Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co appears to have first advertised for workers in January, 1942, though the first published mention of the company name was February, 1942, in a news report about a small fire at the plant 45-47 Jefferson Street.
Perhaps their first hiring for a military contract was in May, 1942, for "experienced operators to work on army pilots' jackets".
In August, 1942, "J.B. Patten of the Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co" contributed a leather coat to be given to the highest bidder at a war bond sale held on a Wednesday night radio program. A 1945 newspaper article mentions that John B. Patten was president of the company, Edward M. Landis secretary-treasurer, and that the company has over 200 employees. (The occasion mentions the planned move from 331 Mill Street to 86 Carroll Street.)
John Patten also owned an appliance and housewares business (from roughly 1940 to 1947), was an active member of the Rotary Club, did weekly radio programs from his store, and seems to have a relationship with the Poughkeepsie Business Institute (which taught shorthand, typing, and other business skills).
(See http://www.footnote.com/image/#231791771 for a picture of him during his "Patten's Home Institute" radio show in 1941.)
In March, 1945, Lt. McGibbeny of the Philadelphia Army Quartermaster depot was given the duty to expedite production at four garment plants in Poughkeepsie which were not meeting quotas due to a lack of manpower. He said Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co could double its weekly production of 500 M-1943 field jackets if idle machines were manned. He was quoted "The soldier on the attack discards anything and everything not directly needed to defeat the enemy or to protect himself. Furthermore, it is inconceivable to those who have not experienced it how quickly clothing may be worn to shreds when the soldier is creeping and crawling over rough ground."
In September, 1947, Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co was shutdown after failing to pay workers for over two weeks in the amount of $12,657.24. John B. Patten was still president, Edward M. Landis controller, and Edward A. Miller attorney. Since they had been working on a war contract for 53,000 Army trousers, the company was ultimately allowed to continue work on the contract under different management with new financing.
On January 29, 1948, Patten plead guilty, was fined $100, and given 6 months probation for failure to pay wages. Charges against Albert L. Millard, 37, secretary, and Edward M. Landis, 42, "accountant and business engineer", were withdrawn.
In August, 1948, the IRS sold the machinery and other equipment of Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co which had been seized for non-payment of taxes in the amount of $56,485.60 including interest. The equipment included 129 sewing machines, 4 cloth cutters, and 203 electric light fixtures. The sale resulted in less than $20,000 being raised.
John Bigelow Patten (1898-1969) married Mary Ellen Viola Gladieux (1901-1986) in 1923, and they had children John Jr (1924) and Jean (1933). His parents were William Patten (1868-1936), a noted magazine editor and author, and Grace Bigelow (1865-1956), concert pianist.
Perhaps their first hiring for a military contract was in May, 1942, for "experienced operators to work on army pilots' jackets".
In August, 1942, "J.B. Patten of the Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co" contributed a leather coat to be given to the highest bidder at a war bond sale held on a Wednesday night radio program. A 1945 newspaper article mentions that John B. Patten was president of the company, Edward M. Landis secretary-treasurer, and that the company has over 200 employees. (The occasion mentions the planned move from 331 Mill Street to 86 Carroll Street.)
John Patten also owned an appliance and housewares business (from roughly 1940 to 1947), was an active member of the Rotary Club, did weekly radio programs from his store, and seems to have a relationship with the Poughkeepsie Business Institute (which taught shorthand, typing, and other business skills).
(See http://www.footnote.com/image/#231791771 for a picture of him during his "Patten's Home Institute" radio show in 1941.)
In March, 1945, Lt. McGibbeny of the Philadelphia Army Quartermaster depot was given the duty to expedite production at four garment plants in Poughkeepsie which were not meeting quotas due to a lack of manpower. He said Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co could double its weekly production of 500 M-1943 field jackets if idle machines were manned. He was quoted "The soldier on the attack discards anything and everything not directly needed to defeat the enemy or to protect himself. Furthermore, it is inconceivable to those who have not experienced it how quickly clothing may be worn to shreds when the soldier is creeping and crawling over rough ground."
In September, 1947, Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co was shutdown after failing to pay workers for over two weeks in the amount of $12,657.24. John B. Patten was still president, Edward M. Landis controller, and Edward A. Miller attorney. Since they had been working on a war contract for 53,000 Army trousers, the company was ultimately allowed to continue work on the contract under different management with new financing.
On January 29, 1948, Patten plead guilty, was fined $100, and given 6 months probation for failure to pay wages. Charges against Albert L. Millard, 37, secretary, and Edward M. Landis, 42, "accountant and business engineer", were withdrawn.
In August, 1948, the IRS sold the machinery and other equipment of Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co which had been seized for non-payment of taxes in the amount of $56,485.60 including interest. The equipment included 129 sewing machines, 4 cloth cutters, and 203 electric light fixtures. The sale resulted in less than $20,000 being raised.
John Bigelow Patten (1898-1969) married Mary Ellen Viola Gladieux (1901-1986) in 1923, and they had children John Jr (1924) and Jean (1933). His parents were William Patten (1868-1936), a noted magazine editor and author, and Grace Bigelow (1865-1956), concert pianist.
