Quick History Stops: Bridgewater, MA

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While in Bridgewater, MA, I had quick history stops at McElwain School and Bridgewater Iron Works Park, two parts of industrial history that have been repurposed to serve the community.

McElwain School

McElwain School was originally built in 1912 as a two-story red brick Classical Revival style building designed by Boston architecture firm Loring & Phipps. George Fullington Loring had worked as a city surveyor in Boston, while Sanford Phipps had worked for Stephen Carpenter Earle, last mentioned during the quick history stops in Norton for designing Trinitarian Congregational Church.

Two-story red brick Classical Revival style building across a lush green lawn Small text and vintage photographs of the nearby area Narrow river near tree-lined banks Narrow river by stony banks

The school received its name from shoe manufacturer William H. McElwain, as his family had donated the land in his honor. In front of the school was a steampunk statue of a winged boot, dubbed “McElwain Flying Shoe”, created by artists Bruce Rosenbaum, Jim Su, Julian Halpern, and Kamil Peters in February 2023 using repurposed metal. This was based on the design of shoes manufactured in McElwain’s factory. According to a nearby sign, during the height of production between 1901 and 1908, 725 Bridgewater employees worked at the factory making 4,200 shoes a day. The school was recently transformed into mixed-income apartments after being vacant for about twenty years after the school closed in the 1990s and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2013.

Modern sign with serif font and business logo Large brown metal shoe, about four or five feet, with wings Information signage describing the making of the sculpture and history of the school building

Bridgewater Iron Works Park

The other Bridgewater property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Bridgewater Iron Works Park is the former site of Bridgewater Iron Manufacturing Company, at one time among the largest iron works in the United States. While the area was used for industrial purposes from the beginning of European colonization, it became an iron works in the late 18th century after brothers Isaac and Nathan Lazell joined mechanic Jacob Perkins built slitting mills on the site to make nails. Production peaked during the mid to late 19th century as the factory created parts for ships in the U.S. Navy during and after the Civil War.

Bridgewater Iron Works Park Sign A narrow river goes under a small road bridge Rusted Metal Container, a giant bucket with a sturdy handle

The property changed hands several times during the 20th century, and its buildings sustained damage during the infamous Hurricane of 1938. In 1946, Bridgewater Foundry Company set up shop to produce grey cast iron, which takes its grey color from graphite mixed into the iron. After the site was abandoned, the town of Bridgewater took over the property in 1996. The twelve-acre park now contains benches, decrepit buildings, and a fish ladder to aid alewife migration.

Location: Bridgewater, MA 02324, USA