* Tanneries

Tanneries

Do you know that Woburn was once a significant American tannery location? The first tannery in Woburn was a small tan-yard started by the Wyman brothers in 1666 in the Central Square area.

Historic Dow Tannery, Woburn MA circa 1900

Tanneries in Woburn

As the nation grew so did the demand for leather which was essential in making shoes, boots, belts, saddles, harnesses, gloves, etc. Many shops opened in Woburn selling these products. From 1840-1865 Woburn was a major center for leather production in the country with 26 tanneries flourishing in the town.

Tanneries needed workers and immigrants from Ireland were the first group to come to America and Woburn specifically to fill the many jobs available. Soon thereafter came Italians, Greeks, and Swedes changing Woburn forever. New immigrants arrived throughout the 19th century enhancing the ethnic mix of the town.

As labor costs increased and demand for leather decreased and because many leather products were replaced by plastic, the tannery industry slowly but surely closed in Woburn. The last tannery in Woburn, the John J. Riley Company on Salem Street, closed in 1988.