Curriers, Coopers and Painters

Depicted are some of the numerous tanneries located along the North River in Salem, Massachusetts. At this location were at least five tanneries - Straw's, Brewster's, Carleton's, Flint's and McCarty's. Also present in this area was a fire station ("apparatus"), the Salem Dye House, Putnam Fire Brick Manufactory, Water's Foundry and the S. Brown & Son Lumber, Wood and Bark Company. This is a section of the 1851 Map of Salem, Massachusetts.

Curriers (N=50) were workers of two types. Some curriers worked animal hides and skins into finished leather. Other curriers tended horses, which included brushing and cleaning the horse's coats. Both types of curriers plied their trades in Salem. There were dozens of tanneries and currier shops, especially along the North River. Leather products were important everyday commodities. In addition to curriers, a number of other people identified thier occupation as tanners (N=51) and leather dressers (N=2). In 1837, horse-driven wagons and carriages were the main form of transportation for both people and goods. There were numerous saddlers (saddle makers, N=20) in Salem. Another working person identified their occupation as both a saddler and stabler (operator of a stable). There were also numerous stables and stablers (N=22).

Coopers (N=49) made the barrels that were critical for the shipment of a wide variety of goods, for example - flour, fish and rum. Masons, stone masons and stone cutters (N=46) did the important work of constructing building foundations as well as stone-walled buildings. Others specialized in supplying the stone (N=4). Housewrights (N=11) specialized in building residences. Painters (N=38) finished the walls of structures and ships. A man named Fisher Metcalf specialized in varnishing. Salem has a good number of hardware suppliers (N=11) and lumber dealers (N=11). At least two people in Salem specialized in the sale of gum copal. Copal was an imported tree resin that was used for a variety of purposes. Copal was heated and mixed with oils to produce varnish. It was also mixed with other substances to make adhesives, perfume, printing ink, paints and sealing films.

There were numerous tanneries and curriers in Salem in the 1850s, many in close proximity to the North River. The river provided the large quantities of water needed for the tanning and curing processes, as well as a convenient (yet hazardous) way of disposing of the chemical wastes. This area is the western side of Salem. Currier shops that are depicted include J. McGeary's, H Conway's, T Looby's, D.C. Haskell's and at least one other unnamed currier. Tanneries that are depicted include D.C. Haskell's, E.A. Houson's, S. K. Haber's, J. Frye's, J. Putnam's, Porr & Nichols, Noah's, Buxton's and at least one other unnamed tannery. Also depicted are Frye's Mills buildings. From the 1851 "Map of the City of Salem, Massachusetts."