James Hartness & Precision Valley Inventors

Newly arrived in Springfield in 1889 to work at the Jones and Lamson Machine Company, James Hartness soon rose to President. A natural leader, he played a vital role in the creation of Precision Valley. Internationally respected in the machine tool industry, Hartness was President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, wrote extensively on company management issues, served as Governor of Vermont (1920-1922) and founded the Hartness State Airport. Hartness held over 120 patents (including the Flat Turret Lathe) and was an amateur astronomer. Other Early Springfield Inventors Include: Adna Brown William L. Bryant Noah Safford Amasa Woolson Joel A.H. Ellis A. J. Fullam Jesse Warren David M. Smith F.B. Gilman