Horace E. Durgin's Carriage & Blacksmith Shop

When one thinks of jobs in the Colonial Era, one occupation that typically comes up is a blacksmith. This occupation didn’t end after the 18th century though and has continued through to the present day. The craft of blacksmithing was very present in 19th and 20th centuries Wenham, which had several blacksmith shops. Hoarce E. Durgin’s Carriage and Blacksmith shop operated into the early 20th century and would be the last shop of its kind in Wenham. Durgin was both a wheelwright, which was someone who repaired and built carriages, and a blacksmith. As a blacksmith, he would have had to shod horses and repair iron for the town's occupants. The need for a wheelwright and blacksmithing shop would deplete as the invention and popularity of cars took place at the turn of the century. As one is driving along Main Street in Wenham, keep your eyes open for 105 Main Street, where Durgin’s Carriage and Blacksmith shop used to be.  

Images: Durgin's shop, grain wagon at the shop, Durgin's shop sign.