The Lathrops and their engines

Jim Lathrop's death last month brought to mind the story of the Lathrop Engine Company and its place in Mystic history. Jim was named for his great-grandfather, "J.W.," who founded the business more than a century ago.

The first James W. Lathrop came to town from Worcester in the 1890s, associated with the Mystic Twine Company in Greenmanville.

He built his original one-cylinder gasoline marine engine in 1897, tinkering in the barn behind his house at the corner of Elm and Burrows Streets in Mystic. This two-cycle inboard engine worked so well that he sold it promptly and built three more.

Internal combustion gasoline engines, an innovation for power boats, proved very popular with fishermen and owners of small craft. The business grew so fast he moved to a little shop on Front Street, now Holmes Street.

In 1900 he added on, and by 1916 the Lathrop Engine Company, with more than 90 workmen, occupied a long wooden building on the river plus a large brick building across the street. Now known as Schooner Wharf, this presently houses Riverwalk restaurant, Flat Hammock Press, Mystic River Yarns and other attractions.

Later J.W. added an office building, converting a residence at the corner of Forsyth Street. The plant also included a large service dock where fishing boats and yachts came in for engine installation or repairs.

Through the years the company made many different models of gasoline engine. J.W.'s son, Walter H. Lathrop, succeeded his father in the business, and under his guidance they manufactured diesels as well. The company weathered the Great Depression and, after Walter H.'s sudden death in 1937, his son, young Bud Lathrop, (Jim's father), came home from college to take over the business.

Lathrop engines were known for reliability, and local fishermen swore by them. They were also popular with yachtsmen and were distributed up and down the Atlantic coast.

Ed Welles of Old Mystic, Lathrop's factory representative for many years, wrote of the company in "Recollections of a Small-town Yankee Mechanic," published by the Groton Public Library in 1987. He recalled that during prohibition Lathrop produced swift engines for rum-runners and at the same time was building fast engines for the Coast Guard to pursue them.

For more than 50 years the Lathrop Engine Company was a Mystic fixture, but in 1957 the business was sold to Burmeister and Wain. Later Bud and his family left Mystic.

I first met Jim Lathrop when I taught at Mystic Academy. He was in Mrs. Gray's fourth grade; his sister Judy was in my third grade.

I lost track of him when the family moved south, but on his return to Mystic we met again when he served on the board of the Mystic River Historical Society and the Flag Committee. He also found time to help Ed Welles with his book.

We will all remember Jim and his family for their contributions to our community.

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