Emil
Monde left Columbus School in New Haven at an early age
when his father passed away and went to work to help support
his family. He later pursued an education in accounting
and achieved a certified public accounting certificate.
He was employed by Winchester Repeating Arms when he left
to start an accounting firm by investing $450, which was
enough to buy the office furniture for his new business.
In August 1919 Emil joined Herbert Seward and Milton Stone
to form Seward, Stone & Monde, Accountants and Auditors.
Herbert
Seward was a Yale graduate in Mechanical Engineering and
later became a certified public accountant. He was Assistant
Manager for the NYC office of Lybrand, Ross Brothers &
Montgomery until 1917 when he left to become president
of McLoughlin Bros., Inc. of New York before joining the
firm.
The
firm's first locations were in New Haven, Bridgeport and
New York City. It also had a flourishing office in Daytona
Beach, Florida. By 1929 it relocated to Church Street
in the Trust Company Building until 1970 when it moved
to 296 State Street North Haven where it continues to
practice today. During the 1920s the firm's name was changed
to Seward and Monde, Certified Public Accountants.
The
first staff member to join the firm in 1919 was George
F. Childs Jr., who followed Emil from Winchester Repeating
Arms Company. A few years later J. Harold Cobb became
the second staff member followed by Ken Hadley.
These
men established a firm philosophy to support the rigid
requirements of their profession that included hard work,
technical expertise, ethical standards and common sense.
The firm has achieved and maintained its excellent reputation
by adhering to these elements.
Traditionally,
the firm's success factors are its excellent reputation,
close personal contact with clients and responsiveness.
It was good business to keep in touch through memberships
in the Quinnipiac Club, the Union League Club and the
New Haven Country Club. Emil Monde also served as president
of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce.
The
firm's practice responded to the wartime of the 1940's
by servicing clients who had to adhere to the compliance
requirements of the Wage Stabilization Board and Price
Controls.
In
1966 Emil Monde retired being the last of the original
firm members. At that time the management of the firm
was passed on to Joseph Hartnett a member of the original
executive committee that also included Harold Monde and
Conrad Soderblom. Subsequently the committee of Spencer
Hirst, Joseph Farrell and Richard Haran managed the firm.
Many
in New Haven's business community who enriched its history
were among the early clients of Seward & Monde such
as J.B. Sargent and Company, The New Haven Clock Company,
members of the Brewster family of carriage makers, C.
Cowles & Co., Mory's at Yale and the Stiles Brick
Company. The Taft Hotel, The Edward Malley Company, Shartenberg's
Department Store, the New Haven Arena and the Knights
Of Columbus have all availed themselves of the expertise
of a firm with such great integrity.
Today
Seward and Monde enters the new millenium as a full service
accounting firm with offices in North Haven, Meriden,
Danbury and New London. They provide traditional accounting,
auditing and tax services as well as expertise in estate
planning, information technology, wealth management, profitability
analysis, business valuation, and process reviews among
other specialty services.
The
current partners realize the value of the history and
tradition set by the founders and former partners. They
are committed to continue fostering the traditions in
philosophy and success factors that have distinguished
their firm for over 81 years.
Copyright © 2002-2004 by Seward and Monde
296 State Street, North Haven, CT 06473 • (203) 248-9341
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