History of Fitchburg Part 40 Rufus Torrey 1st printing 1836

(Rufus Torrey takes us on a visual tour of Fitchburg in 1786.)

Perhaps enough has already been said respecting the
appearance of the centre of the town -- the number and
situation of the houses -- to a convey tolerably accurate
idea of its condition in 1786, or fifty years ago.  A
cursory view of it, however, may prove somewhat interesting.
A traveler approaching from the east or south, would first
behold the tavern of Thomas Cowdin, Esq.  Upon the hill to
the north-west, might be seen a small, yellow, and rather
mean-looking meeting-house.  In front would appear the "red
store" of Joseph Fox, Esq., and in the rear of that, his
dwelling house, with large projecting eaves.  The mills and
dwelling house of Dea.  Ephraim Kimball were just below, and
over the bridge were two town houses more.  Casting his eyes
up the hill, he would see the house of Rev. Mr.  Payson,
where C. Marshall now lives.  This was all that could be
seen, and all that then consituted the middle of Fitchburg.
Thence proceeding westward, over a crooked and rough road,
the traveler would next see the house already mentioned as
having been built by David Gibson, and opposite to that, on
the right, the baker's shop.  He would then come on to the
present common.  Here his sight would be greeted by small,
stinted pine trees, and such bushes as grow upon the poorest
land.  A stragglihg log fence here and there might serve to
diversify the scene.  Nothing more was to be seen, unless
William Brown had commenced building Capt. Z. Sheldon's
present dwelling house, till passing the swell of ground at
Dr. Abel Fox's house, the modest unassuming house of
Benjamin Danforth would be visible on the right, and his
blacksmith's shop on the left.  continuing his course
onward, over one of the most wretched roads that ever bore
that name, and passing over the high bridge -- and a crazy
one it was -- near the bellows shop of Messrs. Thurston &
Battis, no marks of human habitation were to be seen, till
passing round the hill, he might discern in the distance the
solitary cottage of Benjamin Kemp.

The river, which is now crowded, so to speak, with mills and
factories, then appeared like a useless profusion of water
flowing noisily along over its rocky bed to the parent
ocean, unobstructed by a single dam, save the one on the Old
City.  Such, fifty years ago, was the forbidding aspect of
what is now the busy and pleasant village of Fitchburg.

I have been thus particular in describing the appearance of
the centre of the town at this period, becasue then arose
the contest respecting the location of a new meeting house
-- a contest which continued full ten years, and was
conducted with more bitterness of feeling, and display of
angry passions, than any other town difficulty that ever
existed amoung us.

The wealth and business of the town is now so concentrated,
that it would seem like folly to contend that the meeting
house should be placed anywhere else than in, or near its
present location.  But from what has already been said, and
from what will be hereafter explained, concerning the
condition of the westerly part of the town, it will appear
that those who disired the meeting house to be located
further west were not so destitute of reason as one hastily
judging might be inclined to suppose.

The west, at this time, was probably the most flourishing
part of the town.  The farmers, in selecting their
locations, were guided hither by the circumstance that here
was some of the best soil in the town, and that the higher
grounds were not so liable to be visited by early frosts as
the lower grounds on the borders of the river.  The river,
indeed, instead of being viewed with eyes of favor, was
dreaded as a curse.  Though it furnished water power for a
single mill, this did not have the weight of a feather in
comparison with the heavy expense of maintaining the
bridges.  It is not surprising, therefore, that the people
of the west, burdened with no such plague within their
precincts, should desire to cut themselves free from such an
onerous annual tax.  The tract of land now known as Dean's
Hill, having a good soil, and an elevation such as would
strike the eye of a pioneer with delight, was early settled;
and, fifty years ago, was the most flourishing part of the
town.

Jacob Upton then kept quite a celebrated tavern where
Capt. Dean lately lived.  Jedediah Cooper also kept tavern
where his son, Samuel Cooper now lives.  Capt. John Upton
had a store in the small house now occupied by Daniel Flint.
Dr. Stone, now a distinguished physician in Harvard, and
after him Dr. Ball, practised medicine here.  (Dr. Ball had
but little else beside his good looks to recommend him.  Not
being overburthened with medical knowledge or common
ssensse, his "practice" was limited; and he curtailed his
expenses in proportion.  He boarded with "landlord Upton" on
condition that he should pay a certain sum for every meal at
which he might be present, and that he should receive a
certain sum whenever he should be absent.  He contrived that
his visits to his patients and neighbors should be at such
an hour as to sescure a meal of victuals without expense to
himself.  Consequently, when the time of "settling" came, it
apeared that the landord was in the doctor's debt.)  Near
the tavern was another important appendage, a blacksmith's
shop, in full operation.  The land here was in a good state
of cultivation, and the farmers were industrious and
prosperous.  The Crown Point road, which took the principal
travel between Vermont and Boston, passed over this hill,
and added not a little to its appearance of activity.  With
all these advantages and prospects, it is not surprising
that the inhabitants felt their importance, and desired to
exalt their condition above that of being merely an outskirt
of the town of Fitchburg.

(to be continued)

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