History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

considerable distance from its centre of business
and population. Horn Pond is the only sheet of
water of any magnitude within its limits. As the
town increased in its manufacturing industries and
the number of its dwellings, the need of an ample
supply of water for domestic and fire purposes was
felt more and more every year. In 1871 the town
appointed a committee on water-supply, with power
to secure an act of incorporation for that purpose.
The act was obtained which allowed the use of the
water of Horn Pond and authorized the issue of
water bonds not exceeding $^00,000. Water
commissioners were chosen, and the work was
immediately begun. A reservoir was constructed
on Horn Pond Mountain, capable of holding
600,000 gallons, which at high water would be
£22 feet above the level of the pond, and sup-
ply the highest points of the town. Pipes were
laid at first through the central part of the
town only, but the outer villages (Cummings-
ville, Korth and East Woburn) demanding the
same rights and privileges acquired by the Cen-
tre, the town voted the extension of the pipes to
those sections. To do this, involved the issue of
$200,000 more of water bonds, which the town
voted and the legislature approved. In digging
for the foundation of the engine-house a few rods
from the pond an unexpected and remarkable How
of water rushed to the excavation from the land
side. To dispose of this flow, one, another, and
then another of the most powerful pumps were used
without checking its force. As the water was of
the purest quality (issuing directly from the gravel
bed on the southerly part of the pond), and its
supply apparently inexhaustible, it was determined
by the commissioners to appropriate it for the use
of the town in preference to drawing directly from
the pond. Connection was made with the pond, as
originally proposed, to secure a supply in case the
flow from the land side should at any time collapse.
To this period (1879) there is no sign of exhaus-
tion, and Woburn is furnished in abundance with
purer water than could be obtained from Horn
Pond or any other source within many miles. The
whole cost of the water-works to 1879 is about
$450,000.
Some notice should be taken of two men who
have made "Woburn conspicuous as being the place
of their birth,— Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford)
and Colonel Baldwin. Loammi Baldwin was
549
of character for which he afterward became emi-
nent. The natural bent of his mind was toward
mathematics and physical science. In this he
resembled his friend and boyish neighbor, the future
count. In his early school-days he was a pupil
of Master Fowle, the noted teacher in "Woburn at
that period. Not having the o])portunities of
securing a collegiate education, he took advantage
of all chances to add to his positive knowledge.
In company with young Tliompson he walked to
Cambridge to hear the lectures of Professor Winthrop
on astronomy and other sciences at Harvard
College. To show the interest these young men
felt for their studies, it is said that upon returning
home from these lectures they made various rude
instruments for their own use, with which to verify
the experiments and problems of the professor.
At the opening of the Revolutionary "War, in
1775, Baldwin enlisted as a private in the regiment
commanded by Colonel Gerrish. His promotion
was rapid, as in the course of a.few months he was
advanced from post to post till he was made commander
of the regiment. This was stationed about
Boston as a part of the investing forces of Wash-
ington. After the evacuation of that city by the
British, Colonel Baldwin followed his chief to New
York. There he was placed in command of the
main guard at the Battery. Upon the retreat of
the army from New York to a position behind the
Delaware, his regiment made part of the forces.
When Washington recrossed the river and performed
that brilliant action at Trenton, Colonel
Baldwin and his men were an important element
in its success. During the following year, and
before any other leading event in the war had
occurred, he asked and received an honorable dis-
charge from service, on account of seriously im-
paired health. Returning to his native town, he
continued to exercise his talents and influence in
support of the independence of his country. In
1780 he was appointed high sherifl" of Middlesex
County, and was the first who held that responsible
office under the new state constitution. He was
several times elected as representative to the Gen-
eral Court, and became a candidate for the offices
of senator, lieutenant-governor, and elector of
president. Being of the minority party, he was
unsuccessful in his candidacy, but had the satisfac-
tion of receiving, with one or two exceptions, the
solid vote of his fellow-townsmen. At the time of
born in the north part of the town, January 21, Shays' Rebellion, 1786-87, when Woburn in a
1745. In his youth he disclosed those qualities fit of despondency over the state of affairs voted