[MassHistPres] elevator

[Lisa Sughrue]

Here in New Bedford, there is a historic building c.1878 that has an original elevator in it that was operational until about 10 years ago. The current owner is converting the building to mix use - commercial on the first floor and residential on the upper floors and is interested in finding a home for the original elevator. Here is the information on the elevator:

Morse Williams Elevator from Philadelphia  patented in 1862.  
The building which housed N.P. Hayes Hardware was bulit in 1878 when elevator was installed.  Ran until no longer certified approximately ten years ago. This elevator is the first in the city as documented by the City Council in recognition of
Mr. Hayes' retirement.
 
Open Freight elevator with a run from the basement to the third story.
Carriage is of a beautiful design and construction of metal and wood,
with an arched metal crown to push through wooden floor hatches.

Rope and metal pulls.

On third floor, ceiling mounted mandril, wooden pulleys, and large
motor.  Floor mounted motor connected to ceiling pulleys by 5 inch
leather belt.   The current owner, Annie Hayes, would like to keep the mandril and pulleys and has been told by Otis elevator superintendent who has come to view the
elevator that it can be run without these, by direct motor attachment.

All interested can see the elevator with a day or two notice, except
on Sunday and Monday should contact Annie Hayes at 508-748-6986.

Thanks,
Lisa Sughrue
Executive Director
Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE
13 Hamilton Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
508-997-1776

WHALE is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to promoting the value and reuse of greater New Bedford's historic structures through preservation, education and advocacy. WHALE is supported, in part, by its members and grants from the Island Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Grimshaw-Gudewicz Foundation.

WHALE sets "the whole pattern here for historic preservation in Massachusetts" - Jim Igoe, President of Preservation Massachusetts