Westford Town (part 2 of 2)

Hon. Caleb Butler, in his IlUfory of Grohn, says : " After King Philip^s War and the re-settlement of the town, Jonas Prescott built a mill at Stony Brook near its issue from Foi^e Pond, now in Westford." Tliis is the first account we have of the improveineut of the water-power at that place. /'Previous to the erection of Prescott^s mills,'' continues Mr. Butler, " an Indian by the name of Andrew sold his weir at Stonv Brook, as appears by the foUpwing record : *The twenty shillings due tq Andrew, the Indian, from the town for his warre at Stonv Brook, assi<icned bv said Indian to Bichard Blood, the said Kichard Blood assigns it over to Lieutenant James Parker.' " The date of tlie grant to Jonas Prescott by the town of Groton was June 15, 16S0. Tlie territory which then belonged 'to Groton wais annexed to Westford in

1730. But pri(|r to the last date Jonas Freaoott had '' greatly enlarged and improved the works on Stony Brook,, by erecting forges for manufacturing iron from the ore^ as nell as other purposes."

It is difficult to fix the, precise date of the build** ing of the fprges, but it was probably as early as 1700; for the language of Bi^tler implies that the works were set up before. Captain Prescott enlarged them. He was bom in 1678, and was "of age'*' in 1699.. It is just, therefore, to suppose that his active business life began as early as 1710. Thiif' enterprise of working iron was the tliird or fottiih of the kind established in this countrv. The business was carried on until the vear 1865, when flie Forge Company ceased to exist. During this long period of one hundred and sixty or seventy years the Prescotts, descendants of Jonas, of Groton, l^eld a controlling interest in. the company, and managed its affairs, except during the last few years of its ' existence. Jonas, who died in 1870, iive )'earB after . the forging ceased, was the owner of forty shar^ in 1863, and was the last of the name who worked at the business. ^

January 5, 1865,. the Foige Village Horse Nail Company was formed. It succeeded to the franchise of the forge company, used the waterpower and the buildings of that company, and put in machinery for making nails. The capitsi stock was §30,000, with the right to increase it to 8100,000. The officers were: John T.D^y, president ; John F. Haskins, secretary ; and Alexander H. Caryl, treasurer. The capital was increased to S 100,000 in 1868. For a few years the busiuess was prosperous, but it gradually declinal until 1877, when it came to an end.

lu 1854 Charles G.Sargent came to Graniteville and entered into partnership with Francis A1 Calvert, under the firm name of Calvert and Sargent. Tliey bought of Solomon Richardson his farm, and his saw and grist mill. These buildings were converted into shops for the manufacture of woollen machinery. They were burned in Dec^- ber, 1855, and then what is now Mill No. 1 - a two-story building, 185 X 52 feet, with a connecting L, 82 X 40 feet - was erected. l*wo yearrf later they built Mill No. 2, of the same dimensions. A parttiership was formed in 1857, with John W. P. Abbot, for the manufacture of worsted yams; but being unable to attend to so much business,. Mr. Sargent sold his interest to Allah Cameron in 1857. In 1862 Mr. Sargent bought his partner's interest, and continued the business

Hotoet Of Mwdlebkj Ooustt

The Chauncj Mills were established in Graniteville, August, 1874. 'lliere is one set of macliinerj for tlie making of Shaker socks. One hundred pounds of* wcH)l arc used, and fiftv or sixty dozen pairs of socks are made each day. Thirty persons are employed in the mill, and work is given to many more out of it. M. H. A. Evnns is proprietor, John Murphy sui>erinteudent, and Jerry Murphy foreman.

Tlio Abbot Worsted Mills began business in IHSft, with John W. Abbot as manngiri<; partner, and John W. P. Ablwt and Charles (i. Sargent as s|)ecial |mrtners. At first they manufactured fine worsted yarns for the making of bmids and upholafery gtKMls, em|)lo)ing about twenty hands. In 1857 Mr. SurgiMit n»tin»d from the firm, and Mr. Allnn Cameron l)ecame nn active partner. In January, 1H5S, their work^, as well as those of Mr. Sargent, nere entirely destroyed by fire; but in January, 1850, they aj^ain briran biisine5s in one half of a larfTo i«tone mill, hmit by Mr. Sargent, about one eigiith of a mile Inflow the former atte. Tliese premises they have continued to

There are four principal vilhiges, - the Ccntif, Forge Village, Graniteville, and Brookside; the three last named being on the line of the Stoo; Brook Railroad.

At the Centre, one mile from the railroad, standi the large town-hall on Main Street, - a boildin; two stories high, with two large andience-roonts library, selectmen's room with safetT-ranlt attacfaei and all the conveniences belonging to modem st^l^ tures of its kind. Its cost, with the land, w about $ 10,000. It was dedicated in Mareh, 1S71. Abbot Park, at the Centre, is a gem in a briliisot setting. In 1840 this was an unfenced commooi but in that year the town voted that "John Abbot and others may build a fence around the common, provided the town be put to no expense on account of tlie same/' The next year (ISll) the fence was built, and the trees planted ; and the expense incurred was met bv voluntary contributions. These trees have grown rapidly, and tlie Park is now one of the loveliest features of the village. On the northwest side of it stands the church edifice of the First Parish (Unitarian) Society, built in 1794, and remodelled in 1868. It is built after the stvle which prevailed a centun' ago. The church edifice of the Union Congregational Society stands on the east side of the Park. It is an unpretending structure, built in 1829, and dedicated October 8. On the south side of the Park is the academy, a small building embowered among trees. The residences of John W. Abbot, Allan Cameron, and J. Henry Bead are the finest on Main Street. Tlie Westford Ornamental Tree Association was formed in 1871. Its name has been changed to the Tillage Improvement Association. It has done a good work by constructing sidewalks and planting trees. It has an annual work-day in the spring, when the members work, dine together, and listen to an address.

Public Library. - In 1797 a respectable number of the citizens of Westford agreed to form a shareholders' library, the number of shares not being less than fifty ; the price of each share was two dollars. Witli commendable spirit they took from one to four shares each, and with the money resulting therefrom the first purchase of books was made. In 1839 the shareholders surrendered their interest to the town, which consented t6 pay all expenses connected with the library, and appropriate not less than thirty dollars a year for the purchase of new books. In this way Westford was one of the earliest towns to establish a free public librar)\ The number of volumes in the library (June, 1879) is 3,427.

The establishment of the academy here eightysix years ago has fostered a taste for literary pursuits among^ the people. When the Hon. John D. Long was preceptor of the academy, in 1858-59, a literary society was formed which lived scveml years.

Hon. Willard Hall was bom in Westford, Decettiber 24, 1780. He was the son of Willis and Mehitable (Pool) Hnll, and grandson of Rev. Willard Hall, the first minister of the town. He was fitted for college in 1794, at Westford Academy, entered Harvard in 1795, and graduated in 1799.

He studied law at Groton, in Judge Dana's office, was admitted to the bar in 1803, and the same year settled in Dover, DeUware. In 1811 he was appointed secretary of state for Delaware, and held the office for three years. In 1816 he was chosen representative in Congress from that state, and was re-elected in 1818. In 1821 he was again secretary of state, and May 6, 1823, he* was appointed district judge of the United States for the Delaware district Li 1828 he revised the statutory laws of Delaware. In 1825 he removed from Dover to Wilmington, and in 1831 was chosea a delegate from his county to a convention called for revising the constitution of that state, ''having been placed on the ticket of both parties.'' Judge Hall published at various times several essays, acU dresses, and reports, most of them relating to common schools and education. He married, first, Junia Killen, daughter of William Eallen, ehan-. cellor of Delaware, and secondly, Harriet Hillyard^ of Kent County, Delaware. He died May 10, 1875, aged ninety-four years.

Railroads, - The Stony Brook Bailroad was opened to public travel July 4, 1848. Passing across the town in a southwest direction, it cuts it into two nearly equal portions. It has been the means of developing business, especially in Granite ville, a village that sprung into existence after the road was built, and is now a thriving manufacturing place. On this road there are four stations, - Brooksidc, Westford, Graniteville, and Forge Village, - all within the limits of Westford.

The Framingham and Lowell Bailroad'enters the town on the easterly side, a little south of Hart's Pond in Chelmsford, and passing what is known as " the Dupee place/' funiishes good accommodations to all who live in that section of the town; There is but one station in Westford, - that called by the company the Carlisle Station.

The Nashua, Acton, and Boston Bailroad was opened to the public in July, 1873. * Striking the town near its northwest angle, it passes longitudinallv and leaves it at the southwest comer. It has three stations in town, - Graniteville, Westford, and East Littleton, so called.

The town Tiill complete one hundred and fifty years of its corporate existence in September, 1879. It is probable that the event will be commemorated in some fitting way. With its abundant resources, and its nearness to the markets of Lowell and Boston, there is every reason to expect growth and prosperity for it in years (o come.