The history of Boston’s ironworks industry brings you on an amazing journey through colonial times. As more people migrated from Europe to the United States. They brought some much talent and craftsmanship. One area of expertise that was brought was ironworks.
Tradesmen came from England, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and other areas of Europe.
The following from National Park Service shows some of this history:
“Saugus lron Works is a reconstruction of the first successful, integrated iron works in the New World. It produced wrought iron and cast iron products from 1646 to approximately 1670, utilizing the most advanced iron making technology in early Colonial times. On April 5th, 1968 the site was renamed Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site and became part of the National Park System because of its significance to the character, development and history of the United States.”
Easton’s Furnace Village Area
Massachusetts was first in the nation when it comes to ironworks. In fact, Easton’s iron heritage started shortly before the American Revolutionary War. The well-known “Furnace Village” became a main iron working area. There were two main companies that made Furnace Village an economic powerhouse:
- Belcher Malleable Iron
- Drake Foundry
Some highlights of their history are as follows:
1773 – James Perry bought one-fourth ownership in the foundry. Later he purchased the entire works.
1776-1783 – Perry manufactured cannon and cannon balls for Continental Army.
1780 – A forge was built on the west end of the Old Pond dam. It was in addition to the foundry on the east side of the Pond.
1783 – Perry’s furnace was destroyed by fire.
1798 – Perry in extreme financial hardship had to mortgage his foundry. The mortgage was subsequently sold by Leonard, Green, and Dean to John Brown of Providence. He willed it to his daughter, Mrs. James Mason.
Ironworks in Easton After 1800
1804 – Cyrus Alger purchased the business. He was an ironworker and an able businessman.
1810 – A large reservoir was built west of Old Pond. It was called Carge Reservoir at first; later known as New Pond.
1837 – Alexander Boyden, brother of Seth Boyden who discovered the process for making malleable iron in 1826, started a company with Lincoln Drake at the head. This new company was on the south side of Foundry Street. Up to this time all of the furnaces were north of Foundry Street.
1847 – Mass. Charitable Mechanic Association awarded a silver medal and diploma to Lincoln Drake for “excellent specimens of malleable iron castings at the exhibit and fair.”
1849 – Daniel Belcher acquired business on south side of Foundry Street. For a few years brass castings were made as well as malleable iron.
1916 – Belcher Malleable Iron Company incorporated with Belcher, Belcher and Page as incorporators.
Long History of Boston’s Metal Workers
Newcomers to the region and industry developments helped to generate incredible industrial opportunities for the Massachusetts (and the nation). American foundries foundries started to compete with Britain foundries. This prompted Britain’s parliament issued a law known as the Iron Act in 1850.
The Iron Act was meant to limit the emerging iron manufacturing industry. This legislative act became one of the causes of the American Revolution. Shortly after the war, the American iron foundry industry grew rapidly throughout the United States.
