Hay, You Should Go With the Grain

From Dave Brigham:

I have a thing for this building.

The faded and peeling paint, the line of metal stars under the top row of windows, the ghost sign, the sense that a hay wagon could roll out that garage door at any moment.

Located amid low-slung light-industrial buildings, auto body shops, a restaurant and a bookstore on Felton Street in Waltham, Mass., hard by the commuter train tracks, this place must have a million stories to tell. Erected in 1851, this building is known historically as the Gillum Barnes Lumber Yard - Waltham Iron Foundry, per MACRIS. That same source indicates the building's common name is the Frederick Buttrick Steamsaw and Planing Mill. More things to love.

I have taken pictures of this place before, and will surely do so again. Let's dig into it a little more.

The ghost sign speaks to me more than any other element of this building. I make out "GRAIN" and "HAY." According to my old friend MACRIS, 22 Felton Street "was used by several grain and feed companies, including General Mills, until the mid-1950's." So that explains the ghost sign. But there's a LOT more history to this place.

Let's check out the front.

I know these types of stars have become fashionable on homes and businesses that want that rustic look. But these details are the real deal, as is the hoist (or whatever you call it) at the roofline. According to MACRIS, "After the early Boston Manufacturing Co. buildings (which I recently wrote about here), this is the oldest brick industrial structure in Waltham."

Nice!

In 1851, Gillum Barnes, a lumber dealer, acquired the property from Josiah Maynard, according to MACRIS. Despite the fact that the building is known historically by his name, Barnes may not have actually operated a lumber business here, MACRIS continues. He sold the property in 1854 to Joseph Harwood. The site is listed in an 1854 Waltham map as part of the Waltham Iron Foundry. The foundry "specialized in making machinery and apparatus for gas works," per MACRIS. The foundry's founder, R.P. Davis, was the builder of the Waltham Gas Light Co.'s first buildings (see February 7, 2015, "The Price of Gas," for more about Waltham Gas Light).

In 1862, Francis Buttrick acquired the property, and eventually opened his steam saw and planing mill. What's a steam saw? Check out the video below:

Buttrick, who was one of the most prominent Waltham builders and developers of the late 19th century, sold the Felton Street property in 1908 to Richard Pope, who used it as a grist mill. As mentioned above, a number of grain and feed companies took over the site in the ensuing years.

So what's the building used for these days? Good question. Best I can figure, at least in part it serves as a warehouse for a nearby music store.

At 719 Main Street is located Main Street Music, which specializes in pianos and organs, and which I'm guessing is a successor company to The Piano Man listed on the sign in the window of 22 Felton Street, above.

At some point, the building was also home to Wendy K and whatever her business was.

For another Felton Street feature, see February 11, 2016, "Decommissioned," about an old VFW site.