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 26
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This was removed, with an ell which was attached to the south end of the building in which the "old folks" lived. The old square chimney is retained with the large corner posts projecting into the rooms, the panelling, the crooked front stairs, the kitchen in the rear with the long fireplace and brick oven, the overhead floor beams and other features which were in accord- ance with the style of building in those early days. The room at the right of the front door was the bar room and as the train- ing grounds was near it must have been a favorite place for the citizens to meet and discuss the situation when news came of the oppressive acts of the British ministry. This was on the direct highway, now Hildreth Street, for stages going to the northern towns after crossing the river at Bradleys ferry, and as the building was near the road lady passengers were served with hot tea passed from the windows, without alighting from the coach. This house is probably the one to which reference is made by John Varnum in his journal: "29 May 1777. In the forenoon attended on training & c. No Rhum, flip nor Cyder to be had at ye Tavern, the first training of that kind ever heard of in Dracutt."
At the Center near where the hose house now stands was a large building, painted yellow, but in recent years destroyed by fire. This was a tavern at one time kept by Caleb Blanchard and in 1831 it was called B. F. Varnums tavern house and later it was conducted for the same purpose by Enoch F. Goodhue. In 1860, Oliver Morse sold groceries in the ell.
Parker's tavern was on the Methuen road, now Broadway, and is known as the Worthy Parker farm, now owned by Mr. Long. In recent years changes have been made in the interior but the dance hall remains unchanged. This was a famous place in the early days of Lowell for merry parties to enjoy a sleigh ride and dance with supper furnished. The bar room furniture remained many years after it ceased to be a tavern.
Bradleys tavern still stands on First Street, nearly opposite the ferry landing. Joseph Bradley was a prominent man in the early part of the last century and owned the ferry near Central bridge. Its usefulness as a tavern ceased long ago and it is now a tenement house. If a teamster furnished his own hay and grain no charge was made for stable room. The price for
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a night's lodging was eight cents for a single bed, six cents for a double bed, while a hot dinner was provided for twelve and a half cents.
TOWN POUNDS.
The pound was a very important feature in the town and there were laws governing the action of pound keepers and field drivers. In recent years the use of the pound has been discon- tinued, and wherever the field driver places the cattle, the same is a legal pound while the cattle are in his possession. In 1712, "John Varnums fort" was the pound, this was the Varnum garrison house on Riverside Street. In 1716 the town voted to build two pounds, one to be located near James Richardsons which would locate it on Varnum Avenue west of the Durkee road and the other near Ephraim Hildreths which would be in the vicinity of Hovey Square.
In 1713, Edward Coburn's garrison house was declared a legal pound, meaning probably the stockade which enclosed the buildings. In 1738, Nathaniel Clement built a pound and as his home was near the state line on the Mammoth road, it was probably near there. In 1790 there is a record of a payment of five pounds to William Hildreth and two others for their services in building a pound near the house of Ephraim Hildreth. In 1783, the town voted to build a pound to be located between Dea. Thomas Hoveys and Capt. Stephen Russells. It was to be built of stone, to be thirty feet square and six feet high with a gate made of oak lumber, and to be of suitable thickness of wall with capstone. The work was probably delayed as payment was not made until two years later, when the town treasurer paid Jona- than Taylor, William Hildreth and Parker Varnum for building it. It was kept in its original condition many years after its discontinuance for its purpose as a pound, but is now in a ruin- ous condition, but may be seen on Pleasant Street east of Hovey Square.
In early days hogs were permitted to run at large according to a vote taken at the annual town meetings and the duties of field driver and pound keeper were of more importance than at the present time. Hog reeves were appointed at the annual town meetings.
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WORK HOUSE.
In 1782, the town voted "to build a house 14 ft square for the purpose of Imploying Idle Indigent persons within the town as the law directs," and Ebenezer Coburn, Parker Varnum, and Thomas Hovey were appointed a committee to build "in the cheapest manner possible and in the most convenient place." The building was erected and Capt. Stephen Russell, Dea. Amos Bradley, Parker Varnum, Thomas Hovey and Isaac Bradley were appointed wardens of the work house; and Capt. Ezekiel Hale was chosen to serve as master. The following year there was recorded the payment of certain sums of money for labor, lumher, etc., for the building. There is no record of its location as anything to show when it was discontinued. In 1831, the town purchased of Samuel F. Wood and his sister, Hannah, wife of Jonathan Crosby, the farm formerly owned by their father, William Wood, who had received this farm by will from his father, Benjamin, the original settler on this tract. It in- cluded about fifty acres and the amount paid was $1265. The only way of access to the buildings from the public highway was by a lane leading south from Arlington street now called Arlington avenue.
Previous to this time the indigent people had been boarded in private families. Upon the town books there are recorded entries of Selectmen's orders to the town treasurer similar to the following, dated 1766: "Pay to Stephen Russell for keeping Paul Wood 30 weeks and finding eloathing £2-13-0."
One of the first superintendents of the town farm was Chandler Chase, who removed to Pelham, N. H. Among the later superintendents are Henry Varnum, Gayton M. Hall, Stephen W. Wright, Harvey Barnes and others.
A stone building for the confinement of insane or refractory inmates or the temporary detention of arrested criminals was erected near the farm house. It was about 22 by 14 feet square and was provided with suitable locks on the doors and heavy bars on the windows to prevent the escape of the inmates. The interior was divided into three compartments, one occupying nearly one-half of the building and used for a lodging place for tramps and a sleeping place in warm weather for the male
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inmates. One small room with window was for the detention of those who for any reason should be kept in strict confinement, while a third room was a dark cell in which would be placed the refractory.
During the Civil War there was a large number of inmates and it became necessary to make additions to the farm house. The number varied from year to year and was a source of in- come or expense, according to the ability of the one who managed the farm. As that part of the town became more thickly settled the land west of the farm lane became valuable for building lots and was sold.
In 1881 the proposition was made to sell the farm and pur- chase one in East Dracut which would be of equal value as a town farm with less investment in land value. This was defeat- ed and in 1911 the farm was sold as there were but a few inmates and these are cared for by the town in other ways. The ledge on Willard street was sold to the City of Lowell, the ownership of the farm by the town ceased and the barn later was removed across the street.
THE WATER CURE.
In 1847, a medical institution was established on Sixth street, in Centralville, in a building formerly used by the Dracut academy as a boarding house for the pupils. A good description of it is found in the advertising columns of a newspaper printed in Lowell in that year: "Lowell Water Cure Establishment, Dracutt, Mass. A new Hydropathic Institution situated on the banks of the Merrimack about fifteen minutes walk from the city of Lowell, is now open for the reception of invalids. The establishment combines the advantages of proximity to a large city and a rural residence." The proprietor, Dr. Robert Darrah, states that he has "spared no pains or expense in making it one of the most comfortable, convenient and desirable locations for Hydropathie treatment now offered to the public. The home is elegantly furnished and sufficiently commodious to accommodate from 30 to 40 patients, with a good supply of pure water and a Bathing apparatus not inferior to that of any other establish- ment of the kind." Terms for board and treatment were from six to ten dollars per week and Dr. H. Foster was the physician
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in charge. The institution was in existence for a few years, but on account of financial difficulties the property was sold in 1852 by the creditors and two years later was purchased by Fisher A. Hildreth and William P. Webster as a residence.
PURITY OF ELECTIONS.
The precautions taken to prevent a fraudulent election is shown by an order issued to the town when Joseph Bradley Varnum was elected to represent the district in Congress. This order was directed to 100 citizens of Dracut, including four negroes, and they were ordered to meet at the house of James Varnum on the 27th day of July, 1796, "to give their deposition touching the election of J. B. Varnum." It probably included every voter in the town. Memorials had been presented to Con- gress from his district impeaching his election. It was alleged that as one of the selectmen of Dracut at the time of his election he had allowed certain votes to be received and counted which were illegal, if not fraudulent. The memorials were referred to the committee on elections. Their report was a vindication of Mr. Varnum and expressed their opinion that the charges against him were wholly unfounded.
DISTRICTS.
A record of action taken at town meeting held March 6, 1780, was as follows: "The town should be divided "into 3 dis- tricts by the name of ye upper, the middle and the lower district. The upper extends as far East as the Gret Road that leads from Bradleys Ferry northward to Edward Coburns." This included all that part of the town west of a line drawn from Central Bridge, through Bridge and Hildreth streets, and follow in the highway leading to Pelham Center as far as the state line. "The middle extends from sd Road Easterly to a Town way Easterly of George Burns Dwelling house from thence running Southerly to Maj. Saml. Varnums, including sd Burns and sd Varnums." This would include Marsh Hill, Dracut Center and Centralville heights as far east as Bell Grove, formerly Varnums Landing. "The Easterly or lower Districts to extend from ye last men-
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tioned way to ye Easterly line of sd Town." These districts were in charge of constables, one officer in each district. It is not known for what purpose the town was so divided or when the system was discontinued. They were not identical with the school districts but were probably created for town purposes.
ROYAL MASTS.
The English Government reserved all straight white pine trees from 15 to 36 inches in diameter to furnish masts for the Royal navy, marking them with a broad arrow. In 1766, Gov. Wentworth of New Hampshire was appointed "Surveyor Gen- eral of all his Majesty's woods in North America" for the pur- pose of putting into execution the acts of Parliament relating to such reservation. Every owner of land before he commenced cutting was obliged to employ a deputy surveyor to mark the trees upon his land reserved for the use of the king. For neglect the timber cut was forfeited and in this way whole mill yards of lumber got out by the settlers were often forfeited. Samuel Blodgett of Goffstown, N. H., was, in 1772, appointed deputy surveyor for 31 towns in New Hampshire and his jurisdiction extended to the towns of Haverhill, Andover, Dracut, Chelms- ford and Ipswich in the Massachusetts colony. It was such acts as these which to a great extent exasperated the colonists and prepared them for resistance which finally led to the indepen- dence of the colonies and to the birth of a new nation.
BARTER AND OLD DEEDS.
In the early settlement of the town there was but a small amount of money in circulation and much of the business was done by barter and exchange of products of the farm. As no market existed nearer Dracut than Boston, fresh meat could not be obtained in hot weather, and fish, fresh and salt, smoked ham, salt pork, eggs and wild game furnished a substitute. In the winter season fresh meat could be frozen and decay prevented. Another arrangement which was made was that when a calf was killed it was parcelled out among the neighbors who in turn repaid the debt by returning the same amount when they butch- ered. On April 22, 1741, Joseph East, who in company with Joseph Varnum operated the nickel mine, gave a mortgage of
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his farm which consisted of 100 acres. By the terms of the con- tract he was permitted to pay with the following articles : hemp, flax, cordage, bar iron, cast iron, linens, copper, leather, flaxseed, beeswax, bayberry wax, sail cloth, nails, tallow, lumber including shingles, staves, hoops, white pine boards, white oak plank, white oak boards, ship timber, barrel beef, barrel fish, oil, whalebone and cordwood. A large part of these articles could be furnished from the farm or received in payment of debts due him and so contribute to the discharge of the obligation.
In deeds of conveyance there was inserted much that at the present time seems superfluous. In a deed given by Walker and Hunt of the land east of Beaver Brook as far as the divisional line, near Hildreth Street, after giving the boundary lines these terms are used, "together with all and singular ye Timber, Trees, woods and underwoods, standing and growing thereon, swamps, grounds, medows, springs, waters, water courses, ways, ease- ments, profits, priveleges, rights, liberties, benefits, advantages, commodities, hereditaments, emoluments and appurtenances."
LOCAL NAMES .- BROOKS.
Beaver brook is the largest stream within the limits of the town. It is the outlet of Beaver pond in Derry, N. H., ard enters the town north of Collinsville, and reaches the Merrimack river between Pawtucket falls and Aiken Street bridge. It fur- nishes power for the factories at Collinsville and the Navy Yard village and formerly for the paper mill where the dam still re- mains. The brooks in their order as they flow into Merrimack river commencing at East Dracut are: Bartlett's, formerly Walker's brook ; this rises in the meadows of East Dracut and is joined near the Methuen line with the brook which is the outlet of Peter's pond. Varnum's brook rises in the meadows in the southeast part of the town and enters the river near Bell Grove, formerly Varnum's Landing. Richardson's brook is formed by the junction of two brooks, Potash and Tront brooks, which rise south of Marsh and Burns hills. This brook flows into the river at Kenwood village and was called by the Indians, Pophess- gosquockegg, it has also been called Coburn's and Winthrop's brook. Wilkinson's brook rises in the meadows near the town farm and its outlet was a few rods above Central Bridge, but
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recently it has been turned into a sewer at Billings street and continues its course to the river underground. It has also been called Belcher's and Richardson's brook.
Another brook rose between Pleasant Street and Aiken Avenue, crossing Hildreth street north of the Hildreth cemetery. Hovey's tannery was located on this brook, which now enters a sewer at Hildreth street. Beaver Brook, already described is next in order. Cat Brook was a small brook crossing Riverside street in the hollow east of Pawtucket bridge, but now enters a sewer. Flaggy Meadow, or Marble's brook, rises near Ledge hill and enters the river near the entrance to the boulevard. Clay Pit brook rises farther west and running under Varnum Avenue near Totman Road, takes a course nearly parallel with the river, which it enters near Marble's brook. Angelica brook, west of the Navy Yard village, runs under Riverside street near the sand hill below the cemetery and enters Beaver brook. Tan House or Tan Vat brook drains the meadows near the Rifle Range and enters Beaver brook below the Navy Yard. Good- hue's brook rises in the meadows southwest of New Boston and enters Beaver brook above Meadow bridge. Double brook is the outlet of Long Pond and formerly furnished power for Var- num's gristmill above Collinsville. It runs under Mammoth road below Collinsville and enters Beaver brook. It formerly had a branch called Alewive brook. The Coburn New Meadow brook, called the Gilbert Coburn Saw mill brook, rises in the north side of Marsh Hill and crossing the state line reaches the brook in Pelham.
The principal brooks in that part of Pelham which was, pre- vious to 1740, a part of Dracut, are Goulding's brook, north of Gage Hill, entering Beaver brook above the middle stone bridge; Gage's brook, which is the outlet of Island Pond and which runs into Goulding's brook; Tony's brook, crossing the County road south of the lower stone bridge, and Gumpus brook, which is the outlet of Gumpus Pond. West brook is near East Dracut Meet- ing House.
PONDS.
The only pond lying wholly in Dracut is Peters' pond with an area of 86 acres and lying in the east part of the town.
MILTON FOX
(See Page 387)
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Long Pond lies in Dracut, Tyngsboro and Pelham. A part of the east side and the whole of the south end lie in Dracut. A small part of the northeast corner of Tyngs pond lies in Dracut, the larger part being in Tyngsboro.
HILLS.
Poplar Hill is a hill 300 feet above the level of the sea. It is in the northeast corner of the town. It has a peculiar forma- tion in common with many other hills, being a double hill or one which has two summits. This formation seems to be in obedience to some law which has not yet been discovered. In the hollow between the crests is the point where Pelham, N. H., Dracut and Methuen join. It was formerly known as Ayers Hill. Burns Hill and Marsh Hill are each 200 feet high and lie on the state line north of Dracut center. Loon, or more cor- rectly Mallones Hill, lies east of Dracut Center, while Town Farm and Christian Hills, each aproximately 200 feet high, are well known hills between the Center and Merrimack River.
Christian Hill received its name from the fact that one of the former owners of some of the property was so profane and irreligious that he was called Christian John. The present name of the hill is Centralville Heights. Bump Hill is a small hill on Hildreth Street, south of New Boston village, while Winter Hill lies between this village and Marsh Hill. Tan House Hill lies between Hovey Square and Tan House brook. Huckleberry Hill or Whortleberry Hill is a double hill lying between Collinsville and Park or Mud Pond. Druid, formerly Bridget's Hill, lies north of Varnum Avenue. Ledge Hill is on the Mammoth Road and has been the quarry from which a great part of the stone for the foundation of the mills has been taken. Breakneck Hill lies between the Mammoth and Old Meadow roads and was formerly in such a condition as to be dangerous for travellers, and for this reason it received its name.
Cow Bridge Hill is crossed by Bridge Street, near the city line. In these days few cow bridges are in existence, but occa- sionally one may be seen in the country. When the County road, now Bridge street, was laid out, it divided a pasture into two parts. For convenience in allowing the cows to have access
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to both parts of the land, a bridge was constructed in the hollow near Billings Street and thus the hill received its name.
Flag Meadow hill is a drumlin in Pawtucketville, north of Varnum avenue, on which the Lowell General Hospital now is located. Powder House hill was the high land south of Pleasant street and west of Hildreth street, and is now crossed by Orleans street. This was the training ground for the Dracut companies of Militia and a small building recently demolished was used for the storage of powder. Downshot hill is in the vicinity of Ledge hill on the Mammoth Road. Stephen Hall hill is between Marsh and Burns Hill.
OTHER LOCALITIES.
Totman Road in Pawtucketville was formerly called Zeal Road. Zeal was a contraction of Barzillai. In the time of the Revolution, a son of Primus Lew, viz., Barzillai, a colored man, lived on this road. His name is among those who served in the war and he was a musician, playing a fife. Blackbird swamp lies north of Hovey Square. Bear Meadow is southwest of Huckleberry hill and reference is made to it in early deeds. Bushy Meadow lies between Bear Meadow and the road leading to Nashua.
Deer Jump is in the Merrimack River, between Dracut and Tewksbury. The tradition is that Satan ran across the river by jumping from one rock to another, leaving the print of deer's hoof on each rock which may be seen providing one possesses a strong imagination. New England is a collection of houses on the east side of the hill, which lies in the angle formed by Riverside and Pleasant Streets, and near Beaver Brook. The Carpet mill and original Paper mill were located at this spot and when dis- continued for manufacturing purposes, the Carpet mill build- ings were changed into tenement houses, which at present writ- ing are nearly all removed.
Collinsville was formerly Ames' mills, and later was known as Lawson's and Pearson's mills. After it became the property of the Merrimack Woolen Co., it received the name of Frogtown. New Boston is a collection of farm houses north of the Navy Yard, while Black North is in the Northeast and Kenwood in the southeast sections of the town. Bakers Island was in or near Beaver Brook and near the outlet of Tan House brook.
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The Navy Yard village is on Beaver Brook, about half a mile from the Merrimac river. Various reasons have been given for its receiving its name, but the writer received the true reason from the daughter of the man who gave it the name. She was then ninety-five years old. Reference to the chapter relating to fishing rights will show that early in the last century the pond above Aiken Street bridge and below Pawtucket falls was a noted fishing ground, and the owners or lessees of those rights, after fishing, would ascend Beaver brook and moor their boats near the dam which was below the present one above Pleasant street. Near this dam stood a sawmill with its piles of sawed lumber and ship's knees which the farmers had brought and left on the bank ready, at high water, to be rafted to the ship yards at Newburyport. One day two men, Esquire Life Hamblet and Capt. John Burt, were at the mill and, noticing the boats and ship timber, one said to the other, "This looks like a Navy Yard." "Yes," replied the other, "and we will call it the Navy Yard."
Ships knees were formerly used to give strength to a ship, as they allowed the decks to be bolted to the sides. An oak tree would be selected and cut, leaving about three feet of the trunk standing. A root would be selected and cut about three feet from the trunk. This would, when properly trimmed, form a knee which, in the absence of framework, held the sides and decks together. These knees, with other timber suitable for ship building, would be prepared by the farmers and brought to the Navy Yard village and left on the bank of the brook below the dam, where they would be made into rafts, and when the river was of a sufficient depth to allow their passage, they would be floated down the river to Newburyport, their pilots being strong, sturdy men, carrying long oars called sweeps with which they guided the rafts to the shipyards. The men then returned to Dracut and as there was no means of convey- ance they walked, carrying the sweeps on their shoulders.
UNCLASSIFIED MISCELLANEOUS.
The town abounds with evidences of the great glacial move- ment which occurred many centuries ago. We are ignorant of
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the physical condition of the country during the centuries which followed the ice age until the time of the Indian occupancy, and of those years we have no written record. A century and a half ago Dracut was a farming town. The falls on Beaver Brook were beginning to be utilized. The Merrimack River was simply a medium of communication with Newburyport, by which lumber might be conveyed on rafts to the shipyards. The Pawtucket falls were of no benefit to the community, excepting as a fishing place which served to provide an unlimited amount of food for the early settlers. The products of the farm were of little value except what was consumed at home, as the cost of transportation to the Boston markets was almost prohibitive. But a radical change was in the near future. East Chelmsford was to become Lowell, its meadows were to be obliterated and immense brick buildings for manufacturing purposes were to take their place. New bridges across the river caused houses to be erected for the mill operatives and what a century ago was a farming district on the Dracut side of the river now supports a population suffi- cient for a large city.
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