1890-1959
Myrtle Borton ran a foundry in the Ironbound.
Born, Myrtle Malcolm, Myrtle lived in Belleville as a child and then Clifton Avenue in Newark. She was baptized in the South Market Street Methodist Church. As a child she worked with her father at Riverside Steeling Casting Co, where he was a partner. By 1915, she worked as a stenographer, potentially for this foundry. During WWI, Myrtle was a member of the Women’s Volunteer Motor Corps, marching with her unit from Washington to Arlington for the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
In 1923, Myrtle’s father founded Malcolm Foundry Co. at 67 Polk Street, which made steel castings. In a 1926 directory, Myrtle is listed as the Purchasing Agent. By the later 1930s the Newark News calls her “Vice President” of the company. After her father died, and with no surviving brothers, Myrtle took over the company. She said, “I’ve been working around foundries for so long, I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Myrtle controlled the stock of the company and managed it daily, working five days a week at the plant. She often went by “M. Malcolm Borton”, leading to surprise when customers a woman! Myrtle was in charge of bookkeeping, payroll, correspondence and hiring, for 22 employees. She also worked with salesmen and did all the buying and negotiated with the union. As of a 1953 profile, the plant did $12,000-18,000 of business a month throughout the area. Though she knew she’d “find a million things to do”, during retirement, she didn’t sell the company and finally retire until Oct 1958.
Myrtle married in 1943, just after her father’s death, at age 53, to Rev. John Borton, rector, of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church. The couple lived on Lake Street, Clifton Ave and Highland Ave. She did much work for the ministry. She was a member of two bridge clubs, on the board of the YWCA, and treasurer of the Open Door of the Guild of Saint Barnabas. She was a member of the Altar Guild of St. Mark’s and the Women’s Republican Club.
Tragically, Myrtle was killed in an accident in 1959 just before her and her husband were set to retire to Brielle and had just been feted by the parish for their work. After her death, her husband decided to stay on at St. Mark’s instead of retiring.
Bibliography
Schoener, Jane “Industrious Lady Foundry Head Minister’s Wife Are one and the Same Busy Person” Newark News Jul 12, 1953
“Mrs. Borton Killed” Newark News Jul 21, 1959
“Rector’s Wife Killed in Car” Newark News Jul 20, 1959
NJ state and US federal censuses
NJ Marriage Index
“Thomas Malcolm Is Injured” Newark News Dec 30, 1938.
“Party Whirl Before Cinderella Ball” Newark News Dec 22, 1943
“Miss Myrtle Malcolm Engaged…” Newark News Nov 3, 1943
“Thomas Malcolm” Newark News Apr 6, 1943
Summerwell, Penelope, “New Summer Season” Newark Evening News Jun 21, 1959
“Wrong Kind of White Christmas” Newark News Dec 28, 1958
“Rev. Borton to Stay On” Newark News Aug 4, 1959