Canton in Norfolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Canton

The Mill Era

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, April 23, 2026

1. Canton Marker

Inscription.

Canton. The Mill Era. , The Mills , Near this spot, in the late 1600's the first mill was built in Canton (then named Dorchester.) Consisting of forty-five acres assigned to Thomas Holman, this saw-mill was still standing in 1700. By 1760, at this dam, Mr. Leonard Kinsley had established a blacksmith shop and forge and by 1787 they were producing farm implements, saw blades and tools for general use. Before 1800, millworkers produced rolled iron and steel for the first time. Mill workers within Canton made some of the most sought after shovels, cannons, axels, silk, cotton, wool, copper plate, brass cannons, stove polish, patent leather, boxes, and rubber bands., For over 325 years, this area has been connected to the history of the people and industrial culture of the Town of Canton. Great industrialists and industries flourished against a backdrop of a nation that was built by immigrants and their passion for freedom. The echoes of history can be heard in the rush of water over the falls; listen carefully and hear the grist mill, tanneries, iron foundry, the axle shop, the copper mill, the lead works, the silk mill. This park stands as a testament to the perseverance and enterprise of all the generations of men, women and children who worked in the mills.,

"Canton Dale" , Not distant far from Taunton road , In Canton Dale is my abode. , My Cot 'tho small, my mind's at ease, , My Better Half, takes pains to please , Content, sitts lolling in her chair, , And all my friends find welcome there , When they git home they never fail, , To praise the charms of Canton Dale., At early morn I take my round, , Invited first by hammer's sound; , The Furnace next; then Roleing-Mill; , 'Till Breakfast's call'd, my time doth fill;, Then round the Acres (few) I trot, , To see what's done and what is not. , Give orders what ought to be done. , Then sometimes take my Dog and Gun., Inder an aged spreading Oak. , At noon I take a favorite Book , To shun the heat and feed the Mind , In elbow chair I sit reclined., At eve' within my peacefull Cot, , Sometimes I meet, and sometimes not, , The Parson, Docter; or some Friend,, Or neighbour kind, one hour to spend; , In social chat, our time we pass; , Drink all our Friends, in parting Glass , The Parson, Docter; neighbour gone,, We prepare for Bed, and so trudge on. , - Paul Revere, Passages from his poem about his home in Canton.

Firsts in America , - Paul Revere built the first Copper Rolling Mill in Canton 1801. , - The first piece of Cotton Cloth was made in Canton in 1802 by James Beaumont. , - The first Steam Shovel in America was invented in Canton by William Otis in 1836. , - Richard Gridley manufactured the first cannons in America. , - The masts on the USS Constitution came from Elm Street in 1797. , - The coopper bottom on the USS Constitution was made here by Paul Revere. , - James A. Bazin invented the Pitch Pipe and many other musical instruments. , - Alanson B. Bullock invented a Rotary Steam Engine and a Cordage Twisting Machine. , - The Lifeboat was patented by Armand Didot. , - Cornelius Callahan invented the Fire Hose Nozzle, which is still in use today. , - Zenas Crane, borne in the 1790s invented a way to prevent counterfeiting paper money that is still in use today.

The Mills
Near this spot, in the late 1600's the first mill was built in Canton (then named Dorchester.) Consisting of forty-five acres assigned to Thomas Holman, this saw-mill was still standing in 1700. By 1760, at this dam, Mr. Leonard Kinsley had established a blacksmith shop and forge and by 1787 they were producing farm implements, saw blades and tools for general use. Before 1800, millworkers produced rolled iron and steel for the first time. Mill workers within Canton made some of the most sought after shovels, cannons, axels, silk, cotton, wool, copper plate, brass cannons, stove polish, patent leather, boxes, and rubber bands.

For over 325 years, this area has been connected to the history of the people and industrial culture of the Town of Canton. Great industrialists and industries flourished against a backdrop of a nation that was built by immigrants and their passion for freedom. The echoes of history can be heard in the rush of water over the falls; listen carefully and hear the grist mill, tanneries, iron foundry, the axle shop, the copper mill, the lead works, the silk mill. This park stands as a testament

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to the perseverance and enterprise of all the generations of men, women and children who worked in the mills.

"Canton Dale"
Not distant far from Taunton road
In Canton Dale is my abode.
My Cot 'tho small, my mind's at ease,
My Better Half, takes pains to please
Content, sitts lolling in her chair,
And all my friends find welcome there
When they git home they never fail,
To praise the charms of Canton Dale.

At early morn I take my round,
Invited first by hammer's sound;
The Furnace next; then Roleing-Mill;
'Till Breakfast's call'd, my time doth fill;

Then round the Acres (few) I trot,
To see what's done and what is not.
Give orders what ought to be done.
Then sometimes take my Dog and Gun.

Inder an aged spreading Oak.
At noon I take a favorite Book
To shun the heat and feed the Mind
In elbow chair I sit reclined.

At eve' within my peacefull Cot,
Sometimes I meet, and sometimes not,
The Parson, Docter; or some Friend,

Or neighbour kind, one hour to spend;
In social chat, our time we pass;
Drink all our Friends, in parting Glass
The Parson, Docter; neighbour gone,

We prepare for Bed, and so trudge on.
-
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, April 23, 2026

2. Canton Marker (wide view)
Falls of Forge Pond in background.
Paul Revere, Passages from his poem about his home in Canton.

Firsts in America
- Paul Revere built the first Copper Rolling Mill in Canton 1801.
- The first piece of Cotton Cloth was made in Canton in 1802 by James Beaumont.
- The first Steam Shovel in America was invented in Canton by William Otis in 1836.
- Richard Gridley manufactured the first cannons in America.
- The masts on the USS Constitution came from Elm Street in 1797.
- The coopper bottom on the USS Constitution was made here by Paul Revere.
- James A. Bazin invented the Pitch Pipe and many other musical instruments.
- Alanson B. Bullock invented a Rotary Steam Engine and a Cordage Twisting Machine.
- The Lifeboat was patented by Armand Didot.
- Cornelius Callahan invented the Fire Hose Nozzle, which is still in use today.
- Zenas Crane, borne in the 1790s invented a way to prevent counterfeiting paper money that is still in use today.

Erected by Canton Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1787.

Location. 42° 9.265′ N,

Mill Workers Memorial Boulder image. Click for full size.

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, April 23, 2026

3. Mill Workers Memorial Boulder

For those who served Canton 1774-1974.
Near by stood Powder Mill, Leonard's Forge, Kinsley Iron Works, Revere Copper Yard

71° 8.731′ W. Marker is in Canton, Massachusetts, in Norfolk County. It is on Washington Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 637 Washington Street, Canton MA 02021, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Birthplace of U.S. Copper Industry (approx. ¼ mile away); Canton Viaduct (approx. half a mile away); Stoughton Town Hall (approx. 3 miles away); Memorial Bell (approx. 3 miles away); Stoughton Railroad Station (approx. 3 miles away); First Meeting House (approx. 3.1 miles away); The Third Precinct of Stoughton (approx. 3.1 miles away); Stoughton's First Schoolhouse (approx. 3.1 miles away).

Kinsey Iron and Machine Company ca. 1897 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, April 23, 2026

4. Kinsey Iron and Machine Company ca. 1897

Actual names of the workers in this mural of a photograph are listed at the bottom.

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canton.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Canton Waterfall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, April 23, 2026

5. Canton Waterfall

High Water Mark. Flood of August 19, 1955

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 26 times since then. Last updated on May 2, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 24, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.