The Founders: Ernest Vincent Flanders

[9/7/1986 - Date approximate] Ernest V. Flanders, Design Engineer, Dies at 91.

Funeral services for Ernest V. Flanders, a design engineer and civic leader, are set for Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church here in Springfield. He died here Saturday at the age of 91.
He worked a half-century in design engineering in the machine tool industry. At the Jones & Lamson Machine Co., where he worked after 1919, he shared in the development of a World War II machine used for grinding screw threads in hard material. The invention won a medal from Franklin Institute In 1942.

Locally, however, he may have been known more widely as the head of Springfield Hospital during its years of greatest growth from 1944 to 1957. During the period of his leadership the hospital grew from a small cottage-type institution into one of the state's most modern hospitals.

The hospital was, in fact his primary civic concern through 66 years as a Springfield resident. He served it an official capacity for 41 years as a corporator and trustee. He was its president from 1944 to 1957, and was an honorary trustee at the time of his his death.

In the world of science, Mr. Flanders was best known as one of the founding members of the Springfield Amateur Telescope Makers Association. His interest grew, apparently, out of his close association with the optical engineers at J&L.

From the founding of the telescope group in 1923 until his death, he was associated with the annual convention that drew thousands of people to Springfield all states and many Canadian provinces. As the astronomers president and secretary, his name became synonymous with the Stellafane Observatory on Breezy Hill in Springfield.

Ernest Vincent Flanders was born April 20, 1895, in Lincoln, R.I, the seventh child of Albert W. and Mary(Gilfillan) Flanders. He graduated 1913 from North Brookfield Mass High School and worked three years as an apprentice machinist for Norton. Grinding Co in Worcester.

He entered the cooperative engineering course at Rochester Mechanics Institute in 1916. During World War I, he was an inspector of aircraft engines in New Brunswick, N.J.

After the war, he came to Springfield to join his parents and his brother, the late U.S. Sen. Ralph E. Flanders. In this town, he started working for Jones & Lamson as a serviceman.

It was during this period that he worked in a department that handled newly designed equipment. And it was at this time his brother, Ralph, designed the screw-grinding machine. The two worked together to develop the new machine, which they won a 1942 medal from Franklin Institute.

During World War II, Flanders worked on the design of a machine for manufacturing components essential for jet transportation. The machine made a vast difference in production efficiency. During many of his years at J&L, he was chief engineer the Thread Tool Division. Later he was manager of the Grinder Division.

After his retirement in December 1960, he worked as a consultant with Koebel Diamond Tool Co. In this capacity, he was influential in the development of a new method of grinding wheel dressing - a method that greatly extended the life of tools used in the automotive industry.

Mr. Flanders was a member of First Congregational Church where he was choir member, clerk and deacon; a Mason, charter member of the Springfield Lion's Club and first presiding officer, and honorary member of Springfield Rotary Club since 1960. He was a life member of the Society of Mechanical Engineers, past chairman of the American Society of Tool Engineers; honorary trustee of American Precision Museum, life member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and past treasurer of the Southeast Council on the Arts.

Mr. Flanders and his first wife, Clare Bosworth Flanders, who died in 1951, were the parents of two children: Ralph N. Flanders of East Montpelier, and Eunice Flanders Degel (Mrs. Ernest Degel) of Reading, Mass. who survive him. In 1952, he married Hazel E. Matthews, who died in 1970. He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Frances Clark Flanders. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The Rev. Charles Campbell will officiate at the Tuesday service. Calling hours are set for Monday from 7-10pm at Davis Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested contributions to Springfield Hospital.

Source : “The Rutland Herald”, Springfield (9/7, 8 or 9th, 1986)

Records : 1930 census, WWI

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