Aves." and to pave 2nd St. between Santa Monica Blvd. and Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, CA; to pave Washington St. between Arlington St. and the west city boundary of the time in Los Angeles, CA; to grade and pave with bitulithic 8th St. between Vermont Ave. and Catalina St. in LA; to improve Francisco Ave., from Windsor Ave. to Burek Place; to improve San Andres St. between Canon Perdido and Figueroa St. in Santa Barbara, CA; and "for concrete paving in White Lilly Way between Locust Ave. and Waite court" in Long Beach, CA. On the other hand, they submitted the lowest bids to pave Granada St. between Upas St. and University Avenue in San Diego, CA. They were "awarded the contract for paving portions of Third Ave., Third St., Nogales Ave. and Bath St;" for "portions of Santa Barbara and Arrellaga Sts.;" to construct "pavement, curb and gutter in connection with the grade crossing elimination at the eastern approach to the city on the coast highway;" to pave "Figueroa and other Sts;" to pave West Montecito St. and Cliff Dr.; and to improve Montecito Street from State to Milpas Streets; all in Santa Barbara; Ash and California Streets in Ventura, CA; for 15th Place between Ocean Blvd. "and a point 175 ft. south" in Los Angeles, CA; to improve Cheney St. between Santa Fe Avenue and "a point 306 ft. east of Minerva St."; and to pave and for "perm. impvt." of Ingraham street, also Kip and Little streets, and other streets in the Ingraham Street Dist.;" also in LA; to pave Alamo Court between 11th and Anaheim St and Park Court between 10th and 12th Streets, in Long Beach, CA; to pave Magnolia Ave. between 4th and 10th Sts. also in Long Beach; to pave portions of Morena Blvd. in San Diego, CA; and to improve various city streets in Oxnard, CA. They also submitted bids to construct 2.4 miles of concrete paving "on Harbor Truck Blvd. (Alameda St.) between Burton St. and south limits of Compton;" to pave and construct storm and sanitary sewers in Temple Street between Vermont Avenue and Wilton Place, as well as "portions of other streets in Temple Street Improvement District;" to pave Maple Ave. between Jefferson St. and Woodlawn Ave. in the Maple Avenue and Woodlawn Ave. Improvement District; to improve Normandie Ave. between Vernon Ave. and 54th St.; all in Los Angeles, CA; and in San Diego, CA "providing for a 4-in. concr. base of 1-3-6 mix with ... Warrenite surface, for paving Garnet St., Grand Ave. and Balboa Blvd., through Pacific Beach, San Diego" (I learned later they won this contract) and to grade and pave portions of India St., Pierce St., California St., La Jolla Ave., San Diego Ave., and Taylor St. "with concrete base and bitulithic surface." In Long Beach, CA, they submitted the only bid "for Warrenite paving in alley ... of part of Alamitos tract and Alamitos Beach townsite." This is the first time I've seen a list of rejected bids, which included our company for grading and paving a portion of Coast Blvd. between the east and south boundaries of the city of Los Angeles (Southwest Builder and Contractor, F. W. Dodge Company, 1919 and Municipal and County Engineering, Volume 57, Gillette Publishing Company, 1919).
As I've mentioned a few times previously, I think it means a lot when companies say a company uses their product in their advertisements. If that means so much to their consumers, they must have been a pretty big company - and all the records of their work above prove that out, too! The first ad is also from Southwest Builder and Contractor (F. W. Dodge Company, 1919). The second is from Western Machinery and Steel World, Volume 5 (Western Engineering Publishing Company, 1914).
You can see a transitional phase for the company in the above article about work in San Pedro, where they are mentioned as the Griffith Company but explained as "successors to the Fairchild Gilmore Wilton Company" ("Huge Project Begins with Ceremonies: Steam Shovels Start Work at Foot of Fourth Street." San Pedro News Pilot, Volume 11, Number 231, June 27 1924).
According to the Los Angeles City Directory 1906 (Los Angeles City Directory Co. Inc., 1906), they were general contractors and also listed under "Asphaltum." Their personnel included:
Carl F. Adam was a civil engineer who lived at 2699 Orchard Ave.
Arthur W. Armstrong was an engineer who lived at 424 S Gless.
William F. Bryant was their foreman and lived at 319 E Washington.
William E. Burke was a "cash" (I assume cashier) who lived at 2803 N. Griffin Ave. By 1909, he was assistant secretary. By 1916, he was secretary. In 1920, he resided in South Pasadena.
Michael Catalina was a watchman who lived at 1511 Lemon.
James Dye was a mixer who lived at 740 Lawrence.
John A. Fairchild was their president (still true in 1909). He lived at 837 S Burlington Ave. In 1906, their office was 615-617 Pacific Electric Building.
Edward W. Gilmore was their secretary and treasurer (still true in 1909). He lived at 2007 Ocean View.
Harry S. Graul was a timekeeper who lived at 622 S Hope. This was listed as a "res" as opposed to an "h." In 1909, he was "supt" and his "res" was 134 W 30th. In 1909, he lived at 4954 Maplewood Ave.
Anna W. Klusmann was a stenographer who resided at 920 Beacon (she was still at our company in 1909, but now resided at 401 S Grand).
Chas O. Sparks was a "dept supt" - department superintendent? deputy superintendent? He lived at 1222 E 8th. In 1909, he was a foreman and lived at 1144 E 24th. In 1916, he worked at their Sixth Street Garage and was their assistant superintendent. He lived then at 2010 8th Ave.
George R. Wilton was vice president and lived at 1145 S Olive. This was still true in 1909 but he had moved to 630 Shatto Place. He was president in 1916 and stilled lived on Shatto Place.
1909 personnel additions:
George P Griffith was a vice president and lived at 2817 Orchard Ave. He was still VP in 1919 but lived at 2801 Orchard Ave. He "was unanimously elected to lead the Company" in 1920 (McGrew).
John A. Morrison was a clerk who lived at 2339 Rodgers Ave.
William Workins was a foreman who resided at 1314 Santa Fe Ave.
1916 personnel additions:
William M Bundy was a foreman who lived at 1227 Santa Fe Ave.
Arthur J. Davis was a cashier who lived at 420 N Serrano Ave.
Stephen M. Griffith was now superintendent and lived at 939 W 20th. In 1920, he lived at 688 S Catalina. In 1922, he was newly elected to be Vice President.
Lee H. Hedges was a bookkeeper who lived at 4506 Russell Ave.
Leo Peet was a bookkeeper who resided in Glendale.
Calvin M. Seeley was the treasurer and lived at 1415 S Burlington Ave. In 1920, he lived at 315 S Occidental Blvd.
G. Roy Smith was assistant superintendent at their Sixth St. Garage and resided at 2808 N Sichel.
Frank B. Totman was a purchasing agent who lived at 2008 Hollenbeck Dr. An Ida M. Totman lived with him and was a stenographer, but not necessarily for our firm. In 1920, he resided at 2822 Oregon (and Ida now lived at 317 S Olive).
According to the Los Angeles City Directory 1920 (Los Angeles Directory Company, 1920), they were Paving Contractors at S Pacific Av. "cor 32, S Pedro." 1920 personnel additions:
Rudolph Ahlport was a bookkeeper and lived at 4429 S Van Ness Ave.
Dale O. Peet was a bookkeeper who resided in Glendale.
Amos H. Potts was a civil engineer who lived at 428 N Serrano Ave.
After Griffith ascended to the presidency, they started changing the company. "On December 7, 1922 ... Griffith Company was incorporated in the State of California" (McGrew). George Griffith Jr. was elected to be treasurer.
Some other of their project include the Universal Studios lot, the USC library, LAX, and the Dodger Stadium parking lot ("Did you know?" Griffith Company News, Volume 41, Issue 4, December 2022).
Bulletin, Issue 38, California Division of Mines, 1906
Los Angeles Directory Co's Los Angeles City Directory 1909, Los Angeles City Directory Co., Inc., 1909
Los Angeles City Directory 1916, Los Angeles Directory Company, 1916
