Historical Society program looks at Chenango’s industrial heritage
NORWICH – One hundred years ago this month, on Aug. 28, 1909, the Ireland Machine & Foundry Company located on State St. in Norwich filed for their first U.S. Patent. Titled simply “Sawing Machine” this patent application was for what was commonly known as a Drag Saw.
On Thursday, the Chenango County Historical Society will celebrate the centennial with a presentation by Alan Estus.
Used to cut large logs into firewood blocks, the Drag Saw eliminated significant manual labor in the production of the winter’s firewood supply for rural homes. Ireland was awarded U.S Patent #959,221 on May 24th, 1910, and the Drag Saw became one of the Ireland Company’s longest running products produced into the 1940s.
A. Bertsell Ireland was born in the southwest corner of the Town of Smyrna in 1846 a section of the town known then as “Ireland’s Mills.” In 1873 the Ireland family moved to Greene where A.B. took a job in the wood-working department of the Lyon Iron Works. By the 1890s A.B. Ireland achieved the status of what today would be known as plant manager, and both of his sons were also employed at the Lyon company. In the early years of the twentieth century something prompted A. Bertsell Ireland to consider leaving the Lyon Iron Works, a company where he had worked for over 30 years, and venture out on his own to establish a foundry operation. Ground was broken in October of 1906 on State St. in Norwich for the new factory and by February of 1907 the first castings were poured in the new facility.
The Ireland Machine & Foundry Company was always closely associated with the rural and farming communities. Early products such as Buzz Saws, Drag Saws and Hay Hoists were marketed to farmers. The Ireland Machine & Foundry Co. operated from its factory on State St. from 1906 until the Bennett Fireplace Company acquired it in 1942 forming Bennett-Ireland, a company best known for manufacturing fireplace accessories.
Alan Estus is a fifth (or perhaps sixth) generation Sherburne native, whose interest in the Ireland Company began with researching his own Ireland Drag Saw. Estus is currently working on a history of the Ireland Machine & Foundry Co., and recently created an exhibit on the company for the CCHS booth at the Chenango County Fair. In May Estus’ exhibit on the Ireland Machine and Foundry, created as a volunteer for the Chenango County Historical Society, was installed at the Northeast Classic Car Museum. Estus is also currently the Vice President of the CCHS Board of Trustees.
The program will be at the Chenango County Historical Society Museum, located at 45 Rexford St., Norwich. The evening begins at 7 p.m. with a brief business meeting and announcements, followed by refreshments and the program at 7:30. The meeting and program are open to both members and non-members of CCHS, and is free of charge. For more information, call CCHS at (607) 334-9227.
On Thursday, the Chenango County Historical Society will celebrate the centennial with a presentation by Alan Estus.
Used to cut large logs into firewood blocks, the Drag Saw eliminated significant manual labor in the production of the winter’s firewood supply for rural homes. Ireland was awarded U.S Patent #959,221 on May 24th, 1910, and the Drag Saw became one of the Ireland Company’s longest running products produced into the 1940s.
A. Bertsell Ireland was born in the southwest corner of the Town of Smyrna in 1846 a section of the town known then as “Ireland’s Mills.” In 1873 the Ireland family moved to Greene where A.B. took a job in the wood-working department of the Lyon Iron Works. By the 1890s A.B. Ireland achieved the status of what today would be known as plant manager, and both of his sons were also employed at the Lyon company. In the early years of the twentieth century something prompted A. Bertsell Ireland to consider leaving the Lyon Iron Works, a company where he had worked for over 30 years, and venture out on his own to establish a foundry operation. Ground was broken in October of 1906 on State St. in Norwich for the new factory and by February of 1907 the first castings were poured in the new facility.
The Ireland Machine & Foundry Company was always closely associated with the rural and farming communities. Early products such as Buzz Saws, Drag Saws and Hay Hoists were marketed to farmers. The Ireland Machine & Foundry Co. operated from its factory on State St. from 1906 until the Bennett Fireplace Company acquired it in 1942 forming Bennett-Ireland, a company best known for manufacturing fireplace accessories.
Alan Estus is a fifth (or perhaps sixth) generation Sherburne native, whose interest in the Ireland Company began with researching his own Ireland Drag Saw. Estus is currently working on a history of the Ireland Machine & Foundry Co., and recently created an exhibit on the company for the CCHS booth at the Chenango County Fair. In May Estus’ exhibit on the Ireland Machine and Foundry, created as a volunteer for the Chenango County Historical Society, was installed at the Northeast Classic Car Museum. Estus is also currently the Vice President of the CCHS Board of Trustees.
The program will be at the Chenango County Historical Society Museum, located at 45 Rexford St., Norwich. The evening begins at 7 p.m. with a brief business meeting and announcements, followed by refreshments and the program at 7:30. The meeting and program are open to both members and non-members of CCHS, and is free of charge. For more information, call CCHS at (607) 334-9227.
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