Page 20 - Newsletter Winter 2018

Dee Cote and Jack Wilde ‘65 Restore Putnam Hardware Wagon
Written by Joe Inman ‘58

Donated to the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton by the late Al Putnam ‘65 and his son Albert Putnam ‘94. The
historic horse-drawn Putnam Hardware Store delivery wagon is currently undergoing restoration.

In 1904, Fred L. Putnam became a partner with Richard
L. Turney in a hardware store located in Market Square
in Houlton. In 1908, Arthur O. Putnam also became a
partner in the firm. It was in front of this store that the first
gasoline pump in Aroostook County was installed. Gulf
gasoline was dispensed from that early pump, and from
this small beginning, Putnam Brothers Co. was established
which for many years supplied Gulf Oil products to all of
Northern Maine and parts of New Brunswick.

For many years the horse-drawn “Putnam Hardware”
wagon, built by Silas Taber, was used to make deliveries in
Houlton and the surrounding area.

Silas W. Taber was born in Houlton in 1847 and
established a blacksmithing and carriage business in a four
story building on Mechanic Street in Houlton in 1866. Jack Wilde ‘65 working on the Putnam Wagon
According to an article in the local paper Mr. Taber was
“one of the best known manufacturers of fine carriages, sleighs, etc. in this neighborhood. Those who wish to
procure a fine carriage or sleigh can do no better then to give an order for the same to Mr. Silas Taber”.

A metal plate bearing Mr. Taber’s name is attached to the Putnam hardware wagon and a date stamped on a metal
spring dates construction of the wagon to between 1885-1890.

Restoration of this historic wagon for the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum is being done by Dee Cote
of Littleton with the assistance of Jack Wilde ‘65. Hopefully the fully restored wagon will be on display when the
museum opens for tours next summer.

www.houltonalumni.com PAGE 20