Frye Village Stories: Poor Wagon Shop, the next generation (part 2)
A Shawsheen Village 100 Story
Before Shawsheen Village Frye Village Stories: The Poor Wagon Shop
When William Poor retired from running the Wagon Works in 1895 at age 90, he handed the business over to his 65-year-old son Joseph Poor.
Educated in the public schools of Andover and Phillips Academy, Joseph left school at age 16 to join his father as a wagon builder. He was active member in Andover’s fire department and for many years served as chief engineer of the engine company.
However, Joseph's health was not strong, and his tenure as head of the Wagon Works was brief.
In January 1897, the Andover Townsman reported:
Wagon Shops Still Running
Poor’s Wagon shops at Frye Village are still open for business, notwithstanding the report to the contrary, that someone seems to have industriously circulated. Mr. (Joseph) Poor is quite ill at home, but the old and reliable employees are still at work and have been this week re-enforced by the return of Andrew Parsons well known in Andover as one of the best wood workers on wagon-work in the country, and who was for a long time in charge of the department at the Frye Village Shops.Mr. Parsons will remain for a while and patrons of the old business may be sure of being well cared for notwithstanding Mr. Poor’s enforced absence.
In April, an optimistic Townsman article reported that business at the Poor Wagon Shop was booming: James L. Wallace of Merrimack is the new wheelwright and T. J. Goodwin the blacksmith at the wagon works at J. W. Poor’s in Frye Village. Business is booming at this old and well known manufactory and with the returning health and strength Mr. Poor expects a flattering years’ business.
But the boom didn’t last. Just a few months later, Joseph’s declining health forced him to retire in June 1897, at age 67. Joseph sold the business to H.B.P. Tuttle & John Morrison of Merrimac, MA.Â
The last days of the Poor Wagon Works
Joseph’s retirement in June 1897 was front page news in the Andover Townsman.
A New Firm of Wagon Builders
The oldest business in Andover has passed into new hands this week in the retirement of Joseph W. Poor from the active work of a wagon builder. Established in 1833 by Wm. Poor, now in his ninety-fourth year, the business has for the past sixty odd years thrived and prospered.
With Joseph Poor's retirement, the old Poor Wagon Works sign came down after 64 years, replaced by Tuttle & Morrison.
Next Frye Village story: Tuttle & Morrison and the moving of Poor Street.