Cavanaugh Brothers Sales Stable, 58 West Central Street, Manchester, Hillsborough County, NH

Significance: The Cavanaugh Brothers Sale Stable building is notable both for historical and structural reasons. It was constructed at a time when the city of Manchester had grown to be a very densely populated urban area dependent upon horsepower for the conveyance of people and goods. The Cavanaugh Brothers were locally recognized as aggressive dealers of horseflesh with branch operations in Boston and Taunton, Massachusetts. An innovative interior plan and roof structure allowed for the storage of horses on three levels the basement and first and second floors. A manually operated elevator on the third floor was used to hoist grain to that level from where it traveled via a system of chutes to the floors below. Mixing of feed was also accomplished with this system through the use of multiple chutes which connected to a single conduit. Drainage of liquid animal waste was served by a three-level system of floor troughs connected to the city sewer at the basement level. At the time of its construction, the stable was admired for its modern conveniences and design including hot water and heating for the animals. The building could accommodate 150 head on the three floors. During its heyday, the building was adorned with painted advertising graphics on its two principal facades. Except for the graphic at the west side rear of the building, these signs have been overpainted.
Survey number: HABS NH-122
Building/structure dates: 1890 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1952-1954 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1982 Demolished