Putnam Horseshoe Nails
Dorchester Illustration 2686
Silas Putnam invented a machine to make horseshoe nails that would perform like handmade nails. His factory at the northern end of Port Norfolk was modest at the time his factory was pictured in “The Great Industries of the United States” in 1872.
The operation grew to include many buildings, producing tons of nails for the U.S. Army and for local use. As the automobile replaced horse-drawn carts, the business dwindled after the turn of the 20th century.
Sometimes a picture helps us think about the past. The image of the cardboard box reminds us that the nails had to be packaged and sent out to customers.