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Jonas Fitch (figure 1)
A true boston pioneer
Jonas Fitch was born in Pepperell, Mass. in 1811. He was considered a complete carpenter and by 1839, he was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings in Boston. Along with his business partner, Willard Sears, numerous buildings on Long and Central Wharves were erected. Some of the more notable works of Fitch include the Boston Masonic Temple in which all of the interior is his creation. Fitch conducted all of the woodwork on both the Fitchburg Depot as well as the City Hall of Boston. Buildings such as the Boston Post Office and Mount Vernon Church are also his work. (Proquest).
Mount Vernon Church, 1844
(figure 2)
Boston Post Office, 1869
(figure 3)
Masonic Temple, 1860s
(figure 4)
Fitchburg Depot, 1870
(figure 5)
393-395 Federal St.
It is said that Fitch "introduced steam machinery into the process of wood-working at Boston. In 1883 Jonas Fitch started a saw and planing mill at 393-395 Federal St. His shops were known to have the most state of the art, efficient, "labor saving devices" available at the time. In addition, Fitch was one of the earliest members of the abolitionist party and the Free Soil Party. In his saw & planing mill, located on Federal St., many of the 200 employees were African American. "He gave employment to negroes in his own workshops, in a period in our national history when such a policy involved considerable self sacrifice, and exposure to hostile criticism.
When the Boston Fire of 1872 left the city in ashes, Jonas Fitch quickly responded with reconstruction efforts. Before the fire was extinguished it is said that he ordered the entire annual product from a saw mill. The lumber provided an abundant supply of building materials for the reconstruction of the city. The rebuilding efforts resulted in new, upgraded buildings which increased the property value. Every building that he erected "guaranteed solid excellence." (Boston Encyclopedia).
Top: Jonas Fitch' Saw & Planing Mill (figure 6)
Bottom: What a Typical Scroll Saw Looked Like (figure 7)
Top: The Great Fire at Boston (figure 8)
Bottom: Section of Boston Destroyed by Fire (figure 9)
Bottom: Section of Boston Destroyed by Fire (figure 9)
Jonas Fitch was instrumental in rebuilding Boston after the 1872 fire. The fire raged for 15 hours and engulfed countless narrow streets and buildings. This was one of the most costly fires in American history. Over "776 buildings were destroyed across 65 acres of land, with the assessed value of the properties at nearly $13.5 million and personal property loss of $60 million dollars.” The buildings from 355-413 Federal St. were protected from the fire but further up on Federal St. several buildings were destroyed. One interesting note is that the property of the burnt districts rose considerably in value after the rebuilding process occurred. Streets, including Federal Street, were widened significantly. In addition, the forced reconstruction, with the help from master carpenters such as Jonas Fitch, resulted in buildings being upgraded and designed to fit more commercial purposes. (Boston Fire Historical Society).
Citations
Figure 1 - Biographical Encyclopedia of Massachusetts of the Nineteenth Century: Jonas Fitch, 1883. pg. 199.Figure 2 - Mount Vernon Church, Ashburton Place, Boston. Print. 1850. Digital Commonwealth, Figure 3 - Strahan, Derek. Post Office, Boston. Print. Lost New England. 2015. Figure 4 - Folsom, A. H. Masonic Temple. Print. Historic New England. 1982. Figure 5 - Lost Train Stations: Fitchburg Railroad. Good Old Boston. 2011. Figure 6 - Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1922. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope.Figure 7 - W.F. & John Barnes Co., Rockford, Il. 1895. Scroll Saw. American Artifacts.Figure 8 - Great Boston Fire of 1872. Boston Fire Historical Society. 1872.Figure 9 - The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]), 12 Nov. 1872. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. Our Business Pioneers. Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922). Sep. 7, 1916. Proquest Historical Newspapers.Biographical Encyclopedia of Massachusetts of the Nineteenth Century: Jonas Fitch, 1883. pg. 198-202.
Great Boston Fire of 1872. Boston Fire Historical Society. 1872.
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