USA > Massachusetts > Gazetteer of the state of Massachusetts, pt 1 > Part 35
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There are in the town 99 farms, but few owners devote them- selves wholly to agriculture. The aggregate farm product in the census year of 1885 was 883,248. The making of boots and shoes occupied about 250 persons; the goods selling for $72,348. The product of the several nail and tack factories, with other iron goods, reached a value of $182,800; boxes, house lumber and other wooden goods, $38,732. Twenty-four persons were employed in the rubber factory; and there were manufactures of carriages, bricks, leather, meal and flour, etc. The aggregate value of the entire manu- factured product was $708,015. The valuation of the town in 1888 was $1,116,657, with a tax-rate of $12.50 on $1,000. The inhab- itants numbered 1,966, with 445 dwelling-houses. There were 570 legal voters.
The schools are graded, occupying eight buildings, valued at nearly $10,000. The Hanover Academy, established in 1828, is still active, and has a good school building. Three libraries, in as many different villages, are accessible to the people. The academy and the high school also have each a small library; and there are five Sunday-school libraries. The churches are Baptist, two Congrega- tional, one American Episcopal, one Methodist Episcopal, and one Roman Catholic. The "Hanover Advance " and the "North River Pioneer" are weekly visitors of much usefulness.
Though settled as early as 1649, this place was not incorporated as a town until June 14, 1727, when it was named in honor of the Duke of Hanover, who at this date had been three days George the Second, King of England. In 1754 there were seventeen slaves in town. It is said that the first saw-mill erected in America was built in this place, and before one had been established in England. The anchors of the " Old Ironsides" were forged here; and here also the first cast-iron ploughs were made.
"Few towns in the State," observes a writer, " can show a larger proportion of pleasant, attractive country residences than Hanover. There is unmistakable evidence that the previous generation was one of thrift and success." Hanover is still an intelligent, indus- trious and temperate place. It furnished 180 men for the Union army in the late war, losing about 40.
Col. John Bailey (1730-1840), and Rear-Admiral Joseph Smith, United States Navy (1790), were born in Hanover.
Hanson is a very pleasant and industrious farming and manufacturing town, situated in the northern part
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of Plymouth County, about 25 miles south by southeast of Boston. The Plymouth Branch of the Old Colony Railroad runs diagonally through the town, having stations at two postal villages, Hanson (centre) and South Hanson. The other villages are North Hanson and Gurney's Corners. The Hanover Branch of the Old Colony Railroad has a station within a few rods of the northeast angle of the town.
The boundaries of Hanson are Rockland and Hanover on the north, Pembroke on the east, Halifax on the south, and East Bridge- water and Whitman on the west. The assessed area is 9,030 acres, of which 6,014 are devoted to forest. The trees are almost exclu- sively pine and oak. There are low hills at the north, three on the eastern side, and an extended elevation at the centre; but with these slight exceptions the surface is nearly a level plain. It embraces several extensive ponds and cedar swamps, - Oldham Pond on the eastern line; and further south, Indian-Head Pond, a beautiful sheet of water covering 156 acres. Its outlet, on which are several mill sites, flows north to North River. Poor Meadow Brook, a very crooked stream, flowing southward to Satucket River, drains the western section of the town.
Beds of iron ore are found in these ponds; and there is also a valuable stone quarry in the town. Cranberries and strawberries are largely cultivated. There are 127 farms, whose aggregate prod- uct in 1885 was $67,193. The manufactures are boots and shoes, tacks and shoe nails, carriages, straw goods, wooden boxes and leather. There are several mills for sawing house lumber, box- boards and small articles, and for grinding grain. Some 50 persons are employed in making tacks and nails, and about 150 in shoemak- ing. The valuation in 1888 was $578,905, with a tax-rate of $14.30 on $1,000. The population was 1,227, and there were 318 houses. The legal voters numbered 368.
The town-hall cost, for building and furnishing, about $8,000; the seven school buildings, valued at upwards of $5,000, accommodate two grammar and five primary schools. There are a small associa- tion library and two Sunday-school libraries. The churches are two - Congregational and Baptist.
Hanson -previously the West Parish of Pembroke - was incor- porated a town February 22, 1820. Its name was chosen, without any regard of significance, out of many that were suggested; and it seems to be a very good one,- brief, good-looking and euphonious. Nearly all the territory was embraced in a purchase made by Major Josiah Winslow of the Indian sachem, Josiah Wampatuck, on the 9th of JJuly, 1692. Many Indian relics have been discovered in the neighborhood of the ponds, and the line of an Indian trail through Great Cedar Swamp is shown. Among the early settlers were Josiah Browne, who lived in the southern, and Edward Thomas, in the northern, parts of the town.
A church was organized here August 31, 1748; and the Rev. Gad Hitchcock, D.D., was then ordained pastor; remaining in this ministry until his death, August 8, 1803. The Baptist church was
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organized in 1812, and the Rev. Joseph Torrey was the first pastor. This town furnished the sum of $19,502 and 131 men for the late war, 21 of whom lost their lives therefrom, either in or after leaving the service.
Hardware, a village in Canton.
Hardwick is a prosperous agricultural and manufacturing town near the middle of the western side of Worcester County, 75 miles west of Boston. The Massachusetts Central Railroad winds through the town, having a station at Fur- nace Village (Hardwick station), in the eastern part, and another at Gilbertville, in the southern part.
Dana and Barre lie upon the northeastern and northwestern sides, New Braintree is on the southeast, Ware on the south, and Enfield on the west. The assessed area is 23,998 acres, with 5,287 in wood- land. The surface is rough and hilly. The most notable elevation is Mount Dougal, in the southern part, overlooking the busy village of Gilbertsville, on Ware River. This stream forms the long south- eastern line of the town, and furnishes excellent powers. Moose and Danforth brooks, having some mill sites, flow into it from the north; and Muddy River flows through a series of small ponds in the north and middle portion of the town to Muddy Pond, at the southern border.
The soil is deep, moist and strong, producing fine crops of hay and grain, and affording excellent pasturage. The town has 22,607 fruit trees. The aggregate product of the 195 farms in 1885 was $214,027. The manufactures consist of woollen goods, paper, boots and shoes, furniture, lumber, iron goods and building stone. The paper mill employs from 15 to 20 persons, and the woollen mills upwards of 800. The population in 1875 was 1,992; in 1885 it was 3,145, of whom 520 were legal voters. The houses were 373 in number. The valuation in 1888 was $1,375,800, with a tax-rate of $14 on $1,000.
There are eleven school buildings, valued at upwards of $20,000. The Gilbertville Library has about 1,500 volumes, and the Hardwick Free Library nearly the same number. There are a Congregational church at Hardwick, and a Congregational, a union and a Roman Catholic at Gilbertville.
The Indian name of this place was Wombemesisecook. The land was bought of the two sachems, John Magus and Lawrence Nasso- wanno, in 1686, by John Lamb and others, for twenty English pounds. It bore the name of "Lambstown " until its incorporation, January 10, 1737. The town was probably named from Philip York, Lord Hardwicke, of the Privy Council, and chief justice of the Court of King's Bench. The first church was organized Novem- ber 17, 1736, and the Rev. David White ordained as pastor.
General Timothy Ruggles, a noted royalist, was long a resident of the town. Early in the Revolution his five farms, with their stock of thirty horses, his deer-park, and other property, were con- fiscated.
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Hardwick sent some forty soldiers into the Union army in the late war, of whom about ten were killed in battle, or died of disease contracted in the service. This town has also given to the. country Dr. Jonas Fay (1737-1818), a prominent statesman; Moses Robin- son (1741-1813), United States senator 1791-1796; and the Rev. Lucius R. Paige, D.D. (1802), an able preacher and historian, for many years a resident of Cambridge.
Harris, a village in Rehoboth.
Harrison Square, a locality in the Dorchester district of Boston.
Harrisville, in Clinton; also in West Boylston, and in Winchendon.
Hartsbrook, a village in Hadley.
Hartsville, in New Marlborough.
Harvard is a fine farming town forming one of the north- east angles of Worcester County, and is 38 miles from Boston. The Worcester and Nashua Railroad (a division of the Boston and Maine) runs through the western part, having a station at the southwest, near Still River Village. Shaker Village occupies the northeast extremity of the town; and near the north line is Ayer Junction on the Fitchburg Railroad. It is bounded on the north by Ayer, east by Littleton and Boxborough, on the south by Bolton, and on the west by Lancaster and Shirley. The assessed area is 16,144 acres ; 5,447 being forests of oak, chestnut, maple and pine.
The land is beautifully diversified by hills, valleys, ponds and streams. Pin Hill, of curious pyramidal form, has an altitude of nearly 200 feet. It contains a valuable quarry of blue slate, from which many gravestones are cut. A coarse variety of granite is the prevailing stone. Prospect Hill, in the western part of the town, is worthy of its name; a vast extent of country, in addition to the beautiful valley of the Nashua, being visible from its sum- mit. Just south of Harvard Centre is Bare Hill Pond, a very fine sheet of water of about 206 acres, adorned with several islands and well stored with fish. The waters of Hell Pond, in the northwest of the town, occupying a space of about 50 acres, have a depth of 90 feet,- hence the name, curiously enough. Near by is Robbin's Pond. Still River flows through the southeast part of the town to Nashua River, which forms the entire western line. On a stream at the eastern line, south, are saw and grist mills. On Bower Brook, flowing into Bare Hill Pond from the south, is a saw mill; on a stream at the eastern line, south, are saw mills and grist mills; and on Cold Stream Brook, the outlet of Bare Hill Pond, running north through the midst of the town, are also saw and grist mills. A mile
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or two east of these, on Bennett's Brook, is the Shaker village, a scene of neatness, industry and thrift. Here also are a saw mill and , grist mill, also their herb-house, school-house and meeting-house. In 1780 this community numbered about 150; at which figure it had remained for many years. The entire population of the town at that date was 1,341; in 1885 it was 1,184.
The soil of this town is a black loam, strong and fertile, and ad- mirably adapted to the growth of fruit and forest trees; and large quantities of apples, pears, chestnuts and walnuts are exported. The intervale lands upon the Nashua River are remarkably produc- tive of the usual farm crops. The aggregate product of the Har- vard farms, 210 in number, in 1885, was 8229,533. Some canning of fruits is done by the Shakers; some agricultural implements are made; but all except one or two saw mills and grist mills have fallen into disuse; one having been changed to a wool-scouring mill. The entire manufactured product of the last census year was valued at $73,318. There are 271 dwelling-houses. The valuation of the town in 1888 was $933,445, with a tax-rate of $10.40 on $1,000. There are a town-hall, a town library of about 4,000 volumes, an association library of about 1,000, and the Bromfield School library, somewhat larger. Besides this school, which has buildings worth some $15,- 000, there are nine public-school buildings, valued at about $9,000. The churches are the Unitarian, Congregationalist, Baptist and Shakers.
Harvard was taken from Lancaster, Groton and Stow and incor- porated, January 29, 1732. The Rev. John Seecomb was the first minister of the first church, which was organized in 1733.
This town furnished 162 soldiers for the Union armies in the late war, of whom 16 lost their lives in the service.
Harwich, one of the most characteristic and pleasant of the Cape Cod towns, lies on its south side, about midway of Barnstable County, southeast from Boston, and about 85 miles distant by the Old Colony Railroad. This road has three stations in the town,- North Harwich at the northwest, Harwich (centre) and Pleasant Lake, on the north side. The other villages are West Harwich, Harwich Port and South Harwich, on the south side, and East Harwich on Pleasant Bay, which has Orleans on its north side and Chatham on its south. The last-mentioned town is the boundary on the east, Brewster lies on the north, Dennis on the west ; while the south side, scarcely deviating from the straight line of the 41º 40' parallel of latitude, is washed by the waters of the Atlantic. The assessed area of this town is 8,670 acres; of which 2,414 acres are occupied by a growth of oak and pine trees.
There are several fresh-water ponds, the largest being Long Pond on the Brewster line; and another is Pleasant Lake, giving a name to the railroad station near it. From the latter sheet of water issues Herring River, the most considerable stream of the town, flowing southward to the sea at West Harwich. From it many shad and alewives are annually taken. The town abounds in romantic
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dells and shady retreats, admirably adapted to the use of holiday parties and recreation. There are small elevations near the centre, one on the western side and one on the northeast.
The farms are 113 in number. Nearly 500 acres are devoted to cranberry culture; and this crop, in 1885, was 12,180 barrels, worth $72,995. There is a fair number of fruit trees, which yield well. The soil is sandy, but with a little fertilizing produces good crops of rye, maize, and the common vegetables. The value of the aggre- gate erop in 1885 was $83,431. There are two shipyards, two or three cooperages, one or more stone quarries, two or three carriage factories, a tannery, a machine shop, a printing office, food establish- ments, and the usual small industries of a farming and sea-shore town. The aggregate product of manufactures in the last census year was $83,431. There are some 350 mariners and 50 or more fishermen having residence in the town. Five schooners, aggrega- ting 1,519 tons, were engaged in transportation ; and 9 schooners, 7 sloops, 15 sail-boats, 45 dories and 14 seine boats were engaged in the fisheries. The catch of mackerel in 1885 was valued at $41,727; of cod, $9,473. The whale product was $467 ; and clams, $235. These and other fish aggregated in the value of $55,691. Harwich has a national bank with a capital of $300,000; and a savings bank, having, at the close of last year, $418,478 in deposits.
The valuation of the town in 1888 was $1,001,535, with a tax-rate of $16 on $1,000. There are 785 dwelling-houses, 2,783 inhabitants, and 845 legal voters. The schools are graded, and occupy nine buildings valued at nearly $15,000. In the villages are ten libraries in a degree accessible to the public. The "Harwich Independent" is an old institution, but ever fresh in its weekly contents. The churches are Baptist, two Congregational, Methodist and Roman Catholic. The Baptist church (at West Harwich) is said to be the oldest on the Cape.
The Indian name of this place was Satucket, extending across the Cape. It was incorporated as the town of Harwich September 14, 1694, taking its name from a town in England. The territory of Brewster was set off from it in 1803. The first church was organ- ized, with the Rev. Edward Pell for its minister, November 6, 1747. The records are well preserved and curious. The land here was bought of Matty Quason, or his heirs. The Satucket Indians, num- bering as many as 500 in 1694, lived in the northwest part of the town; and traces of them still remain.
Hastingsville, in Framingham. Hatchfield, a village in Falmouth,
Hatfield is an ancient and handsome town at the middle of the northern side of Hampshire County, about 120 miles west of Boston. It is situated on the right bank of the Con- nectient River, which forms its entire eastern line; then, bending westward, forms about half its southern line. The Connecticut
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GAZETTEER OF MASSACHUSETTS.
River Railroad passes through the midst of the town north and south, having stations at the north, south and centre. Whately lies on the north, Hadley on the east, the latter and Northampton on the south, and the last and Williamsburgh on the west.
The villages are at the centre, north, south and west. The as- sessed area is 9,212 acres, which includes 2,304 acres of forest.
The land is level and alluvial on the river, undulating in the . centre and mountainous in the west. There are extensive marshes in the southern section; while on the western border the Horse Mountain rises as a mighty barrier to the height of about 1,000 feet. There is a gentle inclination of the land toward the south; and in that direction are the currents of Broad Brook, Mill River and other streams that drain the town. The southern terminns of the base line of the Trigonometrical Survey of the State is within an irregular semicircle formed by a bend in Mill River, in the southern section of the town.
The geological formation is sienite, middle shales, and sandstone ; and in these are found galena, blende, heavy spar, copper pyrites, crystals of yellow quartz and other minerals. The soil is fertile, and remunerative crops of maize, wheat, rye, hay and tobacco are produced. Hatfield, for more than a century and a half, enjoyed a reputation for fat cattle; but the tobacco crop, according to the census, is now far the most valuable item; being, in 1885, 929,993 pounds, worth $99,938. The aggregate farm product was valued at $273,568. The manufactures are guns, building stone, brooms, food preparations, tobacco. etc., valued, in the aggregate, at $73,428. The valuation in 1888 was $886,900, with a tax-rate of $9.50 on $1,000.
The dwelling-houses numbered 274; the inhabitants, 1,367; legal voters, 319.
The public library has upwards of 3,000 volumes. There were five school buildings, valued at about $10,000. Smith Academy, founded in 1871, has a building and appurtenances valued at $24,000. This was founded by Miss Sophia Smith,-a native and long a resident of the town; and who was also the founder of Smith Col- lege, in Northampton. She was the daughter of Oliver Smith, who established the Smith Charity Fund, which several years since amounted to over a million dollars. The church is Congregational.
This place was once a part of Hadley, and was incorporated as a town on the 11th of May, 1670. It was probably called Hatfield from a parish of this name in England. The church was organized in 1670; and the Rev. Hope Atherton was that year ordained as pastor.
Hatfield suffered seriously during Philip's War. "On the 30th of May, 1675," says an early historian, "from six to seven hundred Indians invaded Hatfield; their first work being to set on fire 12 buildings without the fortification. At this time, almost every man belonging to the plantation was at work in the meadow; and while the palisaded dwellings were attacked at every point, and bravely defended by the few who remained, and while a large number of the
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HATFIELD.
savages were busy in killing cattle or driving them off, 150 Indians entered the meadow to engage the planters. The flames of the burning buildings were seen at Hadley; and 25 young men left that town immediately and arrived in the meadow just in season to save the planters from entire destruction. Five of their number fell in the conflict; and 25 Indians were killed,- being one to each man who went over from Hadley.
On the. 19th of October, 1675, a body of more than 700 Indians, elated by successes in Deerfield, approached the outposts of this town, having cut off the scouts that had been sent out to watch for their approach. Poole and his men entered into a spirited defence of one extremity ; while the veteran Moseley dealt death to the enemy in the centre. Captain Appleton, with the Hadley forces, was soon on the ground, and engaged the foe at the other extremity. The enemy were repulsed at every point. The engagement took place just at the close of the day ; and the enemy had been enter- tained so hotly, that they retired in great haste and confusion, only having had time to burn a few barns and other outbuildings, and drive off a number of cattle. Ten of the settlers were killed, and the loss of the Indians must have been considerable.
Again, on the 19th day of September, 1677, "a party of about 50 Indians from Canada, who had descended the Connecticut to Hat- field, fell upon that town, shot down three men outside of the forti- fications, and, breaking through, killed 11 men, women, and children, and captured and took away a large number. The attack occurred at 11 o'clock in the morning, and while the principal part of the men were at work in the meadows. Benjamin Waite and Stephen Jennings, whose wives were taken, afterwards went to Quebec, and, for £200, redeemed the captives.
The first open and decided measures to oppose the State govern- ment, in what is known as Shays' Insurrection, were taken in this town, whose people were in strong sympathy with that movement. On the 22nd of August, 1786, a convention of delegates from 50 towns assembled here, and, in a session of three days, set forth in detail what they considered the grievances of the people; among which were " the existence of the senate," "the existence of the courts of common pleas, and general sessions of the peace," and " the general court sitting in the town of Boston;" and they voted that a revision of the constitution ought to be made. Four days subsequent to the rising of this convention, the court-house at Northampton was surrounded by armed insurgents, and the doors closed.
But, though many of the citizens of Hatfield were in sympathy with the insurgents, some of them were loyal; and one at least, as we learn from the following inscription, sealed his loyalty with his blood :
"To the memory of Mr. Jacob Walker, who, respected by the brave, beloved by his country's friends, dear to his relations, while manfully defend- ing the laws and liberties of the Commonwealth, nobly fell by the impious hand of treason and rebellion on the 17th of February, 1787, in the 32nd year of his age. Citizen passing, drop a tear, and learn to imitate the brave."
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Eminent persons : Jonathan Dickinson (1688-1747), first presi- dent of Princeton College; Ephraim Williams, founder of Williams College; Elisha Williams (1694-1755), president of Yale College from 1726 to 1739; Oliver Partridge (1712-1792), member of the first Colonial Congress; Oliver Smith (1766-1845), a wealthy and benevolent farmer, who left an estate of about $370,000, the most of which he devised to educational and charitable purposes; and Miss Sophia Smith (1796-1870), a woman of tender sensibilities and noble Christian endeavor, and the founder of Smith Academy in Hatfield, and Smith College in Northampton.
Havenville, in Burlington.
HAVERHILL, the Pentucket of the Indians, is an enterprising and uncommonly beautiful city, noted for the manufacture of boots and shoes, and for its recent growth and industrial prosperity. It lies in the northerly part of Essex County, on the north bank of the Merrimack River, at the head of tide-water and of sloop navigation ; and is, by the Boston and Maine Railroad, 32 miles north of Boston, and 78 miles south- west from Portland. It is connected with Bradford and Groveland by substantial bridges, and with Newburyport by water and by the Haverhill Branch and the Danvers and Newburyport Railroad.
The town contains three postal centres - Haverhill, East Haver- hill, and Ayer's Village (in the northwest angle) ; the other villages being East Parish, North Parish, Riverside, Rocks Village, Tilton's Corner, and West Parish. It has for its boundaries the New Hamp- shire line on the northwest; this and Merrimack on the northeast ; the Merrimack River, separating it from Newbury and Groveland, on the southeast; the same river, between it and Bradford, on the south; and Methuen on the southwest. The assessed area is 15,520 acres, including 940 acres of woodland. There are 163 farms, whose aggregate product in 1885 had the value of $173,973.
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