History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 132

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 132

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A short distance below the Fredonia Mill, on the "After singing an original poem the meeting ad- journed. At one o'clock the people reassembled and seated themselves in the order of their religious usage and opened their meeting with singing a hymn. The same stream, and a short distance above its juncture with the Nashua River, stands the largest mill, known as the "Phoenix Mill," the sixth cotton-mill built in town. This was built by the Shaker Community in | short address preceding the active worship then fol-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

lowed, and the brethren and sisters arranged them- selves in order for a march or dance, which they entered upon with renewed spirit. Several brief ad- dresses were then made by persons of both sexes. Among the females was Mrs. A. D. Cook, who was distinguished for her gift in public speaking.

"The meeting closed at four o'clock P.M. The ser- vices were conducted by W. H. Wetherbee, as elder, and Jonas Nutting, as deacon, who discharged their duties in a manner highly creditable to themselves and to the great satisfaction of the spectators. During the exercises several songs were sung, accompanied by solemn marches, in their peculiar manner, which ad- ded much to the interest of the occasion."

The first tenant of this mill was a company from New Bedford, Mass., called the "Steam Mill Com- pany," which they soon afterwards changed to the more fitting name of the " Phoenix Company." This company furnished the mill with shafting and ma- chinery, and started business in 1852. They em- ployed about one hundred persons, the mill running 5688 spindles, 3168 mule spindles and 2520 ring and traveler spindles, and 130 looms. Brown and bleached cottons were tbe fabrics manufactured, and the annual product was 1,050,000 yards.

This company later on purchased the property, and, in 1881, disposed of it to Messrs. C. W. & J. E. Smith, the proprietors of the Fredonia Mill, who continued to manufacture goods of the same grade as their predecessors.

Mr. Warren N. Orswell, who at one time carried on the manufacture of cotton at the Munson's Mill, was agent of this mill for some years. Mr. C. W. Smith died in the spring of 1883, and the following summer both this and the Fredonia Mill were shut down and remained idle for some years. In the month of July, 1888, the Phoenix mill property was purchased by the Sampson Cordage Works, a cor- poration having a capital of $80,000, and organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, to extend the business already established and previously carried on in Boston under the firm-name of J. P. Tolman & Co.

The business of this company is the manufacture of braided cotton cord and lines, of which they make a very large assortment, to be used for various pur- poses, such as bell-cord on steam and horse-railways, window-cord, fancy awning-cord, etc.

They immediately commenced at Shirley the manu- facture of their yarns, and, iu February, 1889, moved their braiding-machines from Boston. The company employ one hundred operators, two-thirds of whom are women and girls. They handle a ton of cotton every day, and have a weekly pay-roll of about $600. The officers of the company are J. P. Tolman, president; Herbert G. Pratt, treasurer ; Frank D. Aldrich, secretary. Mr. J. Edwin Smith, a former owner of the property, is a director in the company. The business headquarters of the com-

pany are at its Boston office, No. 164 High Street. The operation of this mill, which had so long lain idle, and the filling the tenements and boarding- houses with busy operatives, has done much to im- prove the business interests of the town.

To ensure this, as well as the other mills farther up the stream, a supply of water at all times, a res- ervoir was built upon the northern branch of the Catacunemaug. This branch of the river was fed by two large ponds, one of sixty and the other of one hundred and twenty acres area. In order to enlarge these, a dam was thrown across the river in 1852, at a point a little above the present paper-mill of B. S. Binney, and a pond covering some seven or eight hundred acres was secured. Another pond, on the southern branch, Fort Pond, in Lancaster, covering about one hundred and fifty acres, was utilized later on for the same purpose.

In the summer of 1856 this dam gave way, doing great damage. The following extract from the " His- tory of Shirley," by Rev. S. Chandler, will show the extent of this damage :

"On the 2d day of July, 1856, the reservoir dam gave way, and the mass of water which it had held in reserve poured down the valley, overflowing its banks, and inundating fields and meadows with its turbid waves. Four road bridges, five mill-dams, two blacksmith-shops, one saw-mill, and some smaller buildings, with one railroad bridge, were swept away, and other structures were partially undermined and injured. This was a sad day for the town in general, and for its manufacturing interests in particular. The estimated loss occasioned by this disaster, public and private, was about $50,000. The cause of this calam- ity has not been fully determined. The dam had braved all the force of the spring freshets, and at the time of its failure the water was two and a half feet below high-water mark. Undaunted by disappoint- ment and loss, the Reservoir Company immediately commenced to reconstruct their dam, and in prosecu- ting their work they aimed to place their structure in a position of such security as to bear any pressure of water to which it could be subjected. The roll is of stone, bedded on a solid foundation and jointed with great care. This foundation is protected by plank spiles, driven five feet into the solid earth. These spiles are continued the whole length of the dam, and its massive embankments are sustained by a central wall of strong brick masonry, and the whole is declared finished in a substantial and workmanlike manner."

The seventh cotton manufactory in town was founded in 1865 by Mr. N. C. Munson, a widely-known contractor. It is situated on the privilege of the first cotton-mill, and is known as the "Munson Mill or New Mill." It is a large structure, one hundred and fourteen feet in length, three stories in height and furnished with steam heat.

It was fitted with 3400 spindles, eighty looms, and

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employed at one time fifty operatives, turning out about fourteen thousand yards of brown sheetings per week.

Later on this mill was occupied by C. A. Edgarton & Co., who manufactured tape and webb for suspenders.

Warren N. Oswell, at one time agent for Phoenix and Fredonia Mills, carried on the manufacture of cotton here for some years; he was succeeded by Messrs. Nickless & Holt, who manufactured cotton yarns during the years 1887-88. This concern run 3500 spindles, producing 3500 pounds of yarns per week, and employing thirty operatives.

The mill now stands idle, and is in the market for a purchaser, offering a rare opportunity for a manu- facturing interest.

This completes the list of cotton manufactories. Closely following comes that of paper-making, which has been carried on in the town for nearly one hun- dred years. In the latter years of the eighteenth century Jonas Parker and Thomas Parker, his brother, went to Waltham for the purpose of acquiring the act of paper-making. After a year's residence in that place they returned to Shirley, and in connection with Joseph Edgarton, Esq., built the first paper- mill. This was located on the Catacunemaug. on the spot afterward occupied by Messrs. Pope & Co. as a fork-shop. This was a small mill, with but one en- gine, and there was no means of drying then known but by sun and air. But the advent of a new indus- try into the town was hailed with delight by the townspeople. It was the forerunner of a large in- dustry.

The Parker Bros. carried on the business for some years, finally selling out to Lemuel Willard & Brother, who, in turn, disposed of the property to Joseph Ed- garton & Co. This firm made paper here for some years, but finally suspended the work in this place, and the building was used for a batting-mill, continu- ing to that use until 1837, when it was destroyed by fire.

The second paper-mill was built by the Edgarton Company, who had become interested in this industry and decided to enter into the manufacture on an en- larged scale. They accordingly, in 1828, built a larger mill upon the Nashua River, near the corn-mill erected by Joshua Longley. This mill was two stories in height, the upper part being entirely devoted to drying purposes. Mr. H. P. Howe was the superin- tendent of this mill. " Mr. Howe was a skillful ma- chinist," says Rev. Seth Chandler, in his "History of Shirley," and he devised various artificial methods to remedy the long process of air-drying. He finally hit upon the plan-which he subsequently patented- of the 'fire-dryer.' This wonderful machine, after many trials, alterations and amendments, was at length completed, and put in operation with satisfactory results. It is hardly possible to describe the aston- ishment which the new enterprise created. The dull way of grinding the material, pressing it into sheets and then passing it through a long season of air-dry-

ing, was a tedious method of producing one of the most important articles of domestic and business use ; and such was the imperfection of the material thus pro- duced that it would hardly be regarded worthy the meanest service to which paper is devoted at the present time. By the invention of Mr. Howe the pulp was received at one extreme end of the machine, and after passing through a complicated process of change and preparation, was discharged at the other end finished paper, ready for immediate use."

The invention of the "fire-dryer" having estab- lished the reputation of Mr. Howe, he, in 1833, set up a machine-shop near the mill and for some years car- ried on the business of making them.

The Edgarton Milis were enlarged by extending the building and the addition of new machinery. These mills were run until destroyed by fire, June 15, 1837. In 1842 Mr. Eli Page purchased the privilege and erected another paper-mill, renting it to one Moses Carlton as first tenant, but it was soon after rented to John L. Hollingsworth, who greatly enlarged and improved it. He manufactured yearly 50,000 reams of paper. Mr. Hollingsworth was succeeded in 1852 by Stephen Roberts, an old and experienced paper- maker, who made manilla paper out of old ropes-the cast-off cordage of vessels-and dyed it with ochre, turning out about one ton per day.

When Mr. Roberts relinquished the business the old mill was removed and a new mill built. This was occupied by John Roberts, a son of Stephen. This also was destroyed by fire, having been occupied but a short time.

The next manufactory of paper was situated in the basement of the mill formerly occupied by Joseph Edgarton & Co. as a cotton manufactory, and known as the "Old Red Mill," which has been the subject of a poem by Mrs. Sarah C. Edgarton Mayo :

" Bright in the foreground of wood and hill, Close by the banks of my native rill, Rumbling early ere dawn of light, Rumbling late through the winter's night, When all the air and the earth is still, Toileth and groaneth the old red mill."

This was owned by William W. Edgarton. It was furnished with a steam-dryer and turned out about four hundred reams of coarse wrapping-paper per week.

The fourth paper-mill was commenced in 1837, in the building erected by the Messrs. Rockwood as a clothier's mill, on the Squannacook River. The busi- ness was carried on by several different parties until 1853, when Oliver Howe purchased the property ; he let it to Harrison Hartwell for a few years. In 1857 Mr. B. F. Bartlett, of Pepperell, became the owner, and he in turn disposed of it to George W. Mitchell. In December, 1865, Mr. E. H. Sampson became the owner. He carried on the manufacture of "leather board " until April 3, 1879, when the mil! was burned. The tall chimney, which was left standing, was in

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

1885 torn down, thus destroying the last vestige of the paper-making industry in that part of the town.

This mill was one of the first to manufacture "leather board" in this country. Its product was one ton of "leather board " per week.

The fifth paper-mill was built in 1868 by Samuel Hazen. It was located near the site of the Lake Mills, destroyed by fire in 1866.

Andrew and Granville Williams were the first oc- cupants; they were succeded by Stephen Shepley, who was largely interested in paper-making.

Mr. Shepley sold the property to B. S. Binney, who began the manufacture of paper for paper bags. These bags were made by machinery, and about 120,000 were made per day.

In 1886 extensive improvements were made in the property ; about one-half of the old mill was rebuilt with heavy Sonthern pine and the floor raised, there- by gaining a roomy basement for the intricate lines of shafting, water-pullies, steam and water-pipes nec- essary to carry on the paper-making ; at the sametime all the old mixing and beating machinery was taken out and new and larger machines pnt in, thus greatly increasing the capacity of the works. In 1885 Mr. Binney commenced the manufacture of "Asbestos paper." This paper is perfectly fire-proof in any tem- perature. It is used for covering boilers and steam- pipes, covering the inside of boiler-rooms and any and everywhere that money and life can be saved from the great destroyer, fire. To show the wonderful growth of the business, the following yearly produc- tions are given :- 1885, 75,000 lbs .; 1886, 106,000 lbs. ; 1887,262,000lbs .; 1888, 435,000 lbs .; 1889, 473,900 lbs.

In 1887 Mr. Binney added another specialty, which is patented, namely, a heavy deading felt which, though made from very combustible material, is ren- dered chemically fire-proof, so that if a piece one-six- teenth of an inch in thickness be placed over a gas-jet and blow-pipe for twenty-four hours, a piece of cotton wool placed on the felt will not be scorched even.

The rapid development of the business necessitated increased room and machinery, so that in 1888 an ell 25 x 50 was added to the east side of the mill and filled with new and costly machinery. The following year it was found necessary to again enlarge, and another ell 25 x 60 was added, together with an office. At this same time the old part of the mill was rebuilt in a substantial manner, and this and the ell filled with new machinery.

The present production of the mill is 8000 lbs. of "leather boards" daily, or 6000 lbs. asbestos and 6000 lbs. carpet-lining or building felt.

A large number of operators are employed in this industry, which is one of the most important in the town.

The iron industry also has been carried on in the town, although never in any considerable way. The first record of the working of iron that exists, was that of the establishment of a "forge," as it was then

known, in the closing years of the last century by Ebenezer Pratt. This stood on the Mulpus Brook, very near the location upon which the Wilson carding- mill was built. Here Mr. Pratt, with the help of his three sons, made scythes, but, finding the profits small for the amount of labor expended, the business was soon relinquished.

The Catacunemaug was the location upon which was built the second " forge." The builders, Messrs. John and Benjamin Edgarton, continued the business for about ten years, when they too abandoned it.

Messrs. Pope & Parsons were the proprietors of the next factory for the manufacture of farming im- piements. In 1850 this firm established a mill on the Catacunemaug for the manufacture of hay and manure-forks, and continued to do a successful busi- ness for some years, employing some eight or ten men. They turned out about five hundred dozens of forks- of superior quality-per annum.

This completes the list of manufacturers of farming implements, but not of the iron industry, for the manufacture of nails has been followed to some ex- tent by the people of Shirley. William McIntosh was the first to commence the manufacture of ent nails, in or about the year 1810, a business which he followed for several years.

William W. Edgarton and brothers, in 1855, were the proprietors of the second nail factory; this was situated in the basement of the. cotton-mill formerly occupied by J. Edgarton & Co., and known as the "Old Red Mill." They manufactured horse nails, of which they made about one hundred and fifty pounds per day. The business was abandoned in 1865. The "Old Red Mill " was burned in September, 1855, and the business was continued in a new building erected for the purpose.

The manufacture of carriages has also been carried on. One Thomas Hunt established the industry in a small way in the early part of the present century. His shop was located in what was known as the Sonth Village. Later on-in 1716-Joseph Hoar built a wheelwright shop on the Mulpus, where he carried on business for three years, employing three or four men. In 1819 he sold the business to Jeseph Ester- brook, who, for sixteen years, carried on a successful business. The building was destroyed by fire in 1821, but was quickly rebuilt. In 1835 Andrew Shattuck became the proprietor. The business was again sold in 1840 to Harvey Woods & Bro. Under this firm the buildings were greatly enlarged and facilities for carrying on the business very much improved. They, in turn, were succeeded by Moses Wood, a brother, and he by Henry Brown and Oliver Wing.

Carriages of all sorts and descriptions, and in almost all their parts, were manufactured by these several firms, and they added the manufacture of har- ness and certain kinds of upholstery. During the Mexican War and during the War of the Rebellion they manufactured many military baggage-wagons

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and ambulances, and six hundred railroad carts were annually turned out for many years. In 1871 the whole establishment, together with a largei board- ing-house, was totally destroyed by fire. They em- ployed some thirty workmen. Woodsville received its name from the Messrs. Woods.

Emery Williams opened a wheelwright-shop in the South Village in 1853. This shop was connected with the Hazen Mills, and on the same water privilege. He employed six men in the manufacture of farm-wagons. Mr. Williams is the inventor of a washing-machine. Soou after, Mr. William Sawtel commenced the manu- facture of window-blinds and sashes in the same neighborhood, carrying on the same for several years.

In 1850 a planing and shingle mill was started in the basement of the "Old Red Mill".before referred to, which was operated about five years, when it was succeeded by the horse-nail industry.

Leather has been manufactured to some extent in the town. In 1793 Nathan Adams established a tan- nery on Mulpus Brook. Here he carried on business until 1801, when he sold out to Stephen Barrett, of Concord. Mr. Barrett continued the tanning and currying of leather until his death, in 1856, when the leather industry ceased to be a part of Shirley's busi- ness occupation.

Hoop-skirt-making has also been carried on in the town. In 1861 George Sanderson commenced to manufacture hoop-skirts, employing some fifteen ope- ratives, who turned out weekly about seventy dozens of skirts.

The Shakers in this town have always been an in- dustrious people, and have manufactured many differ- ent articles, and such is the quality of the work done, that they have established a reputation for excellence to be desired by all manufacturers. Among the many different articles that they have manufactured may be mentioned agricultural implements, wooden- ware, hair sieves, brooms, grass bonnets, husk mats, feather fans, and fancy articles of various kinds. They also cure herbs, make a kind of apple-sauce, called "Shaker Apple-Sauce," make tomato preserve, and various articles of a similar nature, all of which find a ready sale.

There is another industry deserving of mention, that was for some years carried on by the female por- tion of the town, and that is the braiding of palm- leaf hats. For years, nearly every family had one or more of its members engaged in this industry, and, in fact, so profitable was this occupation at one time, that whole families were enabled to earn comfortable livelihoods. In 1837 something over seventy thousand of the hats were manufactured, and were valued at about $12,500.

For some years a condensed milk factory was car- ried on in one of the buildings connected with the Dawson Mill property. From time to time other in- dustries have been started, but after a brief existence have been discontinued.

One of the most important industries in the town is the manufacture of suspenders, suspender-webbing and elastic goods, by Charles A. Edgarton & Son. This firm commenced business some time in the year 1870, under the firm-name of Charles A. Edgarton & Co. They first devoted their attention to the manu- facture of tape, bindings, bed-lace, etc., using the in- genious machinery then recently patented. They occupied the mill known as the Dawson Mill, which was located on the site of the Fort Pond Cotton Man- ufactory. After remaining here for some time they removed the business, in 1873, to the mill lower down on the Catacunemang, known as the Munson Mill. The manufacture of suspender webbing and elastic goods was then added to the regular line of business, and such was the success of the new undertaking that eventually it became the principal line manufactured. In 1878, the company, seeing the desirability of mak- ing a better line of goods, put in new and improved machinery, thereby enabling them not only to manu- facture a greatly superior quality of goods, but to so enlarge the business that it soon became evident that enlarged quarters, as well as new machinery, were re- quired. Accordingly, in 1881, the company, now changed to C. A. Edgarton & Son, by the admission of Charles Frederick Edgarton, built a new factory just below the Munson Mill, on the banks of the same stream. This structure was of wood, twenty-eight feet wide by eighty feet long, and two stories in height, independent of the basement. This they fitted up with new and improved machinery, using steam as the motive-power for the same. Since occupying their new factory the firm have manufactured sus- penders exclusively, beginning with the material, cotton, silk and rubber, in a raw state, and making therefrom the elastic webs which they use in the manufacture of a full line of men and boys' suspend- ers of all grades and qualities, from the cheapest to the finest hand-embroidered holiday goods. The fac- tory runs 119 looms and 275 shuttles, and turns out about 2500 dozens of finished suspenders of the va- rious grades per week. To manufacture these goods they employ 100 operatives, both male and female, who are mostly residents of the town. The firm has two offices, one at the factory and the other in New York. The products of this company, which stands second in the amount produced in the country, among the manufacturers who are exclusive makers of sus- penders, are well known throughout the country, being sold in nearly every State of the Union; and such has been the demand for their goods in the last few years that they require additional room, and arrangements are being made for a large addition to their present factory, whereby their facilities will be greatly increased and they be able to meet more amply the requirements of their growing trade.

SCHOOLS .- While Shirley was a part of Groton township there were no schools within its bounds. The financial condition of the town was such that

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it would not allow of the establishment of schools in the remote section, or angles as they were called in those days, and therefore the children were either obliged to travel many weary miles to the centre of the town or go without learning.

But home instruction was not neglected by our forefathers, and though for years the early settlers were without schools, yet there were few who could not read, write, and cast up common accounts. For the first four years of its existence as a distinct cor- poration the town was without schools,

The first record of a school being held in town was in May, 1757, the town voting " to have a school for three months, and to have it commence in August or September." This school was held in a private house, a single room in the dwelling-house of Jonas Longley being used. This house was located in the Centre, on the estate now known as the Augustus Holden farm.

Schools continued to be held from time to time in various places until the Revolutionary period, when they were suspended owing to the embarrassed condition of the finances of the town. The sessions were renewed soon after the peace was declared, and were entered into with a renewed interest, the facili- ties of learning were increased and once more all were given an opportunity to acquire learning.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 132

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034