Moravia in Cayuga County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The First Cast Iron Plow
Photographed By Larry Day, September 5, 2022
1. The First Cast Iron Plow Marker
The first cast iron plow in the world was made by Jethro Wood at Foot of Falls 1819
Erected 1932 by New York State Education Department.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1819.
Location. 42° 42.94′ N, 76° 24.44′ W. Marker is in Moravia, New York, in Cayuga County. Marker is at the intersection of New York State Route 38A and Old State Road, on the right when traveling south on State Route 38A. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Moravia NY 13118, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Judge Wood House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Civil War Soldier Monument (approx. 0.6 miles away); Town of Moravia (approx. 0.7 miles away); World War Memorial (approx. ¾ mile away); John Stoyell (approx. ¾ mile away); Cady Tavern (approx. 0.8 miles away); Oldest House in Moravia (approx. 0.9 miles away); Owasco Flats (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Moravia.
More about this marker. "At Foot of Falls" may be confusing when standing at the site because the falls are not really visible from the marker location.
this page online
Regarding The First Cast Iron Plow. It seems that while Jethro Wood gets credit for inventing the cast iron plow, his claim to fame is more accurately for patenting a moldboard plow that had replaceable parts and was commercially successful. (Anyone familiar with the stony ground throughout much of the northeastern states can imagine how important it was to be able to replace a broken plow point, for example.) Thousands of the plows were cast and manufactured in the Moravia area, helping to accelerate American agriculture in the antebellum period.
Also see . . . Jethro Wood (Wikipedia). (Submitted on September 5, 2022, by Larry Day of Locke, New York.)
Photographed By Larry Day, September 5, 2022
2. Area surrounding The First Cast Iron Plow marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2022, by Larry Day of Locke, New York. This page has been viewed 194 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 5, 2022, by Larry Day of Locke, New York. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
