Ulster began in 1871 as the Ellenville Co-operative Cutlery Company located in Ellenville, New York. Forming the co-operative cutlery was the idea of Master Cutler William Booth. Booth was born in Sheffield, England in 1842, and at the age of fourteen entered into an apprenticeship for a period of seven years. After completing his apprenticeship, he sailed for America, settling in Bronxville, New York where he worked in a small cutlery factory.
He later moved to Naugatuck, Connecticut and worked for the cutlery located there. After the Civil War, several knife factories were started in New York, and New England on the co-operative system. Mr. Booth observed their success, and enlisting a group of his friends, started a company of their own. In June, 1871, the citizens of Ellenville, New York learned that a group of men skilled in the manufacture of “spring cutlery” were seeking a site for a factory. They contacted the cutlers and after a public meeting was held on July 6, 1871, they decided to form a co-operative with the cutlers.
The company failed in 1872, and was reorganized as the Ellenville Knife Company. This firm also ran into difficulties, and was reorganized in 1875 under the same name.
In 1876, they were taken over by Dwight Divine. He renamed the firm the Ulster Knife Company, Dwight Divine Proprietor. William Booth was superintendent of the plant until 1923 when he retired due to failing sight. One by one, Divine’s sons were brought into the business. Dwight Divine remained head of the firm until his death in 1933. His sons ran the business until 1941 when they sold the majority interest to Albert and Henry Baer.
During WWII, the Ulster Knife Company began a co-operative effort with the Imperial Knife Company of Providence, Rhode Island. Between the two factories, they produced more than half of all the knives purchased for the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII. After the war, a joint company was formed, known as the Kingston Cutlery Company of Walden, New York. This new firm purchased the Schrade Cutlery Company of Walden, and this plant was eventually moved to Ellenville.
In 1947, Kingston was dissolved and The Imperial Knife Associated Companies Inc. was formed. The plant in Ellenville is still in operation, but the Ulster marking was discontinued about 1972.
c 1941-1972