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 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
249
ROADS, FERRIES AND BRIDGES
Another road is described as follows:
"March 25 1721 * * * beginning near the Colburns old meado Brook northerly of the spruce swamp which belongs to them so running northerly by trees marked then running more easterly to miry brook called Tonys brook then running south- easterly to Smiths meado which is Caleb Modys meado bounded with trees marked and heaps of rocks on rocks northeasterly crossing Island tree pond brooke near the south side of Gould- ings farm where the upland almost meets then running north- easterly on the southern end and eastward side of Spruce swamp to the Lotts upon Goldings brooke as far as the ledge of rocks and to the several lotts upon the Distracted meadows also a highway running northerly out of the above said highway to Joseph Varnums meadow upon Collicutts farm laid out plotted and recorded by us Commity for said worke.
EZEKIEL CHEEVER JOSEPH VARNUM JAMES FALES."
In addition to the record there is an old plan at the top of which Beaver and Gouldings brooks are shown with seven lines to indicate small brooks and "slows," as they are called, run- ning north into the larger brooks. The first is the New and Old Meadow brook, which is the Capt. Gilbert Coburn saw mill brook which crosses the County road north of the state line. The sec- ond is Tony's brook which enters Beaver brook a little west of the County road below the stone bridge. The third is Island tree pond brook. This is now called Gage's brook, but formerly Island Pond brook, and in this plan and other places the word tree is found for which no explanation can be given. At the place where the highway crosses this brook, "the place where the upland meets," exactly describes this crossing at the present time and it is noticeable that the old highways followed the high land thus avoiding swamps and meadows.
Fourth, "the Brooke running westerly out of the Distracted meadows into Goldings brooke." These meadows are north of Gage Hill, lying in Pelham and Windham, and the brook runs into Simpson's pond, then called Ledge of Rocks pond. The spruce swamp first mentioned is north of Coburn's New Meadow
250
HISTORY OF DRACUT
brook and the Old Meadows and is crossed by the County road about half a mile north of the State line. The second spruce swamp lies north of Gage Hill road. This describes the road as beginning at the former Lyon farm on Sawmill or New Meadow brook and forms the present County road to Pelham Center until it reaches the Oscar Carlton farm, when it turns sharply to the north and again to the east and continues on through the Atwood district to Gage Hill. It appears to have been an extension and relocation of a road laid out in 1711 to the Caldicot and Negus grants. The road leading from this highway to "Joseph Varnums meadow" exists only as a right of way above the Atwood farms which is used by farmers to reach the Goulding Brook meadows.
The ledge on the road above the first mentioned spruce swamp is referred to in Morrison's "History of Windham." A family by the name of MeAdams recently arrived from Scot- land, while on their way to Londonderry, arrived at this ledge on Saturday night. In accordance with their principles to do no labor or travelling on the Sabbath, they rested here over the day and held religious services in the shelter of the ledge. This must have occurred about 1740 and their route was prob- ably by this same road over Gage hill to the settlements near Corbett's Pond. March 25, 1721, a highway was laid out for the owners of the Gumpus lots to enable them to reach their meadows and to give access to the meadows north of Gage Hill from the west of Dracut. It ran easterly from the Gumpus lots nearly to Beaver brook, then the record shows that it turned northerly upon a pine plain to a convenient place to make a bridge over Beaver brook and then ran "on the north side of Collicuts and Golding farm to the meadow on Goldings brook." This describes the present road from Gumpus district to Pelham Center and northward towards Windham.
In recording the laying out of the road to Cedar pond, the whole record will be given: "March 25, 1721, A highway laid out esterly of Belshers Farm then running easterly to Seader pond Meadowes on ye north side of ye two Hundred acres Layed out for account of ve river Lootes, so running easterly on ye south sid of Antonnes Land and joseph Varnums Land below rigge hill turning through Inggoles Land then turning
251
ROADS, FERRIES AND BRIDGES
north easterle to Seader Pond Meadows" This was what is known as the Proprietors road. It is discontinued but used as a right of way to reach land not lying on any highway. It is south of and running parallel with Marsh Hill road and is north of the Dracut reservoir. A part of this road forms the road from Marsh Hill to east Dracut. "also anouther road Layed out westerly of cheevers and curtises Land so running north easterly by William Colbons house Loot to Seader Pond Meadows road."
The road leading past Curtis' land and William Coburn's house lot appears to have been what is now a part of Broad- way, but as it was relocated in 1736 it cannot be definitely located. But as the Curtis' house was later owned by James Fox, now the residence of Moses A. Daigle, and the William Coburn house lot was in the vicinity of the J. W. Thissell, now George R. Fox farm, the road must have been near the present one.
March 25, 1721, "A road laid out in the reserved lands lying at the north side of Colburns New Meadows running easterly then northerly upon the upland on the west side of Ingalls meadow to the lots that lye northward of the Colburns new meadows and so running across the southward of the lots to Cedar Pond road." Colburn's New Meadows were north of Marsh Hill and were south of the lots, so that this must have been the present road north of the State line and running parallel with Marsh Hill road. It evidently did not reach the last named road on Burns' Hill as at present, but connected with the old Cedar Pond road, near the farm formerly owned by Franklin C. Wilson. An old road runs through the woods from the Reuben Richardson farm to this point which was discon- tinued to be succeeded by the present one to Burns' Hill.
Rigge Hill was probably an esker in this vicinity. The way running north from Fox avenue to connect with the Cedar Pond road was not the present road which now passes the Dracut reservoir but a road parallel with the present one and lying on the west of the Worcester, now D. S. Fox farm. As already recorded, Belcher owned the tract west of the farm just mentioned. In 1736, he sold a parcel of this land to Hugh Jones of Wilmington. It was bounded on the east by a line
25
HISTORY OF DRACUT
220 rods in length lying on a road. This would extend from Fox avenue near the house of Albert N. Fox to a point near the house of Eugene C. Fox where it must have connected with the Cedar Pond road. No trace of this road exists.
In 1756 the town voted "to accept of the town way on the east side of the land of John Taylor his homestead," which was later the Worcester or D. S. Fox farm, for the high way that was laid out on the west side of Taylors land, provided, "that the said Taylor will give a sufficient security to the widow Rebekah Hildreth and her heirs to pass and repass to her meadow." Thus the road laid out in 1736 was discontinued and the present one located which was the highway to Lowell until the present County road was laid out. In 1788 this old road was laid out to reach the new Marsh Hill road nearly opposite the David Fox, now Clinton W. Fox house.
TOTMAN ROAD
The old house known as the Blood or Durkee house between Varnum avenue and the river stands on an old highway which, leading to Webbs Ferry, afterward owned by Edward Coburn, must be considered the second oldest road in the town. In 1668, the date of Webb's petition recorded in this chapter, the country lying north of this section was a wilderness, but soon the grants about the northern part of the present territory of the town were settled and Pelham and Londonderry were incorporated. All communication with the towns on the south side of the river was by way of this ferry and Totman road was the most direct way by which these settlers could reach Boston. Little is known of the settlement of families on this road and the land border- ing on the highway does not appear to have been cultivated in earlier years to any extent except in the vicinity of Varnum avenue until it reaches the Nashua road. It was called Zeel road, as the home of Barzillai Lew was located there. It thus became the great highway for the towns north of Dracut and continued so until the laying out of the Mammoth Road.
The Indians who lived at Pawtucket Falls doubtless fol- lowed this course to Long Pond and the settlers later found it convenient to use this same Indian trail which was in time the highway or, as Richard Hazen in his diary calls it, the "path."
253
ROADS, FERRIES AND BRIDGES
The Jonas Varnum house, now owned by Mr. Cameron, was built when the old road leading from the present Nashua road to the Mammoth road was the travelled road, as the front of the house indicates, but the locating of the Mammoth road left it on an unused road. Over this old road and through Totman road the soldiers hurried to the rendevous at the Lexington alarm, at the Durkee house, then belonging to Abraham Blood, and the level fields about the old house was the training ground. The Osgood house near Charles H. Cutter's, and owned by him and the Capt. Peter Coburn house, still standing north of Col- linsville, were on old roads which later became parts of the Mammoth road. The occupants of the Osgood house would reach Clark's ferry by way of the old Meadow road, while Capt. Coburn would travel over Totman road to Webbs', afterward Coburn's ferry. The Solomon Abbott house north of Joseph Varnum's, formerly Nat. Varnum's, would stand on the Indian trail leading to Long Pond.
THE OLD MEADOW ROAD
The first settlers were able to obtain only a limited quantity of hay in the vicinity of the river. They depended entirely on meadow hay, as the raising of hay on the uplands was unknown for several years. They located meadows and swamps north on New Boston village on Beaver brook, and proceeded to pre- pare a cartpath for the transportation of the hay to their barns. This was the first road to be used as a highway in the town and commenced on Varnum avenue running north and turning to the east crossing what is now Mammoth road, near the end of the electric car line, it reaches Hampson street and again turning north it crossed Beaver brook, near Meadow bridge. This was the fordway and the road continued practically as at present to the meadows above mentioned. As swampy or boggy land was difficult to cross, long detours were made, which accounts for the present crooked road.
FERRY LANE
From the first establishment of a ferry near Central bridge a way of access across the river from the Center would be re- quired. This way existed at a very early date and was known
254
HISTORY OF DRACUT
as Ferry Lane. It led from the Center through what is now known as Aiken avenne to the Hildreth Cemetery where it connected with the road from Hovey Square and thence through Hildreth street to near the house formerly owned by Warner Coburn. From this point it ran southwesterly to the river and probably on the river bank to the ferry. That portion of the way between West Sixth street and Lakeview Avenne is still in existence and forms a passageway between the two streets. It lies at the south end of what is called Bunker Hill. The water main from the pumping station which crosses the bed of the river is laid through this lane. There was no public way from the Navy Yard village to connect with this lane until after a century or more had alapsed, although private ways might have existed. As late as 1851, when a part of Central- ville was annexed to Lowell and monuments were erected on the line that part of Hildreth street was called Ferry Lane. What is now Aiken avenue from the stone house easterly to the Center was laid out and accepted by the town in 1794.
The present Hildreth street was laid out in 1735 "from the end of Left. Colburn's stone wall by Left [Josiah] Rich- ardson's house to Hunts ferry whence we turned down the river to a Stake and stones just below the lowest landing place com- monly used. Thence turning back up the River in said Rich- ardsons land to the side of Wilcassons Brook." An agreement was made with Lieut. John Colburn by which he would claim no damages from the laying out of the road. Until very recent years there was an open brook from Hildreth street near Coburn street to Merrimack river, its outlet being above Central bridge a short distance. Reference is made to this brook in the chapter on "Early Grants."
It soon became necessary to lay out another highway to accommodate the settlers in the eastern part of the town. "Jan. 6, 1748. A way laid out from the town way that leads from Rob- ert Hildreths Ferry to Ephraim Halls house. Beginning by the said town way 2 rods north from Robert Hildreths North- west corner of his homestead eastward through Stephen Woods land to John Barrons land near the house he purchased of Joseph Chamberlain, then eastwardly to the east corner of Ephraim Richardsons house, then eastward to the town way
255
ROADS, FERRIES AND BRIDGES
by Ephraim Halls house to the way that is cleared up nearby." This is the present Tenth street and old Methuen road over the hill. The Ephraim Richardson house was later the residence of Jonathan Fox, now owned by his son, John C. Fox. Ephraim Hall lived on the western part of what was later the farm owned by the late George Kelley. In 1835, when the cities of Lowell and Lawrence were becoming thickly settled, better accommodations for communication between them were de- manded. To accomplish this Methuen street was opened from Seventh street, and, skirting the base of the higher part of the hill, it crossed Tenth street and formed the present highway to Lawrence. Coburn street was accepted as a public street this same year. In 1773, the town voted to lay out a road which is now the road through New Boston over Marsh Hill from Col- linsville to East Dracut. As it is interesting to know who the owners of the land were at that time, a copy of the record is given :
"From Joseph Hambletts mill eastwardly up the hill towards Hambletts dwelling house then northerly through Jacob Colburns land to John Hambletts land and Joseph Hambletts, up the hill to Jonathan Colburns corner, through Timothy Colburns land and Jonathan Colburns land to his dwelling house, then easterly through the path now trod till it comes easterly to Jonathan Crosby Jrs house, then running on the southerly side of Jonathan Crosbys dwelling house through Crosbys land up the hill so easterly in the path now trod through Crosby and Caleb Barkers land till it comes out to the town way between said Caleb Barkers land and Robert Wrights house, then turning southerly up said way and thus out of said way into Mr. Jacob Barkers land on the northerly side of said Barkers orchard, then through Barkers running southeastwardly, then more eastwardly till it comes down to the meadow then across the meadow in the line between said Jacob and Caleb Barkers to Jacob Barkers land, then through Jacob Barkers land to David Fox's land then through Fox's land on the southerly side of Fox's orchard to land of Ephraim Coburn and others then through said land to John Bowers land, still easterly then running through Ephraim Curtis land so on to Miles Flint land and between Flint's house and barn
256
HISTORY OF DRACUT
still running eastwardly through Flint's land and Hugh Jones land to Stephen Russells land to a Great Rock on the north side of said road, still running easterly on the southward side of said Russells House Fraim till it comes to George Burns land then up the hill through said Burns land eastward till we come to Thomas Taylors land. Then through Thomas Taylors land, Timothy Fryes and Benjamin Frenchs land to land of heirs of Joseph Chamberlain, through said heirs land to the path north- easterly in the said path to John Gilchreas and to the town way to Samuel Mansurs."
The present road over Primrose Hill, reaching the meadow road near the Edmund Coburn house, is as at first located. It is probable that it crossed the present road and continued east to the house formerly owned by John W. Peabody as this was the Jonathan Coburn place. The late Sewell Crosby informed the writer that a house once stood on this road, now a field, and he assisted in filling the cellar. Frequently when plowing this field stones were turned out which were worn by wagon wheels. Consequently the road now running by Rockwood D. Coburn's house must have been laid out more recently and the old road across the field discontinued. The old Crosby house was torn down about 1860 and stood near the present one. It was built in the old one-story style and stood there until the present one was erected. Robert Wright's house stood near the corner where this road reaches Colburn avenue. David Fox's farm was later the Darius L. Fox farm, Miles Flint's house was on or near the Peabody farm and Stephen Russell's land was later the Hall farm, now owned by Bert A. Cluff. The John Gilchrist house was east of Burns' Hill and on the westerly side of the cross road leading to Pelham.
On account of the war of the Revolution, work on the road was suspended and it appears to have been finished in sections. In 1808, that section from the Fox Farm on Marsh Hill to Colburn avenue was completed. In 1737 a road was laid out from "Abraham Varnums to Nottingham line." This is the present Nashua road from Justus Richardson's to Hudson, then called Nottingham West. Many of the older houses were erected before these highways were constructed. The Jonas Varnum
HENRY VARNUM
(See Page 422)
257
ROADS, FERRIES AND BRIDGES
house near Double brook, later the Cameron farm and the Capt. Peter Coburn house both now on the Mammoth road were old houses many years before the present highway existed. An old highway leads from the Cameron farm to the Nashua road by which Webb's or Coburn's Ferry at Pawtucket falls could be reached, while a road near the old Osgood house led to Clark's or Varnum's Ferry. Until recently cellars could be seen near Long Pond far from any highway, but there are indications that a path led to the Robert Mills or Joseph Varnum houses and this could be used by the occupants of the Capt. Peter Coburn house. "Clough City," in the northeastern part of the town, is on a short road leading from the highway to North Pond. From the end of this road, a path, said to have once been a town road, leads to the east side of Island Pond past the May place, on which one May lived about 1830, and so northeasterly to Gage Hill, a distance of over a mile.
THE NEW COUNTY ROAD.
This was laid out about 1828 and led from the New Hampshire towns to Central Bridge which had recently been built. Some sections of this road had been for many years a part of the old stage road and, connected by new sections, formed the new County road which is an extension of Bridge street. The section from above the swamp, north of the Pelham line, souther- ly to Greenmont avenue, was new. From this point to Pleasant street an old road had existed which is mentioned in a deed covering the site of the Dracut Centre Church building and dates back at least to 1786. From Pleasant street to the point where Hildreth and Bridge streets meet the street is new, while from this point to central bridge it was the old Bradley Ferry road. In 1847, Willard street from "Dry Bridge hill" on Bridge street to Broadway, leading through the town farm was laid out and that part of Broadway from Willard street to Moses Daigle's house was also opened probably about this time. The town farm buildings were, previous to 1847, in a field at the end of Poor Farm Lane, now Arlington avenue, and access to Bradley's Ferry was, until this time, by way of a farm road to the northerly end of Tenth street. In 1827 the road from the Navy Yard to Bradley's Ferry, now Lakeview avenue, was only a footpath, and
258
HISTORY OF DRACUT
as late as 1837 Sladen street was only a cart path through the woods. In 1841 a petition was presented for the opening of a road from the Navy Yard village to Central Bridge.
Several routes were projected and opposed, and finally Sladen street from Pleasant street to Center street (Now Lakeview avenue) was laid out. The first proposition was to open a street from Simeon Flint's store to Center street. This would extend from Brookside street near the bridge at the mill and reach to Aiken avenue. The town accepted the street and awarded damages but as it would accommodate only a small num- ber, it was decided to change the location. Two years later, a second one was surveyed, accepted and damages awarded. This was where the present street now passes the car barns and it was to be extended north to reach the road to Ames Mills, now Lakeview avenue, above the Navy Yard. This was also unsatis- factory and the location again changed to the present one, now Sladen street and Lakeview avenue.
At a town meeting held December 22, 1746, the town voted to choose a committee to present a petition to the General Court, requesting them to confirm "all the ways or roads to the town that was laid out by any Committee in said town and not laid out by the selectmen of the town." At the same meeting a pro- test was entered by Joseph, Abraham, Samuel. Joseph, Jr., Thomas and John Varnum. The reasons for the protest were in substance: First, no particular roads or time of location were specified. Second, it is not consistent with the honor and dignity of the General Court to interfere in such trifling matters. Third, it is an injustice to the General Court to act upon things blind- fold, uncertain and unintelligible. Fourth, the manner of calling the meeting was erroneous. It was called to meet on the 22d of December, at 9 o'clock. It does not state whether the forenoon or evening is intended and consequently voters might be prevented from attending. The protest was evidently heeded as no further action by the town is on record.
In 1747, the town voted "to accept of a highway four rods wide all along by Merrimack river from the upper end of Pawtucket upper falls to the lower part of Pawtucket lower falls at a place called the lower hole to a stone wall and from thence 2 rods wide to the town way that leads from Col. Joseph
259
ROADS, FERRIES AND BRIDGES
Varnums house to the meeting house." The same persons who had signed the first protest appeared and intimating that the action of the town was for promoting the welfare of the few at the expense of many entered a protest giving as reasons : First, the road, if laid out, did not lead to any particular place, and the land was not town property. Second, it was impracticable to make the way passable. Third, it was not a convenience or necessity, but is prejudicial to the private interests of particular persons. Fourth, it would be of great cost and damage to the town. Fifth, it had not been requested by any inhabitants of the town or presentation of a petition. As there are no traces of a road by the river below the Textile School and by the falls we must infer that the town heeded the protest and abandoned the project.
A difference in the manner of locating highways in the early days and the present system is noticeable. Swamps and hills were avoided and longer distances considered preferable as the knowledge of road building was meagre. Yet in some cases the road would be carried over almost impassable hills to accommodate someone desiring a residence on elevated land and teams for many years would travel over these hills until new ones with less grade were constructed. The County in the early part of the last century, established the principal highways, but re- pairs were made by the town. Under the present system the State and County appropriate money to assist the towns in building new roads or repairing those already in use. The build- ing of Pawtucket bridge in 1792 and Central bridge in 1825 cansed a marked change in the location of the highways. Until this time all roads led to the ferries, but new crossings of the river by means of these bridges, demanded new highways.
In 1792, the Mammoth road as a continuous highway did not exist, but portions of it called paths were used by the earlier settlers. The construction of a direct route to the new bridge included many of those old paths which were connected by new ones, which together formed the wide highway from the towns north of Dracut and so leading to Boston, which was the market town for the farmers. The travel over Totman road to the ferry was diverted to the new road and the path near Long Pond was discontinued.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.