Manufactures and Commerce. 159 



of short duration, and Colonel Weston continued as sole proprietor 

 until the second fire occurred on this spot, which was on the morn- 

 ing of Sept. 8, 1876, when the large foundry building, with the 

 carpenter's shop and pattern-shop, were all destroyed. Colonel 

 Weston afterwards erected another large building upon the same 

 spot, 95 feet by 45, with an annex 25 feet square, which on May 16, 

 1888, met the fate of its predecessors. It was occupied at the 

 time by J. E. Sherry & Co. for the purpose of scouring and cleans- 

 ing wool, and with its valuable contents of stock and machinery 

 was totally destroyed. The business was then giving employment 

 to about twenty-five men. 



On Friday evening, Feb. 20, 1846, the Eagle Iron Foundry, 

 situated on Summer Street, at the harbor, was entirely consumed 

 by fire with its contents, consisting of the steam-engine, castings, 

 moulds, patterns, tools, etc. The loss was estimated at about 

 $6,000, which was partly covered by insurance. The foundry was 

 owned and occupied by Asa H. Holden & Co., — Charles Howard, 

 Sr., James and Luther Stephenson, with Mr. Holden constituting 

 the firm, — and was erected in the autumn and spring of 1844—45. 

 By this occurrence from twenty to thirty hands were thrown out 

 of employment. 



The enterprising proprietors immediately commenced the work 

 of rebuilding the foundry, which is the present structure. 



Since February, 1853, the foundry building, pattern shop, smith 

 shop, and sheds have been owned by Charles Howard, who for 

 many years made castings for furnaces, window-weights, caboose- 

 stoves, etc. Owing to competition in the business, and to unsatis- 

 factory prices, the buildings have been closed, and the manufacture 

 discontinued for several years. 



Joseph Jacobs commenced the manufacture of hammers in the 

 rear of his residence on Main Street, South Hingham, about the 

 year 1836, the work being then done principally by hand. During 

 the year following, however, horse-power was introduced, both to 

 facilitate production and to improve the manufacture by the pro- 

 cess of grinding and polishing. Some eight or ten years later 

 (about 1846), a steam engine was purchased to take the place of 

 horse-power, and the business was extended so as to include the 

 manufacture of hatchets and other edge-tools. In 1850 the busi- 

 ness had increased to such an extent that it was found necessary 

 to procure a larger engine, and to employ from twenty-five to 

 thirty hands. The manufactured goods, which at first were sold 

 only in Boston and New York, soon found a ready market in all 

 the principal cities of the United States, and also in Australia and 

 South America. 



In 1860 Joseph Jacobs, Jr., became a partner with his father, 

 and the works were removed to Wilder's mill at Cushing's Pond, 

 where additional facilities and power were furnished. Mr. Jacobs, 

 the founder of the industry in Hingham, retired in 1875, and the 

 business was continued by his two sons, Joseph, Jr., and Freder- 



