USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > History of the town of Palmer, Massachusetts, early known as the Elbow tract : including records of the plantation, district and town 1716-1889 > Part 27
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The company declines to give any statistics of their present pro- ductive capacity, and amount of business, and number of hands employed.
From the Assessor's report for 1888, it appears that the valuation of the property of the Thorndike Company was: Machinery, $176,825; factory buildings, $95,800; forty-six houses, $49,700; three barns, $1,400; saw and grist mill, $350; land, 280 acres, $5,600; land, Forest Lake, seven acres, $300; land, 20 acres, with buildings, $4,000; water power, $10,000.
There are in the village two churches-the First Congregational and the Catholic. There is a good school house, and six graded schools are maintained-three primary, two intermediate, and one grammar department. The Ware River railroad runs through the heart of the village.
BONDSVILLE .- The earliest notice of an attempt to use the water of Swift river, within our town limits, was in 1749, when James and Samuel Lamont put in a cobble-stone or log dam at the lower privilege in Bondsville, and set up a grist mill. A tradition says the mill-stones were at first carried by a current-wheel. How long the brothers ran the mill is not known, nor is their immediate suc- cessor. Some time later the widow Norton was in occupancy. During her ownership the water undermined one end of the dam, and to repair it, trees of considerable size were thrust into the breach, butt-end foremost, and untrimmed. The remains of this singular breastwork could be seen in modern times. About 1782, David Darling, Sen., bought the privilege. In 1795 Mr. Darling sold one-half of his rights to Ezekiel Boyden, who contracted to put in a saw-mill. The agreement was that each should put in a wheel of the same size, and so share the power equally; but one partner claimed that the other's wheel was larger than his, and the disagreement was carried into the courts. At length, Mr. Boyden bought the other half, and about 1816 leased the privilege to John (Michael?) Swinington, who made preparation to transform the buildings into a mill for the manufacture of cotton cloth. For want of funds the project failed ; and in 1820 Boyden sold out to Leonard Owen, who in turn, about 1825, sold to J. B. Merrick and Emelius Bond, who finished the building and made many improve- ments about the place. In 1828 Merrick and Bond sold the mill and part of the land to Moses Learned and Parmenter, who put in machinery for manufacturing woolens-Mr. Bond retaining
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CROSSCUP & WEST END. OB. PHILA. PA.
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BOSTON DUCK COMPANY'S MILLS AND DYE WORKS, BOND'S VILLAGE.
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the ownership of much of the land, the store, and an interest in the mill. The business prospered, and in 1836 the official returns to the State show : "Woolen mill, 1; woolen machinery, 2 setts ; wool consumed, 60,000 pounds ; cloth manufactured, 68,000 yards ; value of same, $54,000; males employed, 16 ; females employed, 16 ; capital invested, $9,000 ; sperm oil used, 800 gallons."
At one time Mr. Learned manufactured fine broadcloth.
THE MUNROE COMPANY. - March 28, 1836, Luther Parks, Israel Thorndike and John S. Wright were incorporated as the Munroe Company, for the purpose of manufacturing woolen, cot- ton and silk goods and machinery in the towns of Palmer and Belchertown ; with rights to hold real estate of the value of $250,- 000 ; and the whole capital stock not to exceed in value $550,000. The same parties owned the mill at Three Rivers, and had just obtained an act of incorporation, as "The Thorndike Company ; " and, as in that case, they employed Joseph Brown as agent in the purchase of the existing water rights, and adjacent lands. He had already bought a tract of land of Francis Braman (Nov. 22, 1835); and Jan. 1, 1836, had purchased of Emelius Bond his fee and equity in the real estate and water rights of the privilege. In the same year Mr. Brown bought out all the interest which Parmenter and Learned held in the property. But the commercial revulsion of 1837, put a temporary stop to the enterprise, and things re- mained in statu quo till the crash was over.
May 28, 1838, Mr. Brown transferred the privilege, and all acquired interest in the property to " The Munroe Company," which started up the works and continued the manufacture of woolen goods. Sept. 3, 1840, their Return shows : "Woolen mill, 1; number of spindles in the same, 590; number of looms, 32." In the mean time, viz., in 1835, the mill was leased to and carried on by Jethro Lapham for a short time. Then Smith & Phelps ran it for a couple of years. In 1844, Buffum & Harding took the mill and manufactured satinets for a year or two. Then Christopher C. Aldrich took a lease for four years, and was in charge when the mill was burned in 1849.
The grist mill had been given up; but the old mill-house was used for a variety of purposes. A shingle machine was in opera- tion for a time ; Phipps & Titicut made percussion caps ; Greenwood put in machinery for making shoe-pegs ; and one of the buildings was used for constructing looms, lathes, and other machinery.
THE BOSTON DUCK COMPANY .- Feb. 15, 1845, an Act was passed by the General Court incorporating " Augustus H. Fiske,
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
John S. Wright & Elijah Loring, as a corporation by the name of the Boston Duck Company, for the purpose of manufacturing cotton and woolen goods and machinery, in the town of Palmer and the town of Belchertown, etc. The company may hold real estate not to exceed in value $200,000 ; and the whole capital stock shall not exceed $500,000 in value."
Sept. 6, 1845, the new company bought out the rights of the Munroe Company, and near the same time, the lands and rights of other parties, and began preparations to use the upper privilege on the river. The capital stock paid in at the outset was $135,400, the par value being reckoned at $700 per share. The real estate, before the burning of the old miil, was valued at $30,000. Joseph Brown took four shares and became the agent, and the controlling spirit of the enterprise. He planned the new dam ; and superin- tended the erection of the stone mill. In a word, he was the active and trusted manager of affairs, from 1845 to 1860. The Company attribute to his wise sagacity the great success that has given it its high standing, and financial prosperity. He was to the new cor- poration, what Emelius Bond was to the earlier plans of improving the stream, and laying out and building up the village-which very properly bears his name.
The stone mill was completed in 1849, the same year in which the old mill was burned. In size it is 240x50 feet, and five stories high. It was first fitted with looms for the manufacture of sail duck, and continued to run on heavy duck till 1861. In this year a new brick mill was built, 120x50 feet, 2 stories high ; new and improved machinery added, and the product was changed to sheet- ings, drills and light duck. For three years past, 20 looms have been run on cotton flannels, and the rest, as before. in 1876, a brick dye-house, 120x60 feet and three stories high, was built, where all kinds of piece dyeing is done. In 1879-80, a brick ad- dition 120x54 feet, four stories high, was put on, making the establishment complete in all its parts, with the exception of the boiler-house, which was built in 1888. This is 72x42 feet, and is detached from the other buildings. In 1882-3, the foundation of a new mill, 520x100 feet was put in on the lower privilege, at a cost of over $100,000-intended to be a 20,000 spindle mill. The superstructure is not yet built.
The number of looms now in use is 328; annual product, 5,000,- 000 yards of duck and flannels; present capital stock, $350,000 ; number of hands employed, 400; monthly pay-roll, $10,000. O. B. Smith has held the office of agent for 19 years. F. A. Packard is superintendent, John Watson superintendent of dye-works.
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INDUSTRIES OF PALMER.
The height of the fall is 21 feet.
This is the more northerly of the four villages in Palmer, and is about 5 miles from Palmer depot. The Athol branch of the Bos- ton & Albany railroad runs directly past the mills, nearly on a level with the dam ; and the Massachusetts Central railroad crosses the river 80 rods above over an iron bridge 50 feet high and 170 long. These roads give easy access to market in all directions. There is a fine grammar school house and primary school rooms. The Meth- odists have a pretty church, built in 1876, at a cost of $6,000. The Irish Catholic Church was erected in 1879; and the French Catho- lics are now completing a church for their own people.
Population of the village, 1,200.
The valuation of 1888 shows: Boston Duck Company-Ma- chinery, $125,438 ; factory buildings, $84,500 ; thirty-eight houses, $37,000 ; shoe shop, barns, etc., $1,150 ; land, 18 acres, with build- ings, $3,800; 20 acres, with lower privilege, $2,000; 68} acres, with reservoir, $5,300 ; upper water power, $7,500; lower water power, $4,000.
PALMER CARPET MILL .- These works are among the important industries of the town, turning out some of the finest goods in their line to be found in the country. The mills are located in a retired spot three-fourths of a mile east of Palmer Village, and are run by steam power, having an engine of seventy-five horse power. There is pure water for cleansing purposes coming from a never- failing spring above the mill.
The factory was built in 1871 by the Parks Carpet Company. It was bought by the Palmer Carpet Company, and their business established here Nov. 16, 1874. This is a joint-stock company, with a capital of $50,000. They manufacture body-brussels and wiltons of high grade, having sixteen looms on the former and four on the latter, with a capacity of six hundred yards per day. Quite a number of the operatives were familiar with the manufacture of this class of goods in their early days in England.
The company is now preparing to commence the making of carpet yarns.
RIDGE'S FOOD FOR INFANTS AND INVALIDS .- The factory where this food is prepared is located in Palmer Village, nearly opposite the cemetery. The building was erected in 1864, and intended for a boot shop, but this business failing, it was bought by Woolrich & Company in 1874, and utilized for the manufacture of their patent food. This is a preparation of pure wheat grains subjected to a
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
patented process, which renders it easily digestible and acceptable to the most irritable stomach. The large and increasing demand seems to prove its great value. The formula is of English origin. and the right of Mr. Woolrich covers Canada and the United States.
All parts of the business of manufacturing and putting up.the article are carried on at the factory, even to the making of the tin boxes in which it is packed, nicely adjusted machinery doing much of the mechanical work.
Mr. John H. Woolrich is a native of Handley, County of Cheshire, England. He is a thoroughly educated chemist. Came over sea to Nova Scotia in 1860, where he set up a food manufac- tory. At the end of ten years he came to Malden, Mass., and en- gaged in the same business, which, as already stated, he removed to Palmer in 1874, on account of better facilities for transportation.
PALMER WIRE COMPANY .- This company was incorporated January 24, 1882, with a capital of $50,000, afterwards increased to $150,000. The company purchased a large tract of land in the western part of Palmer village, where they erected large and sub- stantial buildings at a heavy outlay. The works stand directly upon the railroads, so that facilities for shipping material and goods are unsurpassed. The product was largely telephone and telegraph wires, of which at the time there was a great demand. But pecuniary reverses overtook the company and forced them to suspend business.
After lying idle for a year the plant was purchased in 1885 by J. S. & H. P. Holden, who the next year commenced the manu- facture of tinned wire for mattresses, brooms, etc., which is still continued. Holden & Cushing made wire nails here for a time, but have sold this business to D. F. Holden. The present officers of the company are J. S. Holden, president, and H. P. Holden, treasurer.
THE WIRE GOODS COMPANY was started by George F. Wright in 1883 in a building adjoining the Palmer Wire Company, and using power from their engine. When the P. W. Co. failed, the Goods Co. were obliged to suspend operations for about a year. When the Holdens bought the plant and commenced business, the WRIGHT WIRE CLOTH COMPANY, composed of George F. Wright and his two sons, George M. and H. N., was organized and started operations again at the old stand. This was in 1886. The com- pany was incorporated in January, 1888, with a capital of $20,000.
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INDUSTRIES OF PALMER.
They manufacture power loom wire cloths of iron, brass and cop- per, steel sparker, fan mill and hardware cloths, twisted nettings, fruit drying cloths and improved wire lathing. These goods em- brace a wide range of sizes and quality, varying from nine square feet to the pound to three pounds per square foot.
There is a costly galvanizing tank and apparatus connected with the factory, kept ready for use day and night.
All the complicated machinery in use is the invention of George F. Wright, and is wholly made on the premises.
In the short period of its existence the company has built up a large business, the annual product being 400 tons of cloth, of the value of $60,000. They now have 50 hands in their employ.
THE HOLDEN WOOLEN MILL, located to the eastward of Palmer Village, was started in 1883 by H. P. & J. S. Holden for the manufacture of ladies' dress goods. J. S. Holden sold out his interest to Charles E. Fuller, and the firm is now Holden & Fuller.
THE PALMER PLANING MILL, at the Depot Village, was estab- lished in 1873 by Francis Keyes. It is now owned by H. P. Marcy.
THE PALMER IRON FOUNDRY, located near the Union Depot, was started by Julius C. Shaw. After 1874 it was owned by Edgerton & Davis, now Edgerton & Francis. They manufacture hollow ware, sinks and various kinds of machinery.
SOAP FACTORY .- Many years ago Smith & Blanchard set up the business of making soft soap at the village of Thorndike. In 1851 the factory was bought by Sawyer & Gallop, who made up- wards of 1,000 barrels of soap per year, besides great numbers (6,000 pounds) of tallow candles. The works are now owned by A. Trumble.
THE BETTS' FENCING COMPANY occupies the building at the Depot village formerly used by the Goddard Hat Factory. It was started five or six years ago, for the construction of wire fencing, formed of small wires firmly fastened to inch square pickets, easily rolled and unrolled, and ready to be fastened to posts set in the ground. The concern is owned by D. F. Holden & Brothers.
TANNERIES .- Capt. Patrick Watson established a tannery near Whipple's Station about 1766, which continued in use till 1827.
There was a tanyard near Warren town line.
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
William Mason constructed tan works near Blanchardville about 1790 ; and after his death his son William carried on the business of tanning and currying till after 1855, in which year the value of curried leather was $32,000.
DISTILLERY .- October 3, 1808. The town by vote ordered the selectmen to lay out a road from Levi Allen's distillery to the road near Elihu Smith's. It stood east of the Old Centre, and manu- factured whiskey from rye. It was once owned and run by a com- pany, consisting of Col. Amos Hamilton, Zadock Cooley et als. The story goes, that Cooley once loaded a hogshead of their production on an ox-team and started for Boston, to exchange the same for money and groceries. Unfortunately his team was upset on the road, the hogshead burst, and the liquor ran to waste. But he was no worse off than his partners, who shipped an invoice of the article via Springfield, to Boston, and when received at Boston it was condemned and forfeited as being below proof.
Col. Cyrus Knox had a small still for making cider brandy.
BLACKSMITHS .- The first was John Applin, who was here as early as 1733.
Hugh Tackels is named on the records as a blacksmith here in 1755 ; probably he was here much earlier.
McMichel had a shop near C. F. Smith's.
McElwain carried on the trade at the Four Corners. The dates of both are uncertain.
Capt. Timothy Brainard came to town about 1772, and set up a shop north of Blanchardville, where he carried on a profitable business for many years. He was the first of the trade to furnish his own stock. He made scythes as well as axes and farming tools in general.
TINSMITH. - May 7, 1804. The town "voted, on petition of William McDowell, that the sum of $40, be given him out of the treasury to enable him to purchase tin and tools to work at his trade, in order to support himself and family."
CARPENTER .- December 22, 1795. The town " voted that Moses Shaw be appointed to make out a plan of the new meeting-house, and lay it before the town." It is understood that he laid out the work by the square rule, and was the first builder in town to use this rule, all previous work of the kind having been done by the " try rule."
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INDUSTRIES OF PALMER.
WOOL CARDING AND CLOTH DRESSING was carried on in a small mill on Pottaquattuck brook about a mile and a quarter east of Palmer Centre. It was owned in 1790 by Benj. S. Cummings.
A similar mill was put in early on Quabaug river where Blan- chard's scythe works afterwards stood.
In 1795, there was a FULLING MILL at the outlet of Pottaquat- tuck pond. Perhaps it was run by Burr & Clark as early as 1787.
Other clothing works are noticed in connection with the woolen and cotton factories at Three Rivers, Bondsville and Thorndike.
A batting factory once occupied the site of the carpet mills, and was operated by Horace Clark in 1860.
Hancock & Burnett manufactured locks at Thorndike in 1860.
Phipps & Titicut made percussion caps at Bondsville at an earlier date.
HAMPDEN HAT MILL .- This factory, whose main business was the finishing of straw hats, was established at Depot Village in 1869 by S. N. Davis. He was succeeded in 1872 by Robert L. Goddard, who carried on the business till his death.
PRINTING AND NEWSPAPERS .- The earliest notice found on our records of a publishing and printing business in Palmer is in the year 1805, about which date Ezekiel Terry* located here, and issued some small books. The first thing got out by him, now extant, was a tract of 12 pages, in verse, bearing the title, " The Sorrows of Yamba : Illustrating the Cruelties of the Slave-trade. To- gether with Reflections of a Minister in the Day of Declension.
'Let God be praised who overrules, 'The work of Tyranny and Fools.' Greenwich : Printed by John Howe-for Ezekiel Terry of Palmer. 1805."
[A copy of this tract, and of most of the other books and pamph- lets issued by Mr. Terry is now in possession of W. H. Stowe, M.D., of Palmer. ]
As early as 1809 Mr. Terry set up a printing press in an old building located in the west part of the town, now (1888) occupied by Isaac Hubert. In June, 1809, he issued the first number of a
* Mr. Terry appears to have been a " Jack at all trades." He wrote in prose and poetry, was a preacher, a teacher (once a member of the school committee), a printer, a blacksmith, a shoemaker, and a clockmaker. Some of his clocks are said to be still in existence, and in running order.
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
miniature monthly, of 12 pages, entitled The Massachusetts Watch- man and Periodical Journal. In the prospectus he says : "The Watchman will be published on the first week of every month, at the small price of sixty-two and a half cents a year, payable half- yearly, or fifty cents payable in advance." The contents consisted of a summary of remarkable occurrences [not local], historical scraps, sentimental remarks, anecdotes, poetry. Probably it was continued only one year.
Mr. Terry printed and published numerous works, some of them stitched, some with paper covers, and some bound in substantial leather. Among them were: "American Freedom-A Poem. 1813." "Memoirs of Mrs. Billings." [No date. ] "Memoir of the Life and Character of the Late Rev. George Atwell of Enfield. By Ezekiel Terry. 1815." [144 pages. ] " Hymns and Spiritual Songs. 1816." [232 pages. ] Printed for J. K. Kent of Suffield. "An Account of the Triumphant Death of F. S., a converted pros- titute, who died April, 1763, aged 26 years. By Martin Maden, Esq." "Miscellaneous Observations on Religious Subjects ; Being a General View of Particular Tenets, which at this Day are held Sacred by Many, etc. By Luther Stebbins. Printed for the Author, 1816." "A Sermon, delivered by Timothy Merritt in 1816." "A Candid Opinion of the Nature and Tendency of Universalism." "Jesus on the Colt ; an allegorical discourse : By J. Hartwell."
Journalistic History. The town records show that a newspaper called the Palmer Sentinel was started here in January, 1846. The warrants for March meetings in 1846 and 1847 were published in it. It was owned by Whittemore & Tenney. In 1847 Mr. Whittemore sold his interest to his partner, and the paper was removed to Springfield. The Palmer Times was started by D. F. Ashley in the spring of 1847, but issued only one number.
The Palmer Journal. A company was formed in 1850 known as the Palmer Publishing Association, and the Palmer Journal, a six-column quarto sheet, set in bourgeois, made its appearance on Saturday, April 6, 1850. It was edited and conducted by Gordon M. Fisk, who in his salutatory said that the paper "had come to stay." At the end of the first year Mr. Fisk bought the stock and good-will of the paper, and changed the type from bourgeois to brevier. It soon obtained a wide circulation and a marked influ- ence, and became a power in the town and vicinity.
Feb. 24, 1855, A. J. Goff became associated in the enterprise. April 12, 1862, James McLaughlin succeeded Mr. Goff, and the firm became G. M. Fisk & Co. Mr. Mclaughlin retired in and A. W. Briggs became a member of the firm. In 1871 H. J.
No. 1. Meeting House.
" 2. William Crawford house and lot, 50A.
" 3. John Moore house and lot, 70A.
" 4. Duncan Quinton Hotel.
5. John Thompson Hotel.
" 6. Cemetery.
" 7. Little Pond.
" 8. John Moore 16A., after division.
" 9. John Moore 36A., second division.
" 10. James Lamberton, 100A.
" 11. Priest Harvey's road.
" 12. Priest Harvey's house and lot.
" 13. The great Oak where the Rev. John Harvey was Ordained Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of the Elbow District.
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No. 3. MAP OF OLD CENTER. 1728.
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LITHO, BY MILTON BRADLEY CO.
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JAMES LAMBERTON IOO.A.
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Distance between Meeting House and Rev. John Harvey's, 275 rods.
The road south of the little pond, four rods wide. In Front of the Meeting house, eight rods. This piece of land was used for the Second Church edifice.
D.C.
100.A.
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INDUSTRIES OF PALMER.
Lawrence, now of North Brookfield, came into the concern, though Mr. Fisk retained the controlling interest and was editor-in-chief till his decease in 1879, when the property came into the possession of his son, Charles B. Fisk, who in 1883 enlarged the sheet and made many changes in its make-up.
The Journal is now published by C. B. Fisk & Co., L. E. Chandler having been admitted to the firm in 1885. The weekly issue is over 3,000 copies.
Mr. Gordon M. Fisk, who started the Journal, was regarded as an able writer and discriminating editor. He took a prominent and honorable part in the educational and political affairs of the town, having been a member of the board of school committee, and holding for two terms a seat in the Massachusetts State Senate.
EARLY TAVERNS. - At Palmer Old Centre. Dunkin Quinton opened a tavern here about 1733. After him it was kept in suc- cession by Thomas Quinton, William King (1793), John King (1797-1817), John Frink (1817-'32), Abner Allen (1832-), Elias Turner (1842-). This was known as the stage tavern.
John Thomson, Sen., built a tavern house on the opposite cor- ner, perhaps as early as 1737, which was a favorite resort for towns- people on Sundays and election days. He and his son, John, Jun., managed the house till 1793, when the family moved West. Asa Ward was in possession of the house in 1812.
On the Old Bay Road. Capt. David Shaw kept a house of enter- tainment for travellers, which stood to the west of Blanchardville, about the years 1740-'50. Dea. Chapin afterwards lived here.
John King, Jun., had a tavern at the Depot Village, where Cross' Block now stands, as early as 1750. It was maintained as a public house for three-quarters of a century.
Daniel Graves obtained license to open a public house before 1760. It stood opposite the Washington elm. In 1761 his son, Maj. Aaron, petitioned to have the license renewed to him, and his request was granted. Men now living remember when the old chimney was standing.
Scott's Tavern, east of Scott's Bridge, was opened in Revolution- ary times, as early as 1778, and maintained till about 1794.
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