State and local officials celebrated the upcoming preservation of the historic Ames Shovel Works  during a groundbreaking ceremony last week at the property in the North Easton village district. The complex dates to the mid-19th century when Easton led the world in shovel production. Beacon Communities will convert 117,000 square feet of industrial space into 113 residential units, with 34 carrying affordable restrictions. The project, an alternative to planned demolition by another developer, unified area preservationists, townspeople, and government officials interested in saving an important piece of local history.