Lincoln's Gate, Ames Manufacturing Co, Chicopee, MA

One of the most important manufacturers of swords and canon before and especially during the Civil War was Ames Manufacturing.  The company had its origins in Chelmsford, Massachusetts where blacksmith and founder John Ames made some of the first manufactured shovels beginning in 1774. Ames The Manufacturing Company was founded in 1791.  The company continued under the son, Nathan Ames who was lured to its current location along the Chicopee River in Chicopee, Massachusetts for the availability of cheap water power provided by the river.  Ames was granted the "privilege" to take advantage of that power and since thus, its name, "Ames Privilege".

Ames soon became the premier manufacturer of swords for the US Government starting in 1832.  The complex of buildings were added to the National Historic Register in 1983.

During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was scheduled to visit the factory and in his honor, a special "gate" was constructed through which it was planned Lincoln could enter the grounds.  "Lincoln's Gate" is still a part of the property although the once bustling factories have been in the process of conversion to apartments.



Due to subversive activities in the area in 1864, Lincoln's trip to Chicopee was cancelled and never rode through the gate. The "gate" is now a huge window that, due to reconstruction and remodeling, sits at the end of one of the lobbies and looks out into what was once the entrance to the grounds where wagon loads of raw materials entered and finished goods were shipped.

A very informative book about Ames Manufacturing can be ordered at Amazon.com.  "The Ames Manufacturing Company of Chicopee Massachusetts" by Jacqueline T Lynch contains the stories of three men who were all associated with Ames Manufacturing. One was a founder of the company; another a machinist who went off to war and left a leg on the battlefield and received the Medal of Honor; a third who worked the foundry left the company and became a world renowned forger of bronze statuary.

Chicopee will be the site of the semi-annual Ames Society Convention October 4 and 5, 2014.  Members of numerous branches of the Ames, Amos and Amis families will gather for speeches, a tour of the factory complex and general camaraderie.