It’s interesting that only a few people or a family can determine the entire direction of history for a town. That is certainly the case in Easton.

It started when Oliver Ames opened a blacksmith shop. He made tools, including many different types of shovels, and then created the Ames Shovel and Tool Company in 1803.  This resulted in Easton getting the nickname of “Shovel town”! There is now a collection of Ames’ shovels located in the archives at Stonehill College in Easton. We had a chance to see the collection on our tour of the town.

Oliver’s brother, Oakes Ames was a Congressman during the Lincoln administration. The two were heavily involved in the development of the transcontinental railroad.

There were other manufacturing companies in Easton, but the Ames family seem to have had the most lasting impact on the town.

What struck us was the number of beautiful brick buildings, many of which were built by members of the Ames family.  The Quessett House, the Ames Free Library, and the Ames Mansion were just a few of the gems left behind by the Ames family. The famous architect Henry Hobson Richardson designed many of the buildings.  Richardson worked with Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed the landscaping around some of them. Easton is lucky to have such a distinguished architectural history.

If you are able to visit Easton, be sure not to miss the following:

• Historical Society Museum & Railroad Station, 80 Mechanic Street
• Quessett House, 51 Main Street
• Ames Free Library, 53 Main Street
• The Ames Estate, 35 Oliver Street
• Stone Hill College, and the shovel museum, Rt. 123
• Ames Mansion in Borderland State Park, 257 Massapoag Avenue
• Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, 3 Barrows Street