One of the proprietors of the Reynvernel Groves is H. Verner Bright, who was born at Dover, on Lake Erie, near Cleveland, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where he was reared, receiving his education in the schools of that place and in Cleveland. When he was thirteen years of age he began making his own way, entering the sales department of Bowles & Burdick, wholesale jewelers, where he continued for a period of seven years. Then in order to have outdoor work, he accepted a place on the survey corps of the county surveyor of Cuyahoga County, working up from rodman to transitman and found the experience enjoyable, interesting and also very beneficial to his health. After three years in the county surveyor's office, he resigned and entered into partnership with his brother, Fred, as Bright & Bro., general manufacturers of tools and specialties. They were the inventors of the Bright turnstile, which has since come into worldwide use.
The first exposition at which the Bright turnstile was used was in the Old Piedmont Exposition Grounds in Cincinnati, in 1884. Afterwards the National League and American League took it up and it came into universal use by railroads, large manufacturers and expositions, not only in the United States and Canada, but in South America, Europe and the Orient. He made trips to Europe and South America introducing the turnstile. During the late war the Government made various uses of the Bright turnstile at loading stations, messrooms and munition places, to register employees and soldiers. Among improvements to the turnstile is the pay-as-you-enter system, as well as a coin control turnstile for fairs and expositions, which was first used at the St. Louis Exposition.
In 1900 the brothers dissolved partnership, Fred Bright taking the work of the manufacture of the typograph, while H. V. continued in the manufacture of tools, novelties and turnstiles, and the small business has grown to very large proportions under the name Bright Turnstile Company. They also manufacture ticket machines, ticket choppers and cancelling machines. With his brother, under the firm name of Hess-Bright, they were manufacturers of ball-bearings in North Philadelphia until they sold their interest in October, 1916. He was also interested in the Cleveland Cap Screw Company, now the Steel Products Company, one of the largest producers of welded steel products in the country. He has sold his interest in this business.
His first trip to California was in 1905. He was prepared to like it because from a boy he was intensely interested in California, and his dream from a youth of ten years was of an orange grove in California. Liking it here he came to California each winter, and in 1912 he purchased his present grove, which was set out in June of that year. He selected this site for his home and no more slightly place can be found; here he built a large, beautiful, modern residence, making of the whole one of the show places of the district, being located on the mesa in San Dimas Canyon.
Associated with Harry Damerel of Covina, he is engaged in raising oranges and lemons. Individually and in partnership they own 215 acres of orange and lemon groves in this region. He is well pleased with the locality, finding on investigation it is second to none in the United States.
The marriage of Mr. Bright occurred in Cleveland, Ohio, when he was united with Miss Lillian Oviatt, also born in Dover, who presides gracefully over her husband's home, assisting him in dispensing the true hospitality of which both are very fond.
History of Pomona Valley, California, with Biographical Sketches
of The Leading Men and Women of the Valley Who Have Been
Identified With Its Growth and Development from the Early Days
to the Present
Published in Los Angeles, Cal., by the Historic Record Company
1920
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 12/26/08, Pages 739-740
Los Angeles County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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