Bay State Gas Company stock certificate 1901 (Massachusetts)

Uncommon Mass utility collectible. Awesome left vignette of the Massachusetts state seal (artist rendition). Issued and not cancelled. Dated 1901. Measures approximately 11.5 x 7 inches.   

The Bay State Gas Company has a long history in New England, with roots tracing back to late 19th-century utility operations, including incorporations in the 1870s and 1880s. The company was historically linked to coal gasification sites, such as in Brockton and Taunton, MA, which required environmental cleanup in the 1990s.

"Bay State" is the official nickname for Massachusetts. It refers to the state's historical roots with the Massachusetts Bay Company and numerous coastal bays, including Cape Cod Bay, Buzzards Bay, and Narragansett Bay. People from Massachusetts are often called "Bay Staters"

"Gas Addicks":
In the 1880s, industrialist J. Edward Addicks formed an earlier version of the Bay State Gas Company in Boston, earning the nickname "The Napoleon of Gas" for his efforts to create a gas monopoly.

Consolidation:
Addicks formed the company to consolidate the Boston, Roxbury, and South Boston Gas companies into a single trust.

Legal & Financial Issues:
The company was involved in significant legal battles, with a receiver, George Wharton Pepper, appointed to oversee the company. In 1904, a lawsuit was initiated against Addicks to recover millions related to the company's affairs.

Product descriptions and images
Please note that some pictures may only be representative of the inventory available.  If we have more than one piece, we are unable to scan and display every piece.  Unless otherwise noted, that there are variations for signatures, cancellation marks/holes, serial number, and dates.  Colors will be as noted and pictured.