Cyrus Isbell
Cyrus Isbell was a skilled middle-class carpenter during the mid 1850’s. Isbell owned and operated a business on Eagle Street in North Adams, fulfilling his life through his trade and family.
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Cyrus Isbell of North Adams, Massachusetts was born in the 1830s to his parents, Abner Isbell and Nancy Perry. Isbell lived in North Adams for the entirety of his life. He married a woman named Sarah Manchester and had a child with her in 1848. They named him after Isbell’s father, Abner. This name would carry through several generations of the Isbell family. Perry also became a common middle name for much of the family.
The main portion of Isbell’s life was spent with his carpentry profession. He was a skilled person who was able to make a whole array of items and products. He purchased 22 Eagle Street in 1850 from George Millard, also of North Adams, to turn it into his own workshop for making furniture and other woodworking items. At the time, 22 Eagle Street covered much more physical property than it does today. It had more rooms that Isbell could use. Most notably, Isbell was known as a coffin maker and had a room dedicated to this. He was also well known as a cabinet maker.
Isbell worked in this shop for twenty years before reaching retirement. He sold the property to Giles Tinker, a wealthy individual in North Adams, who turned the property into a drug store in 1870. The photos of the drug store are currently the only way to see what the interior of the property was like around the time when Isbell owned it. Six years later, Isbell purchased his home at 200 East Main Street. He would reside there until his death in 1883. He is buried in Hillside Cemetery in a family plot.
Isbell was by no means an extremely wealthy man, but he did make a good living from his craft and had a fulfilling life.
Map Coordinates: 42.7008658, -73.1220375
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Gravestone for Cyrus Isbell
This is where Cyrus Isbell is buried in Hillside Cemetery in North Adams. He is in a plot of land with several other family members. It is likely the tree sculpture is a testament to his craft as a woodworker. | Source: Photo by Justin Therrien
C.P. Isbell Cabinet Maker
This is Cyrus Isbell’s advertisement for his store. One can see here his skill in making cabinets and coffins. | Source: Courtesy of North Adams Public Library.
Cyrus Isbell's Home
This form is for Cyrus Isbell’s first home. He lived here with his wife for years before his retirement. Like many other properties, this was converted. However, unlike others, this was converted from housing to store front property.
Survey for 26 Eagle Street
This property form is for Cyrus Isbell’s shop. It details the general history of the property. Isbell bought the building for one thousand dollars. The property has been in several hands and now operates as a law office. | Source: Courtesy of the North Adams Public Library.
Interior of Wilson House Drug Store
This was formerly Cyrus Isbell’s woodworking shop. As one can see, there is not as much space as Isbell once had. His property gradually got split up into several properties on Eagle Street. | Source: Courtesy of the North Adams Public Library.
Historical Survey for 28 Eagle Street
This form is for Cyrus Isbell’s first home. He lived here with his wife for years before his retirement. Like many other properties, this was converted to serve other purposes. However, unlike others, this was converted from housing to store front property. | Source: Courtesy of North Adams Public Library.