Commercial Manufacturing Hub

In addition to material and physical information, the 1882 Sanborn map indicates a few of the specific focuses of businesses located on Central Street. Some of the specific commercial ventures which this building housed including cigars, dye stuffs, oils, chemicals, soap, and liquors. Overall, the building was utilized for mostly manufacturing and commercial purposes, but the products were extremely varied. 

One business which embodied the identity of this Central Street building was Chase’s Liquid Glue Co. located at 102 Central Street. Joshua S. Chase was the founder and head of this company in the late 19th century. Chase lived at 45 Old Harbor Street in south Boston and did not own any property on Central Street, speaking to the majority landlord and renter relationship present in this building. The company that was ultimately known as Chase’s Liquid Glue Co had previously been called Union Paste Co. and Essex Glue Co. Chase’s company manufactured and shipped all of their products from Central Street. According to the advertisement on the left, Chase’s glue products were “sold everywhere” and “holds fancy cards in scrapbooks without wrinkling or discoloring”. This advertisement speaks to Chase’s glue as a household item and speaks to the retail aspect of the company. Additionally, multiple household stores which carried and sold Chase’s glue would advertise their sales in the Boston Globe, one writing “Semi-Annual Sale of Odd Lots in All Departments” and including “Chase’s Liquid Glue, quart cans……. 50c.” among a long list of household items on sale. This indicated that Chase’s Liquid Glue was sold by many retailers. 

In addition, another advertisement for Chase’s Liquid Glue which was published in the Vermont Farmer noted that the glue was used extensively by boot, shoe, cardboard, uniform, and pocketbook manufacturers. This advertisement clearly targeted a different group than the previous ones, revealing the breadth of Chase’s Liquid Glue customers as ranging from retail and household consumers to use in largescale manufacturing. Additionally, this advertisement makes clear that they manufacture their glue “by the aid of Machinery” and that this makes it extra fine and smooth. This aspect of the advertisement speaks to the manufacturing hub that is the Central Street area. The Central Street property supported intense and demanding manufacturing as well as the use of machinery within the building. 

The legacy of Chase’s Liquid Glue contributes to as well as represents the history of the Central Street building. It tells the story of commercial manufacturing which was central to the function of this area in the 19th century. The location of Central Street contributes significantly to its manufacturing and commercial history. Leading right up to the Boston Harbor which was riddled with wharves and bordered by rail transit, Central Street occupies an intersection of various forms of transportation, enabling such a fruitful commercial manufacturing economy in the area. Continue to the next section to learn more about transportation in the area!