Fox & Gorman, iron railing manufactuers, were located on Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, from approximately 1871 to 1880. The foundry was located at the head of Flatbush Ave. near Fulton St. Fox was Richard Fox and Gorman was James Gorman.

Richard Fox appeared in the U. S. Census of 1880, age 42, born Ireland, living at 431 Hudson Ave, Brooklyn. He was also probably the Richard Fox, age 30, born Ireland, identified as a blacksmith, living in Brooklyn's Ward 1 in 1870. In 1880 his occupation was recorded as "Steam Boiler Inspector." Indeed, by 1880 Fox seems to have left the foundry and to have worked for the Brooklyn Police Dept. as an inspector of steam boilers. A notice in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 21 April 1892, pg. 1, reads, "Fox was appointed a boiler inspector of the Brooklyn police department in 1870 and was removed February 28, 1890, without alleged cause and without trial." He was listed in Brooklyn city directories from 1882 to 1896 as an inspector, 39 Muncipal Building.

I was not able to identify James Gorman in any census reports. But he seems to have continued the foundry at 30 and 53 Flatbush Ave. until around 1893. This ad for James Gorman, Plain and Ornamental Iron Railing Manufacturer appeared in Lain's Business Directory of Brooklyn for 1888-89.

Copyright (c) 2011 Walter Grutchfield