Main Street, 250, Ames, Frederick Lothrop, Langwater Dairy, 250 Main Street, North Easton, MA, info, Easton Historical Society

More information on this image is available at the Easton Historical Society in North Easton, MA.
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The development by Oliver Ames and Sons Corporation of the factory and village land use in a rather organic manner with a mix work-related classes created an integrated geographic network. The housing on perimeter edge with factories and business affairs in the center creating the village concept in North Easton. Other important concepts were the Furnace Village Cemetery, Furnace Village Grammar School and the Furnace Village Store, which explains Furnace Village and other sections of Easton.
source: Massachusetts Historical Commission
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Farm Office at Langwater Dairy
The Farm Office at Langwater Dairy was located behind and the closest building to the Martin Wild House at 250 Main Street. The building for the Farm Office was built in a slope. The building is on a slop so the back side so the ground level is on the north side. The front décor has a boxed molding near the top and flat boards framing the sliding door. The door had inside tracking a solo six-over-six double hung window on the right side.
source: Easton Historical Society
source; Massachusetts Historical Commission
source: History of Easton, William L. Chaffin, 1886
source: Easton’s Neighborhoods, Edmund C. Hands, 1995
,
Langwater, as it is commonly known, consists of about ninety acres of land, with nearly forty acres being farmed for hay in the past. The Estate was surrounded by four streets including Elm Street, on the North, the main entrance with the Frederick Lothrop Ames Estate Gate Lodge since 1879, and Washington Street between Elm and Main Streets on the East. The Washington Street Cemetery at the corner of Elm and Washington Street and the Hardy’s parcel, formerly, Ladd’s Gas Station and Yankee Hostess, at Main and Washington Streets, were the only parcel not part of - Langwater. - The southern border was Main Street and Pond Streets and Mechanic and Oliver Streets on the West. In the early 1900s, the Estate at 135 Elm Street was called - Langwater, - the dairy at 250 Main Street, named Langwater Dairy, and Frederick Lothrop Ames II at Stone House Hill House, and 320 Washington Street, remembered as Langwater Farm. In 1827, the Langwater House, historically known as the Martin Wild House, located at 250 Main Street was built by Martin Wild. The original house had a single-story ell in the back, a second living quarters, a larger barn, and another building. In 1827, the property was the site of the old Wild Farm on Main Street. In 1913, John Stanley Ames changed the full-length wood porch to stone and built an enclosed conservatory at the eastern end of the porch. The field in front of the Stone House Hill House at 320 Washington Street, was originally used for the grazing of the famous Guernsey cattle. The breeding began with the first Frederick Lothrop Ames who passed away in 1893. His son, Frederick Lothrop Ames II carried on the breeding with his livestock among the highest paid in the livestock industry. In Waterloo, Iowa there is a portrait of him where he is named the Father of the Guernsey breed. In 1914, Frederick Lothrop Ames II moved the livestock across the street from Stone House Hill House’s property to the David Ames Clock Farm at 415 Washington Street. which was given to Stonehill College by David Ames. On June 19, 1921, Frederick Lothrop Ames II passed away, with his burial in the Village Cemetery. John's Guernseys became the only herd left in North Easton. Ames selected thirteen head of his brother's stock for his own farm. The rest of the livestock were sold and used his select cows to become the most influential herd of Guernseys bred in America. On June 23, 1959, John Stanley Ames passed away, with his burial in the Village Cemetery.
In 1960, John Stanley Ames’ widow Anne M. Filley Ames donated the house at 136 Elm Street and the 8.6 acres of land to the Town of Easton. The Ames family placed one restriction protecting the front of the property so that no building could be added between the building and Elm Street. A verbal agreement was made by David Ames and Frank Sargent, Chairman of the Committee on Housing Town Departments for the Town of Easton, to Mrs. John S. Ames, Sr. The agreement was that no building would be constructed from the front line of the Easton Town Hall at 136 Elm Street. The objective was not to obstruct the view of the Mansion from the street to the mansion. David Ames stressed that the statement be included in the Wayside booklet, so that future generations would know of the agreement.
source: Easton Historical Society
source; Massachusetts Historical Commission
source: Ancestry
source: History of Easton, William L. Chaffin, 1886
source: Easton’s Neighborhoods, Edmund C. Hands, 1995
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History of Elm Street below
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Frederick Lothrop Ames House at Langwater
In 1859, the Frederick Lothrop Ames House at - Langwater - at 135 Elm Street was placed with Langwater Pond on the west and south side. The house has a construction date of - 1859 - in the stonewall on the west side. It has been historically noted the embedment was part of the first addition in 1876. The entrance from the north and service area on the east being in a lower vicinity to accommodate function space and exterior screening. The house has undergone changes from a three-bay large Second Empire décor house facing north with a wood entrance porch beyond the house. The same northern part and the rest of the house have gone through changes and additions in 1876, 1890, 1913, and 1941. The Frederick Lothrop Ames House at - Langwater - was designed by George Snell, who had an office in Boston since 1850. In 1862, Snell joined in partnership with James R. Gregerson to form Snell & Gregerson, which partnership continued until the passing of Snell in 1893. In 1852, Snell designed the Boston Music Hall, which became Boston’s Cinema in 1915, and now known as the Orpheum. In 1862, Frederick Lothrop Ames' father, Oliver Ames Jr. called on George Snell to design Unity Close at 23 Main Street. In 1876, the expansion of - Langwater – was created by a cousin, John Ames Mitchell designing the Frederick Lothrop Ames Estate Gate Lodge, for Frederick Lothrop Ames, Frederick’s father, Oliver Ames, Jr., was president of Union Pacific Railroad while the First Transcontinental Railroad was being built.
Also, in 1876, the first addition designed by Mitchell who just finished doing the Queset Lodge, now, Queset House, at 51 Main Street, for Frederick L. Ames' cousin, Oakes Angier Ames. In 1875, Mitchell designed the Unity Church of North Easton at 13 Main Street. The first addition and changes included a full- length wood porch around the east and west sides, a second story on the service area, and a large rear addition facing south with a rounded comer bay. In 1880, residing at 135 Elm Street were Fredrick Lothrop, a manufacturer of shovels, and Rebecca Caroline Blair Ames, with their daughters, Helen Anglier Ames (Hooper), and Mary Shreve Ames (Frothingham), and their three sons, Oliver Ames, Frederick Lothrop Ames II, and John Stanley Ames. Helen Anglier Ames (Hooper) married her husband and moved to Manchester, Massachusetts. Henry Shreve Ames died in infancy. The remaining four children all had estates of their own in Easton including Oliver Ames, later at - Sheep Pasture, - Mary Shreve Ames Frothingham, later at - Wayside, - Frederick Lothrop Ames II, later at - Stone House Hill House, - and John Stanley Ames, later at – Langwater. - Frederick Lothrop Ames was ready for college after three years of study at Concord, and finished his studies at Phillips Exeter Academy. In 1851, Frederick entered Harvard University as a Sophomore, and graduated in 1854. On June 7, 1860, Frederick Lothrop Ames married Rebecca Caroline Blair, daughter of James and Nancy Gay Blair, of St. Louis, Missouri. Frederick and his family spent time living at Langwater and their place at the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Dartmouth Street in Boston.
In 1872, Frederick was a member of the Massachusetts State Senate, serving on the Committee on Manufacturing and the Committee on Agriculture. He did not have any political aspirations, and did not want positions that would bring him into public notice. In 1884, the United States, Canadian, and Mexican Directory of railroad directors, Frederick Lothrop Ames was noted as a director in fifty-two different railroad companies. In 1889, the Massachusetts City Directory Frederick Lothrop Ames was listed as residing at - Langwater, - and Treasurer of the Oliver Ames and Sons Corporation. In 1890 Shepley Rutan and Coolidge, formerly, Henry Hobson Richardson, designed a top story with a steep pitched roof, a stone entrance with a stone tower, and other architectural decor trim. On September 13, 1893, Frederick Lothrop Ames passed away on the steamer Pilgrim, of the Fall River Line, in Fall River, with his burial in the Village Cemetery. On September 20, 1903, Frederick Lothrop Ames' wife, Rebecca Caroline Blair Ames passed away in Boston, with her burial in the Village Cemetery. In 1903, the brother of Frederick Lothrop Ames II, John Stanley Ames continued to reside and became owner of - Langwater - at 135 Elm Street following their mother’s passing. Two years later in 1905, Frederick Lothrop Ames II started working on his future estate at 320 Washington Street. In a tribute to the great rock formation surrounding the King Philip's Caves, also known as -- The Caves, - Ames named his mansion, - Stone House Hill House, - from which Stonehill College later derived its name. John Stanley Ames continued to run the dairy at - Langwater - at 250 Main Street.
In the early 1900s, the Estate at 135 Elm Street was called - Langwater, - the Dairy at 250 Main Street, named Langwater Dairy, and Frederick Lothrop Ames II at Stone House Hill House, and 320 Washington Street, remembered as Langwater Farm. In 1913, John Stanley Ames changed the full-length wood porch to stone and built the Marble Room at the eastern end of the porch. The field in front of the Stone House Hill House at 320 Washington Street, was originally used for the grazing of the famous Guernsey cattle. The breeding began with the first Frederick Lothrop Ames who passed away in 1893. His son, Frederick Lothrop Ames II carried on the breeding with his livestock among the highest paid in the livestock industry. In Waterloo, Iowa there is a portrait of him where he is named the Father of the Guernsey breed. Frederick Lothrop Ames II had his own private landing strip and plane by 1914. To make room for the landing strip, the livestock was moved across the street from Stone House Hill House’s property. The property was the David Ames Clock Farm at 415 Washington Street. which was given to Stonehill College by David Ames on October 23, 1978. On June 19, 1921, Frederick Lothrop Ames II passed away, with his burial in the Village Cemetery. John's Guernseys became the only herd left in North Easton. Ames selected thirteen head of his brother's stock for his own farm. The rest of the livestock were sold and he used his select cows to become the most influential herd of Guernseys bred in America.
John Ames was a director of the American Guernsey Cattle Club for thirty-three years and his portrait hangs in the Dairy Hall of Fame of the Dairy Shrine Club. In his enshrinement in 1956, the Dairy Hall of Fame of the Dairy Shrine Club described John Stanley Ames -- Was for many years the manager of Langwater Farm, North Easton, Massachusetts. One of the best-known line-breed Guernsey herds. The Guernsey Performance Register noted Langwater Farm with 1,092 animals, more than any other Guernsey breeding establishment. He was president of the AGCC for several years. - - At the time of his passing in 1959, John Stanley Ames' herd of 117 cattle was sold at auction with a catalogue describing the breeding of each head. In 1913, John Stanley Ames changed the full-length wood porch to stone and built an enclosed conservatory at the eastern end of the porch. In 1941, the final construction project by John Stanley Ames was the removal of the top floor and the service area creating a two-story structure. John Stanley Ames was the last of Fredrick Lothrop, and Rebecca Caroline Blair Ames' childrens to be living following the passing of his sister. Mary Shreve Ames Frothingham. In 1955, following his sister’s passing, John became executor of her estate, - Wayside, - at 136 Elm Street, the current Easton Town Hall in 2018.The property at 136 Elm Street was on the market, but removed after a short time for discussions to take place between the Town of Easton and the Ames family. On June 23, 1959, John Stanley Ames passed away, with his burial in the Village Cemetery. In 1960, John Stanley Ames’ widow Anne M. Filley Ames donated the house at 136 Elm Street and the 8.6 acres of land to the Town of Easton.
The Ames family placed one restriction protecting the front of the property so that no building could be added between the building and Elm Street. A verbal agreement was made by David Ames and Frank Sargent, Chairman of the Committee on Housing Town Departments for the Town of Easton, to Mrs. John S. Ames, Sr. The agreement was that no building would be constructed from the front line of the Easton Town Hall at 136 Elm Street. The objective was not to obstruct the view of the Town Offices from the street to the Mansion. David Ames stressed that the statement be included in the Wayside booklet, so that future generations would know of the agreement.
source: Easton Historical Society
source; Massachusetts Historical Commission
source: Ancestry
source: History of Easton, William L. Chaffin, 1886
source: Easton’s Neighborhoods, Edmund C. Hands, 1995
,
Frederick Lothrop Ames II at Langwater Farm
Frederick Lothrop Ames II grew up with his parents, Frederick Lothrop, and Rebecca Caroline Blair Ames at – Langwater – at 135 Elm Street and their family’s farm, - Langwater Dairy – at 250 Main Street. On September 13, 1893, Frederick Lothrop Ames passed away on the steamer Pilgrim, of the Fall River Line, in Fall River, with his burial in the Village Cemetery. His son, Frederick Lothrop Ames II carried on the breeding where his livestock was the highest paid in the livestock industry. In Waterloo, Iowa there is a portrait of him where he is named the Father of the Guernsey breed. During that time, Frederick became interested in raising cattle and asked his mother, Rebecca Caroline Blair Ames for advice and assistance in starting his own cattle herd before his graduation from Harvard College. Frederick received the help of his mother, and his mother’s farmer, Mr. Burnett, Frederick started his herd of Guernsey cows at his mother’s farm, Langwater Dairy at 250 Main Street. In 1900, Ames II received a setback when all the small buildings at the farm burned down. He replaced the buildings with a large wood frame hay barn, with parts remaining today and the cow barn wings foundations remain. Around 1900, Frederick traveled Islands of Guernsey and Jersey to look for new ways develop and stock for his herd at Langwater Dairy. As noted in the - Langwater Guernseys, A Testimonial to Frederick Lothrop Ames, - Frederick Lothrop Ames II made the observations that - In his visits to the Islands of Guernsey and Jersey he was impressed with the different methods on the two islands. I was greatly struck by the systematic methods of the Jersey farmer. The Jersey cow, of course, could be criticized, but its island breeders have evidently accomplished what they were looking for. They have made a cow of the correct type which breeds true. It seems to me that this can be done with the Guernsey in America to a great extent, although it will be more difficult, as we have not now the advantage of the Jersey islanders as regards accessibility of bulls for breeding. I think I am correct in saying that all improved breeds of livestock have been developed by the most rigorous selection and concentration of the best producing lines. - Following his visit, he decided to stay with Guernsey cows because he thought he could make the most improvement to his American stock. In 1902, Frederick became a member of the American Guernsey Cattle Club and financed the construction of a larger fireproof building for the club. On September 20, 1903, the mother of Frederick Lothrop Ames II, Rebecca Caroline Blair Ames passed away in Boston, with her burial in the Village Cemetery. Frederick Lothrop Ames II built an estate of his own following the passing of his mother. In 1905, the area around Main, Washington and Belmont Streets were a part of the land purchased by Frederick Lothrop Ames II for his estate. In a tribute to the great rock formation surrounding the - King Philip's Caves, also known as -- The Caves, - Ames named his estate, - Stone House Hill House, - from which Stonehill College later derived its name. Frederick improved his Guernsey breeding methods and breed Langwater Guernsey., - and was recognized as the father of the Guernsey breed in the United States. – Besides his cows, he raised Clydesdales and historians suggests he had up to fifty horses at a time. One of his horses named - Fairholme Footprint – became famous as one of the outstanding sires. Frederick Lothrop Ames II had his own private landing strip and plane by 1914. To make room for the landing strip, the livestock were moved across the street from Stone House Hill House’s property. The property was the David Ames Clock Farm at 415 Washington Street, which was given to Stonehill College by David Ames on October 23, 1978. The field in front of the - Stone House Hill House, - was originally used for the grazing of the famous Guernsey cattle. As previously mentioned, Frederick breeding interest began at Langwater Diary at 250 Main Street, with the first Frederick Lothrop Ames, who died in 1893. Following his father’s passing, Frederick Lothrop Ames II continued the practice at Langwater Dairy at 250 Main Street. The Stable at Langwater Farm was part of - Stone House Hill House, - the estate of Frederick Lothrop Ames. Now known as the David Ames Clock Farm, which is the current building and grounds department of Stonehill College. The steeple clock was installed in 1870 to call the workers from the 60 acres of fields where horses and Guernsey cows were bred. Upon his passing, - Fairholme Footprint – was donated to Iowa State University as the center was known for its role in breeding American livestock. On June 19,1921, Frederick Lothrop Ames II passed away in his home at 320 Washington Street, with his burial in the Village Cemetery. On June 20, 1921, the obituary of Frederick Lothrop Ames noted - His death in the prime of his life comes as a distinct shock to his many friends and admirers in the livestock industry, for aside from the work which he did at Langwater ,he helped many other men new to the business in the selection and establishment of foundation herds, and his achievement at Langwater Farm served as a model. -
source: Easton Historical Society
source; Massachusetts Historical Commission
source: Ancestry
source: History of Easton, William L. Chaffin, 1886
source: Langwater Guernseys. A testimonial to Frederick Lothrop Ames, Caldwell, William Hutson, The Rumford Press, 1925
source: Easton’s Neighborhoods, Edmund C. Hands, 1995
source: History of Unionville, Carl B. Holmander, 2014
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Main Street
"Main Street, in North Easton Village, was first laid out in 1744. It began at Dailey Corner, passing between the gravel bank and the hill just west of it, came out where the road now runs east of Frederick Lothrop Ames' farmhouse, kept going through the village and was continued nearly to the Stoughton line just above the Solomon R. Foster place, near the Red Factory, where he had a forge: Samuel Randall, near the railroad bridge; John Randall, near the machine shop, Richard Williams, on the Unity Church location. In 1812, Main Street was straightened at its east end and continued to the then new Stoughton turnpike. In 1850, from Dailey's Corner the extension was continued to the North Bridgewater (now Brockton) line. Prior to the printing of the new map, the 1852 map did not show the extension east of Dailey's Corner. The 1855, 1871 and the 1895 maps showed Main Street with the extension to the Brockton line.
source: History of Unionville, Carl B. Holmander, 2014

Main Street
Main Street in North Easton Village, was first laid out in 1744. It began a little south of Joseph Crossman's (now Thomas Randall's), passed between the gravel bank and the hill just west of it, came out where the road now runs east of Frederick
Lothrop Ames' farm-house, kept through the village, and was continued nearly to the Stoughton line just above the Solomon R. Foster place. Those residents who had houses on this street in 1744 were Joseph Crossman, at the east end ; Eliphalet Leonard, near the Red Factory, where he had a forge ; Samuel Randall, near the railroad bridge ; John Randall, near the machine shop, Richard Williams, on the Unity Church location ; James Stacy, at the now Simeon Randall place ; and Daniel Manley, on the east side of the Sol, Foster road, so called. In 1812 Main Street was straightened at its east end, and continued to the then new Stoughton turnpike, this extension being continued in 1850 to the North Bridgewater (now Brockton) line. The Solomon Foster end has not fared well. Voted in 1744, voted again in 1772, it has had but little done to it. It is no longer a thoroughfare to Stoughton, and was in fact very early superseded in that respect by the other two roads to that town.
source: History of Easton, William L. Chaffin, 1886

Main Street
According to local historian William Ladd Chaffin, Main Street was laid out in 1744 and had at that time at least seven dwellings on it. Its east end was straightened in 1812 and extended to what is now Washington Street, and in 1850 it was extended again to the Brockton (then North Bridgewater) town line. The road curves north at Lincoln Street and becomes North Main Street north of Elm Street. From the start it has been a mixed-use area of homes, businesses, and some factories. Much of the land north of Lincoln Street was owned by members of the Ames family, which built its world-renowned shovel factory complex on the east side of Main Street and several of the family’s earliest estates on the west side. The Oliver Ames and Sons company store and several tenements were located on the east side of Main Street south of Pond Street, and on family land on the east side the Ames Free Library and Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, designed for Frederick Lothrop Ames by his Harvard classmate Henry Hobson Richardson, were built in the early 1880's. Between the Rockery on the west where Lincoln, Barrows, Centre, and Main Streets meet and where Williams and Mechanic Streets intersect it on the east, Main Street, particularly its north side, is a commercial district.
source: Massachusetts Historical Commission

Easton Historical Society
80 Mechanic Street
North Easton, Massachusetts 02356

Taken on: December 25, 2015

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