George Frost Building, Leominster Road, Shirley, Mass.

I did this from in front of an exhibit of an old fire engine beside the Shirley Fire Station. I was right beside a flag pole, and when a stormy cloud loomed in I chickened out and went home until it passed. Fortunately home was a 5 minute walk away. A couple kids kept track of my progress.

The structure was built in 1881 with the clock tower being an addition of 1890. It was owned by Charles A. Edgarton at that point. The nationally-distributed President Suspenders were manufactured here. Later the President Suspender Co. merged with George Frost who manufactured belts (Boston Belts), and eventually they got into athletic protective gear (All-Star Athletic Products). The All Star Division still does a very good business in a new building located across the brook.

After a few years of emptiness, the old building is gradually filling with tenants again.

July 6, 1996