History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881, Part 39

Author: Ballou, Adin, 1803-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Boston : Rand, Avery, & co.
Number of Pages: 1328

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881 > Part 39

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Mystic St., now, after discontinuance of its easterly section in 1848, extending only from West down to the ancient Abraham Jones place, later known as Nathaniel Rawson's, and still later as that of Jared Rawson ; computed, without accurate measurement, to be 20 rods long, and perhaps 2 wide ; contents, 40 rods.

Newton St., a short piece of road in South Milford, just south of the dwelling-house, once a schoolhouse, from Plain to Mellen St. ; laid first, I am inclined to think, in connection with a piece adjacent to the cemetery in 1791, but afterwards ignored ; laid anew, 1857; 9 rods 13 links long, 2} wide ; contents, about 23 rods.

North Bow St., from Main, near the Town-house, passing Spring and Jefferson, to Central, opposite South Bow, of which it is the

331

NAMES AND DESCRIPTION OF STREETS.

counterpart ; first laid out, 1840, rather imperfectly ; relaid better, 1854 ; further improved, 1855 ; somewhat widened, 1860; nearly 76 rods long, and 3 plus wide ; contents, 1 acre 68 rods.

Oliver St., from Water to (not ascertained) ; accepted, 1873 ; 23 rods 82 feet long, and 2 rods wide ; contents, 47 rods plus.

Otis St., from Chapin to Fruit; accepted, 1872; 32 rods 7 links long, and 2 rods wide ; contents, 64} rods.

Park St., from Main, opposite South Bow, passing Parish Com- mon, to Congress ; accepted, 1857; 10 rods 19 links long, and 3 rods wide ; contents, 92 rods.

Parkhurst St., from Hayward, near the R. Rd. crossing, running some distance parallel with the R. Rd., whence turning an angle, it reaches Hayward again at a distant point; accepted, 1879 ; named with respectful reference to some of the Parkhursts interested; 73 rods long, in part 2 rods wide, and in part 24 feet ; contents, 134 rods.

Peace St., from Hopedale to Dutcher ; accepted, 1872 ; named by the writer ; 20 rods long, and 2 wide ; contents, 40 rods.

Pearl St., from Main, between Church Block and the Sumner Hotel, to Purchase, near the foot of Walnut ; laid out in two pieces at two different times, viz., the principal portion from near the front of Pearl- street Universalist Church, to Purchase, 1833, 70 rods long, and 3 wide ; and the south end, 8 rods 8 links, at three several times, in connection with North Bow St ; whole length, 78 rods 8 links, and 3 rods wide ; contents, 1 acre 75 rods, nearly. An error in " Milford Directory " makes Pearl St. extend northward to Fountain St., which needs correction.

Pine St., from 103 Main, at junction with School, to 58 Congress ; accepted, Nov. 8, 1847; length, 60 rods ; width, 3 rods ; contents, 1 acre 20 rods.

Plain Street, from South Main, near the old Bowker place, passing Mill, South Milford cemetery, Newton and Mellen, to Mendon line at the old " Country Road," once so called ; originally an ancient vol- untary path of the first settlers ; portions of it laid out at different times, - 1721, 1723, 1791, and finally 1848, when it was widened and much improved : 434 rods long ; 233 rods 14 links of the southern portion 3 rods wide, and the remaining portion 2} ; contents, 7 acres 81g rods.

Pond St., from Main, just west of Charles-river Bridge, passing the gas-works, to B. & A. R. Rd. ; laid, relaid, and accepted, 1849 ; named with reference to the mill-pond near its northerly terminus ; 60 rods 12 links long, and 22 wide ; contents, 1514 rods.

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HISTORY OF MILFORD.

Prospect St., from Main, opposite Elm, passing Water, to West, opposite Highland ; an ancient travelled path, first laid ont by Men- don selectmen in connection with a part of what is called Highland, 1739 ; considerably altered at its southerly end, 1812 ; widened and straightened, 1850, and again, 1854 ; 172 rods 5} links long, and 2} rods wide ; contents, 2 acres 110 rods, or thereabouts.

Purchase St., from junction of School and Pearl, passing Fountain, Dilla, Purchase Lane, Ehen, Tyler, Tyler again, Haven, Camp, and Wales, to Hopkinton line ; an old road, already treated of ; laid out, straightened, widened, and improved, 1731, 1736, 1786, and 1844 ; about 960 rods long, 2} plus wide ; contents, 15 acres.

Purchase Lane, from Purchase, eastward, near John Goldsmith's boot-shop, to his house, once Lee Claflin's ; accepted, 1827 ; 26 rods, nearly, long, and 2 rods wide ; contents, about 52 rods. I have given this name myself, for convenience of statement.

Quinlan St., formerly Cross St. See Cross St., foregoing under letter C.

Railroad St., from South Bow, to M. & W. R. Rd. depot ; ac- cepted, 1866 ; not quite 12 rods long, and 3 wide ; contents, 35 rods plus.

Reade St., from Main, near Cedar, to Dominic ; accepted, 1876 ; 14 rods 153 feet long, and 30 feet wide ; contents, 23 rods plus.

Reservoir St., from Silver Hill St., near Highland, crossing Camp, towards North Pond reservoir, whence its name; accepted, 1833 ; 180 rods long, and 2} wide ; contents, 2 acres 130 rods.

School St., from 103 Main, at junction with Pine, crossing Spruce, passing Walnut, near junction of Pearl with the old North Purchase road ; an ancient way, as already shown in its connection with said road ; relaid and widened by county commissioners, 1869 ; about 73 rods long, and 45 feet wide ; contents, nearly 1 acre and 40 rods.

Short St., from Main, near Cedar; accepted, 1873; 26 rods 11 links long, 2 rods wide ; contents, 53 rods.

Silver Hill St., from Tyler, near Purchase, passing Congress, Res- ervoir, and Highland, crossing Mill River, to Upton ; a singular com- pound of old roads and ways laid out at different times ; viz., westerly portion towards Upton, 1759 ; relaid and much straightened, 1835 ; the easterly portion first laid 16 rods to Saml. Jones's old house-gate, 1789, and relaid to his new house-gate, 1809 ; bridleway thence laid westerly, by Seth Nelson's, to what is now the north end of Congress St., 1813 ; the same portion laid out by our selectmen twice in 1835, but not accepted by the town ; same year the selectmen's second lay-out confirmed by county commissioners, and ordered built ; whole

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NAMES AND DESCRIPTION OF STREETS.

length of both portions, 369 rods 8 links ; the easterly portion, 2} rods wide ; the westerly, 3 ; total contents, 6 acres 31 rods.

Social St., from Hopedale to Dutcher; accepted, 1872; 20 rods long, and 2 wide ; contents, 40 rods.

South Bow St., from Main, opposite Parish Common, passing Bragg Slip, Grove, and Claflin, to Central, opposite North Bow, of which it is the counterpart ; first laid out, 1840; widened, 1871 ; now 72 rods 12 links long, and 2} rods wide ; contents, 1 acre 21 rods plus.

South Main St., from Main, opposite Congress, passing Hollis, Forest, Grove, Fruit, Wood, Depot, Cortland, Howard, and Plain, crossing Mellen, passing Warfield, to Mendon line at So. Milford store ; already treated of; widened somewhat, 1876; 800 rods long, and averaging about 2} wide ; contents, 12 acres 80 rods.

Spring St., from Main, passing Spring Lane and Jefferson Alley, to North Bow ; accepted, 1863 ; 51 rods 4} links long, and 30 feet wide ; contents, 93 rods.

Spring Lane, from Spring to Jefferson ; accepted, 1863; nearly 7 rods 4} links long, and 20 feet wide ; contents, 8 rods plus.

Spruce St., from 63 Main, crossing School, passing old burying- ground and Town Park, crossing Congress, to High ; oldest part (from School to Congress) opened by county authority, 1796 ; relaid, straightened, and widened, 1854, and then called Chessman St. ; said to be 64 rods 16 links long, and 2 rods wide, later made 3 rods wide ; continued beyond Congress St., 1869, 79 rods 8 links long, and 40 feet wide; the easterly end, behind the " Heater Piece," once so called, of unascertained age, perhaps 18 rods long, and 2} wide ; the entire street now nearly 162 rods long, and of the various widths aforesaid ; contents, about 2 acres 105 rods.

Sumner St., from 29 Main to Granite; accepted, 1857; thence to Lincoln, 1870 ; the former part 42 rods 18 links long, 48 feet wide ; the latter part 411 feet long, 48 wide ; whole length, 68 rods 15} links ; contents, 1 acre 31 rods, nearly.

Thayer St., from Main to Water ; accepted, 1867; 62 rods 8 links long, and 2 rods wide ; contents, 125 rods, nearly.

Thomas St., from Cortland, south-west of Wood ; accepted, 1862 ; 12 rods 4 links long, and 2 rods wide ; contents, 24 rods plus.

Thwing St., from Hopedale, westward, over Mill River, to grist- mill ; accepted, 1859 ; named with respectful reference to Almon Thwing, who then owned the mill-seat ; 46 rods 20 links long, and 2 rods wide ; contents, about 93} rods.

Town Common, on the south side of Main St. ; originally 20 rods long, and 12 wide, but now shorn by North Bow St. at the east end,

334

HISTORY OF MILFORD.

and Court St. at the west end. The original acre and a half was donated to the town by the venerable Darius Sumner, June 14, 1819. The offer was made and accepted in open town-meeting; and the deed bears date July 13, 1819, and is recorded with Worcester Deeds, B. 236, p. 378. As nearly as I can judge, the two streets have taken up 62 rods, perhaps more, of the original area; leaving present con- tents 1 acre 18 rods.

Town Park, on Congress, between Spruce and Walnut Sts .; a part of the Twitchell farm (originally owned by Amos Binney and Thomas Bailey) ; purchased by the Town of Emmons Twitchell, for $10,000, as set forth in a deed dated July 1, 1863, and recorded with Worcester Deeds, B. 668, p. 188 ; containing about 15 acres ; a valu- able acquisition, well fenced, laid out, improved, and adorned with growing sbade-trees, for all which the town has made liberal expendi- tures.

Turnpike Slip, as I will venture to call it, is a fragment of the Turnpike which at one time occupied the old "Country Road " on our southern border. It somehow happened to be laid across a cor- ner of our territory, at the extreme south-westerly corner, and, when thrown up by the corporation, was relaid into a common highway, in the year 1831, by the county commissioners. It is found by the original record to be 70 rods long, and is 3 wide ; contents, 1 acre 62 rods. The pike was laid 4 rods wide, but I have called the relay 3.

Tyler St., a section of the oldest part of the North Purchase road, which dates back to 1731. It was left out as a bend when that road was radically improved in 1844. It extends from Purchase above Eben, passing Silver Hill St., and entering the mother street again some distance north ; length, as estimated, without actual measure- ment, 80 rods, and 2 wide ; contents, 1 acre.

Union St., from West, near Cross alias Quinlan ; accepted, 1869 ; 33 rods 24 links long, and 40 feet wide ; contents, over 82 rods.

Vernon St., from Depot St. to Vernon Cemetery ; accepted, 1860 ; 27 rods 22 links long, and 2} rods wide ; contents, nearly 68 rods.

Vine St., from Congress to Highiland ; a piece of an old road laid out 1745 ; estimated, without actnal measurement, to be 150 rods long, and 2 wide ; contents, 1 acre 140 rods.

Wales St., from Purchase, near Hopkinton line, to Haven ; in part an old road, dating back to 1763 ; part of it laid 1811, and the main portion relaid 1822 ; named with respectful reference to two or three generations of the Wales family formerly inhabiting the neighbor- hood ; estimated, without actual measurement, to be 240 rods long, and 2 wide ; contents, 3 acres.

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NAMES AND DESCRIPTION OF STREETS.

Walnut St., from School, near its junction with Pearl, passing Town Park, across Congress ; first laid and accepted, 1864, and afterwards extended westward, 1870; perhaps called Walnut from trees of that kind in the grove occupying a part of Town Park ; the easterly portion 70 rods 10 links long, 2} rods wide ; the westerly part 26 rods 12 links long, 3 rods wide ; entire length, 96 rods 22 links ; which, with its different widths, give contents, 1 acre 95 rods.

Warfield St., from Mellen, southerly, to South Main ; an ancient proprietors' way, probably dating back, as a laid-out road, to 1718, though there is some uncertainty about the date ; named with respect- ful reference to the Warfield families who for several generations have dwelt in its vicinity ; estimated, without actual measurement, to be 70 rods long, and 2} wide ; contents, 1 acre 15 rods.

Water St., from Main, at the south end of Congress, westerly, passing Thayer, High, and Lee, to Prospect ; originally a proprietors' reserved way, open in the early days of the Precinct, and then closed for many years ; accepted, 1849 ; 193 rods 7 links long, and 3 rods wide ; contents, 3 acres 100 rods, nearly.

West St., from Congress, opposite Exchange, passing Cherry, High, Quinlan, Union, Lee, Prospect, Highland, Laurel, Asylum, Mystic, Asylum (new), Hazel, Hill, across Mill River, to Upton line ; already treated of; nearly 880 rods long, and 3 wide ; con- tents, 16 acres 80 rods.

Winter St., from 12 Granite, passing Lincoln, to Mechanic; ac- cepted, 1870 ; 34 rods 3} links long, and 3 rods wide ; contents, 102 rods plus.

Wood St., from South Main, next north of Depot, to Cortland ; an old road, laid out 1746 ; estimated, without actual measurement, to be 65 rods long, and 1} wide ; contents, about 98 rods.

There are several town-ways, partly public and partly private, not included among the foregoing. They have been laid out at different periods, and in some cases have been partially discontinued. They are, however, so unimportant, and so difficult to describe with cer- tainty, that I shall leave them without further notice.

A considerable extent of our principal roads has been macadam- ized ; and all of them have substantially good bridges where they cross the two rivers, and are in respectable condition. In former times they were assigned to districts, and kept in repair on the old rate system, chiefly by work at a prescribed price for men and teams per hour, under the direction of highway surveyors annually chosen for the several districts. Latterly the selectmen have been made highway surveyors ; and moneys drawn directly from the Town treas-

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HISTORY OF MILFORD.

ury have been expended, as necessity seemed to require, for building improving, and repairing the streets.

We have a few good sewers, the best and most costly of which is the one under Main St., in the Centre. This has recently been com- pleted at an expense to the Town of $4,776.57. It is proper to add that our principal streets are well lighted, at an annual expense of over $2,000.

OUR RAILROADS.

Of these we have three, which centre in close proximity, and afford our inhabitants very convenient communication with all the great marts of the country. The oldest and most important is the Framingham and Milford Branch of the Boston and Albany. This was preceded and obtained by a protracted series of very earnest and self-sacrificing exertions on the part of a few of our leading citizens, to whom the town is more indebted than it has ever yet fully appre- ciated. Foremost among these citizens were David Stearns Godfrey and Seth P. Carpenter. They worked hard and long in gathering statistics and presenting the case to the proper authorities, in the face of much doubt and opposition, but finally succeeded. It was first contemplated having the branch extended from Framingham to Woonsocket, R.I. ; but, if I rightly remember, this excellent scheme was frustrated in the interest of the Norfolk County road. Ulti- mately the authorities of the Boston and Worcester road were induced to further the enterprise of a branch to terminate in Milford. This branch lacks only 200 feet of 12 miles in length. It was opened, with great demonstrations of rejoicing, July 1, 1848. Its length within our town-limits is about 2 miles and 21 rods ; its right of way is 4 rods in width, and its depot-grounds cover 2 acres ; contents, about 21 acres.

The Milford and Woonsocket Branch connects with what is known as the Air-Line R. Road at Bellingham. It affords excellent accom- modations for travel and transportation. It was opened, with appro- priate ceremonies, Aug. 1, 1868. Its length is stated to be 3188% miles ; 2 miles and 17 rods of it are within our limits, and its right of way is mostly 4 rods wide, which, with its depot-grounds, makes its contents about 18 acres. The town owns $50,000 of its capital stock.

The Hopkinton Rail Rd., from Ashland to Milford, furnishes many conveniences of intercourse, and, though thus far unprofitable to the pockets of its stockholders, affords, on the whole, important advan- tages to the public. It was opened Dec. 24, 1872. Whole length, 11Togo miles ; length within our limits, 2 miles and 218 rods ; width

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ROADS, RAILROADS, ETC., CONCLUDED.

of way generally 4 rods ; contents, about 21 acres. Milford owns in its stock and bonds $15,000.

According to my estimates and figures, our entire length of streets and roads is about 73 miles and 47 rods ; and all our public grounds, in roads, parks, etc., cover nearly 397 acres. Whoever will be at the trouble and expense of ascertaining exact accuracy, is at liberty to do so.

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HISTORY OF MILFORD.

CHAPTER XIII.

STATISTICS OF FINANCE, POPULATION, PRODUCTION, ETC.

The Town's Financial Affairs, Operations, and Exhibits. - Lack of Early Financial Documents and Records, by reason of Negligence, Fire, etc. - What Funds the Town started with by Settlement with Mendon. - Copy of Reported Set- tlement. - Moneys raised for its Principal Purposes by the Town, from Year to Year, during its Century of Corporate Existence, in Tabulated Statements, showing Receipts and Expenditures. - Town Assets and Indebtedness. - Its Taxable Resources of All Kinds.

Productive Industries and Pursuits. - Statistics collected by the State for 1837, '45, '55, '65, and '75. - Our Manufactures. - Rise and Growth of the Boot and Shoe Business. - Various other Branches of Manufacturing Enterprise, more or less Successful at Different Periods. - The Small Beginnings and Ultimate Triumphs of the Most Successful. - Descriptions and Statistics of those in the Centre and at Hopedale. - The Results of Enterprise, Improvements, and General Progress now Prominent.

THE TOWN'S FINANCIAL AFFAIRS, OPERATIONS, AND EXHIBITS.

TN this section I shall treat, as well as I can, on all the impor- tant facts of a financial nature which the town-records show to have been developed by its corporate action. I have been unable to find any very early valuations, rate-bills, or monetary accounts. No books of assessors, selectmen, collectors, or treasurers, previous to 1795, are now extant. A fire, Jan. 3, 1853, destroyed most of the treasurer's books down to that date. Our early valuations must have been comparatively small. Financial statisticians in the Tax Com- missioners' Office, Boston, inform me, on the authority of the " Ameri- can Statistical Association's Collections," vol. i., that there is no record of the valuations of Mendon and Milford until 1781 ; and, for that year, that Mendon had a valuation of £261,000, with 296 polls, and Milford a valuation of £190,800, with 183 polls. I suspect these valnations must have been based somewhat on the depreciated cur- rency of the times, and are hardly trustworthy. We know, from authentic sources, nearly what the infant town had in its treasury to start with, and what amounts of money have been annually raised since. In 1825 annual financial reports, though somewhat crude, began to be recorded by the selectmen.

It appears, from the agreements and settlements concurrently made

339

EARLY SETTLEMENT WITH MENDON.

between Mendon and her daughter town, that Milford was held en- titled to receive from Mendon treasury some £2,000. The agree- ment made preliminary to separation (see Chap. VI.) stipulated that the new town should draw their equal proportion of the school-money according to the valuation ; also one-third of the ministry-money ; also their equal proportion of the town's stock of arms and ammu- nition ; and, furthermore, " that if there appears to be a surplusage of money, over and above paying all the Town's debts and charges, then the newly-incorporated Town should draw their equal propor- tion, according to their Valuation." What is called school-money and ministry-money I suppose to have arisen from the sale of lands, and rights to common lands, as provided in the original assignment of proprietors' lots, when Mendon town-seat was first settled ; for then there was set off a " school-lot " and a " ministry-lot," ranking co-equally with the other proprietors' lots in all subsequent divisions of the common lands. The moneys accruing from sale of the lands belonging to these school and ministry lots, or at least a considerable portion thereof, had been funded in loans ; and the annual net income used to support schools and the gospel ministry respectively. Now, Milford received one-third of these two funds, probably in the form of notes or bonds against individuals. Just what the amount of each fund was, I have found no record or paper that definitely states. The annual income of each must have been comparatively small, - perhaps somewhere between ten and forty dollars. But as to the sur- plusage of money in Mendon treasury due to Milford, the following recorded document is somewhat explicit : -

" We the Subscribers, being Committees chosen by the Towns of Men- don and Milford to settle sundry affairs between said Towns, have attended said service, and have divided the poor people which was supported by the Town of Mendon before said Town of Milford was Incorporated into a Town, to each of said Towns their proportionable part. Also we have divided that part of the Country Road and Eight Rod Road (so called) which is between the said Town's of Mendon and Milford, - to each Town their equal half to mend and keep in repair forever; and have committed a written Division of said poor and said roads unto the Town Clerks of said Mendon and Milford to be recorded, - they being signed by the Chairman of each of the said Committees. We, the said Committee of said Mendon, have also delivered said Committee of Milford their proportionable part of the arms and ammunition belonging to said Town of Mendon (before said Town of Milford was set off), and have taken their Receipts therefor. We have also found that the Town of Mendon owes the Town of Milford the sum of Two Thousand Pounds Old Emission, and also said Town of Mil- ford's proportionable part of two States Notes, -one dated Dec. the 1st,

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HISTORY OF MILFORD.

1777, the sum of £1,169, 9s., two years' interest paid; the other dated April 1st, 1778, the sum of £1,234, 11s., one year's interest paid ; they, the said Town of Milford, paying or discharging the said Town of Mendon from the several debts which said Town of Mendon owes to the several persons here- after named (viz ): A debt to Mr. Ichabod Thayer, the Security being dated August the 19th, 1776, the sum of £15, 0s. ; Also a Note of Capt. Ichabod Thayer, dated April the 25, 1777, the sum of £30, Os .; also a Note of Elijah Stoddard, dated May the 23, 1777, the sum of £18, Os. ; also a Note of Boyce Kimball, dated May the 31, 1777, the sum of £30, Os .; also a Note to Ezekiel Bates, dated May the 27, 1778, the sum of £50, 0s .; also a Note to Saul Rams- dell, dated April the 22, 1777, the sum of £18, Os .; also of Capt. Gershom Nelson, dated March the 12, 1777, the sum of £30, 0s .; also to Ebenezer Read, dated August the 1, 1778, the sum of £20, 0s .; also a Note to Obadiah Wood, dated May 1, 1777, the sum of £30, Os. We say, that, in case said Town of Milford discharge the abovesaid debts, then the Town of Mendon owes the Town of Milford Two Thousand Pounds, to be on Interest until paid, and also their proportionable parts of the abovesaid States Notes. And in case there should any more debts appear against said Town of Mendon, that were due before said Town of Milford was Incorporated, then said Town of Milford is held to pay their proportionable part ; save that there is in the Treasury of said Town of Mendon the sum of Five Hundred Pounds to be adjusted.

" And also we have delivered to said Town of Milford their proportion- able part of the Ministry Money, and also their proportionable part of the School Money, which formerly Belonged to the Town of Mendon before Mil- ford was set off as a Town.

"The Town of Mendon are to pay and discharge the following debts, that were contracted before the Town of Milford was Incorporated (viz ) : To Col. Andrew Peters, it being the sum of £156, Os .; also Edward Rawson, Esq., of the original sum of £168, 12s. 72d .; also three Notes to Josiah Nel- son, the sum of £140, Os. ; also to the widow Rawson, a Note of £39, 0s .; also a Note to Levi Albee of the sum of £36, Os .; also a Note to Capt. Samuel Green, Dec., the sum of £15, Os .; also a Note of Samuel Swift, the sum of £24; and also £12 to Henry Penniman.

" Relative to the Town of Mendon owing the Town of Milford £2,000, as also said Town of Mendon and Town of Milford discharging the abovesaid debts, is submitted to said Towns.

JOHN TYLER, JOHN ALBEE,

Committee of Mendon

PETER PENNIMAN, SAMUEL WARREN, JONATHAN JONES, ICHABOD THAYER, JR., SAMUEL JONES,

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History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881, Part 39

Author: Ballou, Adin, 1803-1890 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Boston : Rand, Avery, & co. Number of Pages: 1328

Author: Ballou, Adin, 1803-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Boston : Rand, Avery, & co.
Number of Pages: 1328