Caption on reverse reads: This building was the blacksmith shop of Charles S. Parsons of Springs. After his death in 1926, it stood empty for many years, subject to vandalism and decay, until acquired by the Springs Historical Society and moved to its present site, near Ashawagh Hall. Mr. Parsons was a man of rare mechanical ability. Besides blacksmithing work, his shop was also equipped with steam power from which all sorts of operations were performed. Two articles which appeared in the East Hampton Star in 1904 give an amusing account of his mechanical pioneering. "Charles Parsons, the Edison of Springs, will soon bring out something to excite the wonder and admiration of the people. He has taken a contract to build for Peter Koppelman, the progressive and wide awake vegetable man, an automobile wagon, from which will be sold vegetables throughout the town. The vehicle will be equipped with a five horsepower engine and will have regulation wagon wheels with steel tires. Both Mr. Parsons and Mr. Koppleman have confidence that the machine will be a success." Charles Parsons of Springs, has just turned out a credible piece of work in the shape of a wood sawing machine for W.L. Edwards, of Springs. The machine consists of a five horsepower engine connected to a buzz saw, all mounted on a four wheel truck. The truck is so heavy and the machinery so firmly mounted upon it, that Mr. Edwards can back it up to a pile of wood, and proceed to sawing immediately without any fuss about it. We understand the machine will be seen at work in this village next week." It is also worth noting that it was in this shop that his nephew, Ralph M. Parsons, whose international engineering achievements are well known, as a small boy, received his first introduction to mechanical works. Copy by C. Frank Dayton.