USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > Nashua's 75 year's of progress 1853-1928 > Part 1
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Go 974.202 N17na 1885703
M. L
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00055 5687
SOUVENIR BOOK
75th Anniversary
Celebration
1853 = 1928
Nashua, The Gateway, to New Hampshire
1885703
Nashua's 75 years of Progress
1853
1928
CITYOF NASHLA -1853.
1673
SOUVENIR BOOKLET COMMITTEE
DAVID P. STEVENS, Chairman W. T. THEBODEAU, Secretary AUGUSTE U. BURQUE JERRY J. HAGGERTY
J. C. MANDELSON
NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE 1928
Printed by The Phaneuf Press
T IME of itself is meaningless. Seconds, hours, days merge into years and in their sweep into the past leave no trace that marks one interval as different from another. It is only as time is stored with events that it gains meaning. And so this week, Nashua does not measure any quantity of age. It is true that in one sense the celebration is in a commemoration of the incorporation of the city 75 years ago, but in its deeper significance it is an attempt to take stock of the history and accom- plishment of all these years
Therefore, during the program that constitutes the anniversary, the wisdom of the founders, the loyalty of those who safely brought the city through its early years and those whose energy and foresight have guided its development into its present broad estate will all be honored. The periods of growth, the times when things looked dark, the happy chance that shaped the destiny, the wise decisions that bore good fruit, the healthful influence that moulded fu- ture years will all be gleaned from out the past and chronicled for the present.
Photo by Marchand
City Hall.
FOREWORD
It is proper that three quarters of a century of a City's history and progress should be observed and recorded. A pause should be made to appreciate and admire the founders who made this an- niversary possible. We acknowledge our obligations to that reso- lute, reliable and God fearing group who builded this city and to those virile yet kindly men who harmonized two communities and shaped the destiny of Nashua. We should ever hold them in fond remembrance.
Today and to-morrow as in the past it is our duty to be in- terested in all worthy phases of city life, to see that we advance and not recede, to meet cheerfully the problems of the day, how- ever difficult, with a fixity of purpose which should be the con- tinued improvement of business, industry, social life and govern- ment.
We are justified in proclaiming Nashua a "good city", with one central thought, the promotion of the happiness and prosperity of our people. In fact we are a friendly community with a hos- pitality that is genuine. Mutual understanding and respect are our watch words.
Let us welcome to our city and to our homes, our friends, re- latives, former residents and special guests.
Unite then as one, meet and greet and welcome those who come within our boundaries, on this our Diamond Celebration, and further resolve to do this not only on this occasion but to maintain our traditional friendly feeling in the future as in the past.
WILLIAM F. SULLIVAN,
Mayor.
O
Hon. William F. Sullivan, Mayor of Nashua
Nashua Photo Co.
City of Nashua
Watananock, aboriginal name,
Dunstable Township, Massachusetts, 1673, Dunstable Township, New Hampshire, 1746, Indian Head Village, 1790, Nashua Village, 1803,
Nashua Town, 1836, Nashville Town, 1842,
THE CITY OF NASHUA, 1853.
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE CITY OF NASHUA.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened :
That the inhabitants upon the territory comprising the Towns of Nashua and Nashville, in the County of Hillsborough, shall be and the same hereby are incorporated and made a body corporate and politic, under the name of the City of Nashua.
J. EVERET SARGENT, Speaker of the House of Representatives. JAMES M. RIX, President of the Senate. NOAH MARTIN, Governor.
June 28th, 1853.
History of Nashua
Time was, back yonder more than 255 years, when New Hampshire was but a part of a strange continent, peopled by a dusky race whose cold, mysterious, planetary heart no white man has ever fathomed. Here in this great garden moulded by God, the Indian tribes formed an almost endless chain from Central Massachusetts along the Merrimack Valley up to Lake Winnipe- saukee, now lapping the shores of Belknap and Carroll counties.
The Nashuas formed a link in the great chain of aborigines and occupied the lands on the Nashua river and the intervales upon the Merrimack, opposite the mouth of the river, and for some distance along its banks. Here a warrior would sit motionless under a twisted tree, not far from a sparkling stream, merely a being receptive to every sound and sight present upon this sunlit and far removed continent. Think of this warrior, fishing, hunting and idling here from the earliest ages, an antique savage whose copper colored, unforgettable form meandered over the same grounds on which we tread today, and to whom the white man could never be anything but an alien.
How bitter and fantastic the sounds and inhabitants of these vast virgin forests must have been to the first white settlers! How discordant and jarring to the nerves! Yet the intolerance they were constantly subjected to, under the tyrannical rulers of England, had a tendency to establish a determination in their minds that they would brave the terrors, hardships and cruelties of this new world for the right to worship the Supreme Ruler of the universe agreeably to their own views of duty, and the dictates of their consciences. An with this spirit of religious freedom deeply imbued in their hearts, they set to work building homes on the rock-bound shores of New England.
Of the settlement of Nashua which was first known as Dunstable, Parker's history says: "At what time and by whom Dunstable was first settled is uncertain, but it must have been considerably earlier than the date of the charter in 1673. In the charter, farms are mentioned as then existing, and some of 'the
farmers, were among the petitioners." The signers of the peti- tion presented to the General Court at Boston, September 19, 1673, were Thomas Brattle, Jonathan Tyng, Joseph Wheeler, James Parkerson, Robert Gibbs, John Turner, Sampson Sheaf, Samuel Scarlet, William Lakin, Abraham Parker, James Knapp, Robert Proctor, Simon Willard Jr., Thomas Edwards, Thomas Wheeler, Sr., Peter Bulkeley, Joseph Parker, John Morse, Sr., Samuel Combs, James Parker, Jr., John Parker, Josiah Parker, Nathaniel Blood, Robert Parris John Jolliffe and Zachariah Long.
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Map of Old Dunstable.
Dunstable received its name in compliment to Mrs. Mary Tyng, wife of Edward Tyng, one of the magistrates of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who came from Dunstable, England, about 1630, and whose son, Jonathan, became possessor of a large tract of land in what is now the town of Tyngsborough. Mass.
The town was the earliest settlement in southern New Hamp- shire, and comprised within its borders, Hollis, Merrimack and Hudson, in New Hampshire, and Tyngsborough, Dunstable, and
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parts of Groton, Pepperell and Townsend, in Massachusetts, and portions of Pelham, Litchfield. Milford and Brookline, in New Hampshire. It belonged to Massachusetts until the division line between the two provinces was settled in 1741. It was incorp- orated by New Hampshire, April. 1746, under the same name, and continued so until 1837, when it was changed to Nashua.
The first semblance of a village was on Salmon brook, between the Merrimack river and the main road. A few log-cabins, built according to the dimensions specified by the General Court of Massachusetts, were built on small clearings made by the Indians who later abandoned the land. The town did not make any notable progress, its process of development being so slow that the time in which each "plantation" was given to erect a meeting house and secure a minister was extended from three to five years. The first meeting house is believed to have been erected near the Salmon brook settlement in 1678. The first minister was Rev. Thomas Weld, Congregational, who was killed by the Indians in 1702.
From the outset the little village -the brittle thread on which the destiny of the greater Nashua of today rested - was subjected to all the cruelties and hardships of a savage warfare which reached its peak during the years from 1675 to 1725. It was during the latter years of the wars with the Indians that the settlement at the mouth of the Nashua river obtained the name of Indian Head Village. According to data on this particular phase of Nashua's history, Indians who had been forced to retreat after a bloody engagement, carved an Indian's head on a tree and for years after the settlement was called Indian Head Village.
Dunstable was a frontier town for nearly a half century. During King Phillip's war, in 1675, the town was abandoned. In 1691 several persons were killed, and in 1702 a party of Indians made an assault upon the settlement. and killed a number of persons, among whom was Rev. Thomas Weld.
On the third day of July, 1706, a party of Indians made a descent upon Dunstable, where they fell upon a garrison that housed twenty troopers. The troopers had been ranging the woods in the vicinity, and at night returned to the garrison apprehending no danger. They turned their horses loose upon the interval, piled their arms and harnesses in the house, and began a carousal, to exhilirate their spirits after the fatigue of the day. The Indians had designed to attack and a sentinel was posted to watch to see
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that no assistance approached, and no alarm given. A short time prior to the arrival of the calvary, the sentinel returned to his band with a report that all was safe. At sunset a Mr. Cummings and his wife went out to milk their cows and left the gate open. The Indians, who had advanced under cover, started up, shot Mrs. Cummings dead, and wounded her husband. They then rushed through the open gate into the house, with all the horrid yells of conquering savages, but started with amazement at finding the room filled with soldiers, merrily feasting. Both parties were completely amazed, and neither acted with much propriety. The soldiers, so suddenly interrupted in their jovial entertainment, found themselves called upon to fight, when entirely destitute of arms, and incapable of obtaining any. The greater part were panic struck, and unable to fight or flee. Fortunately, all were not in this sad condition. Some few men, with chairs, clubs and what- ever they could seize upon, furiously attacked the foe. The Indians, who were as much surprised as the soldiers, had but little more courage, and took to their heels for safety. The trumpetter, who was in the upper part of the house, seized his trumpet and had commenced to sound an alarm, when he was shot dead by an Indian.
The Indians again fell upon Dunstable, September, 1724, taking as captives Nathan Cross and Thomas Blanchard, who had been engaged in the manufacture of turpentine on the north side of the Nashua river, near where the city of Nashua now stands. At the time there were no houses or settlements on that side of the river. These men had been in the habit of returning every night to lodge in a sawmill on the other side of the river. That night, not returning as usual, an alarm was given. A party consisting of several of the principal residents of the place started a search under the leadership of Sergeant French of the militia. In this company was Josiah Farwell, who was afterward lieutenant under John Lovewell. When they arrived at the spot where the men had been laboring, they found the hoops of the barrels cut, and the turpentine spread upon the ground. In the course of the examina- tion. Farwell perceived that the turpentine had not ceased spreading, and called the attention of his comrades to this cir- cumstance. They concluded that the Indians had been gone but a short time, and decided upon instant pursuit. Farwell advised them to take a circuitous route to avoid any ambush. But, unfortunately, he and French, a short time previous, had had a
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misunderstanding. and were still at variance. French imputed this advice to cowardice and led the way, the whole party following and Farwell falling in the rear. Their route was up the Merrimack river and at the brook, near Lutwyche's (now Thornton's Ferry) they were fired upon by the Indians and all perished with the exception of Farwell. Seeing those before him fall. Farwell sprang behind a tree, fired his rifle and ran. He was pursued but escaped by passing through a thicket. Blanchard and Cross were taken to Canada, but succeeded in obtaining their release and returned to their native Dunstable.
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The Old Indian Head House.
In 1725 .John Lovewell and Farwell as lieutenant, mustered in some volunteers, and marched northward. In their first two expeditions, they killed a number of Indians, and took some prisoners. But in the third they met with a disastrous defeat. They fell into an ambuscade at Lovewell's pond. Fryeburg, Me .. and a large number were killed and wounded. Among the dead were Captain Lovewell. Lieutenant Farwell and Ensign Robins.
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ali of Dunstable. The noted chief Pagus was killed. Lovewell's disaster was a hard blow to Dunstable, but it brought peace to this section of New England and for many years after the song of the heroes of "Lovewell's Fight" was cherished and sung at the evening fireside by the sons and daughters of the settlers.
Following the cessation of Indian hostilities the little settle- ment, which had nearly perished during the wars, took on new life. New settlements sprung up about it and in due time its population increased to such an extent that its two hundred or more square miles were liberally dotted with the homes of pioneers. Due to the fact that a large number of settlers were obliged to travel long distances to reach their place of worship, a number of petitions for separate townships were introduced in General Court at Boston. As result of this the towns of Merrimack, Litchfield, Hollis and Townsend were set apart from Dunstable, and by 1740 the plantation had been reduced to an area now occupied by Nashua, Tyngsborough and Dunstable. Then came the long and bitter controversy over the Massachusetts - New Hampshire boundry. This was finally ended by the establishment of the line in 1741, when about half of the plantation's territory became a part of Massachusetts. From then on it is said :
"The town, retaining the ancient name of Dunstable, was incorporated by the Province of New Hampshire on April 4, 1746. Its growth like that of all towns, was. slow owing to the heavy burden of taxation caused by the Indians, and later by the French Wars. Yet in 1753 there were four grist mills and sawmills in the town and the population was 109. Greater areas of farm lands were cultivated, roads were laid out, and the bridge over the Nashua river was widened and repaired. It may be of interest to learn that what is now known as "Library hill," the upward slope from the Main Street bridge to the First Church was then the steepest hill between Boston and Concord. The level of the bridge was raised considerably when a dam was built farther down the river in 1825. Thereafter, to the present day, each time the bridge has been repaired or widened, its level has been raised, which has resulted in reducing the grade of the difficult hill that existed in the old days.
"Early in the 'Old French War' an expedition consisting of New Hampshire men was planned against the enemy, and we find, as an officer in one of the companies, John Stark of Dunstable. He later became a general in Washington's army, and was destined
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to go down in history as one of the great heroes of the Revolu- tionary War. This John Stark was the great-great-grandfather of the late General George Stark, at one time president of the Indian Head National Bank."
The patriotism of Dunstable is clearly shown in the years that followed. The French and Indian wars were followed by the revolt against England. "As early as September 13, 1774, the town 'Voted eighteen pounds, six shillings lawful money to procure ammunition.' The Legislature of New Hampshire, evidently anticipating independence, sent a request to the Con- tinental Congress which met at Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, asking advice as to the organization of an independent govern- ment." New Hampshire was the first of the states to adopt a constitution, and this was done in January, 1776. Dunstable had more men in the army than any other town in the state and the population of 705 gave much of its time and money for the success of the war against England. The town sacrificed 127 of its inhabitants during those eight years and retarded its progress a number of years to meet the annual tax of several thousand dollars.
Joseph Wheat is said to have driven the first stage coach from Amherst to Boston, passing through Dunstable, and making the round trip in four days. This happened about 1795 and the coming an going of the stage was looked upon as a great event in the life of the community.
In 1803 a post office was established at the village of Nashua, then containing a few stores, hotel, several dwelling houses and a church. The first canal boat was launched about this time, with much parade, and christened "The Nashua." It was at that time that Indian Head Village changed its name to Nashua Village.
The development of Nashua's industries is found in a very interesting booklet published by the Indian Head National Bank which gives the following information :
In 1817 a dam was thrown across the Nashua River west of the bridge and a sawmill and grist-mill were operated. The waters of Salmon Brook also furnished power for various small mills and shops.
The erection of the cotton mills at Lowell caused some of Dunstable's leading men to consider how best to utilize the large amount of water power offered by the Nashua River. Mine Falls, farther up the river had long been looked upon as a source of
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power, in fact a mill had been built there as early as 1700. The cost of building the mills at their present place and bringing the water from Mine Falls by canal had always seemed to be an un- dertaking beyond the means of those interested in the project. However, in 1822. an association was formed, and all the land between the main street and the Falls and much other land in the town was purchased. In June 1823 a charter was granted to Daniel Abbot, Moses Tyler, Joseph Greeley, and others, and there
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Old Dam on Nashua River.
came into existence the Nashua Manufacturing Company, a con- cern to manufacture cotton cloth. Joseph Greeley has an impor- tant place in this little history as he was the first president of the Indian Head Bank. It is undoubtedly to these far-sighted busi- ness men, who were so greatly interested in the industrial improve- ment of their town, and to the success of their company that Na- shua owes its progress and prosperity.
Two years later the Nashua Manufacturing Company con- structed a boating canal with a series of dams and locks, from the Merrimac River to a wharf located just below the Main Street
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Bridge. The canal was operated successfully for a number of years, and much of Nashua's trade and transportation was han- dled by the boats.
In 1825 the Indian Head Company was formed for the pur- pose of erecting woolen mills. In 1828 adverse business condi- tions embarrassed this concern, and they sold their property to the Jackson Company, which was incorporated in 1830, and which con- verted the plant into a cotton mill.
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The Old Jackson Elm.
The Nashua Bank, organized by the same men who were in- terested in the Nashua Manufacturing Company, was chartered by the state in 1835. This was the first bank in the town. Up to that time the town of Amherst had been the banking center of the county, and the people of Dunstable had availed themselves of the banking facilities offered at that place. The Nashua Bank carried on a successful business until 1865. when. not caring to organize as a national bank. it closed after an honorable record of thirty years.
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Nashua. which today is believed to be the logical point for any future railroad development in this state, had its first railroad ser- vice soon after December 23. 1838. when the laying of the tracks between Lowell and Nashua was completed and the Nashua City station erected. The coming of the railroad brought much pros- perity to the village on the north side of the Nashua river, and during the next few years the residents on the north and south sides of the river worked together for still greater prosperity. This harmonious tenor was broken in March. 1842. when the question of where the town house should be erected was decided by a nar-
An old view of Main Street, looking south from Temple Street.
row margin in favor of the residents of the south side. Imme- diately after the town meeting the northsiders broke off all rela- tions with the southsiders and finally, on June 23, 1842. the Le- gislature disannexed the warring communities and the north side became Nashville. This division gave the new town the railroad station, Jackson mills, three churches, two hotels, fifteen or twenty stores and more than 2000 citizens. In 1853 the two towns were
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reunited and chartered as the city of Nashua, the voters selecting Josephus Baldwin as their first mayor.
The infant city, which started out with a population of about 9,000, seventy-five years ago, continued its march of progress. In about a quarter of a century it had expanded into a municipality of about 12,000 inhabitants and become a part shire town of the county. It was looked upon as one of the most important cities in the state, and was second in its manufactories, third in popula- tion, and fourth in wealth. It was noted for its extensive iron
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City Hall and Hall's Band, from Harts Location, July 4, 1876.
mills and cotton manufactories and the enterprising and public spirit of its inhabitants. No less than six railroads served the city, and these lead to all sections of the country. The city boasted of its many good streets, beautifully shaded, and many fine residences. Large and expensive business buildings had replaced many of the ancient structures, and the present City Hall, which today is con- demned as unsafe, was spoken of as a fine brick building, having a dome surmounted by a large gilt eagle. There were eleven churches, twenty-eight schools, three hotels, seven eating houses,
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five banks, two weekly and two daily newspapers, 2,100 dwelling houses and the Nashua City library.
In the next twenty-five years Nashua made great strides, and on its fiftieth anniversary, we find the city the second in the Gra- nite State in size and importance of industries. The growth and importance of Nashua was so rapid and impressing that due note was taken and a fitting celebration arranged. Not once in the past twenty-five years has Nashua lagged behind. Her progress has been steady and today, at the end of seventy-five years, it is one of the state's most prosperous cities. The last quarter of a century has marked a number of changes. Numerous new build- ings have reared up on sites once occupied by less expensive struc- tures, new schools have been added to its wonderful public school system and its Main street has been widened into a beautiful tho- roughfare.
. . . .
ELIOT A. CARTER President Chamber of Commerce
Two years ago, or during the year 1926, a Chamber of Com- merce was organized with many standing committees. It imme- diately entered into the civic affairs of the city and during its short existence has brought a number of new industries into town, great- ly increasing the citizens' purchasing power. The first officers of the Chamber were William F. Sullivan, president ; Horace E. Os- good, vice-president ; Edwin S. Gage, treasurer ; Jerry J. Hagger- ty, secretary. The first directors were Walter L. Barker, Arthur DeMontigny, Thomas J. Dowd, Peter Desautels and Walter Whipple.
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The present officers of the chamber are Eliot A. Carter, president ; Horace E. Osgood, vice president; Edwin S. Gage, treasurer ; Jerry J. Haggerty, secretary. The board of directors includes, Arthur DeMontigny, Mayor William F. Sullivan, Walter Whipple, Thomas J. Dowd and Peter Desautels.
JERRY J. HAGGERTY Secretary Chamber of Commerce
Few cities in this section of New England have a more flat- tering future, as to increase of wealth, population, and all other advances in civilization, such as schools, churches, benevolent so- cieties, etc. With its many railroads, coming from all sections of the country, its large and diversified industries, constantly increas- ing business, its extensive textile mills, there is no doubt but it will increase in every resource and continue to yield the palm to none of her sister cities. in the mechanical and inventive genius of her sons.
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SOCONY
Some of Nashua's Churches.
Photo by Marchand
CHURCHES OF NASHUA
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