History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

134 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
duties as neighbors and townsmen in the daily and
secular affairs of life. Antagonistic as they were
in their religious beliefs, with the memories of the
recent conflicts of their societies still alive, they
stood stoutly shoulder to shoulder and hand in
hand in the many reforms which they instituted or
promoted, and cemented a friendship which time did
not destroy, which is still green in the heart of the
survivor, and which may make more joyous the
meeting on the shores of life.
In the temperance cause, in charitable work, and
in educational matters they urged reforms and in-
troduced new methods by which the interests of
the people were advanced and their prosperity pro-
moted.
During the period occupied by these ecclesias-
tical affairs, which nearly includes the first half of
tliis century, the people of Maiden were gradually
increasing in numbers and wealth. Situated re-
mote from the trunk-roads and isolated from the
usual routes of travel and traffic, they remained for
many years a sparse and rural population. In
1800 they numbered but 1,059 souls, — a very
slight growth over the poj)ulation of more than
sixty years before; but during the next decade a
large increase took place, showing a population of
1,38 1 at its close. This increase was owing to the
enterprise of the Odiorne family and AVilliam Bar-
rett, who established trades here which flourished
many years and added seii-sibly to the wealth of the
town. The Odiorne firm, composed of three
brothers, George, Thomas, and Ebenezer, purchased
land and water-power in 1806 upon
Three-Mile Brook, and established themselves at
Black Rock, where Thomas Coytemore built a mill
in 1640. This enterprising company made tlie
first nails which were cut and lieaded at one opera-
tion. Though this was an cxpiiiim nl, made at
much loss and in the face of popular prejudice, it
was ultimately successful and was a profitable business
for many years. William Ikrrett commenced
the business of silk-dyeing in 1803, on the site
still occupied by his sons. This business, bcgiui
at a time when little or no competition existed,
was also very profitable, and is continued iit the
present day. Other branches of business improved
as these cntcr))rises increased in strength ; and
other manufacturers followed those who were now
established. The manufacture of shoes became an
important industry, and articles of block-tin and
tin-plate were quite extensively made, and were
distributed by wagons sent far around into tlie
country. In 1837 the population had increased
to iJ,300, and the gross value of articles manufac-
tured was over $350,000 per annum. A gradual
reduction of tolls upon the bridges, and the estab-
lishment of lines of omnibuses and expresses,
brought the town into a more close connection
with Boston, and assisted in the growth of trade
and population. But a stronger impetus was
given both by the openhig of the Boston and
Maine Railroad in 1845, which had a very marked
influence upon the growth of the town in many
ways. The number of the inhabitants, which iu
1840 was 2,514, was 3,520 in 1850, not including
a population of 1,260 souls which had been set off
from the town during the precedhig year. This
division of the town, by which North Maiden became
Melrose, was made by an act of the legisla-
ture in 1849, and was not o])posed to any extent
by the inhabitants of the other sections of the
town. In its separate existence Melrose has par-
ticipated in the prosperity which has attended the
parent town, and has not proved unworthy of its
origin.
The opening of the railroad and the cheapness of
land gave birth to various enterprises, which were
more or less successful in the various objects for
which they were originated. One of these was the
formation of the Edgeworth Company, which j)ur-
cliased the Newton farm on the west bank of the
river and a tract of land on the highlands. These
lands were laid out for business and building pur-
poses, and great inducements were offered to purchasers.
On a portion of this property has grown
up the district of Edgeworth, where several large
manufacturing establishments are located, whose
total products in 1875 amounted to $2,000,000 in
value. Meanwhile the town advanced in all direc-
tions in population and in wealtii ; and its religious
and educational interests kept pace with its material
prosperity. On the eve of the Rebellion the population
was 5,865, and the valuation of tlie town
was $3,365,101.
In the stirring years which followed the opening
of the Rebellion the men of Maiden proved that
(liey had not forgotten the traditions of their fa-
thers, and that tlie spirit which had led her sons to
fields of duty and honor in the bygone years had
not ceased within the limits of the ancient town.
Out of the peace and calm of wliat liad almost
seemed an inane present, all the heroism and fervor
of the past arose, and it was seen that the old-time
patriotism had only slumbered until the occasion