USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Dracut > History of Dracut, Massachusetts, called by the Indians Augumtoocooke and before incorporation, the wildernesse north of the Merrimac. First permanment settlement in 1669 and incorporated as a town in 1701 > Part 20
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George W. More, Dracutt Alanson O. Ordway, Lowell William W. Reed, Dracutt Enoch M. Reed, Dracutt
Edward F. Sherman, Dracutt William P. Spaulding, Lowell Francis B. Stanwood, Lowell Ephraim Stevens,
Manchester, N. H. Natt Stickney, Dracutt Joseph E. Sweetser, Lowell Joseph W. Tapley, Lowell Joshua Thissell, Jr., Dracutt Frederick W. Tuxbury,
Pelham, N. H. Joseph B. Varnum, Dracutt John Waugh, Lowell Timothy Webber, Lowell Abel A. Wheeler, Lowell James W. White, Lowell Edward Wilson, Dracutt William H. Wood, Lowell Total number-35
Female Department
Emma C. Bamford, Lowell Margaret M. Bartlett, Plymouth
Jane E. Bartlett, Plymouth Elizabeth Bell, Chester, N. H. Louisa W. Bradley, Dracntt Mary J. Bradley, Dracutt Harriett Bradley, Dracutt
Susan Burnham, Pelham, N. H. Margaret W. W. Borland, Dracutt Joan C. Caryll, Lowell
Mary A. Coburn, Dracutt Lauretta Coburn, Dracutt Elizabeth Dana, Lowell
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SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES AND LYCEUMS
Olivin P. Eastman, Lowell Mary A. Farnsworth, Harvard Mary A. French, Lowell Civvil M. Fry, Lowell Belinda P. Hadley, Chelmsford
Maria J. R. Hastings, Lowell
Susan Hildreth, Dracutt Harriett Hildreth, Dracutt Lucinda Hill, Dracutt Mary J. Hill, Hopkinton Harriett Kimball, Lowell Joanna Kittredge, Dracutt Hannah Kittredge, Dracutt Lucy P. Lawrence, Lowell Sophia J. Lyon, Pelham, N. H. Martha P. Merriam, Chelmsford Lonisa J. Murdock, Lowell
Cornelia M. Murdock, Lowell
Ann M. Parker, Lowell
Jane M. Parker, Lowell
Sarah A. G. Paul, Lowell Marietta Reed, Lowell Sophia Richardson, Dracutt Artemisia Richardson, Tewksbury Lucian Rollins, Lowell Margaret B. Rollins, Lowell Nancy W. Rollins, Lowell Sarah Shedd, Lowell
Alsey Stevens, Dracutt Mary J. Tapley, Lowell Sarah A. Tapley, Lowell Caroline B. Varnum, Dracutt Mary B. Varnum, Dracutt Susan H. Varnum, Dracutt Mary A. Webster, Dracutt Elizabeth White, Lowell Irene C. Wight, Dracutt Jerusia B. Wight, Dracutt Charity B. Winslow, Lowell Eliza A. Wood, Lowell Mary M. Worthen, Dracutt Susanna Wyman, Lowell Sarah A. Wyman, Lowell Total number-56
SINGING SCHOOLS
Until recent years, music has not been taught in the public schools, but instead of this method of instruction singing schools have been conducted in different parts of the town by private enterprise. About 1825, Josiah Griffin of Methuen taught a school at Dracut Center. A few years later, in Districts No. 7 and No. 9, these schools were conducted by the brothers Phineas and Edward Richardson. About 1860, Mr. Pinkham of Lowell taught a school at Dracut Center. At the vestry of the First Congregational Church of Dracutt the brothers Coffran and Vespasian Nutting taught, followed by Prof A. D. Greeley of Pelham, N. H., who also taught at the Center. In 1870, Shapley Morgan taught several terms and the last terms were in charge
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of Charles P. Hutchinson. The long evenings of the winter seasons were favorable to the young people of the town who met for instruction in singing.
LYCEUMS
To those who were unable to sing and who may be found in each generation, the lyceum provided an opportunity for instruction in debate which was of value to the citizens when attending town meetings or serving in the Legislature. In 1829, a society was formed under the name of the "Dracut Mutual Debating Society" of which the secretary's record is preserved. The earliest date is Dec. 1, 1829, and the list of members com- prises the most prominent and influential men in the town. They were farmers, physicans, manufacturers, lawyers and ministers, and the records show that these debates were inter- esting and instructive. The first question was presented by John A. Doak: "Is reading novels beneficial to society ?" This, after discussion, was decided in the negative. Another question was "Has wine or women been the cause of the greatest evil to society?" By a vote of 16 to 1 it was decided that wine was the greater evil. The record terminates abruptly in the spring of 1830 with a vote to meet in April for the transaction of special business.
A lyceum was organized at the Center about 1855. It is said to have been very successful, but no records have been found. This was not strictly a debating society, but included recitations and a paper was presented at each meeting prepared under the direction of an editor and to which the members contributed articles of poetry and prose. About this time a lyceum was organized and meetings held in Goodhue's Hall, which was in a building now at the corner of Lakeview Avenue and Pleasant Streets. It was conducted along the same line as the one at the Center.
LIBRARIES
The town library was not established until a recent date. It was among the last of the towns in the state to provide in this manner for the benefit of the public. This was not on ac-
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count of an absence of desire for intellectual study or recrea- tion, but rather on account of the shape of the town which is long and narrow and composed of four villages, which pre- vents the gathering of the public buildings at any place which accommodates the town. There was a small library owned by each district which was placed in some farmhouse near the schoolhouse and to which the scholars had access and the privilege of reading the books. These were specially adapted for instruction to the school children and no provision was made for the adult portion of the community.
About 1900 a library was purchased by private subscrip- tion and placed in the residence of Roswell S. Fox, and the use of the books was for the benefit of all who wishied to read them. The existence of this library was of short duration as that same year the town appropriated $200 for the purpose of establishing a town library. The schoolhouse at the Center had become vacant, the school being removed to a larger build- ing, and the lower story had been arranged for town offices. The upper room was provided with shelves and cases, and books purchased. The Massachusetts Free Library Committee furnished 120 volumes and a large number of books were pre- sented by individuals.
Library stations have been established at Collinsville, the Navy Yard village, Kenwood and East Dracut, where card catalogues are placed and the books conveyed which permits the distribution of the books in all parts of the town. A small room, formerly a cloak room, is used for a meeting place for the trustees and a reference room. On its shelves are placed encyclopedias, genealogical records, vital records of the towns in this state and books of reference and general information which may be consulted at the library, but are not for general distribution. A former recitation room, being vacant, has been arranged with cabinets in which are placed articles which are usually found in museums. In addition to articles of curiosity. a collection of old household utensils, farming tools, military equipment, stuffed birds and animals and geological specimens has been made.
The control of the library is in the hands of a board of trustees numbering six members who represent the different
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parts of the town. The officers elected each year are a chair- man and secretary who must be a member of the board. The trustees employ a librarian and assistant who cannot legally be members of the board. The call for gifts of books met with a hearty response, also gifts of curiosities for the museum. The town has, for several years, appropriated $1,000 for its support, which enables the trustees to purchase the latest books. The trustees have been instrumental in completing work which would be beneficial to the town. They secured the printing of the vital records of the town previous to 1850, which may be found in the state libraries of every state in the United States, also in every town and college library in Massachusetts. A fund known as the Eddy fund, to which the state makes an annual appropriation of money, enables the towns to publish these records with the expenditure of a small sum of money.
GEORGE W. COBURN
(See Page 378)
CHAPTER XIV.
ROADS, FERRIES AND BRIDGES
T HE first settlers north of the river needed few highways. In this vicinity they lived near the north side of the river, consequently one or possibly two roads leading to the place of crossing were all that were needed. As the number of their cattle increased it created a demand for hay for winter use, and as English hay had not been introduced their dependence was upon the meadows for their supply. The low land about the first settlement was not sufficient to produce hay enough, but on Double Brook, Beaver Brook and Long Pond there were swamps which, when cleared of bushes, furnished a sufficient quantity. Cart roads were made leading to these meadows which later were laid out and became the present highways.
Previous to the time when Webb disposed of his holdings, he requested the selectmen of Chelmsford to lay out a road from his house to Chelmsford common. The answer to his peti- tion is recorded :
"Mr. John Web Desiring A high Way from his farme over meremack River Towards Chelmsford the Selectmen Consider- ing thereof have appointed William fletcher and James parker to Laye Out the Same, And the aforesd William and James make thare Returns to the selectmen that they have Deter- mined The aforesd way to Begin at meremack River where Mr. John Web made his Ware [weir] And so to be of a Seficant Bredth for Carting And to Run throw to the Comon Witness In the Name of the selectmen the 29th :7:1668. Sam'll Adams Recorder."
This appears to have been satisfactory to the families of the Coburns and Varnums for several years but in 1710 the owner of the land on the south side of the river attempted to close the road. The settlers in Dracut desiring only their rights petitioned the General Court as follows: "To the Hon- ord Court of ye Generil sessions of the peace Holden by her
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HISTORY OF DRACUT
Majestyes Justices in & for ye County of Mddlx June ye 13 1710 at Concord. The petition of severil of the Inhabitants of the Plantations called Draucutt scituat upon the Northerly side of Mirrimack river Humbly sheweth. That where as your peti- tioners as also our predecessors of ye fore cited place have for now fourty yeares peacebly enjoyed the free use of away to travil & go to Chelmsford over merimack river at ye landing place against ye now dwelling honse of Joseph Coleburn the wch way went from sd landing place cross ye farme wch did formerly belong to major Hinchman, the wch way as we ap- prehend is in the same place where it was layd out by order of the selectmen of Chelmsford and is more convenient upon severil accounts then any other place fer landing our boat both from winds and Ice in the season of ye year as also that place is more convenient to defend the Boat from ye Enemies if assaulted there being no other house fortyfied at ye river but sd Colburns there being nine or ten houses near thereto all which desire the way may be there being the principle part of sd plantation. But there is now one Jonathan Howard a cucenssor upon the sd farm of major Hinchman doth stop us in our pass- ing in sd way by fencing us from going there when we did apprehend was onr right to go. And therefore we your poor petitioners Humbly beg and desire of this Honored Court to consider our Condition and order something to be done to effect.
DANIELL COBURN JOSEPH COBURN
in the name of the rest"
The answer to the petition was favorable as a brief report of the court will show: "July ye 30 1710 The Court Consider- ing the danger of laying sd way any where else Especially in time of War Order that the sd way be Continued and used as it is now Till this Conrt Shall See Cause to alter the same and sd Dracut men to pay costs."
The Howard farm mentioned in the petition afterward came into possession of Dr. J. C. Ayer. An old path still leads under the railroad bridge to the river and a ferry existed later at this place. The second record to be found is in the files of the Middlesex County Court of General Sessions and is endorsed,
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"A Copy of the Highways in Dracut." And again in a later handwriting, "Coppy of Laying out Roads in the Town of Dracutt."
The copy was made by Ephraim Hildreth, who became town clerk in 1713, and appears to embody the records of two of his predecessors, Daniel Colburn, clerk in 1710, and John Varnum, clerk in 1711-12. The record gives the historian very little information as the locations of points given are forgotten and some of these projected roads may never have had an ex- istence, but as a literary curiosity, showing the spelling, lack of punctuation marks and the abscence of the rules governing the use of capital letters which were not made until a century and a quarter later, it is given in full.
"The Committey that was chose Began at the Eastly and [easterly end] at the hill coled flage mado hill then they begon To lay out ways and so went over the brook and by marymack Reuer untel they Came all a Long By marcked Trees-then Returned Back a gain to a Dam Coled John Varnums Dam By marymack Reuer-then Begon a gain over this Dam or very near it and so went along to the East side of a hill that is near Petockit mado over a lettel plain and so between two hills to Beuer Brook fals-then a lettel father and then By the Log fence untell wie came to Sardint [Sergeant] Hildreths house- then wee Returned a gain to the top of the hill Near the Brook that runs into the field-then we went towards Mr. wentrops farm and so laid the way the Lots men untell we came to a Brook near meremack all along by and with marcked trees- and allso we Began the Way at Dunstable line a Bout a pine tree By the path so run thru the Varnums land over Carletts [Scarlets] Brook and through the Colburns here and by two Round ponds and a lon Down the hill to John Colburns hous as is mareked and Bounded and so Runs two Rod and a half wide By the Houses Deches and By a dech Coled Sethell Dech tel thay came to a Brook in Joseph Colburns Land that Runs into Sechels meado and Cros a lot of his land till it coms to Run between Daniel Colburn and Samawell Colburn and so to Run on till it Coms to Varnums fence a long by Joseph Varnums orchard and along thru the varnums land By
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HISTORY OF DRACUT
flag a mado hillside on his south side-to Disstinglesh the hige way that coms from merymack Rener by the Lotmens at a destance By Ephraim Hildreth hous by the East side of the hill by petocket mado through the varnums thrugh the Col- burns Land Near there houses through huts to Dunstable line- allso a way Laid out for Ephraim Hildreth through Mr. belsher or how so euer it is to his twelve acars of meado-and allso a way Laid out to the meado which goes by the Name of the Grat or furder meados by the Colburns and Varnums meado we be- gon this Way at the Contry Rode By the ministrers thirty acars Lot and so runs on the olde way to wegwom Bredg to Beauer Broock Brege and there Runs on the west side of meado once coaled alleokes and so Runs on to the olde way a gainst the plain that Is beyond Doble Berege and Keeps on the olde way over the meado Brock and to the New meado-we laid out the old way that hath Ben improved all by marcked trees Dracuett in the year 1711 over the Brock Caled Clay pet Brock which Comes out of the Sprouce Swampt on the East side of it there we begon and laid out a way frum the hige way that Runs By the Dech and a long Near the Brock alettel space off untell it Come a gain the old fordway and so Runs on a lettel hill and By the End of the Long Pond mado-and allso a nother way weay laid out for the propehietrs. On the same place that is from the Country Rode a long the old way to Barmado [Bear meadow] then to spronce Swampt mado and Consearing the Spang that is Eaza Colburn Junior that Runs out of the New mados a way laid out fer footmen and horsmen to Goo ouer and fer Carts on the Norwesterly End at a Narro place Daniel Colburn town Clark-the Country Rode from the meting house as to the Gompos Lots ear marckt-a corb way Beginning at Joseph Colburns hous a long by the Reuer to Thomas Varnums land to the Bank of the Dech So Roning northerly Crosing Brocke so roning Northeast of the North side of the orchard One Rod and a half wide from thence in a open Rode to Doble Brock mado as trees ear marcked-also a Rode from the hieway that Runes to Dunstable By John Col- burns hons a long by the Dech on the North side of it to the Wastward corner of it as it is Bounded-the way that Begings at John varnums Dam that is by the Reuer and so Rones down
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ROADS, FERRIES AND BRIDGES
to Beuear Brock By petockit foles Is a corbway and Not a open Rode-also a Rode that Begins a hieway at Beuer foles Runing Norwest to the old mado way a Bout two Rod and a half wide. Allso a Rode Beginning at the Rode that goes to the Colburns Newmeados so Runing northward near the Varnums and Col- burns old mado Crossing a Brock Between two letel hills as tis mareked By trees so Running By marcked trees to the farm that was Richard Collecockts on Goldings Brook that Runing Eastwardly thru the farm that was Negros [Negus']-allso the Rode that gose to the old mados which Is the Colburns and varnums Is to go to euery lot allso there is full liberty and preulig to sled hay ouer the olde meados In winter time from Golding meados Collecots Retten with Derection with two of the Committy that Layd out the Rods and ways that ear here named Dracut april the third in the year 1711
JOHN VARNUM town CI
Witness Danil Colburn Joseph Varnum Etast
Ephraim Hildreth Town Clerk."
As many of these locations are unknown except to a few who have made a study of them, a reference to them will assist the reader in placing them; possibly there will be the same information in other chapters. Flag Meadow Hill is the well- known site of the Lowell General Hospital and the meadow lies on the northeast side. John Varnum's dam was at the narrow place in the river at the foot of the rapids, near the textile school. The road from the dam to Beaver brook falls must have been Riverside street. But a road appears to have been laid out nearer the river towards the mouth of Beaver brook. In the report of a committee on fishing rights on the river, made in 1817, they quote from a town record, now miss- ing, that "a road was laid out by the town committy from Flag Meadow Hill to the mouth of Beaver Brook." Also from the present town records that the town "made an agreement with Joseph Varnum and Joseph Varnum Jr. to discontinue
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HISTORY OF DRACUT
the said road from the lower hole so called to the mouth of Beaver Brook."
Sergeant Ephraim Hildreth is supposed to have lived near the residence of his great grandson, Dr. Israel Hildreth, near the Hildreth cemetery, and the road from his house to the falls would be Hildreth and Pleasant Streets. "Then we returned to the top of the hill" that is to Hovey Square, and the "way to Mr. Winthrops' would be by way of Pleasant and Arlington streets, as at present. The road from Dunstable line across Scar- let's brook and through the Colburn property would appear to be what is now Varnnmn avenue, the brook in Joseph Colburn's land being Clay Pit brook. Pawtucket meadow was near the junction of Beaver brook with the river. The way for Mr. Hildreth to get to his meadow was very likely the present right- of-way leading from Greenmont avenue to the rifle range. The way from the minister's lot to the Great meadows was appar- ently what was called the Old Meadow road leading over the bridge, which crosses the brook above the site of the paper mill and which was then called Wigwam bridge.
Alcock's meadows were on the brook north of Lakeview avenue where the pumping station is located. "Doble Bridge" is not identified, but was possibly across Beaver brook, near Double brook. The way to Double brook meadow and Long Pond meadow was Totman road and Nashua road. "Gompos lots" laid on the west side of Beaver brook in Pelham, but the road to them is difficult to identify, although a portion of it would appear to be Mammoth road at Double Brook meadow. The road from Beaver falls, northwest to the Old Meadow road, must have been Hampson street. "Corb" is an obsolete form of curb and a corbway was a road probably over a swampy place, or the edge of a bank protected at the sides by a curb- ing of stone or logs to prevent teams from leaving the road. Bear Meadow lies northerly of Varnum avenue and is now crossed by the present line between Lowell and Tyngsboro and is southwest of Huckleberry hill. "Consearing the spang" is difficult to explain although a spang was a point of meadow projecting into the upland. Golding's brook is an outlet of Corbett's pond in Windham and enters Beaver brook about a quarter of a mile northeast of Pelham Center. The "farme that
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ROADS, FERRIES AND BRIDGES
was Richard Collecockte's" laid in the angle at the junction of the two brooks just mentioned.
The duties of the committee which had been appointed to select locations for the roads ceased with the year 1710, as at this time another committee which had divided the territory into lots were authorized to lay out highways, a duty for which they were qualified on account of their knowledge of the loca- tion of the lots. In 1721 the committee laid out a road to Haver- hill, this last named town adjoining Dracut on the east. The general direction is easy to determine, and a part of the road is in existence after a lapse of nearly two centuries. They re- port as follows :
"march the 25 1721
a highway Laid out in Dracut in middlesex in new england in the reserved Land at a place called Prims Lott and Highin- sons Land two or three Rod wide as it is here platted out with heaps of stones and trees blassed with 2 blasses next the highway beginning westerly at Winthrops farm with heaps of rocks running easterly over Rocky Land then turning partly northeasterly with trees marked down a hill of a plain then running partly easterly on the north side of the little pond hole so continuing easterly to the mine pit hill on the north side of another pond hole also on the north side of the mine pit hill on the north side of another pond with a little crooke also on the north side of the mine pit then running northeasterly on the south side of a spruce bog in Higginsons Land then turning partly easterly to the east line of Dracutt Town this is a country Road from Dracutt to Haverhill Laid out and plotted and recorded by a Committy for said worke
EZEKIEL CHEEVER JOSEPH VARNUM JAMES FALES"
In 1711, as before mentioned, the committee had laid out a road to Winthrop Farm and partly across it to the brook near the former residence of Dana Richardson, below Kenwood schoolhouse. It is probable that the new road connected with
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HISTORY OF DRACUT
this one, constituting the present travelled highway as far east as the cross road on which the Varnum burying ground is lo- cated. From this cross road to the George W. Coburn place, the road is of more recent date of location. The road to Haver- hill, above mentioned, turned to the north between the Varnum houses and continued about 40 rods nearly to the brook in the hollow, then turned in an easterly and northeasterly direction to the north side of the Mine Pit hill. The present road to the nickel mine starts from the present highway about a quarter of a mile east of the cross road on which the Varnum cemetery is located and reaches the old road before coming to the mine pit. It continues onward over the top of a ridge which forms one of the glacial eskers which have already been described, then running northeasterly it reaches a cross road which runs parallel with the last mentioned, terminating at the farm for- merly owned by Otis Whittier. At the present time it is sel- dom travelled, but it is within the recollection of people now living when it formed a means of communication between Dracut and Haverhill, now Methuen.
With the record there exists a very primitive drawing con- sisting of two rows of dots to represent the road with two small circles to give the location of the pond holes and which also shows the location of the mine pit. December 22, 1795, the town voted to "throw up the town way that leads from a black oak tree standin about 40 rods northerly of Col. Joseph Bradley Varnum's house and from thence eastwardly toward Benjamin Varnums house as far as to a white oak tree at a pair of bars sixty nine rods west of sd Benjamin Varnums house and accept in the room thereof a way laid out by Colonel Joseph B. Var- nums house and through his land to Benjamin Varnums land to the road and bound above mentioned." All traces of this road which was discontinued are obliterated, but at the place between the Varnum Cemetery and the brook where the black oak tree stood, there is now a pair of bars while the end of the road where the white oak stood is near the farm formerly owned by the late George W. Coburn. A measurement of sixty-nine rods west of the Coburn house above mentioned terminates at a pair of bars where is now a farm road which was probably the end of the discontinued highway.
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