HUDSON FAST AND PRESENT BV. , E. F. WORCESTER. Copyriglit iSi^g. 49568 THE ENTEKPRISE PRINTING COMl'AXY, HUUSON, MASS. TWO COPIES RECEIVEU, Office of t(,(, D£C22T8oa ««elfter Of Copyrl^ht^ 8EC0ND COPY, ^ v< By Way of Introduction. «^ J- "The Citizens of Hudson have not only shown by tlieir tlirift tliat tlu-y liave been stirrinj; business nien, but their public records show tliat they have been active as townsmen in preparing everything for a prosperous municipal Corporation." These words of the Hon. Cliarles Hudson in liis address in 1876. will hold equally true to-flay. as evidenced by the energy and personal sacritices of our towns-people in the trying times following the holocaust of July 4, 1894. resulting in the birth of a new town, and the turning of a public calaniity into the nieans for acconiplishing in nionths what miglit have taken yenrs by the usual proce.ss of a lown's developmenl. Hiidsonians are rightly and unanimously proud of their town, and the purpose of this volume is to prescrve in a handy form the memories of the "' town that was," that we, as well as futiirc generations may in part realizc the rapid strides niade by her energetic people: to gather bttween the Covers of this liook what has heretofore been scattered among many families, and to save from loss .scenes of which possibly but one copy has been preserved. The lasting monuments of buildings now Standing on the ■' burnt district" teil but little to the "stranger witliin our gates '" of the sacrifices necessary to bring the town to its present condition. and it is only by a comparison that wc can realize what has been done in five short years. l'crba -tiolaiit, Scripta iiianciit. Words are fleeting, what is w-ritten remains. The author acknowledges Ins indebtedness for valued assistance rendered by the many Citizens who have responded to Ihe call for photographs and bits of history. and whose aid has madc iho production of the book possiblc. HOiN. ciiarlp:s hudsün. Born Nov. 14, 1795. Died May 4. iSSi. ^ Hudson Past and Present. ^ Washington Street Bridge. HUDSON'S IIISTORN' may reasonably be said to have been dividcd into a Story of an old and a new town by the disastrous fire of Jiily I 4. 1S94. vvlicn the licart of the business district was alniost wholly destrovfd. and as the town in its earliest days, then known only as a plantation, had its beRinning on the banks of the river near the present Wasliington Street Bridge, so fate decreed that the starting point Ol thf fire, which was the first step towards a re-creation, should be l)ut a few feet away. liarcly three quarters of a centin y liad elapsed after the hmding of the l'ilgrims, wlien one bihn liarncs obtained a grant of one acre of land lying on Ixitli sides of the Assabet river, lipon the north side of which was erected a grist niill in l(i99. Historians differ as to tlie biiilder of this mill, which was the first to be erected on territory now Hudson. biit the place was comnionly known as Howe's Mills, and the first recorded transfer of real estate is this acre of land and tlie mill about 1700, to one Joseph Howe, who is supposed by many to have been the builder. This land, as well as that surrounding it, was included in the bounds of the town of Marlboro, and the early history of this portion of the town is so interwoven with that of the whole that an accurate Separation is often ditficult. The first setders were mainly farmers, and as there was then no other mill nearer than Sudbury, they naturally brought their corn here for grinding. This led to more Settlements, but progress was .slow on account of the desire of the settlers to preserve the place as a farming Community. .Soon after the building of the mill. the town of .Marlboro, Oct. 2. 1699, voted to build a bridge across the Assabet at Howe's Mills. One of tliL- tirst liouses was Inült l)y Jt-remiah Harstow on laiid Uüw contained in Wood Square, and tun years later was sold to Robert Barnard, the locality afterwards being known as Barnard's Mills. The first pnblic house was opened in 1794 by Joel Cranston, wlio also kept a störe. The first störe, however, was in what was afterwards known as the " Old Red House." ante- dating the Revolution, and which stood on land now occupied by Mr. R. B. Lewi.s' b.nck block. Its large door and niany-paned Windows show its ancient style. Previous to this time Phineas Sawyer and Jedediah Wood built a sawmill on the brook crossing Main street now known as the Tannery brook. and in 1788 another niill was built upon the Assabet. As early as 1790, a blacksmith shop was in Opera- tion on the present Washington street, the building being afterwards moved back from the street to the bank of the river, where it stood when destroyed in the great fire, having been occupied over one hundred years as a smithy. Silas Feiton came in 1799, joining Cranston in business. and soon after the village commenced to be called Feltonville. A tannery was started in 1799 on nearly the same land now occupied by liunn. Green & Co.. and the business has been carried on almost uninterruptedly up to the present time. The dawn of the nineteenth Century saw many new Industries springing into e.\istence, among them saddle and harness niaking, wool carding and cloth dressing. The Old Red Hou«e. Tlie Witt Hoüse was luiilt in 1797 and niovcd to River street, wliere it now Stands, in 1863 ; the Manson House bcing then erected on samt spot. Witt llOllSB. Tlio l'iipe House was bnilt in tlie latter part of the eighteentli Century, and stood on land now occupied bj' resi- dence of R. li. Lewis, l'arts of it were removed and are still Standina:. i*ope House. In ISOS, Phineas Sawyer built a factory known as the Marlboro Satinet Factory, which business he carried on until fan. 1, 1S20, when he lost his life. The water wheel which supplied his power was stopped with ice, wliich lie proceeded to ciit away, stepping on the wheel in so doing: the wheel when released commenced to revolve, carrying Mr. Sawyer down with it, and he was soon drowned. This factory was burned in l.Sj4. The first physician canie to town in 1809, and lived in the " Old Peters House," which stood on land now partially occupied by Chamberlain's block. The year 1812, momentous as it was in our country's history, seeins to have been a busy one for builders in Hudson. Several new house.s were erected. among them the Worcester house on Central Street. A school liouse was built this year. and probably established a record for speed in building which has rarely been excelled in town, certainly not in the erection of school houses. The voters from this vil- lage succeeded in getting a vote passed for this school house, which would undoubtedly have been rescinded at an adjourned session had not the people taken hold, felled and hewn the timber, and erected the building, so that before the date of adjournment was reachecl the building was complete and ready for occupancy. Among the first scholars attending this school, which was on Wa.shington street where Ev-erett street now runs, was Charles Hudson, who lived to see the village grow to a township and bear his nanie, an well-earned tribute to his character and e.xample. Old Peters House, built in 1794. honor which was a "Peters' Store." (Negative by K. B. Lewis iSft?) Occupied for business August 15, iSoi. First Post Oftice located here in 1S28. Huildim» destroyed in tjreat tire. ~^ ^ ' ' ■'-!»■ ^.jfl^H '^'^^ Feiton House was built IROj and was ä Wf »^itt^^^^B familiär landniark for many years until replaced by -f^Kg^BS^^^S^^^^^^^ ^'^^ large brick block of H. W. Chase. This building j[n^^fl|^H^^SH^^^^^^H was occupied by Joel Cranston for some time and » '«■j, -^^^y^WSiMiBBP^^^^^^^B known a.s Cranston's Hotel, also used by Colonel ■*»i9*^^ ^r . ^^^^^^^1 .Stuart as a tavern. , ^- . , , - H ■■ X^^^ The hall in the upper story of tlie eil was used by L y' ' • _.. ^HB the Baptists for nieetintrs, also for dramatic and local - — -"^ ■■'■ ■■ «^^ ^1 ^m,:-^mä entertainments by various organizations. The belief ■' in farms rather than in towns " still inipeded the growth of the Community, but small nianufacturing was gradually introduced, and the Pop- ulation increased as there became a demand for their labor. The foundation of the shoe-making industry may be Said to have been laid by Daniel Stratton, who as early as 1S16, started in business. He built a factory about 1821 on Wa.shington street, when there were still l)ut few dwelling houses and one Store at die "Mills," and business w-as necessarily done on a small scale. Here he employed four hands and continued tlie business a few years, selling it to his son Lorenzo, who in turn sold to William Brigham, and the nanie of Brigham has been actively identified with our leading industry continually since this time. Francis Brigham, the head of the firm of F. Brigham & Co. at the time of his deadi, learned his trade in this factory, afterwards moving to a building which stood just off Main street, then to a brick building standing on site of present Holden's Block. In KS47, the building cummonly known as the '■ Co-operative Store," was built and the shoe business moved there and continued to grow. The Feiton House. George IKmglitons I'irst Slioe Factury. Cornei uf Main and lligh Stieels. The firm of Stowe, Bills & Hawley commenced in 1854. In 1857, George Houghton built a shoe factory at the corner of Main and High streets sixty feet long, three stories high with a basement, which he enlarged the following year to one hundred feet in length, at this time an unheard-of size, giving ri.se to many dire predictions of failure and the like. The first steam engine ever u.sed in the liniit.s of Marlboro, wa.s run in this liuildini;, a 5-liorse power upright one. The foundation of a large and profitable shoe business was here established. This building was moved in 1863 to form an eil to the present Main street factory, a part of the front portion ha\ing been used as a Station by the Fitchburg Railroad. Si.xty feet were added and a French roof put on over the whole. Thesame year, 1857. the brick factory of F. Hrigham & Co. was built and the shoe business was rapidly becoming of large pro- portions. Luman T. Jeffs began business in 1859. The amount of business done made a demand for factories to supply the lasts, dies and machinery. and \ve find these springing into existence together with a box factory, the latter being first fonnded about 1844, on site of the present box factory, where had previously been located a eider brandy distillery, which business at one time assumed large proportions. niore apples being brought in than could be handled. Atkinson House. Built iS6o. Destroyed in Great Fire, 1S94. View from I'ope's Hill.— 1862. At tlie beginning of tlie Civil War tlie exlsting military forraations in tlie State were altered somewhat. and nien from tliis vicinity were enlisted in several different regiments, which early vvent to the front for a three years" service. Looking down Main Street. West Side vi Wood Square. The foUowing year, May, 1862, another Company of \'olunteers was organized in Feltonville, of which the late Lieut.-Cül. VV. E. C. Worcester was the first captain. This Company was lettered I, of the Fifth Regiment, and did active service in many of the battlesof that war. This Com- pany, although credited to the parent town, was principally recruited from this village, a part of its membership Coming from neighboring localities. View froni Pope's Hill.— 1S62. The Tannery Buildings are at^tlie extreiiie liglit. The picture on this page shows the liuildinjjs formerly standing on ihe north sidc nf Wood Square: the one on the right was afterwards the shoe factorv of L. S tratton and still later tiirned around when Feiton street was laid out. The building next stood where the street now runs. This building was moved to site of present Sherman House. where it was liurned. The cut also shows the end of the "(»Id Red House" and corner of Solon Wood's störe. In connection with the shoe business it niay be interesting to notice the follovving two advertisements which appeared in the local paper. as showing that the present department Stores are hardly more diver- sified in tlieir stock than were sonie of our early factories. These are reproductd almost exactiy as the Originals appeared: A "seven-in-hand"' in Wood Square. (From an old tin-type.) FP.KIGHAM & CO., • Manufacturers of WOMENS andCHILDREN'S BOdTEES. and Dealers in Choice Family Floiir. Hudson WM. F. TROWBRIDGE, Manufacturer of MEN'S. MISSES and CHILDKEN'S BALMO- KALS, Biiff, Split, Calf, lieble, and Goat Boots and Shoes, and Dealer in Family Flour. Wood Square, Hudson. Duriiii; all tliis pcriod siiicc thi; lirst scttlcniciit, tlie villnsc. iiow rapidly growing, was still but a part of llic town of Marlboro, and although tlie apportionmcnt of town officers was such that no complaint coiild be made by the residents of Feltonville, yet the inconvenience of going four miles to attend town meeting began to excite public sentiment. which the local newspaper voiced in several articles. The outcome of this agitation was a call for a public meeting of all the Citizens in Union Hall, Tuesday evening. May l'>. 1S65. This meeting was largely attended and the question of incorporation thoroughly discussed. The sentiment was pretty generally in favor of the movement which also developed ihc- fact that many of the Citizens of Berlin and Holton desired to have the scctions of thcir towns lyini; next the proposed new town annexed to it. 'l'his naturally gave rise to olijections from the towns interested, which complicated matters somewhat. For some reason the first meeting was ad- journed without any action being taken and a meeting called the following Tuesday. at which these resolutions were adopted ; "U'/ierfas, we the inhabitants of Feltonville and vicinity, believing that the time has arrived when it will be for our best interests and welfare to vvithdraw from our respective municipal cor- porations and be incorporated into a new town: therefore, Rksoi.\i;i). that acommittee of nine be appointed to take into consideration the subject of establishing the boundary lines of Said new town and the most fcasible way of drawing up the petition for that purpose. and that they be instructed to procure such legal advice as they niay deem neccssary on the subject. and report at some future meeting to be called by theni." The committee attended to the duty a.ssigned and the Citizens determined upon the boundary lines as reconimended by the conimittee. petitions being drawn in accordance with the same, several slight changes having been made to incliide Shoe Factory of L. Stratton. outlying farms. A new committee of five was then chosen to make arrangements for incorpoi'ation. When the question of a name came up for consideration two propositions were offered, one by Silas Feiton offering 51,000 should the name of Feiton be selected. the other frora Hon. Charles Hudson who agreed to donate S5no for the foiindation of a Free Public Liljrary should the name of Hudson be given the new town. It has not. we believe. been quite clear why the latter proposition was accepted, but .such was the case. The bürden of the work rested on this new committee and it is a fact pointed to with pride that although in the face of much Opposition, no lobby was employed or unlaw- ful means attempted in attaining the desired result. After much legal controversy, the act incorporating the new town of Hudson, was passed March 16, 1866. James T. Joslin, Esq., who was counsel for tlie town. closed his able plea in these words : "If incorporated, 1 believe that the town of Hudson at no distant day will be- come a town that shall do honor to Middlesex County, do honor to the towns from which she is taken and will remember them in return for what they niay each have done for her." The town then had 306 voters. March 20, 1S68, the town bounds as they now exist were determined upon, taking in a part of the town of Bolton. Mansion House. Built 1S43. Remodelled 1856. I > II ,iHi!fiiiii0ii:iiitiii 11. Burned July 4. 1ST4— Hudson's lirst disastrous Hre. \'iews fluni I'ope's Hill. erection. Wheii tliis buikling was completed it Imd a lar^e liall in the upper story in wliich was lield adedication dance. at whicli nearly every Citizen of tlie town was nicntiniicd as an aid. Tliis liall was used as an armory, dance liall. etc. The lower story was first used as a grist mill. 'l"he tirst view sliown on tliis page was taken in 1S63, sliowing Central street before it was re-lo- cated ; al.so tlie blacksniitli shop previous to its lieing moved. The second view, taken about 1.S66, sliows the Trowbridge factory completed. and the wooden slioe factory of F. Brigham & Co. in process of GEO.HOUOMTONS FACTORY LOUKI/Nti EAST 'J'lie Wood Housc un \\ a>liins;tuu .stit-L-t. nuw tlie property of the First Unitarian Societv. Joel Cuniniings. ,i l.iiniliai ligiiiL- tu uUlci i L^i^lullls, of the town and hjs " störe " on Feiton street, Up Main Street about 1S70 from in front of Town House Lawn. The slioe business was fiirtlier increased in 1S65 by the building of the four story wooden slioe factory of W, F. Tro\vl_irid,t;e. where bis business was traiisferred and enlarged. After the close of the Civil War, ap- propriate exercises were held May 30, lS()'i. tlie spealy Mr. Houghton for a number of years as a park, in the centre of which wasa hand.some fountain. and extensive altorations are being planned for tlie old factory building. The Mansion House, remndelled froni Cox's Tavern. stood on site of Solon Wood's new block and was prominent among tlie cid buildings before the fire. Itwasbiiilt upon a solid ledge of rock whicli underlies all the buildings on the north side of Wood Square. The George Stratton Hou.se stood at the Corner of Pope street, on spot now occupied by the Savings Bank Block. This building was blown up to prevent further progress of the great tire. Tlie George Stratton Ilouse. Built 1S34. The r;ipid advancc in photograpliic processes has niade the production of this book possible, and we are enablcd to repro- duce among the historic pictures of Hudson a view which may well be called a "mile- stone of photograpliy." Probably no photo- graph has ever been given a wider distribu- tion or attracted more nearly universal attention than the one called '• Morning (ilories." Its production in 1874, and its cxhibition at the Centennial Exposition in I'hiladelpliia in 1876, was a marvel of Photo- graphie success and even at tliat time deemed an impossibility. This picture was photographed by theold " wet process" long before the "snap shot" period had dawncd. by the veteran Hudson artist, Mr. R. 13. Lewis, and his success in securing perfect likenesses of so many children in one group • .Morning Glories." (Negative by Lewis ) likenesses of so many cnuaren in one group was first looked upon by nnany artists as a clever trick rathcr than an actual photograph. ^^^tul who ,8,000 copies in two years attests its popularity; copies being purchased by many European photographcrs were e.xhibiting at Philadelphia. Hudson was represented in the 250th anniversary processinn in the city of Boston, in ISSO, by a novel exhibil frcim tlie Hudson factory of Martin. Skinner & Fay. then nianaged by our late townsman. George Houghton. consisting of two floats, representing the old and new in shoe- making. The first float. under date of 1630, be- ing a log cabin with a settler's family busily engaged in making shoes by band, the only method then known. This made a realistic picture of ye olden time : the stealthy red-skin. witliout, also bringing to mind the hardships cncountered by our early ancestors : and the gixat open hre-place and spinning wheel added to the picture of what had been the cor.- dition of a leading industry of the State. The cobbler's stone was a nccessary article for every workman, even in the first shoe factories, so called, as each man produced the whole shoe, the present System being then unknown. With the exception of the date this e.xhibit was a true picture of "Hudson. Fast," a con- dition which was improved upon in this locality by manufacturers as rapidly as machines were invented to supercede the old hand methods. The factories of the present day in Hudson arq keeping at the head in improved machinery in all departments of the industry. ' The Log Cabin .Shoe Shop.'' Exhibit in 'J.'ittli .Anniversary Procession in Boston. The second float, under date of I8S0, was a fully equipped modern shoe factory, every macliine necessafy (or the production of a slioe was included and in running order, power being supplied by a small upright engine, which the picture shows. This was not a toy fac- tory, but shoes were actually produced along the route of the procession, and the exhibit was one of the features of the parade, as few, if any, other exhibitors had succeeded in placing on wheels a fully equipped factory supplying its own power. This float, lilce the one preceding it. was in charge of skillcd workmen froni the factory, and special mention was made by Boston and loca! papers of this clever exhibit. This structure has since been made into a small cottage, and Stands on the sliore of Gates l'ond. tlie source of our watcr supply. This same year. ISSU, Hudson's shoe industry was further increased l)y the occupation of tlie l'iano Shop by Mr. Joseph S. Bradley, who had retired, as did Mr. Trowbridge, from the firm of F. Brigham & Co. The building is the one now occupied by Bradley & Sayward. formerly uscd by Kalcr li .Sliau. wlio rcsumcd business here after tlieir fire in IST-l. ' L'p-'o-date Shoe Making." Exhibit in 2r)ilth .\nniversary Procession in Boston. The [Post Office 'has remained in nearly the same location since first founded in 1828. VVidi the exception of temporary changes made necessary by the erection of Manson's Block in 1886 and by the great tire of 1894, the office has stood in nearly its present location since about 1850. when it was re- moved from Brigham's Block, where it was located for some time after leaving the Peters Building. Post Office in Manson's Blick lUock Brigham's Block was also occupied at various tinies by the Savings Bank, which was incorporated February 6, 1869, Lewis' Photograph Studio, Law Offices, etc. Tlie third story contained G. A. R. Hall when burned. The old post office building now Stands on Warner street ; the other buildings shown were all de- strovcd in the great fire. Uld Post ( )ffice Building and Brigham's, afterwards Cochran's Block. Eaily in 1SS2, scvcral prominent Imsiness niun insliuited a movement wliicli lesnlted in the Organization and cliartering o£ the Hudson National Hank. Tliey comnienced business in Marcli, witli Ijankins; rooms in the quarters now occupied by the Selectmen in the Town House. In IS85 a Co-operative Bank was incorporated, giving the town a System of banks which lias provcd populär with all classes, as the large deposits in each denote. This year saw, also, the foundation of the present Apsley Rubber Co., commenced by Apsley & Coffin under the title of the (uiod- year Gossamer Co. These gentlemen began business in the wooden buildings of F. Brigham & Co., now occupied by the Hudson Worsted Co., Novelty Paper Box Co., and the Enterprise l'rinting Co., which they con- tinued to use until they purchased an exten- sive tract of land where their buildings now stand, on which they erected substantial brick buildings specially adapted to their use. The diversity of Industries is what has given the town a niore than average pros- perity, and the rubber clothing busine.ss has been an important factor in the upbuilding of Hudson. Tlic Laiiciiiitei K. K. lindgc, löwi, siiowing houses on Maple and Ulm Streets. At the town meeting November 7, 18Si, the matter of a System of water works was brought up by an'articlcin'the w.irrant and a vote was passed authorizing the appointment of a committee of fiftesn who should take the same into consideration. This committee recommended an appropriation "for a thorough survey and plan for taking water froni C.ates' Pond, and an estimaled cost of constructing the works." Enlarged to form Shoe Factory of C. M. Brett ^- Co. natural fall sufficient to reach the top of nearly every building in town. When completed, 8.2 miles of pipe had been laid, varying in size from 4 to 16 iiiches. Water was let in from the pond December 16. 18S4. The water is free from contamination, and of the finest quality. A large number of application.s for water were received and so populär has been the System that rates are extremely low, and extensions of the water An appropriation was made in April, ISSJ, and an act authorizing the taking of water passed the Legislature. and was approved April 25. Gates' Pond, which was selected, lies in the town of Berlin and had at that time an area of about ninety acres, with a natural water shed of one hundred and forty-one acres. The surface of the pond was then 103 feet above the curbing at the Post Office, giving a Building now occupied by Hudson W'orsted Co., as it appeared in iS/o, liiaiii have bteii freqiieiitly necessary. The System now consists of 20.61 miles of pipc of tlie varioiis sizes, with US ^gateS and 137 hydrants. The income, inclusive of hydrant Service, was nearly S10,Ü0Ü in 1S9S, water being taken by 1,014 families in addition to business and other uses. The fact that no pumping is required makes the expense of maintenance of the System comparatively light. In 1898, a new dam was constructed, giving a storage depth of tvvo feet addi- tional and an additional water shed of about twenty acres. An auxiliary pipe bne was also laid from the pond running parallel to the first line, except at the pond. This gave a much increased pressure as was proven by the thorough test given the whole system on Decem- ber 6 of that year. November 16, 1887, a military Com- pany was organized, designated M, and attached to the Fifth Regiment. This Company enlisted in the U. .S. Service for duty in the Spani.sh war. and while not seeing active service in any of the .Span- ish counti-ies, was in camp nine months ready for duty. On their return from the south the Company was reorganized, Capt. James I'. Cläre aftcrwards enlisting in the 26th U. S. Infantry for duty in the Philipliines. The armory. formerly located in the Opera Hou.se. is now in the ui)per story of ihe Town Hou.se. Here the Company has a well arranged suite of rooms. a reading room supplied with daily papers and other matter. The lannery in IST». The building at the extreme left was used for the Engine House of ■■ Iloughton, No. 2." Part of bclfry shows in picture. Hudson was also represented in tlie navy diiring the recent war, both at Santiago on the Brooklyn, and at Manila on the flagship of Admiral Dewey. Many cid buildings, dating back a liundred years or more. are still standing in very nearlv their original form, but have not been included in the views shown herein. Some, like the Cox house. have been remodelled so that hardlv a The W'illard Cox House. Residence of F. E. Brown, ßtiilt by (i. L. Manson, l.Sij4. Suggestion of their fornier seif remains. The frames of most, if not all of them, were hewn from oak, and in many cases boarded with oak or chestnut lumber. The Witt house shown on page 7, stood on the site of tlie lirown house. The small house showing ihrough the trees at tlie right is this house in its present location on River street. the pictiire of Eureka Hose. When destroyed, the whole factory building was used for the slioe business with the ex- ception of a sniall stört- in the tirst story. The blacksmith shop here shown is the one formerly Standing on the strcet as early as 1790. Tliis stood ne.xt tlie slied in wliich the gieat fire started, and uith the sliop was totallv destroyed. The woodcn shoe factory of F. Hrigham & Co. stood on the site of Howe's mill, and the lower story was u.scd for a long time as a Krist mill by K. II. Brighani : the old mill building formerly occupied by him. shown on page 21, in picture entitled "South from Wood Square." now Stands in the rear of Moulton's präsent blacksmith shop. aportion dl it, in its present position, being shown in One Ilvindred ^■ears a Smithy. No neai'er an ideal National Huliday ever dawned than in 1894. the twentieth anniversary of tlie first serious fire. tlie morning of Juiy 4 liaving been ushered in by the small boys and others, with the usual ceremonies supposed to be neces- sary to the liirth of each new "yourth."' Had all the small boys finished their celebrating with the davvn, this story would pi'obably have to be told in a much different way. Several small boys. however. continued the celebration in the afternoon with fire-crackers and the like in the rear of the shoe factory of Frank H. Chamberlain, and started the fire which spread with such disastrous results. The town was soon l'lw J rowbridge .Shop. Startini; puint ol tire. Kesidence of F. W. Trowbridge, 2nd. Destroyed in Cireat Fire. awakened to the possibilities attending the progress of the tire, which was rapidly eat- ing into the factory in front and spreading to each side, fanned by a streng west wind. Coming as did the first alarm, when many of the firemen and niore of the people were at Riverside Park, the response was not as prompt as usual and the fire had gained a headway too strong to be easily subdued. Assistance was telegraphed for to many places and a generous response was given. The flanies had rapidly spread. impeded for a time by the many trees in the Square, but trees and blocks, wooden and brick, meltcd in the bot brealh of ihc fire fiend. The rapid spread in many cases cut off the firemen from hydrants in use, preventing their being closed, ihus lessening the pressure of t!ie water and rendering the fine System of water works almost useless. Steamers and other fire apparatus rapidly arrived from neighboring places and vohinteers industriously puniped the brakes on the old Eureka Engine, which made itself usefui on the west side of tlie Square. The George Stratton house was blown up to prevent further progress of the flames in its direction, and the large tin roof on the Underwood Building was fanned likc a handkerchief in the air, preventing the flames from entering the Hudson House. wliich stood next to it. The combined forces of all who could assist seemed hardly sufificient to prevent the destruction of the entire centre of the tow-n. Cinders were carried to a great distance. setting fires which levelled two housesoutside the "burnt district" and threatening churches and the town house. Thegathering clouds predicted a shower which shortly followed, and the wind, veering to the east, drove the flames back over the vast blackened area of what was once the throbbing business heart of the town, and the progress of the fire was rapidly prevented. Men could not have worked harder on their own honies than did the firemen sent to our aid, and the town owes mucl» to them and our own fire department that more of the town was not destroyed. Chase Block in lS7i). .Afterwards raised une Story to contain Odd Feliows" Hall. The ladies diel good service in furnishing food for the workers, scouiiiig the town for provisions and coffee, which was served in the vestry of the Unitarian Church. The militia was called out for guard duty and prevented the dcstruction and carrying away of property that had been saved. Nearly forty buildings were destroyed, covering an area of over 5 acres iid representing a loss of fuUy a half million doUars, all of which had been .iccomplished in less than three hours. The night was vivid with thesmouldering fire and nearly all the old landmarks had vanished forever. The few trees that had withstood the fierce heat. loomed up in the darkness, blackened to the roots. with brancbes bare, and served as about the only guiaes to sliow where once had stood the buildings they had so vainly endeavored to shelter. Here and there, among the ruins, were solitary figures pouring streams of water on the smoking mass, and most conspicuous of all, among the landmarks still Standing, was the Old Elm, marking the extreme western end of the burnt district. Hudson House, 1K70. Tlie Underwood Building next marked tlie edge of the burnt district on the east. Main Street ju^t previous tu the gioat liic ot jiily 4, 1S94. (Negative by K. 11. Lewis.) Next morning that magnlflcent old elm was Standing as it liad stood almost a Century througli, a silent sentlnel, Itself a wreck amid a scene of desolation no picture can fully portray ; a part of the " Hudson that was" in ruins around, it seemed emblematic of the fortitude which has characterized the town and its people. The burnt district from roof of building of F. Brigham & Co., July 5, 1S94. It scattered its scorched leaves as if for seed from which sliüuld spring a town anew ; they feil on good ground and a new town arose as if by niagic. \ l^■v^ ei i.'iiihl dUtii^t Irom Co\ ."-qiuue. ^Iiowiny i.)k[ hlni plaiiK-d i,*>- --Y^ Tf" .1 Independent • Hose • Co- Mo- ( tlie subject matter was passeci over. The following year the same articie appeared and was voted down, upon wlilcli tlie Company promptly disbanded, and F"ast Day, 1S75, the bell, under direction of the foreman, was removed. During the Operation, however, a legal notice was served by counsel for the town, intended to prevent its renioval, but without the desired effect. as the bell came down and thal same evening was ".spirited" away. Its hiding place was long kept a secret until after the budding of the Feiton street Fire Station, when it asmysteriously reappeared and was hang in that belfry. Here it remained until the great fire, wliicli destoyed the building. Fate had better luck in störe than de- struction by fire, and it feil un- harmed, to be rehung in its present lücation on the completion of the Central Fire .Station, Several severe fires have vis- ited the town previous to the great fire of 1894, among them the Piano Factory of Kaier & Shaw, which occurred July 4, 1874, the Hudson House and long wooden block, a llydraulicon Nu. l'urchascd 1649. part of which still stand.s, in 1880 : F. Brigham & Co. 's Brick Factory in 18S2, and a fire which threatened to do niucli damage at the Tannery of Dünn, Green & Co., in 1885. A Bücket H. & L. Company was organized among the young men. who used a light skeleton truck which carried a few buckets. Afterwards a new truck was purchased. carrying ladders and buckets. This Company proved of great assistance at several fires, as the absence of a water w-orks System compelled carrying water in buckets, often from quite a long distance. Tlie most severe fire was the great fire of 1S94. the loss amounting to fully a half milli(in dollars. an account of wliich is given elsewhere in this sketch. The present department. under the direction of a board of three engineers. is : Independent Hose Company. No. 1 — li men. Relief Hoik & Ladder Company. No. 1 — IS men. Steamcr No. 1 — .> men, with quarters at the Central F"ire Station. H. E. Stowe Hose Company, No. 2 — 10 men, with Hose House on High street. Eureka Hose Company. No. 3 — lU men. with Hose House on Washingtcm street. Tlie ilepartment is well equipped. witli two extra hose wagons in reserve for supply wagons, also a hook and ladder truck, formerly used by Relief No. 1. .An electric fire alarm is in Operation with fifteen boxes. a bell alarm on Central Fire Station and steam whistle on the Tannery. Horses are provided for all regulär- apparatus, either in the houses or within easy call, and with a waterworks System of one hundred and thirty-seven hydrants, a reliable fire service is provided. The shoe business is in a flourishing condition. tlie present daily Output of slioes reacliing nearlv twelve tliousand pairs. Two liundrtd hides are daily handled by the tannery of Dünn, (Ireen & Co.. and tlieir reputation for the grades of leather produced is of the best. The Apsley Rubber Co. is producing a large quantity of rubber clothing. varving in quality from the cheaper garments to high-piiced mackintoshes, in singie and double texture. Thework of coatingthe cloth with the water- proof Compound is done by them, as well as the cutting and niaking of the garments. Nothing but the best of Para rubber is used, and the bigh Standard of their goods is maintained. The woolen industry is comparatively young in town, but already nearly fifty thou- sand pounds arescoured, carded and comlied weekly. with the mill running night and day to keep up with Orders. Shof machinery. wool spinning. elastic göre weaving, last making, paper and wood box factories, and printing Offices are among the other industries, all of which are bu.sy. Three weekly newspapers are published in town. Contracts have recently been signed by the Apsley Rubber Company, for land and machinery for a rubber boot and slioe factory. which it is expected will be in Operation early in the spring on an extensive Scale. Main Factory Apsley Rubber Co. e 4f X- V STOWE'BILLS &HAWLEY • FACTORY - •■ 1 ■ JMU» ■ ■ [ I mi^Li E^ y^^J^^^^: •SHOE PACTORY; y y /■■ y / L-TJEFTS'- SHOE PACTORY- Oesidepce o|^ j05EPMyßl?ADLE|- i^eSIDENCE "i NATHAN RUSSELL Rebidence of K. li. Lewis. The future of the towu is vcry promisini;. and a healthy Ijooiii is already "on.'' A large amount of building is in contemplalion and the Coming . spring bids fair to see all prc- vious building records beaten. Hudson has made a record of which she is proud — a record which is the result of individual eflfort on the part of many of lier Citizens, and the good words spoken of her by all hei childrcn. Mav this Icad to Iiigher achievenients and make her The tiouse.s are nearly aÜ substantially buiit. and niucli attention is given to the care of lawns and grounds. Shade trees line the sidewalks, and ornamental shrubs and trees adorn Ihe lawns. Fences are rapidly disappcaring from front and boundary line.s, and concrete sidewalks are on the principal streets. Our illustrations of residences show sampics of houscs. both those of nien of moderate means as well as .some of oiir Ijest mansions. onlv a few of which are here given. Residence of H. M. Courtenianche. future, in reality, as brigtit as the prospect now äppeai-s. To do tliis tiie eftorts of every Citizen can be a factor in tlie general result. Let our acts be for the good of tlie town. remembering with tlie Persian poet of cid : '• The moving finger writes ; and having writ. Moves on : nor all your Piety, nor Wit, Shall Iure it backte cancel half a Line, Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it." ( Half Tones and ArtisHc (irouping by The Boston Engraving Co.) ( Binding by R. Burlen, Boston.) viS^»^ 'itet'^'i ■■ ■>, /7J "^Vv^j 'dfit