Born in England, George J. Capewell moved to the United States as a child. He went to work at the age of 15. He worked at Scoville in Waterbury and Cheshire Manufacturing Company. In 1870, he began manufacturing metal devices of his own invention.
Horseshoe Nails
In 1876, Capewell began working on an invention to produce horseshoe nails. Up to this point, blacksmiths had to form horseshoe nails by hand, one nail at a time. It took him four years to perfect his invention.
In 1881, he formed the Capewell Horsenail Company in Hartford. Between 1903 and 1912, the factory was at its most productive and prosperous.
World War I led to a labor shortage in factories across the country as men went to war. As a result, women filled open factory positions. Capewell Horsenail Company opened a free daycare at the factory. Capewell provided care, toys, and meals for workers’ children. The Company made headline news across the country for this move.
Location:
Section 10, Lot 74
References:
Hartford Courant. “Day Nursery at Capewell Factory A Unique Piece of Welfare Work,” March 3, 1918
Hartford Courant. “George J. Capewell Dies in Hospital,” November 7, 1919
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. Capewell Horse Nail Company, Hartford, CT. July 7, 1999.
Wikipedia. George Capewell. Accessed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Capewell
Photo Credit:
George Capewell, Public Domain