Horse Weight

Joseph Butterworth operated a large blacksmith shop in Providence and a smaller one on Pawtucket Avenue near the intersection of Taunton Avenue in East Providence.

Among the many artifacts from the East Providence shop that Joseph had made was this heavy iron weight. It was kept in the carriage or wagon and if there was no hitching post available when stopped somewhere the weight would be put on the ground and the reins tied to a rope attached to it. An early version of the “parking brake”.