St. Johnsbury in Caledonia County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)
First American Platform Scale
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, July 5, 2024
1. First American Platform Scale Marker
After experimenting with new types of farm equipment, plows and stoves, Thaddeus Fairbanks invented the platform scale here in 1830. With his brothers Erastus and Joseph, he founded the company which still bears their name. Many St. Johnsbury public institutions were gifts of this talented family.
Erected 1949 by Vermont Historic Sites Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.
Location. 44° 25.074′ N, 72° 1.67′ W. Marker is in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, in Caledonia County. It is at the intersection of Western Avenue (U.S. 2) and Mount Vernon Street, on the right when traveling east on Western Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Western Avenue, Saint Johnsbury VT 05819, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Vermont’s Connecticut River Valley, in the Green Mountains, and in the Northeast Kingdom. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Johnsbury Trade School (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Johnsbury Athenaeum (approx. 0.3 miles away); Eugene Geno McDonough (approx. 0.3 miles away); St Johnsbury World War I Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); St Johnsbury World War II Memorial
this page online
More about this marker. Marker is located in front of the Fairbanks Inn. It is identical to the marker located 2.5 miles away in front of the Fairbanks-Morse Platform Scale factory.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Also see . . . Wikipedia - Thaddeus Fairbanks. (Submitted on October 1, 2014, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec.)
Photographed by Kevin Craft, September 25, 2014
2. First American Platform Scale Marker
Photographed by Kevin Craft, August 26, 2015
3. Wideview of First American Platform Scale Marker
circa 1915
4. Fairbanks Scale Factory, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2014, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. This page has been viewed 660 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 14, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. 2. submitted on October 1, 2014, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. 3. submitted on August 27, 2015, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. 4. submitted on April 24, 2018. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
