Morocco Factory

During the late 19th century, 158 Main Street was where the Morocco Factory used to stand. This was a tanning factory that finished, colored and polished sheep skins, before sending them off for further development in Haverhill. Built between 1884 and 1891, the factory was owned by Austin Patch and Amos Gould II. The factory was sold to Frank Perkins and James Perkins Jr. in the early 20th century and was remodeled between 1903 and 1910. During this remodel, two tenements were installed on the second floor. The reasoning behind a tanning factory in town was to try and turn Wenham into an industrial town, just like Haverhill and Lowell were at the time. It was not a success though, and Wenham has stayed as a mostly residential town since. The building is long gone, but this location is now home to M. Lekkakos Skincare.  

Images: The Morocco Factory in 1894, an image of Main Street that includes the factory (it's the second building on the left hiding behind trees).