After the Civil War, when iron became a cornerstone of American industrial progress, both John Howard Whittemore and Harris were committed to the family’s iron-manufacturing businesses. At just 21 years old, John Howard Whittemore joined 23-year-old Bronson Beecher Tuttle to manage the metalworking business previously operated by Bronson’s father, which had recently suffered a fire. They specialized in malleable iron, a practical advance over cast iron due to its versatility and superior strength compared to wrought iron. This material proved essential for transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, and construction.

During the Civil War, Bronson and John Howard Whittemore produced iron caisson hubs for cannons, as well as agricultural tools like scythes and sickles for the Midwest. After the war, they expanded their production to include steel-laid shears and iron plates for railroad bolts, leading to the establishment of the Pratt Manufacturing Company on Broadway in New York. As the railroad construction boom waned in the late 19th century, they shifted focus to producing galvanized metal fixtures for glass insulators on telephone poles, and by the early 20th century, they manufactured iron components for automobiles. In 1889, they rebranded their company from Tuttle and Whittemore to the Naugatuck Malleable Iron Company, employing over 350 workers at the foundry.

John Howard Whittemore further invested in new malleable iron foundries, taking charge of a facility in Chicago after the president's unexpected death in 1882. His leadership was credited with saving the division, which boasted more than 2,000 workers by 1900.

John Howard Whittemore married Julia Anna Spencer in 1863. Julia faced ongoing health struggles, diagnosed with various ailments that led her to travel frequently in search of cures. Of their six children, three survived infancy: Howard (1872-1887), who suffered from heart issues and passed away at 15, and two others, Harris and Gertrude (1874-1941), who lived to adulthood.

In the 1890s, John Howard Whittemore served as president of the Naugatuck Malleable Iron Company during a challenging period for iron sales amid rising competition. As Harris began to take over operations, John Howard focused on sponsoring numerous projects in Naugatuck, Middlebury, and Waterbury.

Active in public affairs, he was a director of Waterbury Hospital and a founder of the Colonial Trust Company. He also served on a state commission to establish trade schools in Connecticut and began a term on the board of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad in 1905, coinciding with the construction of new train stations in Naugatuck and Waterbury.

The Howard Whittemore Memorial Library, built in 1894, was commissioned by John Howard Whittemore to honor the memory of his son, John Howard Whittemore Jr., who passed away at age 15 in 1887 from a genetic heart condition. Designed by the renowned architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, the library features pink granite, elegant Ionic columns, a marble rotunda, and literary inscriptions, including a poem by Emily Dickinson. This architectural gem embodies the Whittemores' commitment to enriching public life through art and education.

Today, the library serves as a hub for learning and community engagement, continuing the family’s mission to provide cultural enrichment to the people of Naugatuck. It was one of the first privately endowed public libraries in the state.

A Passion for Art and Architecture

Harris Whittemore continued his father's legacy, contributing to both the family business and the cultural growth of Naugatuck. A passionate art collector, Harris was among the first Americans to embrace French Impressionism, acquiring works by Monet, Degas, and Cassatt, which helped introduce these movements to American audiences.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, Harris played a key role in urban planning and public projects in Naugatuck. Following his father’s example, he supported numerous architectural endeavors, including the construction of monuments and educational facilities. His contributions include donating the World War I Monument, designed by sculptor Evelyn Beatrice Longman, and creating a grand stairway and esplanade that connect the high school to the town center, reflecting the family's classical aesthetic and vision for a cohesive community.

The Whittemore Bridge, inspired by Mary Ann Tuttle's suggestion for a beautiful and practical tribute to John Howard Whittemore, was funded by local townspeople and the Whittemore family, who contributed $40,000 for the land and access roads. The bridge serves as a testament to the family's investment in Naugatuck’s infrastructure. Known as the John Howard Whittemore Memorial Bridge, it was funded in part by children's pennies. This project, along with the redesign of the Naugatuck Green, highlights their commitment to blending functionality with beauty. The Green was transformed to include formal walkways, a Neo-Classical fountain, and other features harmonizing with the town center's architectural theme. Mr. Whittemore led a beautification program for The Green, planting select trees and establishing a memorial fountain, complemented by a network of sidewalks defined by granite curbs and pillars.

The Whittemore family's collaboration with McKim, Mead & White, one of the leading architectural firms of the time, ensured that Naugatuck developed a unique blend of New England charm and urban elegance.

Naugatuck High School, now Hillside Intermediate School, was a gift from John Howard Whittemore, completed in 1904 and designed by McKim, Mead & White. This brick and granite building gained notoriety, appearing in a 1933 Ripley’s Believe It or Not! feature. Additionally, the Congregational Church & Parish House, also designed by McKim, Mead & White, was another gift from John Howard Whittemore and was dedicated on May 20, 1903.

John Howard Whittemore was one of the wealthiest citizens in Naugatuck. He commissioned a mansion called The Anchorage, designed by McKim, Mead & White in the 1880s, representing a transitional style from Queen Anne to Colonial Revival, though it was ultimately lost to fire.

Arthur Harris Whittemore, his son, married Justine Brockway on September 21, 1892, and they had three children: Harris Jr. (1894), Helen (1897), and Gertrude (1903). Harris became president of the Naugatuck Malleable Iron Company in 1899, a position he held for 25 years. As steel began to replace malleable iron in various products, competition among iron manufacturers intensified in 1902 when former competitors formed the National Malleable Iron Company. Naugatuck controlled foundries in Bridgeport and New Britain, acquiring facilities in Troy, New York, and Wilmington, Delaware, ultimately becoming the Eastern Malleable Iron Company in 1912, headquartered in Naugatuck. During World War I, the company adapted its production lines to manufacture castings for hand and rifle grenades while also building recreational facilities for its largely immigrant workforce. They established a research laboratory, replacing traditional manufacturing methods with those based on scientific processes.

Harris served on the same boards as his father, including the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, and was president of Waterbury Hospital and the Colonial Trust Company. He donated land and funds for a new YMCA building and was an executive of the Naugatuck Red Cross.

In 1911, the National Congress of the Daughters of the American Revolution recognized Harris for planting 200,000 trees in Middlebury and Woodbury, which now form part of the Whittemore Sanctuary at Woodbury’s Flanders Nature Center. He became a founding member and president of the Connecticut Forest and Park Commission in its inaugural years. In 1921, he planted 150,000 trees on the east side of the river and 75,000 on the west side. In 1931, his heirs donated 2,000 newly planted acres to establish the Naugatuck State Forest.

In honor of his contributions, family members later donated land and funds to create Kettletown State Park in Southbury. Additionally, he gifted a $14,000 organ to the Naugatuck Congregational Church in 1908.

The Whittemores’ decision to seek out McKim, Mead & White, the leading architectural firm of the time, for their projects rather than local architects, demonstrated their commitment to quality and innovation in the architecture of Naugatuck.