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 25
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In 1863, a charter of incorporation was granted to the Lowell Horse Railroad Company and on March 1, 1864, the first car was started. The citizens of Dracut, realizing the advantage of a car line, applied for a charter which was granted July 2, 1886, under the name of the Lowell and Dracut Horse Railroad Company. Work was commenced at once and rails laid from the Navy Yard village to Lowell and on some of the streets in the city on which the Lowell company was not located. The officers were John Ames, President; Walter M. Sawyer, Treas- urer; and Percy Parker, Clerk. These were succeeded in 1887 by August Fels, President; John F. Murphy, Superintendent; Percy Parker, Treasurer; and in 1888, P. F. Sullivan was Superintendent and Clerk. The first line extended to Parker avenue. River street was named Lakeview avenue at a later date, a new street was opened from Bachman street to Hamblet avenue, a large stable was built at the Navy Yard and cars and horses purchased.
The charter permitting the company to operate cars in the streets of Lowell created a competition which proved detrimental to the success of the enterprise and it was considered expedient
ELECTRIC SERVICE, DRACUT WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM 295
to enter into alliance with the older company. The two com- panies in 1891 united and formed a new company called the Lowell and Suburban Company with Hon. E. M. Tucke, Presi- dent, while Mr. Parker and Mr. Sullivan retained their offices as Treasurer and Clerk.
The introduction of electricity as a motive power wrought great changes. Poles and wires were placed in position, heavier rails laid and the work of equipping the cars with suitable apparatus was done at the car shops at the Navy Yard Village. Until 1891, power was furnished by the Lowell Electric Light Company, but in that year the car company established an equip- ment of its own and the use of the former company's power was discontinued. The termination of the line on Bridge street, while the cars were propelled by horse power, was Nineteenth street, but the new company extended it to Dracut Centre about 1893. In 1894, the road was in operation between Lowell and Lawrence which passed through Dracut, near Merrimack river. Lakeview Park on Tyng's Pond, now Lake Mascuppic, was opened in 1889 and the Lakeview avenue line constructed to that point which soon became a continuous line to Nashua. The Hovey Square line was constructed in 1910. In 1901 a road from Pelham Center was opened by the Massachusetts and New Eng- land Company. This was a New Hampshire Company and the line connects with the Lowell lines at Old Meadow Road on Moody street. The advantages to the town are obvious. Its prosperity is seen in the transportation of farms into thriving villages with their increase in taxable property and larger popu- lation. The factories are no longer dependent on residents of the neighborhood for operatives, the facilities for education are increased by the transportation of the pupils on the cars, the easy means of access to the city enables the housekeeper to reach the city stores, and the places of amusement are more easy to visit.
Electricity, at first used only for propelling the cars, has also been used for the lighting of the public streets and for public and private buildings. This method of lighting was in- troduced in 1907, power being furnished by the Lowell Electric Light Company. In this connection the telephone service may be noticed. The Lowell Telephone Company extends its wires to
296
HISTORY OF DRACUT
all parts of the town, and while at first used only by the manu- facturing companies it has become indispensable to the farmers and housekeepers.
DRACUT WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
The first settlers realized the need of pure water and in selecting a building site, they located if possible near a spring. This accounts in a measure for the existence of old cellars far from highways and often to be found in the forests. When the town laid out the highways these sites were abandoned and new buildings erected on the new roads. Wells were dug, situated at first several rods from the buildings for fear of contamination by waste from barns and cesspools. Many of these old wells still exist, although the cellars may show only a slight de- pression in the surface of the ground.
The method of obtaining the water was by means of a long pole with hook to which the pail was attached and by which the pail was raised to the top of the well. This was followed by the well sweeps, which consisted of upright posts placed in the ground and forked at the top. In this fork a pole was hung, swinging freely on a pin, to one end of which was attached a heavy stone or other weight, while to the other a pole was fastened which in turn held the bucket. When the bucket was lowered and filled, the labor of raising it was greatly diminished by the action of the weight as a counterpoise. Some farm houses were situated near a hill on which would be located a spring and by means of pipes, water would be conveyed to the buildings by gravitation. In later years, the hydraulic ram and windmill were employed to furnish the power which forced the water through the pipes. The next improvement was the use of logs through which holes were bored lengthwise and joined to- gether, resting on a stone at the bottom of the well, the prin- ciple upon which they acted was the same as that used at present, viz., the producing of a vacuum in the pipe into which the water is forced by the pressure of the air which amounts to fifteen pounds on each square inch of surface.
The existence of wells in cities and thickly settled villages became a menace to the health of the people and finally led to the introduction of the present water system. About 1840, Hon.
ELECTRIC SERVICE, DRACUT WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM 297
Benjamin F. Varnum, who had settled on Dracut heights, now Centralville hill, with Joseph Bradley and John K. Simpson, received articles of incorporation as the Dracut and Lowell Acqueduct Company. A tract of land was purchased for a site for a reservoir, but before the plans were perfected Mr. Varnum died and the project was abandoned. At the Navy Yard village the late John Ames installed a water system which supplied some of the families of the neighborhood besides the tenants of his houses. A well near Tau House brook was equipped with a pump and windmill which was soon changed to electric power and a reservoir placed on the high land near Upland street.
In 1905, the residents of Dracut Center and the Navy Yard village received permission to form a corporate body called the Dracut Water Supply System. Land was purchased between Walbrook and New Boston village, wells were driven and a pumping station built. The water is forced through a pipe to the top of Marsh Hill to a reservoir and distributed through smaller pipes to the houses. The supply at first was 200,000 gallons every twenty-four hours, but additional wells have been driven and the supply increased. The height of the reservoir gives an abundant pressure and the quality is unsurpassed. The district at the present time includes only the two villages men- tioned and the town as a whole has no part in the conduct of affairs. Money is appropriated at the annual town meeting for the assistance of the department on account of the benefit which is rendered by the use of the hydrants by which much taxable property is saved. Power is furnished by a gasoline engine and a gas engine has been installed to be used if necessary.
Mention may be made here of the volunteer fire companies which have been organized since the water pipes were laid. A fire house, in each of the two villages which is supplied with water, has been provided where at first hose carriages drawn by horses were placed. The horses were furnished from nearby stables and the men summoned by messengers. Gasoline motor cars now furnish the motive power, telephones and signal boxes are used to call the members and a large electric whistle, lately installed at each village, calls the inhabitants to their assistance and notifies the school children when on stormy days there are no sessions of school.
CHAPTER XVIII SURVEY OF ROADS
BY HON. B. F. VARNUM
“M INUTES of the Survey of the Town of Dracut, taken by Benjamin F. Varnum in A. D. 1831, under the Super- intendence of David Blood, Esq., William F. Osgood & B. F. Varnum a committee of said town for that purpose by order of the Legislature of the Commonwealth and also of the roads, rivers and ponds." This is the title of an article in a sur- veyor's book found at the Gen. J. B. Varnum house on the Lawrence road. In the book the angles at the bends of the river and roads are given but omitted in this history, distances only shown. Notes in explanation will be added. "Survey of the Town commencing at the South East corner at Merrimac River and running by said River."
From Methuen Line to opposite Concord River 1332 Rods
" Pawtucket Bridge Road
664
" Marbles Brook 107
" Brook
46
" Opp. Middlesex M. House
263
66 Canal
14 66
Col. Bloods Road
136
66
" Opp. Stony Brook
210
" Brook
245
66
Dracut contains 15673 Acres.
Long Pond
150
Peters
86
15673
Tyngs
12
5753/4
Beever River
30
Other streams
1034
150971/4
Roads
28712
5753/4
299
SURVEY OF ROADS
Road from Methuen line to Tyngsboro line.
To Moses Bixbys 46 Rods
" Theodore Parkers 12
George Coburns 138
66 Widow Daniel Varnums
176
66 B. F. Varnums
14
Benjamin Coburns
125
66 Samuel Richardson lane
37
Mill Brook
10
David Richardsons
34
Moses Cheevers
24
George Kelleys
198
Joshua Varnums
111
Ezekiel Cheevers
84 66 Stickney farm.
Col. Varnum's Old House
86
Broadway
Road west of School House 4
54
66
66 Lane to Poor House
14
Arlington Ave.
66 Poor House
75
66 B. F. Varnums Tavern House
20
66
Library
Samuel F. Woods
141/2
66
Opp. Meeting House
9
Perley Parkers
3
Intersection of County Road
5
66
Bridge St.
Samuel Parkers
2
Mr. Udells
Heman Flints 13
Simon Harris
9
Intersection of the Road 6
Charles Foxs 51
Stephen Russell
Dea. Stickneys & J. P. Hoveys
46
66
Intersection of Road
3
Hildreth St.
Ebenezer Hanchetts 4
66
Blanchard Hospital
Road west of Common
10
" Tan House Brook
49
Enoch Fryes 31
Pollard house
Henry Varnum J. B. Varnums
66 6 Road East of School House School House 7
Arlington St.
Samuel Fletchers
300
HISTORY OF DRACUT
To Wid Coburns Lane
10 Rods Now occupied by row of houses on left of Upland St.
" James Hazeltons 2
Enoch Fryes New House 6
" The Doak House 11
" Sewell Stanleys 5
James H. Wilsons'
" Life Hamblets & E. F. Goodhues 4 Ames & Peabody
" E. F. Goodhue 12
Now Dr. Heald's on Lakeview Avenue Sherlock house
“ Benjamin Bradleys
4
Lane to S. Burts & Stotts 8
East end of Stanleys Bridge
21/2
66 Acrost the rver
7
The factory
3
Gurneys Store
7
66
Ebenezer Reeds
3
" Samuel Harveys Lane
11
66 School St.
66
" School House
14 66
66 Road by Peter Bowers
23
Hampson St.
66 Joseph B. Varnums
16
Joseph Goulds
13
66
66 Theodore Hambletts
22
Garrison House
The other house
33
66
Charles Bodwells
71
Opp. Gatehouse
Sam Marshs
14
" Jonathan Goulds
46
" Cyrus Varnums
14
" John Pages
11 Rods
Joseph Varnums
9
Cat Brook
14
" Col. Varnums Old house
29
" Old Toll house, & New Toll house 3 66
Geo. Clark
66
Brookside St.
66
66 The Barnes House
2
301
SURVEY OF ROADS
To County Road
5 Rods Mammoth Rd
Col. James Varnums
17
Stone Dam
32
Marbles Brook
76
66 Props. L & C : on Mer. River
9
Widow T. Coburns
31
Bradley Varnums
45
Road
3
Meadow Road
Widow Ansarts
5
66
Willard Coburns
26
66
Jeremiah Varnums
22
Ephraim Coburns
60
School House
42
" Moses B. Coburns
14
Nathaniel B. Coburns
30
" Garrison House
66 Road
61/2
Totman
David Bloods
18
" Old House
1
To Col. Bloods road
18 Rods
Asa Underwoods
31% "
". Road
6
Philip Pierces
301/2 "
" Timothy Coburns
34
New Bridge Road
72 66
Widow Ditsons
190
Asa Carkins
55
Tyngsboro line
303/4 "
Pawtucket Bridge Road.
To Road
8 Rods Riverside St.
Meeting House
16
"
" Osgood Danes
69
Sylvester Pierces
15
John Cheevers
18
Old Meadow Road
82
Road to Parker Varnums
211
66
Henry C. Osgoods
33
" Opposite Solomon Osgood's
16
66
302
HISTORY OF DRACUT
To Road to J. B. Varnums
4 Rods Break Neck Hill Road
" Road to Wm Websters
26
66 Nashua Road
" Jonathan Varnums 11
66 Justus Richardsons
Solomon Abbotts
52
66 Road to Jonas Varnums
79
Double Brook
24
60
66 66 66
16
66 Peter Hambletts
99
60
66 Road to Ames
63
Lakeview Ave.
Daniel P. Coburns
11
" Frank Foss
Jonas Varnums
19
Peter Coburns
83
66
66 Reuben Coburns
74
66 Asa Clements
112
John P. Cutters
32
Hill farm
" New Hampshire line
35
Christian Hill Road Commencing at County Road Tenth & Bridge Street.
To Nehemiah Jones
79 Rods
Joshua Thissells
14 "
" Nathan Thissells
7
Joshua W. Wights
20 66
John Parkers
9
66 Amos Woods
20
60
School House
76
Ephraim Woods
16
66
Richardsons lane
58
Nathan Thissells
14 66
" Daniel Kelleys
40
66
Reuben Richardsons
42
Jona. Fox's
" The Other Road
73
" Lawrence Road
Jona. Varnums To Tyngsboro Line Commencing near said Varnums. Justus Richardson's
To Road to Jonas Varnum Jr. 125 Rods " Marshalls Lane 2451/2 "
303
SURVEY OF ROADS
To Jesse Marshalls 51/2 Rods
Ralph Fox's 701/2 "
Wm Websters Lane 74
" near I. Perhams & Tyngsboro Line 92
Tyngsboro Line 26
By Jonas Varnum Junior-Commencing at the other road near Samuel Hambletts.
To Samuel Hambletts 24 Rods
" Jonas Varnum Junior 61
" County Road
171/2 " Mammoth Rd
near Double Brook
Road by Jonas Varnums Commencing at the road by Sewell Marshalls. Mills Corner.
" Jonas Varnums
To Double Brook 86 Rods 17 " Joseph P. Varnums
" Jabish Coburns
41
Enoch Mills
" County Road
401/2 " Mammoth Road
Road from near Samuel Hambletts (Totman Road) to Nathaniel B. Coburns. Garrison House.
To Wid. Lews 481 Rods
Zimri Lews 59
Road near Nath1 B. Coburns 79 " Varnum Ave.
Road by Capt. Bloods' beginning at the North end Varnum Ave.
To other branch
6 rods
Robert Parks
16
Capt. Bloods 24
" Col. Bloods
44
the River
5
" Old house
10
304
HISTORY OF DRACUT
Road from Thomas & Samuel Varnums (Varnum Ave.) by Peter Bowers to near J. B. Varnums. (Meadow Road, Pond Street and Hampson Street).
From House to gate 12 Rods
To other Road 18
Osgood Road
109
" County Road
205
Mammoth Rd
Osgood Road 255
Peter and Thomas Bowers 30
" J. B. Varnums Jno Barnes House 17 Other Road 331/2 " Riverside St.
From Moses Freemans to Solomon Osgoods. Breakneck Hill Road
To Moses Freemans 14 Rods
Francis Hartwells 7
County Road 284 Mammoth Rd
From the County Road near H. C. Osgoods to the Old Meadow Road 3511/2 Rods
From Daniel P. Coburns to the Old Meadow Road
To School House
3 Rods Geo. Browns barn
Hugh Jones
38
" Charles Wilsons
25
" Beever River
12
" Mills 3 66 Collinsville
" Zachariah Coburn Road 10
Josiah and Daniel Ames
widow Gideon Coburns
66 Phineas Coburns
The Old Meadow Road
85 " H. Jesse Coburns
From near John Goodhues to the Ames road near M. L. Coburns. Edmund Coburn New Boston
To Sand Hill Road 147 Rods
Road to Goodhues mills
17 Paper mills
near Wiseman Wallaces 76
" Phineas St.
Wiseman Wallaces
4 " Otis P. Coburns
The Ames Road 309 " New Boston
66
4 1601/2 " Agents house
49 " O. J. Coburn
IRA HALL
(See Page 390)
305
SURVEY OF ROADS
From the Road near E. F. Goodhue's to the road near Bump Hill, Sladen & Hildreth St.
To Goodhue Road
Simeon Flints
" John Goodhues
23 Rods Dinley St. 10
25 " Arthur Hamblett
" The Old Pelham Road 191 " Colburn Ave.
Bump Hill to Sand Hill To Road at Sand Hill 151 Rods Sladen St. to Lakeview Av.
From the road near Sand Hill to the Old Meadow Road
Lakeview Ave. to Phineas St.
To road to mills
47 Rods Paper mills
To the Old Meadow Road 38 " Phineas St.
Wiseman Wallaces to Moses Freemans
To Daniel Goodhues 47 Rods
" the brook
25
" Old Meadow bridge 41
" Osgood Road 72 " Breakneck Hill Road
From Ames Mills through New Boston & Over Mars[h] Hill to the Road near William Richardsons.
To house belonging to Reuben Coburn 207 Rods
" Old Meadow Road 1161/2 "
" M. L. Coburns 8
" Zachariah Coburns
72
R. D. Coburns
" Road west of the School House 17
7
" School House
" the Road east of the School House 4 Hildreth St.
" Old Meadow Road 13
" Jonathan Crosbys 7
" Old Road to Pelham
" the New County Road
162
" Samuel Fox's 85
" Crosby farm
179
" Colburn Ave.
" Bridge St.
" Mrs. Eben T. Fox
S 64° E 10 to house S 35 E 4 " mill
306
HISTORY OF DRACUT
To Other Road
6 Rods
" Roger Coburns House
20
" Russell Fox's
82
Dana R. Fox
" Nathaniel Peabodys
62
" Bryant Farm
" Phineas Halls
70
" Bert Cluff's
" Pelham Road
47
Burns Hill
" Road to B. Stevens
14
" The Road
188
" David Jones
45
The Other Road
83
Broadway
Methuen line to Col. P. Varnums
Broadway
To Thomas Lenfests
76 Rods
" Peter Trulls
34
" George Kelly 2
14
" Oliver Whittiers
461% "
" Jonathan Parkers
52
" The School House
122
66
" B. F. Varnums Harvey House
6
66
" Cross Road
71
" Joseph Harveys
42
66
" Jona. Parker 2
32
" New Road
13
" Pelham Road
64
" Phineas Trulls
9
George R. Fox
" John Trulls
11
66 Bernice Parker
" Dea. Perleys
226
66
" Capt Fox's
138
Harold Fox
" Joel Foxs
S. 78. E. 13
40
66
" Jas. Fox 2
5
66 Daigle farm
" Other Road
8
66
" Col Varnums
123
Geo. D. Coburn
" Sam Richardson 2
1
" Phineas
Richardson
" The other Road
8
" Arlington St.
Road from Jonathan Parker Jun To B. F. Varnums and from the Widow Parkers to the back road.
To The Widow Daniel Parkers 126 Rods
" The Road 8
307
SURVEY OF ROADS
To James M. Barrons
" Nathan Parkers 47
" The Brook 178
" The Other Road
25 Rods
501/2" Lawrence Rd
From Pelham Line to the road near Asa Richardsons & near Noah Stevens.
To Asa Richardson 56 Rods
" The Road 49
" Road
92
From the Gilcrease place to Pelham line
To Pelham line 199 Rods Franklin C. Wilsons to north
From the road near Moses Baileys to the road near Thomas Len- fests. E. Dracut meeting house to Broadway.
To Samuel Harris 51 Rods 2331/2 " Broadway
From the New Boston School House to the Old Pelham Road.
To Widow Cheevers 43 Rods Elliot Morgan
" Joseph Durens 94 " J. W. Peabody
" Mich Coburns 70 " W. R. Kendall
" Old Pelham Road 751/2 " near Bump Hill
From Near David Jones' to Methuen Line.
To Noah Stevens 125 Rods Corliss Smith 66
" Road near Asa Richardsons 101
" Gilcrease Road 106
Franklin C. Wilson
" Stevens House
54
66
Benjamin Stevens
23
Edward F. Stevens
Herrick Road
24
Abigail Mansurs
25
66
" James Richardsons
62
Joseph Kittredge
73
Moses Baileys 33
66 The Harris Road
44
66
Robert Ellenwoods 31
66 near Cemetery Almon Richardsons
308
HISTORY OF DRACUT
To Road
4 Rods
66 Mansur Brook
22 66
" James Richardson Jr.
53
27 66
Mansur Brook
Widow Daniel Mansurs
31
Methuen Line
20
From Pelham Line by A. & D. Davis to Methuen Line. From Pel. To Richard Thissells 12 Rods
& Deborah Davis
52
Samuel
86
" Henry Austins
13
" Wm Austin Jun
140
" The Asa Harris Place
32
66
" Tim Barkers House
81
Other Road
12
" William Harveys
47
66
"' Methuen Line
32
From the road near Robert Ellenwoods Almon Richardsons To Pelham Line.
To the School House
137 Rods
" Road
16
" Thaddeus Richardsons
41
the Brook
67
Amos Morses 3
170
Joseph Gardners
101
66
Robert Youngs
125
66
Pelham Line
99
From Joseph Gardners to Pelham Line.
To Wm Cloughs 90 Rods
Stephen Richardsons Lane 10
" Moses Cloughs 67
" Thomas Lewis 12
Wm Clough 3d
25
66
81
66
Richardson Lane to Stephen Richardsons 37 Rods
309
SURVEY OF ROADS
The survey of the roads, if completed, is not in the record although it appears to have been the intention of the surveyors to include other roads, as the following entries state :
From James Harris to Joel Fox Jrs. This would be a part of Pleasant Street from Greenmont Avenue including Arlington Street and Broadway as far as Moses Daigles.
Old Pelham Road from near Ephraim Richardsons to Pel- Line.
From near Bradley Jones to near Samuel Worcesters and from near said Worcesters to Samuel Foxs. This was the old road from Pelham over Marsh Hill to Lowell, commencing at the Prescott Jones farm, running through Chapman St., Fox Avenue and old Marsh Hill road near the reservoir to Mrs. Eben T. Fox's.
Road laid out by the Selectmen in 1834 from near Merrill Richardsons to the County Road near the Central Bridge. This is the part of Hildreth Street from near Coburn Street to Bridge Street.
Road laid out by the County Commissioners in 1835. From near Levi Wilsons to Nathan Thissells. This is now Methuen St., the old road running over the hill by way of Tenth Street was formerly the highway to Methuen but this new one avoided the hill and was a shorter route.
Road located by the County Commissioners in 1835. From Tyngsboro line to Simeon Marshalls and from said line to near Tray Rock to the aforesaid road. This is the highway to Nashua at the north end of Tyngs Pond now Lake Mascuppic.
Survey of Long Pond beg. State line South side. This sur- vey with angles is recorded.
Little Double Brook
To Road
12 Rods Mammoth Road 291/2 " To Beaver Brook
Survey of Double Brook.
To Little D (ouble) B(rook)
the Road
" Little D (ouble) B(rook)
16 Rods 381/2 " Mammoth Rd
16
310
HISTORY OF DRACUT
This survey includes only so much of the brook as lies be- tween the two points where it divides and where they unite.
Survey of Beaver River Beg. at Merrimae River.
To Tan House Brook 123 Rods
Stanleys Bridge
41 " Navy Yard
Goodhues Mills
208
Paper Mill
the Old Meadow Bridge 74
Double Brook
504 66
" Ames Bridge
161
Collinsville
" Gumpas Brook
477
" State Line 831% "
The discontinuance of Bradleys Ferry and the building of Central bridge was the cause of some changes in the location of the highways. Travel was diverted from Pawtucket bridge and new routes were in demand. The change made in the loca- tion of Methuen street, as already noticed, was for the purpose of following more level land and lessening the distance as it was evident that with the cities of Lawrence and Lowell coming into existence travel between these points would be greatly increased. Sladen Street was a cart path through the woods which were private property, Broadway from Arlington to Bridge streets and Bridge street from near Tenth to Pelham line were just opened for travel. Lakeview Avenue from opposite the mills of the Lawrence Mfg. Co. to Hamblet Avenue and Dinley Street was opened later to construct the electric road to Nashua. There was great objection to building a road across the meadows. The most striking example of this is the road from Pelham to Bradley's ferry, which runs eastwardly to Burns Hill on the north side of Coburn's New Meadows and returning runs west- wardly ou the south side of the meadows over Marsh Hill, mak- ing a long detour which a road across the meadows would have avoided. In some cases the owners' names have been given in- stead of the tenants as in the case of the road over Marsh Hill where the name of Roger Coburn appears. This was an old house owned by him and occupied by tenants, his home being away a mile in distance and over the Pelham line. The original owners of the town farm buildings must have located on the
311
SURVEY OF ROADS
farm a long distance from the highway which would account for their not being placed directly on Broadway, the new road, Broadway, giving them later direct access to central bridge. By the opening of the County road, now Bridge Street, travel was diverted from Marsh Hill over the old road and from Hil- dreth Street and Colburn Avenue which was the highway over which stages ran from Boston to towns in New Hampshire.
CHAPTER XIX. MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS
TAVERNS.
B EFORE the introduction of the steam railroad, about 1835, the only publie conveyance was the stage coach, while all merchandise was carried on wagons drawn by oxen. A semi- publie conveyance was the mail carrier who on certain days de- livered the mail to the post offices in country towns. The ma- jority of travellers furnished their own carriages, but by what- ever means they travelled, taverns were necessary for their accommodation. At these houses the coach horses were changed and shelter and refreshment provided for passengers and ani- mals. The use of strong drink was considered indispensable and no tavern was fully equipped which did not provide a well- stocked bar. A hall was furnished for dances and singing schools to which the village residents resorted for recreation.
There were no cities between Boston and Concord, N. H., and the stage route led through the towus where taverns were located at convenient distances. The Durkee house near Varnum Avenue and in the vicinity of the ferry was the oldest tavern in the town. This is possible on account of its location where the first settlement was made and near the first public crossing of the river. In 1754 it was owned by Abraham Coburn, who sold it to Abraham Blood. The estate was owned by this family for 100 years and was purchased in 1855 by W. H. H. Durkee.
The Hovey Tavern is a well-known house standing at Hovey Square. Thomas Hovey came to Dracut before the Revolution and purchased a small piece of land on which stood the frame of a house. This house he finished building and four genera- tions of Hoveys have lived here and until the present year (1919) has been in the possession of the descendants of Thomas. The shape is somewhat changed, as originally it had a long roof on the back like many houses which were built at that time.
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