Westcott's Building Blocks – Museum of Waterways and Industry, Fall Street, Seneca Falls, New York

Henry Westcott was born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1808 where he learned the sash and blind makers’ trade. Later, he started his own company together with his brother Edwin and an associate called Hiram Miller to manufacture sash, doors and blinds. After retiring from this business, he moved to Seneca Falls in 1847 to embark in the manufacture of an improved churn and butter pail on which he had secured patents. Also this business proved to be a success, mainly because Henry Westcott invented and built machinery to make the wooden products he sold, while competitors were still making them by hand. In 1868, at the age of 60, he sold his interest in this company.

In 1872 Henry, along with his two sons Charles and Frank, established the firm Westcott Brothers to manufacture a variety of wood specialties. While Charles concentrated on operating the factory and Frank on selling the products, here too, Henry’s experience and inventive genius were responsible for the company’s growth. When Henry retired in 1890, the company was renamed to Westcott Bros. Co. and expanded into numerous products like toy blocks and other games. The toy blocks advertised above were small six-sided objects, generally each with letter or number on two of its sides. The blocks were grooved to interlock.