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From: (Marcia Payne)
Subject: [MAWORCES] Important Northbridge Dates
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2002 19:56:13 -0500 (CDT)


From: Town of Northbridge, Bicentennial Commemorative Journal 1772-1972

1707: What is now Northbridge, is first settled
1727: First industry, a saw mill, built at the falls of the Mumford
River.

1766: First church, the Quaker Meeting House
July 14, 1772: Nortbridge "sets off" from Uxbridge, becomes a town.

1774: First Meeting House built at Northbridge Center.
April 19, 1776: Northbridge men march to meet the British, the first day
of the Revoluntionary War

1780: A committee consisting of William PARK, Samuel ALDRICH, Benjamin
BENSON, Ezekial GOLDTHWAITE, and Lt. James FLETCHER examined the
proposed state constitution. Among the amendments offered was one to the
Third Article of the Bill of Rights, changing it to read, " So that
those of one religious persuasion shall not impose any tax on those of
another." Although most towns were Congregationalists, Northbridge had
Quakers, Baptists, and Universalists among them and the inhabitants had
learned te lesson of religious liberty.

1800: Shoe industry started in Northbridge Center.
Nov. 1801: Land comes off from Sutton to Nortbridge.
1802: The first school committee chosn.
1809: The first cotton mill built in Whitinsville
Sept. 9, 1815: The days of the "great storm", wing so fierce that salt
spray from Narragansett blown up the Valley as far as Northbridge

Oct. 8, 1828: The Blackstone Canal opens
Dec. 10, 1844: Formation of he Whitinsville Social Library

1845: For the last time land comes off Sutton to Northbridge
1846: Worcester to Providence railroad built, station at Plummers

1847: The varied WHITIN interests become known as the Whitin Machine
Works
1851: Land in lower Fletcher St. area comes off from Uxbridge to
Northbridge establishing town boundaries, for the entire town as we know
it.

Aug. 1851: Large fire in Rockdale, completely destroys al the mill
buildings, te store, and 23 houses and tenements

1874: Town Hall built
Nov. 7 1876: First town meeting in newTown Hall

1888: First electric lights used in the Whitin Machine Works
1890: Railroad from the Whitin Machine Works to Linwood station built

1893: Electric trolley from Worcester through Rockdale ad Linwood to
Woonsocket, RI commenced

Jan. 1, 1899: Linwood St. Railroad Co. "the trolley" started operations,
New Village to Linwood.

1905-1906: High school on Linwood Ave. built
Sep. 4, 1911: A biplane and a monoplane appear over Whitinsville on a
trip from Worcester to Providence.

To Be Continued:

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