USA > Massachusetts > Gazetteer of the state of Massachusetts, pt 1 > Part 30
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The underlying rock in the northwest part is gneissic; in the southeast, Merrimack schist ; while Rollstone Hill is a mass of gran- ite, and large quantities of good building stone of this variety are quarried near the central village. Iron ore exists in one locality ; and at Pearl Hill are found beryl, staurotide, garnets, and molybden- ite. The overlying soil in some parts of the town is clay, beneath a strong loam ; in other parts it is gravel carrying a sandy loam. . The
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FITCHBURG.
usual crops of suburban regions are cultivated with profit; the prod- uct of the 209 farms, in 1885, being valued at $204,558. Two mills for sawing and preparing lumber find occupation in the place, and some wood is used in the paper manufacture, which is the largest single product of the city. At Crockerville (named from a former leading manufacturer) are seven or more mills for this article. At other points are three cotton and three woollen mills, the works of the Putnam Machine Company, and the Fitchburg Steam Engine Company, making fire, locomotive and stationary steam engines ; also establishments for the manufacture of saws, machinists' tools, chairs, rattan and other furniture, edge tools, agri- cultural implements, bricks, bread-stuffs, clothing, pahn-leaf hats, boots and shoes, hollow ware, piano-forte parts, and others. In all, there are above forty different kinds of manufacture, and not less than 202 different establishments. Such variety of pursuits has a tendency to quicken the intellectuality of the people; since the knowledge acquired in any one department of business in a commu- nity comes to increase the general stock. The aggregate product of the manufactures in the last census year (1885) was 86,231,866. There are in the town four national banks, with an aggregate capi- tal of $950,000; and two savings institutions, having, at the close of last year, deposits to the amount of $4,824,614. The valuation of the town in 1888 was $13,694,890; with a tax of $16.80 on $1,000. The voters numbered 3,659, and the entire population was 15,375, finding shelter in 2,731 dwelling-houses.
The wholesomeness of the place is indicated in the census of 1885 by the fact that there were 96 residents over 80 years, 8 over 90 years, and 2 over 100 years of age. The Fitchburg water works system supplies the people at the centre with an abundance of pure water from an artificial reservoir of eleven acres, fed by a copious spring on Rollstone IIill. There are more than 100 miles of streets in the city limits, portions of which are paved, while many are beautifully shaded with elms and maples. Among the conspicuous buildings are the court-house, a handsome stone edifice fronting on a beautiful square, where is a costly monument to Fitchburg's soldiers lost in the war for the Union; the public library (containing some 20,000 volumes; the High School, the Union railroad depot, the county jail, and several of the churches. The schools are effec- tively graded. and provided for in nineteen school buildings, valued at upwards of $200,000. Beside the town library are a law, a medi- cal, and ten other institution, church and Sunday-school libraries. The churches are the American Episcopal, two Methodist Episcopal, the French and the Irish Catholic, two Congregationalist, Baptist, Unitarian, and Universalist.
The leading newspaper is the "Sentinel," having a daily and a weekly edition. "Our Monthly Visitor," published here, has gained a large circulation.
On December 18 (O. S. Dec. 7), 1719, the General Court voted to lay out two new towus on the westerly side of the Groton west line. One of these, as laid out, included the present towns of Lancaster,
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GAZETTEER OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Fitchburg and Ashby, and was known as the Turkey Hills, on account of the large number of wild turkeys that came there to feed on the abundant acorns and wild chestnuts. When the committee to whom the business was entrusted first came to make the surveys, they found there a man named David Page, who, with his family, had selected one of the best sites of the place on the south side of Clarke's Hill. He had built a comfortable house, well fortified by a palisade of logs pierced with loop-holes for muskets, and had turned a small brook from its natural course, making it flow some distance underground and then through his garrison.
In November, 1727, the committee directed that a meeting-house should be built, but the settlers came to the conclusion that they should henceforth manage local affairs themselves. In the follow- ing year an act of incorporation was passed; and on August 1 the proprietors of Turkey Hills found themselves a town in the county of Middlesex under the name of Lunenburg. The same year they voted to raise £200 ($88.88) for a meeting-house. Three years thereafter a pulpit and seats were added. Persons who wanted pews were at liberty to build them at their own cost ; and in 1733 it was voted to finish the galleries, and to build "stears up into them."
In 1729, the town chose an agent to represent it in the considera- tion of the best place of dividing the county of Middlesex, as it was then deemed too large. Two years later Worcester was set off, this town being within its limits. Public schools appear to have been first established in 1732, when the clergyman was employed to teach school for three months in his own house. During the next year school was held in the houses of several of the settlers in rota- . tion ; and in 1735 the selectmen were directed to provide a suitable school-house, and to " hire school dames as they shall see fit."
Soon after March, 1757, the western part of Lunenburg was formed into a new parish, with the meeting-house in the centre; On February 3, 1764, an act was passed incorporating the western part of Lunenburg as " Fitchburg," with all the privileges of a town, excepting that representation to the General Court was to be divided with Lunenburg. The first name on the committee to procure the incorporation was John Fitch, a leading citizen ; while Colonel Thomas Fitch. a wealthy merchant of Boston, owned exten- sive tracts of land in the county; but the honor of the name of the town has been claimed by the friends of each, and still remains in doubt. It then contained about 250 persons.
In 1804, the Burbank paper-mill and dam were built. In 1806-7, work was begun on a brick dam across the river, on which was erected the first cotton-mill; and in 1813 a second cotton-mill was built, and in 1814 a third. In 1823, the Red Woollen Factory was erected; and in 1826 another paper-mill and a fourth cotton-mill were built. In 1845, the place was connected with Boston by rail- road, giving a fresh impetus to business; and on March 8, 1872, Fitchburg was incorporated as a city.
. The first religious society in the town was organized January 27,
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FIVE POUND ISLAND-FLORIDA.
1768, and the Rev. John Payson was elected pastor. He was fol- lowed by the Rev. Samuel Worcester, who afterwards became a mis- sionary to the Cherokee Indians.
Records exist showing the active participation and the effective service of Fitchburg in the Revolution. Fitchburg furnished 824 men to the Union forces in the late war, 75 more than its quota ; and 57 became commissioned officers.
The Rev. Asa Thornton (1787-1868), missionary for more than forty years to the Sandwich Islands, was a native of this town. Eminent among its citizens during the present century are Hons. Alvah Crocker, Rodney Wallace, Charles T. Crocker, Amasa Nor- cross, William II. Vose, Charles H. B. Snow, David H. Merriam, Salmon W. Putnam and Walter Heywood.
Five Pound Island, in Gloucester inner harbor.
Flat Point, southwest extremity of land on southeast side of Gloucester harbor.
Flint Village, in Fall River.
Florence, a village in Northampton.
Florida is a mountainous and wooded town in the north- eastern part of Berkshire County, intersected by the Fitchburg Railroad, whose station at Hoosac Tunnel, near Deer- field River, on the eastern line, is 135 miles from Boston. The terri- tory is quite irregular in form, the western part extending to the Vermont line, while the square township of Monroe lies between the latter and the eastern part of Florida; on the east are Rowe and Charlemont; Savoy bounds it on the south, and North Adams on the west. The assessed area is 14,253 acres. Of this, 8,643 acres are forest, consisting of hard and soft wood (spruce and hemlock) in about equal proportions. The underlying rock is calcareous gneiss and the Quebec group, with talcose slate; while flint bowlders are numerous. The town is finely watered by the Deerfield River, which forms a large portion of the eastern line, separating it from Rowe; by Fife Brook, which flows from the northwest to southeast through the midst of the town; and by Cold River on the southern line. These streams and their sparkling tributaries furnish motive power for several mills. North Pond, a beautiful sheet of water covering twelve acres, beautifies the southwestern angle of the town. The Twin Cascade, near the entrance of the Hoosac Tunnel, is one of the most charming waterfalls of the country. Two rivul ts, coming from different directions, approach, and leap over the rocks a distance of 40 feet into the same basin below; and hence the appropriate name. The people of this elevated town are principally engaged in farming and lumbering, though there is less of the latter than 20 years ago, - when there were five saw-mills, two of which
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GAZETTEER OF MASSACHUSETTS.
were driven by steam. There are also a grist-mill and the Glen Pulp Company's mill, -a rather rude structure of stone, quite in character with the region. The latter employs 15 persons. The aggregate value of the manufactures in 1885 was $20,625. There are 101 farms, whose wood product is proportionately large. The entire farm product in the last census year was valued at $88,737. The valuation in 1888 was $177,770; and the tax was $22 on $1,000. The population was 487, including 113 voters; and they were sheltered in 85 dwelling-houses. There are six public school- houses, valued at about $4,000. The Hoosac Tunnel Library and the Baptist Sunday school have each a small collection of books. Florida and Hoosac Tunnel are the post offices.
Dr. Daniel Nelson, of Stafford, Conn., settled on the territory of this town in 1783; and Sylvanus Clark, Paul Knowlton, Jesse King, Esq., and others, hal come to live here anterior to 1795. The town was incorporated June 15, 1805; and a Baptist church was formed here in 1810. Four deserters from Burgoyne's army came to this
DEERFIELD RIVER AND HOOSAC TUNNEL.
town, and supported themselves mainly by hunting and fishing for many years.
The Hoosac Mountain, rising 1.448 feet above Deerfield River, is the striking feature of the town. From the carriage-road over it most magnificent views of this wild region are obtained.
The entrance to the Hoosac Tunnel is on the right bank of the Deerfield River, in the eastern centre of this town.
In 1854 the State gave its credit to the amount of $2,000,000; and the work of excavating the tunnel was commenced by E. W. Serrell and Company in 1855.
In the ensuing year, a contract was made with H. Haupt and Company, by which they agreed to complete the road and tunnel for $3,880,000; and the work was carried on at the east and west end of the tunnel until 1861, when the contractors abandoned the enter- prise. In the year following, the State itself undertook to pros- ecute this gigantic scheme under an appropriation of $4,750,000.
Messrs. Walter and Francis Shanley, of Canada, entered into a con-
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FOLLY COVE VILLAGE - FOXBOROUGHI.
tract with the State commissioners to complete the work by March 1, 1874. These gentlemen prosecuted the undertaking with indomi- table energy, cutting their way by the aid of a boring-machine, driven by compressed air and nitro-glycerine, through sold mica- slate, until the passage through the mountain was completed; the distance being 25,031 feet, or a little less than five miles. The first train went through on Feb. 9, 1875; a second track was laid Sept. 27, 1882, and electric lights introduced Jan. 1, 1889. The entire cost of the work to the State is stated at $26,915,938.97. The tunnel is arched with brick. The rock of the mount tin is mica slate, with occasional veins of quartz, - except at the west end, where a secondary formation overlaps the primary. The rock, in some places, is hardly to be told from granite in hardness; while all through small seams are found filled up by dirt carried by water, forming a kind of dry soapstone and mica, and containing beautiful specimens of sulphate of iron. Hoosac Mountain has two summits, the valley between being, at the lowest, 801 feet above grade. From this the ventilating shafts descend. The top of the tunnel is a semi- circle, with a radius of 13 feet; and the sides are arcs of a circle, with a radius of 26 feet.
The opening of this tunnel shortens the distance from Boston to the Hudson River by about 9 miles, and has reduced the enormous prices for transportation. While aiding the development of the re- sources of the northern section of the State, it also affords the most attractive line of travel through the alpine regions of the Commonwealth.
Folly Cove Village, in Gloucester.
Forest Hills, a locality and cemetery in the West Rox- bury district of Boston.
Forge Village, in Westford. Fort Point Channel, the entrance to South Bay, which divides South Boston from the city proper.
Fort River, a village in Hadley ; also a stream rising in Pelham, and running southwest through Amherst and Hadley to the Connecticut River.
Foundry Village, in Colrain.
Four Corners, a village in Middleborough ; also one in Stockbridge, and one in Worthington.
Foxborough is a busy and prosperous town in the southwestern part of Norfolk County, about 20 miles southwest of Boston. The Providence Branch and the Northern Division of the Old Colony Railroad pass through it,
MEMORIAL HALL, FOXBOROUGH.
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FOXBOROUGH.
having stations at Foxborough (centre), Foxvale, and East and North Foxborough. The other villages are West and South Fox- borough, Foxvale, Foxborough Furnace, and Donkeyville. Wal- pole bounds it on the north and northwest, Sharon on the northeast, Mansfield on the southeast and south, and Wrentham and Norfolk on the west. The assessed area is 12,085 acres ; and of this 3,387 acres are forest, consisting of oak, pine, chestnut and maple. It occupies the crest of the ridge between Narragansett and Dorchester bays. In the west, northwest and southeast it is quite hilly; but the most conspicuous elevation is Foolish Hill, a little southeast of the centre. Neponset River and Cocasset Brook have their sources in the central and western part, the former flowing northward to Boston Harbor, and the latter southward to Taunton River. Bil- ling's Brook, in the eastern part, is also a tributary of this river. On these are numerous lovely ponds ; the largest being Cocasset Pond, covering about 40 acres, at the west of the central village; and Neponset Reservoir in the northern section, of nearly 100 acres. The land is somewhat rocky, and the soil a gravelly loam, porous and healthful, but not very productive. Iron pyrites and a poor quality of anthracite coal are found in several localities. Several quarries . furnish granite for building purposes. The farms are 90 in number The greenhouse and hothouse products are proportionately large their value in 1885 having been $4,711. The entire farm product' was $88,197. For many years this was the leading town in the straw goods business in America; and at one period it sent out more hats and bonnets of straw than did all the rest of the country together. The manufacture was begun here by Elias Nason as early as 1812. Daniels Carpenter, at a later period, developed the business to such a degree as to be properly regarded as the founder of the business. The product, in 1865, reached the large value of $1.500,000. Machinery has been introduced, making better goods at a cheaper rate; and the town has now several rivals. The value of its product in 1885 was $578,647. Four firms and about 1,000 per- sons are employed in this industry. The furnace works founded here by Otis Cary add much to the town's business and wealth. There are two factories making ladies' fine shoes, giving employ- ment to some 125 persons. Other manufactures are boxes, soap, sewing machines, leather, food preparations, ete. The aggregate value of the manufactures in the last census year was $723,826. There is a local savings bank having deposits to the amount of $147,615; and a flourishing co-operative bank was recently estab- lished. The valuation in 1888 was $1,402,121, with a tax of $15.90 on $1,000. The population was 2,814,-703 being voters; and the dwelling-houses numbered 593. Most of the people own their dwellings, and the general neatness is quite noticeable in the town. Well-grown trees of elm and maple are very numerous along the streets. On the public square or park in the central village are . several handsome public and private buildings. The Memorial Hall, a Gothic structure of various-colored Foxborough granite sur- mounted by the statue of a soldier, contains the Boyden Public
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GAZETTEER OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Library, of upwards of 3,000 volumes. Rockhill Cemetery is a charming grove of oak and chestnut, and slopes westward to a valley in which three lakelets of clear water reflect the floating clouds and the blue dome of the sky.
The "Foxborough Reporter" enjoys a good patronage, and the "Times" is quite widely known; both papers being issued weekly.
The public schools are graded andoccu y seven buildings, valued at nearly $38,000. There are two chapels in the outlying villages; and at the centre the Congregationalists, Baptists, Universalists and Roman Catholics each have a church.
Foxborough was taken from parts of Wrentham, Waltham, Stoughton, and Stoughtonham (Sharon), and was incorporated June
FIRST HOUSE BUILT IN FOXBOROUGHI.
10, 1778. It was named for Charles James Fox, the great defender of the American Colonies in the British Parliament. The Rev. Thomas Kendall was ordained as the first minister in 1779, and remained in the pastorate here until 1800. The town is somewhat noted for longevity, based as well on the general average as on special cases. Mr. John Shepherd was born here in 1700. Hc lived more than a century in one spot; and it was said of him that he lived in two counties and four different towns without moving from the place where he was born. He died in Attleborough in 1809, aged 109 years. Mr. Seth Boyden (1788-1870), an inventor and skilful mechanic, and Professor Henry B. Nason, a skilful chemist and an author, were born here.
Foxhill. a village in Dedham. .
Framingham, one of the most beautiful towns in the Commonwealth, lies in the southwestern
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FRAMINGHAM.
part of Middlesex County, some 20 miles southwest of Boston, nearly the same distance east of Worcester, about 25 miles south of Fitchburg and Lowell, and 30 miles north of Taunton. It is bounded on the north by Sudbury, east by Wayland, Natick and Sherborn,
THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, FRAMINGHAM.
south by Ashland, and west by Southborough and Marlborough. The assessed area is 14,543 acres, 2,544 of which are well covered with pine, oak and chestnut. The formative rock is upper gneissic,
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GAZETTEER OF MASSACHUSETTS.
from which good stone is quarried for cellars and walls of buildings. The Sudbury River takes a general northeasterly course through the town, somewhat eastward of a medial line. Along its western side the land is quite level, the plain expanding westward from the centre. . Other parts are hilly ; Nobscot Hill at the north, rising to the height of 602 feet ; and Ballard's and Merriam's hills along the southern border. The town has four beautiful ponds stored with trout, black bass, pickerel, perch, eels and other fish. Farm Pond, the largest of these, containing 168 acres, separates South Framing- ham from the central village, and is connected with the Boston Water-works, - which has, besides, Basins No. 1, 2 and 3 in the town. Shakum Pond, of 93 acres, and Learned Pond, of 42, beautify the southern part of the town.
At South Framingham the Boston and Albany Railroad inter- sects the Northern Division of the Old Colony; and from its large and excellent station sends out a branch south- ward to Milford, another northward to the central village; 'while a third branch connects with Saxonville, at the north- east, noted for its woollen blankets and carpets. The other villages are Nobscot, Hastingsville, Millwood, and Parker's Corner. The name of the Para Rubber Shoe Company, of this town, is familiar to many. There are also manufactures here of rubber clothing, and other articles of this material, a large product of straw hats and bonnets, of boots and shoes, lasts, and carriage wheels; also carriages, trunks and valises, furniture, wooden boxes, meal and flour, and dressed beef by wholesale. In the last census year, the value of rubber goods made here was nearly $600,000; and of boots and shoes, nearly $500,000. The entire manufactured product was "estimated at $3,581,185. The farms, 168 in number, are devoted to the usual crops, with perhaps an excess in cereals and vegetables; the aggregate product being $273,586. There is one national bank with a capital of $200,000; and two savings banks with deposits amounting to $2,163,760. The valuation in 1888 was $7,173,570; with a tax of $13 on $1,000. The population was 8,275, of whom 1,933 were voters. The dwelling-houses numbered 1,513.
The public schools are graded, and have the advantage of associa- tion with one of the oldest Normal schools in the State. Eighteen buildings are occupied by the town schools, whose value is about $150,000. There is a public school library of nearly 2,000 volumes; and the Town Library and Reading Room, in the Soldiers' Memorial Hall, has about 12,000 volumes. The "Tribune" and the " Gazette," weekly journals, are well adapted to their excellent field. The Con- gregationalists have three churches here; the Baptists, two; the Methodists, two; the American Episcopal Church, one ; the Uni- versalists, one ; and the Roman Catholics, three. All are of wood.
The Old Folks' Home is one of the institutions of the town, show- ing its founders possessed of. an admirable human quality. . Elm. wood Opera House, an excellent building for its purpose, illustrates another side of village character. The agricultural interests of the county are localized here in the fine establishment of the Middlesex
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FRANKLIN.
Agricultural Society ; and Lake View, in this place, is reckoned a New England Chautauqua.
The Normal School has an elegant building with attractive portico in front of its entire height, and is beautifully situated among numerous trees on Bare Hill, in the central village. On Mount Wait is the camp-ground of the Methodists; and near at hand is the State military parade ground. Harmony Grove, on the shore of Farm Pond, has long been a noted picnic ground. An ex- tensive and very handsome park, the property of David Nevins, is courteously made tributary to the pleasure of the people, with cer- tain proper restrictions. The cemeteries of the town, expecially the largest, are beautiful places. Though all the villages of this town have interesting features, the central village is specially attractive for its finely shaded streets and handsome residences, with a certain finish that can come only with age. The southern village, also, has many fine places ; and the buildings and grounds have a well- kept appearance; while an unmistakable air of thrift gives a com- fortable feeling even to the casual visitor.
In the Tax Act, as early as October 13, 1675, this town was inen- tioned as " Framingham.". For a long time previous to its incor- poration as a town, which occurred June 25, 1700, the place was familiarly known as "Mr. Danforth's Farms.". It had its name from a town of this name in the county of Suffolk, England. Parts of its territory were annexed at various dates to the towns of South- borough and Marlborough, and a part was taken to form Ashland. It also gained some territory from Holliston and Natick. The Boston and Albany Railroad was opened to this place in 1835. Framing- ham contributed freely her part in men and money to the war for the Union ; and the names of the 27 who fell are inscribed on a marble tablet in the Memorial Hall.
On the 1st of February, 1676, a party of Indians, led on by Netus, approached the house of Mr. Thomas Eames, on the southern slope of Mount Wait, killed Mrs. Eames and three of her children, and, after destroying the stores and buildings, carried the remaining five or six children into captivity. Mr. Eames was absent from his family at the time. A partial depression in the surface of the land, with the surrounding apple-trees, still indicates the spot where this massacre occurred.
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