Agreement between the Harmon brothers and Holland Dewitt (1)
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It was Samuel Cobb who set up the first blacksmith shop in Coventry right after his
family arrived in 1800. They were the only men of that trade in all of northern Orleans
county so they had customers from all around the region. Working out of his handbuilt
log cabin Cobb's trade was in such demand and so varied that he was even known to produce
darning needles for customers.
With the building of the village at the lower falls starting in 1821 the blacksmithing trade arrived on the west side of town. Jonas Cutting setup shop immediately adjacent to his newly built cabin that year and began to work his trade. In 1823 the Harmon brothers continued their industrial improvements at the falls by building a blacksmith shop on the river bank a little below the falls and furnished it with a trip-hammer. Jonas Cutting was the first occupant of the shop. Pliny White goes on to describe the blacksmith's trade as it was seen in the mid-1800's: |
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The business of a blacksmith was much more laborious, as well as broader in its scope, than
it is now. His stock consisted mainly of Swedes or Russia bar iron, 3 or 4 inches wide, and
this he had to split, hammer and draw into shape for all purposes, even to the making of
horse-shoe nails. He was expected to make any iron article which was wanted and he did make
axes, hoes, edge-tools, hand irons, shovels, tongs, and many other iron articles, each of
which is now regarded as the work of a distinct trade. Pliny White, History of Coventry, Vermont |
| In April of 1824 Holland DeWitt took over for Cutting at the Harmon's shop. He signed an agreement with Calvin and Daniel Harmon to operate the blacksmith shop for a term of 4 years. The Harmon's agreed to furnish the shop with an anvil, bellows, coal iron and steel. Dewitt agreed to pay the Harmon's $25 for the first year, and $30 a year for the remaining 3 years use of the shop. All expenses and profits would be shared equally. |
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Agreement between the Harmon brothers and Holland Dewitt (1) |
This Agreement made between Calvin Harmon D.W. Harmon and Holland Witt all of Coventry County of Orleans & State of Vermont Witnesseth that the said Calvin & D.W. of the first part agree that they will furnish the sd. Witt Coal Iron & Steel as much as the said Witt shall wish to work at this shop in Coventry on the lower falls of Black River for the term of four Years from first Day of April 1824 and the said Will of the second part agrees that he will do what work shall be called for in a workmanlike manner and the amount of the charges and earnings of the said Witt shall one half belong to him the said Witt and the other half belongs to the said Calvin & D.W. Harmon and when the above specifyed four years shall expire what Smiths work shall there be on hand? is agreed that it shall be equally divided the said Witt one half and C. & D.W. Harmon the other half and it is also agreed that the said Witt is to pay the said C & D.W. Harmon for the first year for the use of the Shop twenty five Dollars and the remainder of the four years thirty Dollars for each year & the said C. & D W agree to put in the Shop Bellows Anvil & bi__? for the said Witts use during the term of four years In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands Coventry April 1st 1824 |
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References: 1. Letter of Agreement between Calvin Harmon, Daniel Harmon and Holland Dewitt, Elijah Cleveland Business Papers, Special Collections, Bailey-Howe Library, University of Vermont - Pliny White, History of Coventry, Vt., 1858, Irasburgh, Vt. |