The Founders: Oscar Proctor Fullam

[1/7/1926] OSCAR P. FULLAM

Veteran Pattern Maker Was Student of Astronomy and Indian Lore

Oscar P. Fullam died at the Springfield hospital Saturday evening, Jan. 2, following a belated effort to prolong his life by an operation the day previous. Mr. Fullam was taken seriously ill Thursday and immediately removed to the hospital for examination. The operation revealed a ruptured duct of the gall bladder.

Mr. Fullam was 63 years old at the time of his death. He was born in Cavendish, the son of Wallace S. and Mary A. Fullam. On reaching his majority he went to Bellows Falls and apprenticed himself to the Osgood & Barker Machine company to learn the trade of pattern maker. In 1884 he married Marie H. Buss, deceased Jan. 26, 1924. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fullam : Mary E, Lynn W., Stanley M., and Minnie C. Fullam.

Indifferent health compelled Mr. Fullam to seek the out of doors for a time, and he purchased his present home, known as "Sweetwood," a short distance south from Westminster village, a place whose hospitality has long since become famous all up and down the Connecticut valley.

Recouped in health, he entered the Abenaque Machine shop at Westminister, which place he left in May, 1916, to enter the pattern shop department of Jones and Lamson Machine company, where he was employed until he transferred to the Fellows Gear Shaper company a few weeks ago.

O. P. Fullam, as he was wont to style himself, was more than an ordinary character, as a host of acquaintances and some organizations will testify. Familiar to many by his bon homme spirit, in ship, trolley and restaurant, his form will be missed. His ability as a pattern maker, whether on small and intricate parts or on work of huge proportions, in either case showed the hand of the artist or the skill of an engineer.

He possessed inherent qualities, often characterized as 'native ability," in many directions but chiefly did his talents show to advantage when dealing with Nature, especially the vegetable and fruit forms of life. This accounts for that striking and unfamiliar word frequently seen on certain of his boxes or traveling bag: "Phytopath," signifying "doctor of plant diseases." Acquiring a wide knowledge of plant diseases, he sought to cope with the enemy of nature in this realm, particularly in the defense of the grape, in the culture of which he was something of an expert.

His active temperament and keen interest in things scientific made points of contact for him with a wide circle of men, and if he found an opportunity to assist any individual, it was his chief religion to lay aside his own interests for the sake of the one in need. "Let me help you," is a phrase more than one individual will recall in his connection. It was but natural that he should become the right hand man of Mr. Porter in the latter's work of constructing telescopes, and the work of the Springfield Telescope Makers of whom he was a leading spirit. As a monument to his devotion to this line of scientific work, it should be stated that but for his enthusiastic support and persistent efforts, the Scientific American might not have sent its representative here on two separate occasions to procure material for a book and for its monthly publication (Scientific American), on how to make a reflecting telescope, including the optical as well as the mechanical parts or mounting. Mr. Fullam's connection with the Telescope Maker insured the progress of this voluntary association to such a degree however that the publishers of the Scientific American decided that in Springfield there was material which they stood in great need of.

He collected a large amount of information concerning the Indians, making trips into New Hampshire and Canada for that purpose, and had many friends among the Indians. He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge in Bellows Falls. In certain ways Mr. Fullam brings to mind that singular character, Thoreau, and the freshness of his nature is well indicated by Thoreau where he says:

"Die and be buried those who will,
I intend to live here still.
My heart grows ever more young
The primitive pines among."

The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the home of his eldest son, Lynn W. Fullam, in Westminster. Interment was in the local hillside cemetery. The Springfield Telescope Makers were present in a body, beside several other Springfield friends and the three Baldwin brothers, Elmer, Wallace and Elden, cousins of Mr. Fullam.

Mr. Fullam leaves two children, Lynn Wallace Fullam and Stanley Martin Fullam, both of Westminster. He leaves one brother, Arvin Fullam, of Gageville, and seven grandchildren, Harland Oscar, son of Stanley M. Fullam; Kenneth Foster, Lynn Wallace Jr., and Janice Ottlie, chilren [sic] of Lynn W. Fullam; and Althine, Christine and Maxine, children of the late Mrs. C. K. Loomis.

Source : “Springfield Reporter”, 1/7/1926

Records : 1870, 1900, 1910, 1920 census, dc

Club Activities

In a town where the making of machines was an industry, finding casting and pattern making expertise would be a simple matter. And the skill set would be just as applicable to making telescopes as it would be to producing turret lathes. Presumably, then, Porter welcomed the interest of Oscar Fullam, pattern maker at J&L and one of the first to work with Porter.

Back to the Founders Page