Thimble Factory
Here’s a detailed look at the history of the Thimble Factory in Huntington, NY:
🏭 Origins & Founder – Ezra C. Prime (1810–1898)
Ezra Conklin Prime, born in Huntington in 1810, apprenticed as a silversmith in NYC around 1826. He formed a partnership (Prime & Roshore) in Manhattan before illness led him back to Huntington in 1836. [huntington...istory.com], [americansi...smiths.org]
In 1836–1837, he established one of the first thimble factories in the United States on Main Street, two doors west of what is today Prime Avenue. [huntington...istory.com], [hmdb.org], [Huntington...al Markers]
Census records list him as a thimble manufacturer in Huntington in 1860. [americansi...smiths.org]
Location & Site Evolution
The factory was built on a portion of a 27-acre farm originally owned by Albert W. Hendrickson, later sold to Ezra C. Prime in 1846. [huntington...istory.com]
A historical marker erected in 1965 at 149 Main Street, the intersection of Main Street and Prime Avenue (formerly Mill Lane), commemorates the founding of the factory in 1837. [hmdb.org], [Huntington...al Markers]
Industrial Significance
At its peak, Prime’s operation grew to be “one of the largest thimble manufacturers in the country” during the mid-19th century. [hmdb.org], [huntington...istory.com]
The factory operated for about 40 years, from its founding until roughly the 1870s. [hmdb.org], [huntington...istory.com]
Later Years & Legacy
Ezra C. Prime continued his involvement in the business until at least the 1860s and passed away in 1898 at age 88. [americansi...smiths.org], [hmdb.org]
In 1965, the site was formally recognized by the Town of Huntington with a marker noting its significance in regional industry. [hmdb.org], [Huntington...al Markers]
🗺️ Summary Timeline
YearEvent1836–1837Ezra C. Prime establishes the thimble factory on Main Street, Huntington [huntington...istory.com], [hmdb.org], [Huntington...al Markers]1860Census lists Prime as a thimble manufacturer in Huntington [americansi...smiths.org]~1870sFactory operates for ~40 years before closure [hmdb.org], [huntington...istory.com]1898Death of Ezra C. Prime [hmdb.org], [americansi...smiths.org]1965Historical marker placed at site [hmdb.org], [Huntington...al Markers]
Cultural & Historical Context
The factory was part of a broader transition of the Heckscher Park area—once a mix of farmland and industry—into what is now a recreational and cultural hub. [huntington...istory.com]
The Prime family had deep roots in Huntington, spanning several generations of community and industry contributions. [huntington...istory.com], [Huntington...Genealogy]
This historic thimble factory reflects both early American craftsmanship and Huntington’s evolution during the 19th century. Let me know if you’d like more details on Ezra Prime, the factory’s production methods, or its place in the town’s industrial heritage.
