East Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
From Boilers to Biotech
East Boston
| — | Harborwalk Boston | — |
Hodge Boiler Works was a metalworking shop that operated in East Boston for 130 years, weathering more than a century of change. When Ebenezer Hodge founded the business in 1864, it was surrounded by shipyards that built and repaired wooden sailing ships. But Hodge's business was based on a new technology that would soon make wooden shipyards obsolete — iron steamships. Hodge specialized in building marine boilers that powered steamships, even supplying boilers to retrofit wooden sailing ships.
After Ebenezer Hodge's death in 1891, his business partner, John Lynch, assumed ownership of the company. The business would remain in the Lynch family for four generations. By the early 1900s, Hodge Boiler was manufacturing water towers, boilers to heat buildings, and boilers for steam trains.
As steam engines in turn became obsolete, the company transitioned to building autoclaves, containers that can withstand high temperature and pressure. Autoclaves are used for aircraft manufacturing, sterilizing hospital equipment, and many other purposes. Although Hodge Boiler was remarkably resilient, the East Boston shop closed
this page online
[Captions:]
Top Hodge Boiler workers pose with an enormous scotch marine boiler, circa 1890s. Hodge boilers like this one powered many coastal steamships and ferries along the Eastern Seaboard in the late 19th century.
Bottom images left to right
Originally located a quarter-mile away on Liverpool Street, Hodge Boiler Works moved to this harbor-front site in 1902. Here, two boilers are loaded on a barge at the company's docks for transport in 1931.
Hodge Boiler Works workers and customers pose with a newly built autoclave circa 1980s.
In 1964, Hodge Boiler Works built a special hyperbaric, or high pressure, operating chamber for Boston Children's Hospital. A major technological advance, the chamber allowed surgeons to safely perform life-saving corrective heart surgery on infants for the first time. The photos capture the chamber's delivery and completed installation at the hospital.
Erected by Harborwalk Boston.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.
Location. 42° 22.14′ N,
Regionally, this marker is in Historic Boston. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: East Boston (a few steps from this marker); Carlton's Wharf (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named East Boston (within shouting distance of this marker); Islands - Volkan Alkanoglu, 2019 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Harbor Vessels - What Do You See? (about 500 feet away); Exploring the Living Shoreline (about 600 feet away); Prolific Inventor: Otis Tufts (about 700 feet away); Commemorative Relief of Noddle's Island (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boston.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 418 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 6, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
