Local Founders Profile: Edwin D. and Edna May Collins
Posted by beachwoodhistoricalalliance on December 21, 2008
From the pages of his own 1924 Beachwood Directory and Who’s Who, here is what William Mill Butler wrote about Mr. and Mrs. Edwin D. Collins. Click on all the embedded links for a broader understanding of their lives and background:
Circa 1924.
Collins, Edwin D., east corner Forepeak Ave. and Spring St., Block D-25. Other address, 41 South Clinton St., East Orange, N.J.
Mr. Collins was born at Shoreham, Vt., June 29, 1869; educated at Newton Academy, Shoreham, and at the State Normal School, Castleton, Vt. He began his business career as a stock clerk in the linen thread business of J.R. Leesor & Co., in Boston, 1887; was transferred to their New York office in 1891, and became a salesman on the road; in 1894 he went with the William Clark Co., New York, manufacturers of cotton thread, which firm was absorbed by the American Thread Company in 1899; remained with them until 1913, when he became New York manager of Summit Thread Co., cotton thread, and also represented several other thread manufacturers: the Roxbury Shoe Thread Co., the French Thread Mills, the U.S. Thread Co., and the Old Colony Thread Co. Still represents a majority of them and makes regular trips in New York State, Northern New Jersey and Connecticut, with headquarters at 653 Broadway. Was married to Edna May Bogardus, of New York, in 1897; one daughter, Ruth Douglas Collins.
Mr. Collins was a member of the First Naval Battery of New York, from 1894 to 1900. Served in the Navy during the Spanish War, in 1898, as quartermaster. In 1894 he became chairman of the board of directors of the Morris Yacht Club, on City Island, in the Pelham Bay park district, New York City, and was instrumental in placing that club upon a prosperous basis, after a hard struggle lasting a number of years.
Is a member of Evangelist Lodge, No. 600, F. and A.M., of New York; Hiram Chapter, No. 1, Red Bank, N.J.; was master of his lodge in 1909 and 1910. Also a member of the United Commercial Travelers of America; senior councillor of this order in Brooklyn Council, 1909, and senior councillor in Essex Council of Newark, 1914. Member Commercial Travelers’ Mutual Accident Association of Utica, N.Y.; Illinois Commercial Men’s Association; Illinois Traveling Men’s Health Association, and Travelers’ Health, of Omaha, Neb. Member New Jersey Auto and Motor Club of Newark; honorary member Newark Athletic Club; charter member, vice-commodore and treasurer of the building committee Polyhue Yacht Club; treasurer of the Property Owners’ Association from 1918 to 1921. Elected commissioner and mayor of the Borough of Beachwood for four years, in April, 1922.
Circa 1924.
Mrs. Collins was for two years president of the Woman’s Commercial Travelers’ Association connected with Essex Council of Newark; was secretary of the New Jersey Federation of Women’s clubs for nine years; was a lieutenant (one of eight selected by the war board at Washington who did not go overseas, but served in this country); represented Newark Motor Corps at Washington in placing a wreath and helmet on the grave of the unknown soldier in 1921; member of the Easter Star, Sandolphin Chapter, No. 72, of Brooklyn, and served as conductress for twenty-two years.
Member and first vice-president of the Beachwood Woman’s Club; also associate member, together with Miss Collins, of the Polyhue Yacht Club.
Collins' Home, photo circa 1924.
Collins' Home, December 3rd, 2008.
