History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

interest was felt in the matter, it was hardly worth
while to organize ; but Mr. Carney was willing to
act as treasurer, and we concluded to apjioint our-
selves trustees, and make the experiment. A few
months after this the town of Lowell decided to
build a town-house, and wanted to borrow the
money for tlie purpose, wliich we decided to lend
them. The sum, I think, was $ 1 7,000."
This was the origin of tlie Lowell Institution for
Savings, which was incorporated in October, 1829.
James G. Carney was treasurer until his death in
] 869. Dr. Green, president of the Old Residents'
Historical Association, in alluding to this event,
The record of forty years at the liead of
says : "
our oldest savings institution will not show a sin-
gle dollar lost of the millions which have passed
through Mr. Carney's hands, and not a figure re-
formed. A committee was chosen to manage the
concerns of the society, consisting of Captain John
Bassett, Benjamin Melvin, James Derby, David
Cook, and Winthrop Howe. Thomas J. Greenwood
was secretary. The second meeting was
held in the Merrimack Company's school-house.
February 4, 1828, the Appleton Company was
incorporated, with a capital of $600,000. Thomas
H. Perkins, Ebenezer Francis, and Samuel Apple-
ton were named in the act.
February 8, the Lowell Manufacturing Com-
pany was incorporated, with a capital of $300,000,
since increased to $2,000,000. Frederick Cabot,
William Whitney, and Richard C. Ciljot wciv named
in the act. The history of the car|)rt iiiiiiiul'ictiire
is of great interest, but our space iIkcs not permit
an extended review of its progress in this country.
Messrs. Henry Burdett and Alexander Wright
establislied a small carpet manufactory at Medway.
^Ir. Wriglit afterwards sold his interest to Mr.
Burdett, who in turn sold the whole property to
Frederick Cabot and Patrick T. Jackson. Messrs.
Cabot and Jackson, after tiie organization of the
Lowell Manufacturing Company, sold tlie mil! niul
macliincry at Medway to tlie new cDinpiiiiy. While
the buildings wore being erected in iidwell, the
works in Medway were kept in operation, under
the superintendence of Mr. Wright. Our towns-
man, Peter Lawson, had charge of the designing
department at Medway, and continued that relation
to the company for many years after he came to
Lowell. The company have looms, invented by E.
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
B. Bigelow, for weaving Brussels carpeting. They
manufacture also heavy shoe-lastings and worsted
goods, a new branch of industry in Lowell. The
original capital of $300,000 has been increased to
$2,000,000.
Dr. Elisha Bartlett delivered the 4th of July
oration. October 6, the Lowell Bank was incor-
porated, with a capital of $200,000.
January 7, 1829, the Merrimack Company's mill
was destroyed by fire. At this time the machineshop
was busy on the Hamilton Company's ma-
chinery ;
but the agent of the Merrimack Company
was authorized to make an agreement with the
Hamilton to give way to the necessity of the Mer-
rimack.
At the town-meeting, March 2, $1,000 was
appropriated to purchase a fire-engine and hose.
quiring to be changed in nineteen ledgers of nearly
"
one thousand pages each !
April 6, the town voted to build a town-house,
and May 4, Messrs. Boott, Moody, Jonathan Tyler,
July 23, the first Universalist society was Elisha Glidden, and Elisha Ford were appointed a
building committee. May 21, the town voted to
borrow $18,000 for this purpose, and to petition
for the incorporation of a tire department.
May 4, the town acted on the petition of John
Jjowell, Jr., and others to be annexed to Lowell.
John Lowell, Jr., a son of Francis C. Lowell, came
here with the intention of making Lowell his home.
He had planned a magnificent structure to be lo-
cated in Belvidere, just below the residence built
by Samuel Lawrence, now owned by General B. F.
Butler, where he no doubt intended to spend the
remainder of his days. The keep, or house, at the
entrance of his grounds is still standing, and was
once owned or occupied by the late A. L. Brooks.
It was thus early that he petitioned for the annexa-
tion of Belvidere. The vote stood ninety in favor
of and fifty against the petition.
February 25, Mr. Lowell of Boston introduced
an order in the legislature to consider the expe-
diency of constructing a railroad from Boston to
Lowell. In consequence of this order, Mr. Iley-
ward was appointed, under a resolution of the
Massachusetts Legislature, to survey a railroad
route to Lowell. He made the eastern route
iweiity-three miles, twenty-two chains, and the
western route twenty-two miles, seventy-eight
chains in length. The distance by stage-road was
twenty-four miles, nineteen chains, and in a straight
line twenty-two miles, five chains.
William Wyraan was appointed postmaster.
Soon after his appointment lie moved the office
from Central Street to the City-Hall Building.