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Presented 3/26/14

I know you’ve all seen the large yellow Victorian house on Main Street… but do you know the history ?    The house was build by Henry Merriam. He  was born in 1828, in New Hampshire. In 1851 he moved to NYC and entered the boot business.

His firm, The Merriam Shoe Company, prospered, over the years. In fact, business expanded dramatically during the Civil War with sales of men’s boots to the army. This period also saw the transition from production as a cottage industry to actual factory production.

Business continued to grow after the war but the firm’s products changed to women’s and children’s shoes.

By 1873 the firm needed to  expand. Henry Merriam selected Newton for the new factory and expansion. This area was selected because of its cheap, unorganized labor as well as the rural setting, which appealed to him.

By Christmas of 1873 the firm had 60 employees and made 500 pairs of shoes weekly.

By 1883 300 people produced 1,000 pair daily. Merriam broke ground for his house that same year.  

By the 1960’s, however, it was deserted and had deteriorated. In fact, it was slated for demolition. However, a civic minded group, in the late 60’s, sought to restore and save it. Their efforts intensified when they succeeded in having it added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1970.

The home is now is an assisted living facility and is a prime example of high Victorian architecture.

Unfortunately, he didn’t live in the home very long. He died in 1900.

The firm, however, continued to prosper. By 1926 they occupied a 90,000 sq foot factory and employed 550 people. This is very substantial since the county only had a population of about 26,000 people, then.

It would  rank as the 6^th largest local employer if it was still around, now.

But, by 1929 because of competition and the general economy the firm closed the factory and it was merged into another shoe firm, located in Baltimore.

The Newton facility was sold to a competing shoe firm who operated it for a few more years.

The original factory has now been converted to a condominium and is located across from Chun Bo Restaurant.

There is an historical marker, at that location, now, that you’ve all gone by many times. Slow up, on your next trip and take a look at it and the old factory.