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E.W. Holbrook & Company

E. W. Holbrook & Company was a New York City dry goods firm which became bankrupt in July 1883. Located at 51 Leonard Street, near Broadway (Manhattan), in Lower Manhattan, the business was among the most well-known of its kind. The company, led by Edwin W. Holbrook and three other directors, was in debt in the amount of $750,000 The failure was attributed to losses involved in the operation of its three cotton mills.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

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E. W. Holbrook & Company was a New York City dry goods firm which became bankrupt in July 1883. Located at 51 Leonard Street, near Broadway (Manhattan), in Lower Manhattan, the business was among the most well-known of its kind. The company, led by Edwin W. Holbrook and three other directors, was in debt in the amount of $750,000 The failure was attributed to losses involved in the operation of its three cotton mills. Holbrook also lost $500,000 on Wall Street (Manhattan) in speculation. During the week of E.W. Holbrook & Company's insolvency, 162 other firms in the United States failed.2

The story

E.W. Holbrook & Company was founded in Boston, Massachusetts under the name Clarke, Holbrook & Floyd. Clarke retired in January 1865, and afterward the firm was called Holbrook, Floyd & Company. It became E.W. Holbrook & Company in 1868.

The dry goods concern leased the Empire Mills in Troy, New York, from which it purchased a considerable amount in machinery. The company maintained two bank accounts, with National City Bank and Central National Bank. E.W. Holbrook & Company owed no money to National City Bank.

From Wikipedia’s article on E.W. Holbrook & Company, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Sources

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