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

Transformation of the Land

— Paul Revere Heritage Site —

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, August 14, 2026

1. Transformation of the Land Marker

Inscription.
The land on which you now stand has been a part of this nation's history since the American Revolution, when gunpowder was produced and used in that war. It was then purchased by the American patriot, Paul Revere, in 1801. For 101 years, Paul Revere and his descendants operated the first copper rolling mill in America. In 1900 the Revere Copper Works merged with the Taunton-New Bedford Copper Company and moved to upstate New York. The next occupant, the Plymouth Rubber Company, was formed in Stoughton in 1896. In 1909 it moved to Canton when it bought this site at public auction. Prior to 2000, this area was strictly industrial. Smokestacks, concrete buildings, and machinery dominated the landscape. The 40-acre site (and control of 300 acres of ponds) was purchased at bankruptcy auction in 2006 by Napleton Acquisitions, LLC, a Chicago- based real estate investment firm. At that time, the hope was that at least part of the land could be used to create a welcoming green space with opportunities for strolling, as well as an area where people could learn about the past and contemplate the future.

Can you

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think of an area in your town or state that has been reclaimed or transformed, for better or worse?

(image caption)
— This photo of Plymouth Rubber Company was taken in 2015 after the site closed. (Image courtesy of George Comeau)

Erected 2025 by Town of Canton.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, US Revolutionary.

Location. 42° 9.324′ N, 71° 9.044′ W. Marker is in Canton, Massachusetts, in Norfolk County. It can be reached from Revolution Way east of Neponset Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, August 14, 2026

2. Transformation of the Land Marker

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Canton Dale Resident (a few steps from this marker); A Long, Rich History (a few steps from this marker); Paul Revere Heritage Site (within shouting distance of this marker); The Canton Viaduct (within shouting distance of this marker); Immigrants, The Key to the Site’s Success (within shouting distance of this marker); Honest Miller’s House (within shouting distance of this marker); Birthplace of U.S. Copper Industry (within shouting distance of this marker); From Brown Field to Green Park (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canton.

Also see . . . Revere Heritage - Canton Historical Society.

In 2015, the Town of Canton acquired the Paul Revere & Son Copper Rolling Mill, the Revere Barn, and more than nine acres of open space. Funded in part through the Community Preservation Act and an innovative District Improvement Financing plan, this site is fast becoming a cultural, historic, and nationally recognized heritage destination.

(Submitted on August 16, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 15, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.