Page "Berlin, Connecticut" Paragraph 1

The greatest boom to Berlin industry resulted from the decision of the Patterson brothers to start their business on West Street ( now called Lower Lane ).

For twenty years until 1760, they kept their work in the family selling their wares from a basket.

When demand increased they took apprentices into the shop and engaged peddlers to travel throughout the Colonies selling the shiny, useful articles ( the seal of the government of the Town of Berlin shows such a " Yankee peddler ", in eighteenth-century dress with a basket under his arm, a pack on his back full of tinware ).

As others learned the trade, they soon set up shop and hired apprentices.

There were so many that the noise of the whitesmiths and their hammering could be heard in every part of town.