J.T. Carmody Foundry, Engine, and Machine Works

Cedar Rapids, IA

Cast Iron

1919 -1935

14” H x 4 ¾” D (base)

A rare Iowa foundry cast-iron hitching post, circa 1900, showcases a horse head with a tie-off bar between the chin and front of the neck, adorned with “CARMODY” embossed on each side. Resting on a leaf-top plinth with two base mounting holes, it preserves its original, black-painted surface.

John T. Carmody (1859-1909), born in Ireland, immigrated to the United States in 1875. Already an experienced machinist upon his arrival in Cedar Rapids from Lima, OH in 1885, he quickly secured a position as a foreman at Whiting Brothers Foundry. By 1889, he had acquired the company. Carmody extensively advertised its diverse manufacturing capabilities, including engines, boilers, pumps, architectural ironwork, and columns. Following a devastating fire in 1902, he reconstructed the foundry with state-of-the-art equipment, earning recognition for producing top-notch fire escapes, widely utilized in Cedar Rapids. He also dedicated considerable effort to producing steam and hot water heating plants, notably for Mercy Hospital in 1903. His achievements propelled him to the mayoralty of Rapid City in 1908, where he adopted a hands-on approach. Tragically, his tenure was cut short when he sustained a gunshot wound during a home invasion. Though initially expected to recover, he contracted typhoid fever in the hospital and passed away shortly thereafter.

Ex collection of Marshall Goodman