At the Narragansett Historical Society is a wagon with a story to tell. The wagon once belonged to John Boynton, a man who made his career in tinware.
In the 1800s, long before Amazon or even Wal-Mart, kitchen tinware was made locally and often sold from a peddler’s wagon that travelled around the New England countryside selling their wares at individual homes.
Among those tinware entrepreneurs in the Quabbin area was John Boynton of Templeton.
Boynton was born in Mason N.H. and learned the tinware trade in New Ipswich, N.H. By the time he arrived in Templeton, he was settled into a career as a tinware maker and seller.
Among the tinware he made and distributed were pots, tin cups and other tin housewares. He and other peddlers across New England all carried Boynton’s tinware. The tinware was sold or sometimes swapped for cotton rags. The rags were then used for making different grades of paper.
Boynton’s Tin Shop was once housed in what is now Grange Hall in Templeton. The hall is currently being renovated by the Narragansett Historical Society and will become an extension of their museum, housing such items as a large stained-glass window from the Trinitarian Church, which once stood next to the library, and an historic clock from the Baldwinville church in Baldwinville. There is also a stage at the hall that will display two historic painted stage curtains.
There are other reminders of Boynton in town as well. The parsonage in Templeton Center was built by Boynton. This building has a unique feature. On the second floor is an outside door, that leads to — well, straight to the outside. There is no balcony or anything else on the other side — just the door. According to Harry Aldrich, Historian of the Narragansett Historical Society, “Someone suggested Boynton built a balcony in front of the door, which he had planned on doing. However, after the suggestion, he decided he was not going to be told what to do so he did not build the balcony.”
Boynton’s tinware business was profitable and when he retired, he used his money to give back to his community. Among his projects were founding the Boynton Public Library in Templeton.
Mr. Boynton’s legacy goes far beyond Templeton, though. Boynton wished to create a school of science where students could gain knowledge to assist many of New England’s new industries. After discussing his idea with Ichabod Washburn, they decided the school would combine academics and practical assistance. With a $100,000 anonymous donation, Worcester Polytechnic Institute was born.
However, Aldrich said, originally the school was not planned for Worcester, but for Templeton. Boynton was eventually convinced, however, the school would be better suited to a larger, more prosperous community, like Worcester.
Today at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, too, there are reminders of Templeton’s tinware entrepreneur, including Boynton Hall built in 1867, a Boynton Street on Faculty Row and their class book, which is entitled “The Peddler,” in honor of Boynton.
The Grange Hall is still undergoing renovations and donations for the continuing work are always welcome. Donations may be sent to the Narragansett Historical Society Narragansett Historical Society, P.O. Box 354, Templeton, MA 01468. Donations should be marked “Grange Hall Renovations.”
Carla Charter is a freelance writer from Phillipston. Her writing focuses on history with a particular interest in the history of the North Quabbin area.