No date
Hitching post patent and produced in Elmira by Morgan Dyer.
Found in New Jersey, and donated to the Chemung County Historical Society in 2022.
Elmira HistoryForge was recently questioned about a backyard find. One of our readers found what he believed to be a hitching post in his back yard.
With a little digging we were able to confirm that what he found is indeed a step and hitching post combination made here in Elmira.
The step and hitching post was designed and patent May 24, 1871 by Morgan Dyer. Dyer was the manufacturer of agricultural implements as well as more decorative cast iron items. He held a patent for a scraper plow, and a shared patent under Dyer and Bratt for an iron fence pattern that he produced here in Elmira.
Morgan Dyer owned a foundry at what is now the corner of East Market Street and Clemens Center Parkway (see on 1876 Ward Map).
It seems that the design of the step and hitching post was meant for travel, where the post could be loaded in a carriage and used at stops without a post. Unfortunately, I was only able to find limited information on the item in question. If you have any further information please share!