Oliver Ames (1779–1863)
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Ames Shovel Shop
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A view of the 1870 Store House (right) and 1852 Long Shop (center, with red cupola), from the southeast corner of the complex
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| Location | Easton, Massachusetts |
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| Coordinates | 42°4′7″N 71°6′15″W / 42.06861°N 71.10417°WCoordinates: 42°4′7″N 71°6′15″W / 42.06861°N 71.10417°W |
| Part of | North Easton Historic District (#72000119) |
| Added to NRHP | November 3, 1972 |
The Ames Shovel Shops, also known as Ames Shovel Works or Ames Shovel Shop, is a historic 19th century industrial complex located in North Easton, Massachusetts. It is part of the North Easton Historic District, and consists of several granite buildings constructed between 1852 and 1885, along with several newer additions and outbuildings dating to about 1928.
The site is adjacent to the H. H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton, which includes several buildings designed by noted architect Henry Hobson Richardson, commissioned by the Ames family, owners of the shovel company.
In April 2009, the shops were named one of the 11 most endangered historic sites in the United States, by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, due to the pending proposal to redevelop the main portion of the site into residences.
However, in November 2009, an agreement was reached for a scaled-down development, endorsed by the National Trust. Construction began in April 2012, and is expected to take about 18 months.
The Ames Shovel Company traces its origins to 1774 when Capt. John Ames began making iron shovels at West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. His son Oliver Ames, Sr. moved the company to North Easton in 1803. In 1844, the elder Ames would transfer the shovel business to two of his sons, Oakes and Oliver, Jr., and the company would become known as Oliver Ames & Sons. Within the next few years, gold would be discovered in California in 1848, and in Australia in 1851, creating a worldwide demand for the company's shovels, which were already known for their high quality.
In 1851, the original shovel shop was destroyed by fire. The company would soon rebuild, and by 1852 the first of the new shops had been completed. Strong demand for shovels would continue through this period with the great expansion of railroads and later the American Civil War. Abraham Lincoln personally asked Oakes Ames to supply shovels to the Union Army. This made the Ames brothers very wealthy men. The Ames brothers entered politics and became influential in financing the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, as well as the development of the village of North Easton. Expansion of the shovel factory continued over the years until 1928.
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