Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-12-27
MISCELLANY.
THE AMERICAN SHOVEL.

THE AMERICAN SHOVEL.
The shovel is potent agent Of civilization,
without which society would relrograde rapidly
towards barbarism. Consider the uhiquitous
usefulness OF the shovel, or Imagine the ami
hilaiiun Of the shovel, and the truth Of our
proposition will be demonstrated. Who made
the first shovel, history, so fat as we know. re-
fuses to tell and tradition is likewise silent.
In all likelihood, however, il was the anediu-
Wan Instructor of every arifrer in brass aud
irou" For this supposiii0n there is at least
poetic authority since Burns puts int@ the cat
alogue Of Captain Groses collection Of antqu-
tics
"Aull Tubal-Cain's THRESHOLD and fender"
BE this as i, may, clearly the shovel is le-
ei,mue child Of the ''mother OF inventions"
"a product of necessity it is so difficult to
conceive of the time when it was not needed
and not known. But we have, at present, a
better purpose in view than the indulgence Of
an unprohtahle speculation. peerlng into the
dim twilight oil 'Sa primitive ages. We have
a story, all compounnsl of fact, Of our own
day and own land 10 relao-a story slightly
wonderful aud by no means uusugges.'-4 or un-
interesting.
In The lac. ---..osy, s.o0s Of The shovels in
hereahouis were Of wood-shaped %, -
the fafmer and then "shod'' OF edo with iron
or sieel, by the backsmiihs About innr score
years ago, in Bridga~ier, we think 1t was,
Mr.. John aimee began the manufacture of shov-
els. lie used American iron, and the bars
were brought from neighboring farges by his
own son, carrying the load before him on horse
back-say two bars at 4 time. The rolling
shearing, hammering, &c, was doae at his
shop: the handles were made by cabinet ma
kers. At this period Mr.. Dyke was also en-
gagged, in North Bridgewaier, in the same bust
ness. During the Revolution iheEe was a great
demand for guns, and Mr.. Ames contracted to
furnish these weapons of war to the Cwntinen-
tai army, and abandoned the making of the i'm
plements Of peace. After the struggle was
over, he turned his ingenuity to the fabrication
Of knives and forks and scylhes, then much
wanted.
1t was about 1900 that the youngest son Of
John, Mr.. Oliver Ames-who. though more
than three and ten, is still hale and active
and the head Of the firm we shall refer TO pes
oady-recommen the making of shoyels al
Bridgewater. He changed his location sever
al times, having his shop al Bridgewaier, Ply
mouth, and Easlon, respectively, until 1911
when he settled permanently in the latter town
From 1911 to 1920 he iurned out 8 to 10 doz
en- per diem. In ls2l-22 there were but two
shops. A want OF water led 10 an increase o
the number; aud privileges were Obtained an,
shop built in Brainiree in 1922, in Yves
Bridgewaler in 1929, and in Canton in 1913
Thess, carrying nine trip hammers aud fv,
grind stones, still belong to the concern, being
as ii were, tributary colonies Ia the great cen
trail establishment. la 1915 Mr.. Ames tool
two of his sons, Oliver and Cakes, gentlemen
now widely known and highly respected, int,
partnership. Several Of the third generation
are employed as clerks and oyerseers; so tina
the mandatory is sort of ''lamily affair :
and no small affair either, since it is manage
with consummaie system and skill, and is made
Indirectly at least, to prodace something besid
material wealth. OF its character aud magni
inde we will now ondeavor 10 give our reader
some idea.
The village of North Eason, in popuati6
and prosperity BY far the largest part of tn
town to which it belongs, is situated in Bristc
county, about 20 miles from Boston. The mai
ural scenery is pretty, the soil fai bat there
nothing specially attractive about the place, a
such and the editor of 'lIarper's Gazeiieer q
the World appears to have heen lameniably IL
moran, of its chief glory. That reliable G,
this is a specimen of lis accuracy work speak
Of saw-mills and grist-mills, without saying
syllable of the shosel-factory-ihe parl of Ham