Name That Photo Location: 1947 Ayer MA Boston & Maine Photo Location FOUND!

The Photo.

In December of 2017, I posted a photograph dated 2/28/47 of a B&M train somewhere in Ayer Massachusetts.  Last week, I accidentally figured out exactly what that building was, and after some online research, where it was as well!

I was doing some organizing of my digital
railroad photo files, then noticed an Ayer postcard that seemed very familiar.  It showed a NYNH&HRR boxcar on a siding.  All of a sudden, a lightbulb went off in my head.

"That looks like the building in the background of that Ayer photo I have!"

Postcard view of the Chandler Machine building

I can now say for sure my photo was taken next to the Chandler Machine Company, whose address was listed as simply "West St, Ayer MA".  They manufactured industrial sewing and stitching machines.  The business was founded in 1899 and closed in September 2002.  The building appears to have been torn down some time between 2003 and 2005, replaced by (as usual) some condos.

Knowing this, the rail siding in the photo was off of the Worcester & Nashua line, which is now a paved rail trail north of Ayer Center.

Newspaper articles in 2002 stated that Chandler's closing was due to the proliferation of cheaper machinery being sold by countries like China.  This is a story repeated over and over in America.

1947 Boston & Maine RR Photo Location... Where in Ayer (MA)??

I recently added a 2/28/47 image of Boston & Maine locomotive #1783 at Ayer Massachusetts to my little collection, and am trying to figure out the exact location in the photo.

I took a peek at the town over at HistoricAerials.com , which is a VERY addictive website, and the only possible location I could find was just north of the depot area, and it wasn't exactly a perfect match. Their oldest aerial photo was from 1963, so it is very possible the building in the photo had already been torn down.

Then I started to think perhaps the location was the Ames Plow Company, but it appears the company was gone by 1889, so that rules Ames out.  Was it the tannery, once located on Tannery Street?   I have not been able to find an image of the building, though there is footage of when the complex burned in 1961.  As you can see in the photo, there was a section of windows very low to the ground.  In the footage, there is a similar looking thing but the windows are a different style.  Had they been changed in the 14 years since the photo was taken?  Take a look at the screen-shot of the video below and ponder as I have...

Perhaps the photo was marked incorrectly and it wasn't even taken in Ayer! 

2018 UPDATE:  I have figured out the location of the photo!

Note the low section with the windows

I adjusted this scan so you can see how the building was long and at a right-angle to the tracks

Low windows of the tannery, which burned in 1961 and was located near the tracks (see video link above)

Tannery location on 1875 map, showing proximity to tracks... note it is indeed a long building at an angle to the tracks, but what about that low area with the locomotive-level windows?