History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 167

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 167

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It appears to have been quite popular at this time for American statesmen to appear in clothes of American manufacture. It is said that Henry Clay, when once in Millbury, was presented with a roll of blue broadcloth, the product of the mill of Colonel Sheppard, and Mr. Clay remarked that his next suit of clothes would show Congress what American manu- facturers could do.

Daniel Webster also had a suit of clothes made for his use in Washington from cloth made by the Goodell Manufacturing Company, at Millbury, woven, very likely, upon looms made by W. H. Howard, of Wor- cester.

The following notice appears in the Spy of Octo- ber 22, 1817 :-

The Members of the Worcester Honorable Society, being prisoners for debt on parole, and deprived of the means of supporting themselves in prison, or their families at home, or of paying their debis, and unwill- ing their time and talents should he lost to themselves or to the public, herehy give information to their creditors and the good people of this vicinity that there are in the society those who can perform the bus- iness of farming, shoemaking, masons, clock and watch repairing, card making, mathematical and meteorological instrument making, painting and glazing, engraving, distilling, rope making, etc., and solicit a shars of their patronage in the above-named kinds of business, which they can perform within the limits ; and they engage they will promptly and faithfully attend to all business entrusted to them.

Worcester Gaol, Oct. 22, 1817.

This is interesting, as indicating the variety of small manufactures carried on in and about Worces- ter at this time, and as illustrating the unfortunate working of the law then in force, which deprived many worthy men of any opportunity of escaping from their misfortunes.

In October, 1819, the Worcester Agricultural So- ciety gave its first exhibition. Among the Worcester exhibits of domestic manufactures were two pieces of kerseymere and one calf-skin, tanned and curried in two days by Reuben Wheeler.

Nine skeins of tow yarn, from thirty-three to thirty- eight skeius to the pound, spun on a great wheel by a lady in Worcester.

The judges noted with regret that no hoes, scythes, plows, wool, cotton and machine-cards were exhibited in a county which had long been distinguished for the manufacture of these articles, and, in their opinion, no cotton cloth sufficiently good was offered to be entitled to a premium.

CHAPTER CXCII.

WORCESTER-(Continued.)

MANUFACTURING AND MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES.

Streams and Mill Privileges-Population of Worcester-Blackstone Canal- The Railroads -The First Expresses-The Old Coul Mine-Peat- Stage Lines.

THE introduction of steam-power, the opening of the Blackstone Canal and the railroads, have made it possible for a large manufacturing city to grow where otherwise no considerable progress could have been made; for had it been necessary to depend altogether upon water-power, few large factories could have been located upon the small streams which constitute the head-waters of the Blackstone.

These streams, nevertheless, have played a most important part, affording means for starting manufac- tories which have since so largely developed in size and variety ; while the increased demand for power has been met by the introduction of steam-engincs, through whose medium the waters which formerly were directly applied to the water-wheels, and whose capa- city was consequently limited, are now equal to any demands which may be made upon them. For these reasons the water privileges and streams deserve prominent mention in any account of the manufac- turing industries of Worcester.

The Ramshorn stream, so called, rises in Ramshorn Pond, which lies two-thirds in Millbury and one-third in Sutton; it flows in a northerly direction and is joined by Kettle Brook in the northeasterly part of Auburn.

Kettle Brook rises in Paxton, is fed by Lynde and Parsons Brooks, flows in a southerly direction and joins the Ramshorn stream, as above stated; the united streams, known as French River, flow in a

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northeasterly direction. At New Worcester, Tatnuck and Beaver or Turkey Brooks unite with French. River, and the course becomes a little south of east. At this point the stream is known as Middle River for about a mile; Mill Brook then joins it, and from this point the river is known as the Blackstone.

Ramshorn Pond is owned by the manufacturers on the Blackstone River, who are assessed for all expenses and repairs. The pond and stream have a water-shed of nine thousand two hundred and fifty-five acres. There are five privileges on this stream, previous to its entering the town of Auburn, the third privilege being that occupied by the old shop of Thomas Blanchard, where the eccentric lathe was invented by him, and is of considerable historic interest. The sixth privilege, which is in Auburn, is known as Larned's village or Pondville. There was a saw-mill here as early as 1794; later a mill was built for the manufacture of woolen goods, which has since been used for worsteds. Pond & Larned formerly owned this privilege, which is now occupied by Kirk, Hut- chins & Stoddard.

The seventh privilege has long been known as Dunn's Mills ; here saw, grist and shingle-mills have been located at different times ; plow handles, proba- bly for Ruggles, Nourse & Mason, were at one time made here. The old mills were burned some time ago, and the privilege is now used for a shoddy- mill.

A mile beyond, Kettle Brook and Ramshorn stream unite, not far from the French meadows, on the left of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad coming from Auburn to Worcester.

Kettle Brook flows from a reservoir in Paxton, which was built and is owned by the mill-owners along the stream.

The first privilege is an old saw-mill, but little used and somewhat dilapidated, owned by the town of Leicester. The second privilege down the stream is what was known formerly as Mulberry Grove (now Mannville), and is at present utilized for the manu- facture of satinets by the Mann Brothers.

The third privilege is what is known as Kent's, built by the father of Mr. P. G. Kent, of Jamesville, who first built a saw-mill, then changed it to a shoddy-mill, then into a satinet-mill, which is now run by P. G. Kent & Brother.

The fourth privilege is Bottomly's brick mill, built by him, and known as his third mill. It is now owned and occupied by E. D. Thayer, and utilized for the manufacture of satinets.

The fifth privilege is the Chapel Mill, built by Mr. Dickinson, now used for satinets.

The sixth privilege is called the Eli Collier Mill. This was also built by Mr. Dickinson, and' is run on satinets.

The seventh privilege was the Watson Mill, used for the manufacture of broadcloth. It was burned some time ago, and has never been rebuilt.

The eighth privilege is the old mill built by Thomas Bottomly, an Englishman. This was one of the first mills built in this region, and is said to have been built before any of the mills on the stream. Mr. Bottomly was one of the pioneers in the broad- cloth business, which he conducted at this mill for many years. It has been remodeled, and is now owned and run by George W. Olney. Mr. Hodges was Mr. Olney's predecessor.

The ninth privilege is one on which a mill was built by Thomas Bottomly for the manufacture of broadcloth, and was known as his " second mill."

Lynde Brook empties into Bottomly's Pond, and a short distance up this stream is the Worcester Res- ervoir. This mill has passed through several hands, and is now owned and occupied by Albert E. Smith, who makes woolen goods.

.The tenth privilege was occupied by Robert Young for a saw-mill, which was afterwards changed into a satinet-mill and was washed away in the Lynde Brook disaster ; it was then merged in the Ashworth & Jones privilege.

The eleventh privilege was formerly occupied by a grist-mill, built by a Mr. Adams, who sold it to Wadsworth & Fowler. The grist-mill was torn down and replaced by a satinet-mill, which, after some time, was sold to Ashworth & Jones, who erected there a handsome mill, one hundred and seventy by fifty feet, four stories high, which was run on beaver cloth. In 1886 it was purchased by Mr. E. D. Thayer, Jr., who carries on a large business in the manufacture of woolen goods.

The twelfth privilege was originally occupied by a shingle-mill, then by a paper-mill, which was changed into a satinet-mill; it then passed into the possession of Ashworth & Jones, who connected it with the privilege next above.

The thirteenth privilege is known as Darling's, and was first occupied by Solomon Parsons. It then passed into the hands of Mr. Darling. Satinets have always been made here.

The fourteenth mill is known as Hunt's. This was also built by Solomon Parsons, and sold to Bel- lows & Darling. Cotton batting was first made here, and then satinets. It is now run by a Mr. Butler in the manufacture of satinets.

The fifteenth is. the Jamesville privilege, which Benjamin James bought of the heirs of the Burnett estate. It was originally a saw-mill in the woods. Mr. James bought soon after 1850 and built the fac- tory, which he ran on hosiery till about 1860; he then changed to army cloth, and after that to fancy cassimeres. It was run up to the time of Lynde Brook disaster, when the dam was destroyed, the water plowing twenty feet beneath the dam. The mill was rebuilt and ran on cassimeres till about 1880. It passed through several hands, and finally came into the possession of P. G. Kent & Co., who enlarged the mill and now make satinets. There is

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quite a village at this point, a chapel and depot. One hundred and ten hands are employed in the mill.

The sixteenth privilege is occupied by the Stone- ville Mill.

The waters of Kettle Brook come into the Stone- ville Pond at the end nearest New Worcester; at the other end a stream comes in which has been known as Young's Brook, and by other names. About a mile up this stream was an old paper-mill, erected about 1834 by Nathaniel S. Clark and Daniel Hey- wood. Kettle Brook with this stream carries the Stoneville Mill, now operated by the Stoneville Worsted Company in the manufacture of yarn for the carpet-mill of William J. Hogg.

In 1834 Jeremy Stone owned this mill; it then went into the possession of Edward Denny, next of A. L. Ackley, and later was changed from woolen to cotton goods.

John Smith bought the mill ahout 1858, and it was subsequently run by his sons-C. W. & J. E. Smith -for many years. About a mile from this point Mill Brook joins the Ramshorn stream, and thence proceeds through the French Meadows, and is known as the French River.

At the next privilege Mr. Trowbridge, grandfather of William T. Merrifield, built, in 1810, a mill for.the manufacture of cotton yarns. There had previously | Company, who recently commenced the manufacture

been a saw-mill, and possibly a grist-mill at this point. At this time Joshua Hale was carding wool at the privilege now oceupied by Albert Curtis, and the farmers were in the habit of taking their wool to Mr. Hale to have it carded and spun, and bought their yarn at Trowbridgeville, doing the weaving at their own homes.

Tatnuck Brook has a water-shed of eight thousand nine hundred and forty-three acres. Upon an old map, published in 1784, a trip hammer-mill, a corn- mill and a saw-mill are found upon Tatnuck Brook, within the limits of the town of Worcester. The first mill recollected by those now living is a saw- mill in Holden, owned by a man named Hall ; this was prior to 1850. The second privilege was near the outlet of the present reservoir, where there was another saw-mill.

The third privilege was at Tatnuck. The fourth privilege was the old mill built in 1834 for David T. Brigham, in Tatnuck, near the bridge on the road to New Worcester ; it is now used for making sat- inets. It was built by William T. Merrifield in 1834. The fifth privilege was Patch's saw and grist- mills.

The sixth privilege was a small midl, and the seventh, the upper privilege now occupied by the Coes Manufacturing Company. This and the lower privilege on Leicester Street are more particularly described in that part of this article which treats of the wrench business.

Tatnuck Brook was known at one time as Half-

Way River, as the bridge at New Worcester was half- way from Boston to Springfield. On its tributary, Turkey or Beaver Brook, a saw-mill was located in 1784.

At the junction of Tatnuck Brook and Ramshorn Brook was the old original dam which was removed by Mr. Albert Curtis about 1845.

The privilege now occupied by factories of Albert Curtis and Curtis & Marble is described elsewhere.

Next to this privilege is the one occupied by the Hopeville Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of satinets. This was occupied by Thomas Sutton in 1831, where he put in the first iron water-wheel in the county. Sutton's original mill was burned in 1862. About 1848 there was a cotton-mill here run by S. H. Thayer. This was formerly known as Hornville, so called because, when the first mill was built, there was no bell, and the help were called to work with a horn.

The first mill located here was a grist-mill. Bige- low & Barber bought the privilege in 1853.

Next come the carpet-mills, once the location of White & Boyden's machine-shop, where Mr. Albert Curtis learned his trade. Hatch & Gunn here eom- menced the manufacture of broadeloth in 1827 ; they were the first in Worcester to make woolen goods throughout. Then comes the Wieks Manufacturing of worsted suitings.

The next privilege is the one now occupied by the Worcester Wire Company, which has been used as a manufacturing site for many years and for many dif- ferent purposes.

Upon the map previously referred to published in 1784, North Pond is said to cover thirty acres of ground. John Pierce's map, 1795, gives the area of North Pond forty acres, and says that in that year there were in Worcester five grist-mills, six saw-mills, one paper-mill. Near where Mill Brook leaves North Pond there were situated, in 1784, two fulling-mills; just southeast of the court-house was a trip-hammer shop. Between the two and just north of Lincoln Square the old mill of Captain Wing was located in 1685. Then a grist-mill, probably on the site of the Crompton Loom- Works, and a saw-mill was located at Quinsiga- mond, with the statement that "there is soon to be a paper-mill."

Mill Brook has a water-shed of seventy seven hun- dred and fifty acres. The first privilege below North Pond Dam was occupied by a cotton-mill built by George T. Rice and Horace Chenery, about 1830.

The second was a factory built by Frederick W. Paine for Washburn & Goddard, and occupied by them until 1834; then by Goddard & Parkhurst until 1838, when it was leased for a short time by Ichabod Washburn, and was later occupied by William Cromp- ton until it was burned in February, 1844.

The third privilege was the old tannery privilege, originally built by Dr. William Paine, father of F. W.

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Paine, for a grist-mill, which was run by the family for many years.

About 1836 N. Eaton & Co. had a paper-mill here. The Olivers, stove dealers, next used the privilege to grind black lead. In the fall of 1854 Mr. Samuel Warren purchased the property of Mrs. Oliver, and ran it as a tannery uutil 1885. Mr. Warren's ances- tors on both sides for three generations were tanners. His main business was to supply the cardmakers with their leather. This water privilege has recently been purchased by Stephen Salisbury.

The fourth privilege is Grove Mill, where the late Mr. Stephen Salisbury built a wire-mill for Ichabod Washburn in 1834.

The fifth, Court Mills privilege. Abraham Lincoln had a trip-hammer shop bere in 1795; Earle & Wil- liams a machine shop in 1812, and a bark-mill was probably run in connection with the old tannery lo- cated just back of Exchange Hotel in 1815.

Before Court Mill was burned there was an old one-story building located here, used in 1828 by William Hovey for the manufacture of shears and straw-cutters. The basement of the new Court Mills was built of the stones which came from the old jail, which stood on the square facing the present depot.

Howard & Dinsmore took the first lease of the Court Mills, and were succeeded by Mr. Samuel Da- vis.

The sixth privilege was built by F. W. Paine, at the corner of School and Union Streets. It was oc- cupied at first by a small wooden building, thirty by eighteen, two stories high ; the basement was occupied by W. H. Howard, lead pipe manufacturer; the sec- ond story by Calvin Darby, who ran a carding-ma- chine. Mr. Howard was bought out by Ichabod Washburn in 1822, and January 1, 1823, Mr. Wash- burn and Benjamin Goddard formed a partnership, and at the same time bought out Calvin Darby. They manufactured woolen machinery here until their removal to Northville, in 1831. March, Hobart & Co. succeeded them. The premises have been occupied by various parties from 1822 till the present time in the manufacture of woolen machinery, N. A. Lombard & Co. being the present owners.

The seventh privilege was called Flagg Mills, af- terwards known as the Red Mills, and owned by William B. Fox.

The Red Mills were occupied by sash and blind and cutlery manufacturers, while from the same privilege was obtained power which ran the wooleu- mill of Fox & Rice, on the other side of the street. This privilege was sold, and the site became part of the sewerage system in the mayoralty of James B. Blake.

The eighth privilege was occupied by the upper and lower paper-mills at Quinsigamond, later and at present by the works of Washburn & Moen Manu- facturing Company.

The ninth and last privilege in Worcester was oc- cupied by the Perry Grist-Mills, which were built in 1831.

Mill Brook has played an important part in the development of the manufacturing interests of Wor- cester, and three distinct privileges on this stream have been occupied by wire factories, while the first experiments of Ichabod Washburn were conducted at the present location of the Lombard Factory, on School Street. The first wire-mill was located at Northville, and later was moved down the stream to the Grove Mill privilege, and later still the Quin- sigamond privilege was used for this business. Mill Brook is now condemned to the main sewer shortly after it leaves the works of Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company, in Grove Street, from which it emerges into the Blackstone, just below the works at Quinsigamond.

It was not until 1820 that Worcester took first rank among the towns of the county. The census of 1765- 76 gave Worcester the fifth place in population, following Sutton, Lancaster, Mendon and Brookfield. In 1790, 1800 and 1810 Worcester stood third in order, Brookfield and Sutton preceding.

In 1820 Worcester took first place, and from that time to the present has shown a constantly-increasing percentage of the population in the county. That percentage amounted to something over eleven per cent. for the decade ending 1830, and over fifty per cent. for the decade ending 1880 ; while of the increase (17,142) in the population of the county between 1880 and 1885, 10,098, or nearly fifty-nine per ceut., be- longs to the city of Worcester ; and of the population of the county, which was 244,039 in 1885, Worcester had 68,389, or a little over twenty-eight per cent. In 1820 the population of Worcester was 2,962, and of the county 73,625.

This brings us to the time of the building of the Blackstone Caual between Worcester and Providence, which marks an important epoch in the progress of Worcester, and too much credit cannot be given its projectors for appreciating the necessity to Worcester of communication with the seaboard. It is true that the canal was never of great practical value, by rea- son of the better facilities for business afforded by the railroads. It is equally true that without the rail- roads the canal would have ensured the growth and prosperity of the town.

The plan of making a navigable water-way from Providence to Worcester was first suggested, iu 1796, by Mr. John Brown, of Providence, and his associates, but the Legislature of Massachusetts, failing to assent to an act of incorporation, it was not then carried into execution.

In May, 1822, " Gentlemen who are friendly to the project of a canal from Worcester to Providence are requested to meet at Colonel Sikes' Coffee-house on Friday evening, at seven o'clock." Another meeting was held on May 24th, and a committee appointed,

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upon which the following gentlemen served : Levi Lincoln, John Davis, John W. Lincoln, William E. Green, John Milton Earle, Edward D. Bangs.

In September, 1822, the surveys of the canal were completed. According to the report of the committee, the length of the canal would be forty-five miles and the descent from Thomas Street to tide-water in Providence 451} feet.

The ground was bored every twelve rods for the whole distance, and upon the route selected no rock was found within the depth of excavation. The en- gineer reported, "I have come to the conclusion that a canal 32 feet wide at the top, 18 feet at the bottom and 3} feet depth of water, would be a proper size to be formed, and that locks of 70 feet between the gates and 10 feet in width would be sufficiently large for the trade intended."

The estimated expense of the work, including locks, was $323,319.

The excavation in Rhode Island was commenced in 1824, and a meeting of the Blackstone Canal Company was called at the Thomas Coffee-House, Worcester, April 9, 1825, for the purpose of forming a corporation.

Great expectations were formed of the amount of business that would be done, and it was claimed that the canal would more than double the value of real estate within six miles of it. The subscription books for $400,000 of the capital stock, were opened in Providence, April 27th ; three times the required amount was subscribed for, and the stock sold at a premium.

In May, 1826, the canal was located in the village of Worcester.

Fears were entertained in Boston at this time that the canal would divert trade from Boston to Provi- dence ; to counteract this, a plan for a railway be- tween Worcester and Boston was proposed. It is related that a wag, happening to be in town when the account of the sale of canal stock was received, was asked what the Boston folks would do when they heard of that. "Oh," replied he, "they will rail a-way !"

The first canal-boat to arrive in Worcester was the " Lady Carrington," which arrived from Providence October 7, 1828, and moored in the basin in Central Street, at head of canal at eleven o'clock, and was advertised "To take passengers for Millbury to-mor- row morning, returning in the evening, and she will remain here during the present week for the accom- modation of parties."

The arrival of the "Lady Carrington," according to an account in the National Ægis, October 8, 1828, " was greeted on passing the locks by the cheers of the multitudes assembled. On reaching the Front and Central Streets bridges continued cheers hailed its approach. At eleven o'clock the boat arrived in the basin, and the commissioners and the crowd as- sembled were addressed by Colonel Merrick, chairman

of the Board of Selectmen, who expressed the senti- ments appropriate to the occasion. On the conclu- sion of his remarks, enthusiastic cheers, the thunders of cannon and the peal of bells welcomed the visitant to the town. The commissioners and other gentlemen of both States were passengers on the boat, and with the gentlemen of the town partook of a collation at the house of the Governor."

The following notice appears in the Spy at this time :

Port of Worcester, October 8, 1828, Arrived yesterday, Canal-boat 4. Lady Carrington," Captain Dobson, from Providence, with slate and grain for Nathan Heard.

At the end of October " Lady Carrington " arrived in Providence loaded with domestic goods-butter, cheese, coal and paper.

The following extracts, taken from the papers of the day, will give some notion of the amount and character of the goods shipped :

Canal-boat " Providence," Captain Dobson, with 10,000 lbs. lead pipe from T. & J. Sutton, machinery from William Hovey, and iron castings fron Sumner Smith.

Departed, boat " Massachusetts" for Providence, with 26 casks of beer and 11 hogsheads from Trumbull & Ward.

Arrived, canal-boat " Worcester," Captain Green, from Providence, with 3457 lbs. of iron for Washburn & Goddard, 4169 lbs. of lesd to J. & T. Sutton, 13 bales of cotton, 3 tons of logwood and one ton of copperas for William Buffum, Jr.

But there were three serious drawbacks to the prosperity and profits of the canal, which soon made it nnpopular with most of its stockholders and pa- trons. Unfortunately, a portion of the canal was lo- cated in the Blackstone River, and boats were more or less delayed in high, and also in low water, and in some seasons for weeks were detained with goods which were wanted for immediate use or sale. In some years the canal was for four or five months closed with ice. In a season of drought the manufac- turers were jealous of the boatmen drawing so much water, and on several occasions in Rhode Island the owners of the mills and of the water-power ordered large loads of stone tipped into the canal-locks to prevent the boats from passing, which almost excited a riot among the boatmen, and some of the mill- owners were afraid their mills would be fired, as they had been threatened.1

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 167

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464