USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lawrence > Quarter-centennial history of Lawrence, Massachusetts, with portraits and biographical sketches > Part 5
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trough of immense strength, extending diagonally from the top of the dam to the river bed on the southerly side, and across this trough at equal distance;, were spiked great cross timbers, against which the water was to strike, and thus form eddies, and over these timbers the fish were to leap in sportive glee. On the original plan the happy fish was pictured out, wiggling in the imaginary eddies, hopping merrily over the cross timbers, speeding rapidly through or resting in confid- ing innocence in the cool waters of a seductive eddy, their tails fairly squirming with dclight, and their countenances beaming with astonish- ed wonderment at the skill displayed, as well as the unmistakable grati- tude for kindness exhibited, on the part of their old destroyer and arch-enemy, man. The picture was a pleasing one ; future genera- tion's may prize it, but as an avenue for the migration of fish the pro- ject was a failure. Since that time various devices have been con- structed to serve the important purpose, but none seemed to meet the requirements until the summer of 1876, when under the direction of the State fish commissioners a way was constructed which in part seems to be satisfactory. To induce the finny tribe to poke their noses in that direction a large sum was expended in blasting from the foot of the way to deep water near the dam. It is now thought that through the labor which has been bestowed on the artificial breeding of salmon the river will be re-stocked at no very distant day.
The north canal is a little over' a mile long, 100 feet wide at the up- per, and sixty feet wide at the lower end, and twelve feet deep. It is 400 feet distant from the river and parallel with it. The engineer in charge of the construction of the dam was Charles A. Bigelow, a cap- - tain of engineers in the United States army, and under his supervision the'dam and north canal were completed in 1848. The river affords on an average about 5000 cubic feet of water a second, but sometimes it reaches 60,000. A power thus obtained is estimated at 150 mill power. A mill power is calculated to take thirty cubic feet of water a second, with a head and fall of twenty-five feet. This gives a
NATHANIEL P. H. MELVIN,
Hardware Dealer at 582 Essex St. Residence on Bodwell St. Has been in Lawrence twenty-five years. Born in Lowell in 1825. For twenty years after coming to this city he was chief engineer at the Washington Mills, resigning that most important position to embark in' the hardware trade. Mr. Melvin is the only man who has had the honor of being elected to the mayoralty chair of Lawrence for three terms, he having occupied that position in 1867, 1868 and 1870. He was also alderman in 1860. At present he is a member of the Law- rence Water Board. Attends the Episcopal church.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
force estimated to equal from 60 to 70 horse power. When the At- lantic Mills Corporation bought their mill site the price agreed upon for a mill power was $14,333 of which $9,333 was paid in cash, the balance of $5,000 remaining perpetually at 4 per cent. interest, pay- able annually in silver or its equivalent. The Atlantic Company bought twenty mill powers, and the other corporations more or less as to their requirements.
The Essex Company has continued to sell mill powers to manu- facturers upon such terms as deemed prudent between the parties. After the sales had been made to the larger corporations they advanced somewhat in the price for several years, though the last sale, which was on the South Canal, to N. W. Farwell & Son for bleachery, netted the company only $12,000. " Each mill power is declared to be the right to draw from the nearest canal or water course of the grantors so much water as shall give a power equal to thirty cubic feet of water per second, when the head and fall is twenty-five feet ; and no more is to be drawn in any one second, nor is the same to be drawn more than sixteen hours in each day of twenty-four hours ; and in order to prevent disputes as to the power of each mill privilege in the-variations of the height of water from changes of the season or other causes, it is understood and declared that the quantity of water shall be varied in proportion to the variation of the height, one foot being allowed and deducted from the height of the actual head and fall, and also from that with which it is compared before computing the proportion be- tween them : thus on a head and fall of thirty feet the quantity of wa- ter to be used would be twenty-four cubic feet, and 24-100 of a cu- - bic foot per second."
A second canal, on the south side of the river, was commenced in 1870 ; the upper section is completed, the mill sites sold, and substan- tial brick buildings already erected thereon ; this canal is to be extended as fast as the power is in demand, to be finally about one and one-fourth miles in length, emptying into Shawsheen River. The capital stock
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of the company was reduced some years ago to $800,000 by cancel- lation of stock received for land, and again in 1872, by the payment to stockholders of $30.00 per share surplus funds, was reduced to $500.000.
On the 28th of April, 1846, when there were but few other than temporary houses, the Essex Company, having completed their plans of the streets and lots of the new town, advertised the public sale of land ; large numbers flocked to the place, and amid the open fields, the fields marked off by the furrow of a plow, before the barren waste of sand stretching down to the river where now stand the Pacific and Washington Mills, the red flag of the auctioneer marked the sale by the foot of lots from the farms so recently purchased at a low price by the acre. The prices obtained were deemed fabulous, and by many ruin- ous, but faith in the future of the new city and the ability of its founders was not misplaced, and although the business revulsions of latter years have depressed some of the property, there is not a foot of it sold at that time but would to-day pay a fair and most of it a very handsome profit upon the investment. The highest price then ob- tained was for the lot upon the corner of Essex and Jackson streets, opposite Clarke's apothecary store, which realized seventy cents per square foot ; other lots on Essex street were sold at prices from fifty- eight to thirty cents ; lots on Haverhill street were sold at from nine to thirteen cents per foot.
On the 6th day of December, 1855, the Essex Company offered at public auction about 600 house lots in various parts of the city. Some of these purchasers who retained their land for a series of years realized well upon their investments ; but many other lots somewhat remote from the centre of business, have never had a market value sufficient to pay the original purchase with interest. The hard times of 1857 soon came on, and it almost seemed by the numerous lots placarded "for sale " that every real estate holder in the city desired to dispose of his property. But these gradually wore away, till nearly
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SMITH BROWNING WILKINSON DAVIS,
Merchant Tailor ; has been in business on Essex Street from 1854 to 1878 ; residence, 20 Park St. Has been in Lawrence nearly twenty- five years. Was born at Foster, R. I., Apr. 13th, 1824. Learned his trade in Scituate, R. I. Was educated at Lapham Institute, R. I. His boyhood was spent on a farm. Married Lorinda Bishop in 1848 ; has two children. Is connected with the Free Baptist church. Mr. Davis was a member of the common council for 1869-70, officiating as president during the latter year ; was mayor for 1871-2, and is at present clerk of the overseers of the poor.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
all the available lots have been utilized and become the homes of prosperous thousands.
During 1848, the Essex Company proffered the city a tract com- prising 17 2-3 acres, which they had wisely reserved, to be kept as a public common, the city to expend not less than $300 per year for twenty years in its adornment. After some misgivings on the part of the citizens the offer was accepted and to day the city can boast one the finest parks in New England, outside of Boston. The Essex Com- pany has since. given three other parcels of land to the city for the purposes of public parks, with certain restrictions, which have been accepted. These are Storrow Park, Prospect Hill, one in Ward V and the other in Ward VI, which have been fenced, but little has been done towards beautifying them. The company has also given to sev- eral of the religious denominations sites for church edifices.
The Essex Company still retains the control of the dam and water power of the river, which is now believed to be equivalent to 10,000 horse power, 7,200 of which have been sold and utilized. The re- mainder is ready for sale or lease. The company still owns many house lots and other tracts of real estate, and employs on the average about twenty-five men to care for their interests. The officers of the com- pany are : Charles S. Storrow, Treasurer, Boston ; H. F. Mills, En- gineer, Lawrence ; Robert H. Tewksbury, Cashier, Lawrence.
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VI. ANDOVER BRIDGE. - THE OLDEST CORPO-
RATION.
* Commencing before the present century, the records of the pro- prietors of Andover bridge, still carefully preserved, contain the history of that oldest and only very old work of a corporation within Law- rence limits.
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In the year 1793, in the closing years of the first administration of George Washington, when, released from the burdens imposed by the Revolution, men of enterprise engaged once more in peaceful callings and projected home improvements, an Act was passed by the General Court of Massachusetts incorporating Samuel Abbott and John White, Esquires, with Joseph Stephens, merchant, and Ebenezer Poor, yoe- man, and associates, as a body politic, under the name of the " Pro- prietors of Andover Bridge," for the purpose of erecting a bridge over Merrimack River from Andover to Methuen, at Bodwell's Falls, where our Broadway bridge now stands. March 19, 1793, John Hancock, then governor, affixed his bold signature approving the act. This charter provided that the bridge should be built within three years, should not be less than twenty-eight feet wide, should have a * Hon. R. II. Tewksbury.
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JOHN KEMBLE TARBOX,
Attorney and Counsellor-at-Law. Office, Essex Savings Bank Build- ing, Essex Street ; residence, 17 Valley Street. Mr. Tarbox was born in that part of Methuen now embraced within the limits of Lawrence, May 6, 1838. He studied the profession of law in the office of Col. Benjamin F. Watson, and was admitted to the bar in 1860. While a student-at-law he edited the Lawrence Sentinel newspaper. Served in the Union Army in the Fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. . Was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Chicago, in 1864, and an alternate delegate at large from the State to the Dem- ocratic National Convention in 1868, and candidate for Presidential Elector. He was representative to the General Court in 1868, 1870 and 1871, and State Senator in 1872. Mayor of Lawrence in 1873 and 1874, and a member of the 44th Congress from the Seventh Massachusetts District.
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QUARTER-CENTENNIAL . HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
centre span of one hundred ten feet reach, over the main channel, to insure easy passage for great timber rafts.
Tolls were fixed by the act for foot passengers and every kind of carriage from a chariot to a wheelbarrow. By two additional acts the proprietors were allowed to increase tolls. By the first act they were given the right to charge tolls for fifty years, by an additional act this right was extended to seventy-five years ; by a second ad- ditional act they were given monopoly forever with right to reduce the width of the bridge, when rebuilt, from twenty-eight to twenty feet. Subscribers to stock formally organized the company immedi- ately after incorporation. The directors without delay set about the work of building, a master mechanic was hired, timber was purchased, and the work went bravely on.
The first structure stood on huge wooden piers, and cost 3,998 pounds, 13 shillings and nine pence, as the account is made up, or in modern round numbers, twelve thousand dollars.
The opening of the bridge, Tuesday, November 19th, 1793, was a great local event. The ministers of Methuen and Andover, with stock- holders, and principal men of Essex, and Rockingham, were invited, the directors, voting to "entertain" on that day.
Captain Dunkin's company of infantry and Stephen Barker's com- pany of cavalry appear to have done escort duty. A boy named Stevens, undertaking to pass the guard stationed to keep the bridge clear for invited dignitaries was bayoneted by a soldier named Foster, 1 and died from the effect of his injuries in a few days. Bridge build- ing experience was limited then, and the new structure had an ailing existence of only eight or nine years. August 28th, 1801, a part of the bridge fell in ruins while a drove of cattle were passing over it. Of the herd 59 sheep, 6 cows and a horse, saddled and bridled, perished in the waters below, and were paid for by the afflicted proprietors.
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In the winter of 1802-3, the superstructure of the bridge was re- built; upon the piers of the old, by Asa Town, Esq., contractor. It was a truss bridge of three frame arches and one-the great centre arch-of solid boards or plank. This form of arch, now very com- mon, proved defective, and the great centre span fell in ruins causing delay, expense and discouragement. It was promptly repaired, but only four years thereafter, February 15th, 1807, a great freshet and run of ice swept away the larger part of the bridge. Then the pro- prietors petitioned the General Court for leave to raise money by lottery to rebuild, but they were refused the privilege.
Previous to this re-building, the bridge had stood on the site of the present railroad bridge ; this new structure was moved up stream to the present location, and permanent stone piers were substituted for wood. These piers, at times terribly damaged by ice and logs, and since increased in height and thoroughly repaired, now support. the present structure, excepting that the northern and southern abutments have been entirely rebuilt, the former somewhat inland to clear the plunge of the dam. The first northern pier was reconstructed after the great freshet and jam of logs in 1870.
In 1837 the late John Wilson, of Methuen, built the old structure upon which many of the first comers to the new city rode over more than thirty years ago. It was a primitive sort of affair without side- walks, the entire width of twenty feet was still further reduced by huge strengthening timbers within the high board railing, leaving but seventeen feet of passage way crowded with travelers flocking in and teams loaded with material for the dam, canal, new buildings and - mill foundations from the ledges of South Lawrence and elsewhere.
The latter history of the bridge is well known. The Essex Com- pany absorbed it in 1846. In the spring of 1848, the structure was rebuilt and raised nearly ten feet to the level of the railway line by Stone & Harris, contractors. The new structure was a frame truss of the Howe patent. Stephen P. Simmons, Esq., a present resident,
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ROBERT HASKELL TEWKSBURY,
Cashier of the Essex Company .. Born in Hopkinton, N. H., April 11, 1833. Has been in Lawrence twenty-seven years. Was a member of the Board of Assessors in 1862-3. City Treasurer and Collector from 1864 to 1874. Mayor of Lawrence 1875. A member of the board having in charge the Lawrence Water Works since the completion of the same. Is secretary of the Old Residents' Association or Local Historical Society of Lawrence. Married Angelia C. Hawthorne, November, 1859 ; has two sons living. Resides at 249 Jackson St.
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المطر
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
raised and thoroughly repaired the piers at this time. In the great freshet of 1852, the toll-house, south abutment and fishway all went down in the rush of waters.
In 1858 the bridge was thoroughly and economically reconstructed by Morris Knowles, Esq., who is still active in life's duty, on the present plan of arches supporting from beneath.
An Act of the legislature of 1868, secured mainly by efforts of our townsman, the Hon. John K. Tarbox, resulted in the laying out of this and Lawrence bridge below as a public highway. There was much rejoicing at this newly acquired freedom from tolls which had been imposed for three quarters of a century, although by the county commissioners' award the city was saddled with the expense of main- taining it forever. Judge N. W. Harmon, served for many years as clerk and treasurer of this corporation, and Hon. John R. Rollins succeeded him.
June 20th, 1825, a large number of citizens from the region round about, congregated upon the old bridge to welcome General Lafayette in his triumphal journey from Boston to Concord, N. H., and the north. He traveled in an open carriage, with richly caparisoned horses, and was attended by noted men. Andover cavalry and sev- eral companies of infantry acted as escort. At Methuen he met and recognized an old 'infantry soldier of his corps, and the citizens mar- shaled by Major Benjamin Osgood gave him a hearty welcome. The Andover cavalry escorted him to the New Hampshire State line where he was received with honors.
Asa Pettingill, the first toll gatherer, had a salary of ten pounds, $33.33 per year and the use of toll-house and garden. After thirty years the salary was raised, the directors formally voting to allow nine dollars and one gallon of lamp oil per month as salary, and to grant the use of the proprietors' cooking-stove for three dollars rental per annum.
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At one time the directors voted to allow all going from Andover to Methuen to church on Sunday to pass free of toll. The toll-man was surprised at the religious interest attracting Andover people to the north bank, but on inquiry could learn of no special awakening. Feeling that their liberality had been abused, they voted to allow only those known to the toll man as church, goers to pass free, this in- volved that official in dispute as to the religious habits of travelers, and it was voted to charge saints and sinners alike, both Sundays and week days. The record shows, however, that the directors voted for several years to allow Adolphus Durant, Esq., with his family to go from Methuen to Andover to church free of toll. They also by re- peated votes gave that exemplary and indefatigable pioneer preacher, whose memory is honored and revered, Dr. George Packard, free use of the bridge in his journeys to and from the new parish. This re- cord is valuable, showing that the oldest corporation had a soul, and while everything else paid toll the "good news" went free to the deserving.
Junketing is not a modern custom. The proprietors of our old bridge found solace at the Shawsheen corner taverns where their meetings were held. In the season of 1802, Benjamin Ames, inn- keeper at the old Essex House, charged 21 suppers, 19 pints of gin, 4 1-2 mugs of toddy and 4 "boals of punch," with a liberal supply of brandy. The' corporation paid 8 pounds, 14 shillings and one penny for these sustaining supplies. Another season they contracted a bill of $13.75 for "rum, brandy, sugar and horse baiting," and the poor horses got but 15 cents worth of supplies. One abstemious - and economical director contracted at every meeting the uniform charge of "half a glass of rum and one biscuit." The great bill of liquors came when, in the summer of 1802, they rebuilt the bridge. John and Henry Poor, innkeepers at the Shawsheen, supplied the workmen with one hundred and eleven gallons of N. E. and W. I. rum, and with 142 lbs. of sugar for sweetning ; the charge was made
EDMUND) R. HAYDEN,
Coal and Wood Dealer at corner of Merrimack St. and Broadway, and Common St., near north depot ; residence 8: Tremont St. Resident in Lawrence since 1853. Born at Harvard, Mass., Dec. 23d, 1819. Received an ordinary common school education. Worked at stone cutting until 1851, when he went to California, returning in April, 1853. - Married Charlotte Fairbanks, Apr. 4, 1844 ; has one son. Attends the universalist church. Served as policeman from 1854 until 1863 ; was marshal at time of Pemberton Mills disaster, 1860. Entered the wood business in 1863 near the depot, where W. P. Clark's store now stands. Bought out Wm. D. Joplin in 1866, and united with F. L. Runals in the wood and coal business, under the firm name of Runals & Hayden. Bought out Mr. Runals in 1874, since conducting business alone. Was chosen mayor in 1875, and held the office in 1876.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
in many items, and $142.00 paid out of the company's treasury therefor. No toddy or punch was supplied to laborers, they took rum straight or went dry. Laborers and mechanics then had 67 cents to $1.00 per day ; a yoke of oxen could be hired for 84 cents. per day. A night's lodging at the old Shawsheen tavern appears, from old bills, to have cost the traveler eight cents ; a generous dinner, twenty-five cents ; a week's board, one dollar and eighty-four cents.
There was trouble about the toll-man selling rum in the early days. A substantial citizen filed his remonstrance, stating that he sold the land on which the toll-house stands with the understanding that grog should never be sold thereon, but he states that said toll-house is known to be a flourishing grog-shop. In reading this protest one ad- mires this old pioneer temperance reformer for a moment, but loses faith in him when he plainly states further on, that by reason of such sale his own business as a seller of grog at the corner, half a mile beyond, had been ruined, and he has been compelled to close his house of entertainment. The proprietors appointed a committee to se ure a toll-man who would not sell grog. No doubt they were suc- cessful as Deacon James D. Herrick, sat at the receipt of tolls twenty- two years, faithfully bearing witness against rum and rum-selling as the vilest of abominations, the most flagrant of evils.
What a sight it would be to stand upon this old thoroughfare as it was four score years ago, and see the old-time preachers of Andover and Methuen ambling over the shaking timbers, clad in saintly garb, the three cornered hat, cleanly broadcloth and clerical wig, mounted upon beasts of subdued aspect, probably a fair orthodox wife on the pillion behind her exemplary lord. The old doctor, with saddle-bags, the one filled with calomel, seneca, salts, emetics and like mild com- pounds for ordinary cases, the other with lancets, pewter syringes of all sizes, surgeon's cutlery and tooth pulling instruments, sweep by on his mission of healing. The girl of that period, unused to pull-backs and fashions' devices, sat in the side-saddle as easily and gracefully
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as the modern belle in the cushioned carriage and cantered over the bridge as lovely and loveable as a womanly woman is in all ages and lands.
On muster and training days the old militia marched over the swaying arches, here and there in the ranks, revolutionary patriots in regimentals, that would now excite derision, but which invested them with more than royal dignity, and awakened all the pride and anima- tion of their patriotic natures. On public days, soldier and citizen drank punch from tubs made of rum-barrels sawn in half. One old resident says he worked all day, when a boy, pounding lemons in these tubs with a maul, earning one cent each tub, and there were six other boys at the same novel employment, in the grounds of the Shawsheen and Essex House, that muster day.
Among the names of stockholders is that of Sir Grenville Temple, of England. Phillips Academy, of Andover, carried a heavy amount for a long time. Much stock was sold for a song for non-payment of assessments.
The half mile from the bridge to the Shawsheen House corner, was the race track in old times, where owners of fast horses tried the speed and endurance of their nags on muster, election and ordi- nation days.
About 1814, some fifteen British officers, prisoners, were quartered under guard at this corner to keep them away from the shipping of the ports. An old lady resident remembers them as excellent dan- cers, very good looking, very civil and very gallant young men. She added that they were strangely hated by the men, especially the young men, and hate was no name for the feeling of the boys towards the precocious, swaggering little nigger they had for a servant. He tormented the bashful country boys with boasting how his masters would yet conquer the country, banish all the men, marry the pret- tiest girls and make him overseer of the plantation of Shawsheen Fields.
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CALEB SAUNDERS,
Lawyer. Office, Saunders Block, 246 Essex St., residence 6 Andover St. Born in North Andover, Sept. 4th, 1838, and came to Lawrence when five years old. Is the son of Daniel Saunders, Sr., the pioneer of the city. He has resided in Lawrence from its earliest inception. Mr. Saunders received his early education in the common schools, and fitted for college in the high schools ; graduated at Bowdoin College in 1859. Married Carrie F. Stickney in 1865 ; has two children. Is a regular attendant at Grace Episcopal Church. Enlisted in Co. I, 6th Regiment, Apr. 15, 1861, and was with the regiment in its famous march through Baltimore ; commissioned first lieutenant in Ist Mass. H. A. in 1862. Member of common council in 1867-9. Alderman in 1873, and mayor in 1877.
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