Samuel Boyd – Father of the City & The Boyd & Corey Shoe Factory

Samuel Boyd – Father of the City and The Boyd and Corey Shoe Factory. Marlborough, Massachusetts. Samuel Boyd (1812-1892) single-handedly shaped Marlborough from a small town to a vibrant city. He was a banker, an entrepreneur, and a pioneering shoe manufacturer. He owned the Boyd and Corey Shoe Factory on Main Street, reputed to be the largest shoe factory in the country. In addition to creating jobs, he also made Marlborough a livable place to raise a family. , His charity flowed freely. During the Civil War, Boyd gave a monetary gift to every active Marlborough soldier who had a family. , He promoted and financed construction of a railroad in 1855. Later, he established a local gas company. In 1870, he built a commercial water supply company from Lake Williams which he later gave to the municipality. He started a coal business and a machine shop. , In 1883, Boyd built an indoor skating rink which became a popular public meeting hall. In 1887, he installed Marlborough's electric trolley system, one of the earliest in the country. On the Maple Street trolley line, he built a park for concerts, picnics and Sunday afternoon leisure. , Because Boyd owned the most real estate in town, he supplied the City with necessary affordable housing. He was the first president of the Marlborough Savings Bank, and, later, President/Director of the First National Bank. He served as a selectman and representative to the General Court. He chaired the Marlborough Philharmonic Society. , When Samuel Boyd died in 1892, all stores closed for his funeral, all banks suspended business. City offices closed, and schools held only morning sessions. , The Boyd and Corey Shoe Factory , On this location once stood the Boyd and Corey shoe factory. Built in 1871, it grew to be what was locally believed the largest shoe factory in America. It was five stories high with over an acre and a half of floor space. At its peak it employed nearly 1,000 workers including over 200 women. It produced millions of shoes and boots for the southern and western U.S. markets. , Thomas Corey was born in Ireland in 1823, and came to Marlborough as a young man. He was active in town affairs and known as a generous and well-respected citizen. Around 1845 he purchased the old William Dawes house at the end of Main Street and converted it into a stately mansion. , In 1847 Corey partnered with Samuel Boyd. Their business expanded not only in production but also over multiple locations in town. , Corey mysteriously retired in 1865 and went south. He returned in 1868, rejoined Samuel Boyd, and a few years later they built this now famous shoe factory on Main Street. Corey died in 1875 and Boyd ran the factory himself until his own death in 1892. , After Boyd died, the business continued under family ownership, but by 1897, business reversals, union problems, and better offers from other cities caused Boyd and Corey to move to Augusta, Maine. There, they lasted only another two years, closing in 1899. From 1899 to the mid-1920s, the Rice and Hutchins Shoe Company took over the building until it was torn down. , [Captions (top to bottom)] , . The Boyd mansion was located on Fairmount Street. It was decorated with Italian marble, had 12-foot ceilings, and a circular mahogany staircase. The grounds had a large barn, a greenhouse and was decorated with various fruit trees. , . Boyd kept a large part of the property he owned atop Fairmount Hill for picnics and use as a park for Marlborough's residents. In 1907 [sic] he even built a dance pavilion. This photo shows the entrance to Boyd's “Fairmount Park”. , . The Boyd-Corey Shoe Factory was located on this site. This panel is located about where the entrance to the factory is shown. , . This image was taken from the intersection behind you. On the right is the old Central Fire Station which stands on the site once occupied by the Barnes house. Beyond, you can [see] the bell tower of City Hall and in the foreground, an open-air trolley called a “Breezer”.