Charles T. Main
Encyclopedia
Charles Thomas Main was a mechanical engineer from the United States
who worked for New England
textile mills, and also in the then new field of hydroelectricity
.
and engineer, and this may account in part for Charles' early displayed fondness for scientific subjects and general work in mathematics. He obtained his preliminary education in the schools of Marblehead, and later entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, then of Boston, Massachusetts, where he was graduated B.S. in 1876. Following his graduation, he spent three years (1876-79) as assistant in the laboratories of the institute, perfecting himself in the practical work of his profession.
In October 1879, in order to still further improve both his technical and practical knowledge, he became a draftsman in the extensive plant of the Manchester Mills, at Manchester, New Hampshire
, remaining there until 1 June 1881, when he began work as engineer in the Lower Pacific Mills at Lawrence, Massachusetts
. In this capacity he served until 1885, when his abilities won him promotion to the position of assistant superintendent of the mills. In 1886 he was made superintendent, and so continued until 1 January 1892, when he resigned to enter upon general engineering practice.
He worked a year in Providence, Rhode Island
, and then entered a partnership with power engineer Francis Winthrop Dean. He started his own firm in 1907 which was incorporated as the engineering company Charles T. Main, Inc.
, in 1926. Main became identified as engineer and designer with some of the most important industrial construction work in the eastern United States, and designed and constructed many industrial plants the cost of which mounted far into the millions of dollars.
Aside from his professional activities, he was always interested in the problems of municipal and local government, and held numerous public offices and appointments. During his residence in Lawrence, he served as a member of the board of aldermen, was a member of the school board of Lawrence in 1890, and a trustee of the Public Library Association in 1891. He maintained his residence in Winchester, Massachusetts
, for some years, and from 1895 to 1906 served as a member of its water and sewer board.
He is the author of several papers on steam power, water power, ventilation of industrial properties, mill construction, etc. His Notes on Mill Construction (1886) was used as a textbook at MIT. He is the originator of numerous devices and inventions, notably of a receiver pressure register for compound engines, which he perfected in 1884.
Main was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers
and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
of which he was the manager. He received a gold medal from the ASME in 1935. He was president of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers in 1912 and drafted a code of ethics during that time which was a first for engineering societies. He was a member of the National Association of Cotton Manufacturers, the New England Water Works Association, and the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was also a member of the Society of Arts of Boston, the Exchange Club of Boston, Engineers' Club of Boston, and Technology Club of Boston, the Engineers' Club of New York, and the Calumet Club of Winchester.
. They had three children: Charles Reed, Alice Appleton, and Theodore Main.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who worked for New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
textile mills, and also in the then new field of hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
.
Biography
He was the son of Thomas and Cordelia (Reed) Main. His father was a machinistMachinist
A machinist is a person who uses machine tools to make or modify parts, primarily metal parts, a process known as machining. This is accomplished by using machine tools to cut away excess material much as a woodcarver cuts away excess wood to produce his work. In addition to metal, the parts may...
and engineer, and this may account in part for Charles' early displayed fondness for scientific subjects and general work in mathematics. He obtained his preliminary education in the schools of Marblehead, and later entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, then of Boston, Massachusetts, where he was graduated B.S. in 1876. Following his graduation, he spent three years (1876-79) as assistant in the laboratories of the institute, perfecting himself in the practical work of his profession.
In October 1879, in order to still further improve both his technical and practical knowledge, he became a draftsman in the extensive plant of the Manchester Mills, at Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
, remaining there until 1 June 1881, when he began work as engineer in the Lower Pacific Mills at Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States on the Merrimack River. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 76,377. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. It and Salem are...
. In this capacity he served until 1885, when his abilities won him promotion to the position of assistant superintendent of the mills. In 1886 he was made superintendent, and so continued until 1 January 1892, when he resigned to enter upon general engineering practice.
He worked a year in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, and then entered a partnership with power engineer Francis Winthrop Dean. He started his own firm in 1907 which was incorporated as the engineering company Charles T. Main, Inc.
Chas. T. Main
-History:It was founded in 1893 by Charles T. Main, an engineer for the textile mills of New England. It was privately owned by its senior engineers, it being felt that this would leave decision making to those that knew the industry best...
, in 1926. Main became identified as engineer and designer with some of the most important industrial construction work in the eastern United States, and designed and constructed many industrial plants the cost of which mounted far into the millions of dollars.
Aside from his professional activities, he was always interested in the problems of municipal and local government, and held numerous public offices and appointments. During his residence in Lawrence, he served as a member of the board of aldermen, was a member of the school board of Lawrence in 1890, and a trustee of the Public Library Association in 1891. He maintained his residence in Winchester, Massachusetts
Winchester, Massachusetts
Winchester is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, eight miles north of Boston. With its agricultural roots having mostly disappeared, it is now an affluent suburb...
, for some years, and from 1895 to 1906 served as a member of its water and sewer board.
He is the author of several papers on steam power, water power, ventilation of industrial properties, mill construction, etc. His Notes on Mill Construction (1886) was used as a textbook at MIT. He is the originator of numerous devices and inventions, notably of a receiver pressure register for compound engines, which he perfected in 1884.
Main was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional body, specifically an engineering society, focused on mechanical engineering....
of which he was the manager. He received a gold medal from the ASME in 1935. He was president of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers in 1912 and drafted a code of ethics during that time which was a first for engineering societies. He was a member of the National Association of Cotton Manufacturers, the New England Water Works Association, and the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was also a member of the Society of Arts of Boston, the Exchange Club of Boston, Engineers' Club of Boston, and Technology Club of Boston, the Engineers' Club of New York, and the Calumet Club of Winchester.
Family
On 14 November 1883, he married Elizabeth F. Appleton, of Somerville, MassachusettsSomerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
. They had three children: Charles Reed, Alice Appleton, and Theodore Main.