The Tremont Nail Factory District opened its doors once again for the second annual Meet Me at the Tremont gala on Saturday, Aug. 25, hosted by the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce and the Tremont Nail Advisory Group

The historic property has occasionally been referred to as one of Wareham's "biggest follies." The site, located on Elm Street, is now making slow but steady progress toward becoming an artistic and recreational hub near the center of town, according to officials.

The event showcased talent such as Barn Pottery artist Kimberly Sheerin and the musical group Daddy-O. Food for the evening was provided by Minkle Boys Catering and the newly opened Gateway Pastries.

Those who spearheaded gala said that the goal was to be as Wareham-oriented as possible, showcasing that the 7.2-acre property is ready for a second life despite setbacks.

"There are a lot of moving pieces,” said Traci Medeiros, a member of the Tremont Nail Advisory Group. “Like any project a lot can change as you go forward, but slow growth is still growth.”

As far back as 1819, the site was home to the Tremont Nail Company which manufactured steel nails and other products for more than 100 years on the Wankinco River before moving shop to Mansfield.

The town of Wareham bought the property back in 2004 through the use of Community Preservation Act funds.  The act is a Massachusetts state law which allows participating cities and towns to adopt a real estate tax surcharge, supplemented by state matching funds, in order to fund community preservation.

"Once we started showcasing our plans for the site, we found out that the old adage is true," Medeiros said. "If you build it, they will come."

According to Medeiros, several companies have approached the town in the last year to inquire about retail space at the site. This includes pottery studios, a microbrewery and even a marijuana processor.

"Nothing is set in stone yet," Medeiros said. "We've come awfully far, but there's still a ways to go."

Regardless of which businesses seek to open up on the site, zoning regulations for the property will have to be changed. Contamination at the site from its factory days will also have to be removed.

"I really have to applaud Traci's frugality and Ken Buckland's hard work," said Selectman Peter Teitelbaum, referring to the town's director of Planning & Community Development. "Everything here was done with saving a buck in mind."

Teitelbaum, who now serves as the president of the Redevelopment Authority, originally opposed the purchase of the factory but changed his mind after an environmental study found contamination levels weren’t as high as initially feared.

"There's work that needs to be done," Teitelbaum said. "But the advisory group is helping to make that possible."

Next year will mark the 200th birthday of the Tremont Nail Factory, and while Medeiros couldn't say for certain what the future would hold, she was nonetheless optimistic.

"We want the input of our residents and we want their open mind," Medeiros said. "Each year should be more special than the last."

Redevelopment plans for the Tremont Nail Factory District can be found online at courbanize.com/projects/tremont-nail/information.