History of Haverhill, Massachusetts, USA

1641 - Haverhill founded
First settled in 1640, incorporated 1641
Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1708 - August 29 - Haverhill, Mass destroyed by French & Indians

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1839 - Haverhill
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Essex county. This ancient, respectable and flourishing manufacturing town, lies on the N. side of the Merrimack river, at the head of navigation, and united to Bradford by two beautiful bridges. It is 30 miles N. from Boston, 31 N.N.W. from Salem, 12 W. by S. from Newburyport, 18 N.E. from Lowell, 30 S.W. from Portsmouth, N.H., and 40 S.E. from Concord, N.H. Little river passing through the town affords affords a good hydraulic power, on which are manufacturing establishments of various kinds. The manufactures consist of woolen goods, leather, boots, shoes, hats, shovels, spades, forks, hoes, chairs, cabinet ware, combs, ploughs, tin ware, vessels, palm-leaf hats, shoe lasts, spirits, morocco leather, chaises and harnesses: total amount the year ending April 1, 1837, $1,357,526.

Haverhill is delightfully located, handsomely built, and has been the birth place and residence of many of the most valuable and distinguished citizens of New England. Haverhill... Read MORE...

1845 - HAVERHILL [Pop. 4,336. Inc. 1643.]
The Indian name of this place was Pentucket.

This town was probably named in compliment to the first minister, Mr. Ward, who came from Haverhill in England.

Before the settlement of the boundary line between New Hampshire and Massachusetts, in 1737, Haverhill included a part of Methuen, as well as a part of Salem, Atkinson, and Plaistow, three towns of New Hampshire.

Haverhill was often attacked by the Indians, and few instances of heroism exceed that of Mrs. Dustin, who, in 1697, was captured, but killed nearly all her foes and escaped. In 1708, the French and Indians attacked the town and killed about forty of the inhabitants.

Haverhill is pleasantly situated on the north bank of the Merrimack, which river is navigable only up to this place. A fine bridge connects the town with Bradford.

The chief manufactures are boots and shoes, hats, leather, and woollen goods.

Distance from Salem, 21 miles ; from Boston,... Read MORE...

1854 - Haverhill
Haverhill, a flourishing post-village of Essex county, Massachusetts, on the N. bank of the Merrimac river, at the head of navigation, about 15 miles from the ocean, and on the Boston and Maine railroad. 83 miles N. from Boston. It contains 7 churches. 2 newspaper offices, a bank with a capital of $150,000, and a savings institution. Two of the churches have recently been erected, one a Gothic-Arabic structure - the other is modelled from an Italian temple - both beautiful edifices. The schools of Haverhill are among the best in Massachusetts. The village contains manufactories of boots and shoes, woollen goods, silver ware, hats and caps, lasts, &c. Boots and shoes are annually produced to the amount of $1,500,000. There are also about 10,000,000 of bricks made yearly. Settled in 1640, and incorporated in 1645. Population, of the township, 6877 ; of the village, in 1863, about 3500.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

1857 - A Snake on Ice
A black snake, four or five feet long, the other day attempted to cross a pond in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on the ice, but the progress made by his snakeship over the cold, glassy surface was so slow, that when within about ten feet of the shore, he became so chilled by the ice that he could go no further, and was drawn ashore by means of a pole and captured.
The Adams Sentinel
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
December 21, 1857

1859
HAVERHILL, a handsome town of Essex co., Massachusetts, situated on the N side of Merrimac river, across which are two bridges, one 1,000 ft., and another 800 ft. in length, connecting this town with Bradford. The town consists chiefly of two streets, the principal of which runs parallel with the river. Vessels of 100 tons burden can come up to the town, which has a considerable inland trade. Pop. in 1841, 4,436.

A Gazetteer of the World: Or, Dictionary of Geographical Knowledge, Volume 3 Publisher A. Fullarton, 1859

1869 - Haverhill incorporated as a city

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1870 - Death of a Centernarian
The Hon. Moses Wingate died at Haverhill, Massachusetts, yesterday, June 6th, at the advanced age of one hundred years and eight months. He held many public positions of high trust and honor, and was distinguished for his integrity and probity of character.

His one hundredth birthday was celebrated last October by the Free Masons and others with distinguished honor, and his remains will be interred with Masonic Honors. - Boston Journal
Wilmington Journal
Wilmington, North Carolina
June 17, 1870

Read more about Moses WINGATE

1873 - French Count
The French Count that married the belle of Haverhill, Massachusetts, who nursed him through the small-pox, has quite recovered, and will soon be strong enough to wave the napkin, strop the razor and cry "Next."
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati, Ohio
January 18, 1873

1876 - Married at 84
A maiden lady was married in Haverhill, Massachusetts, last week, after turning her eighty-fourth birthday. This should comfort the hearts of disconsolate virgins and inspire new hopes for matrimonial bliss.
Memphis Daily Appeal
Memphis, Tennessee
September 15, 1876

1882 - DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.
Boston, Feb. 18. - Eighty-two shoe and leather firms, representing at least $2,500,000, are wiped out by the fire in Haverhill this morning. More than 2,000 people are thrown out of work, and the indirect loss amounts to at least $500,000 more. Haverhill is thirty-two miles north of Boston, and has an annual shoe business of over $10,000,000, and there are also woolen goods and hat factories.

The fire was confined to the shoe quarters. It was discovered a few minutes before midnight, in a store on Washington Street occupied by E. P. WENTWORTH, a sole-leather dealer.

The cause assigned is the bursting of an overheated stove. An alarm was sounded at once, and steamer No. 2 promptly responded. A heavy stream was put on in something less than eight minutes. The fire was at first thought to be only a slight one, and Chief West says it would have been, but for the bursting of steamer No. 2's hose.

The delay thus occasioned was most unfortunate. Two minutes later a sheet of flame... Read MORE...

1882 - Fire
The loss by the great fire at Haverhill, Massachusetts, is estimated at $2,000,000. The burned territory embraces the largest part of the business section and most of the boot and shoe factories. Two thousand people are thrown out of employment. Four men, two of them firemen, are known to have perished, and three others are missing.
Delaware County Daily Times
Chester, Pennsylvania
February 20, 1882

1883 - Serious Accident
While the steamers were playing at Washington square, Thursday, Herbert Swett, a lad 15 years of age, in climbing down from the building occupied by W. E. Morse, stove dealer, Merrimac street, had his hand terribly lacerated by coming in contact with a piece of zinc. The zinc had become detached from the water conductor and as the boy was lowering himself down a point entered the palm of his left hand inflicting a fearful wound. He was taken to Dr. Croston's office by Officer Sprague and afterwards to his home in Palmer court, rear of 21 How street. Dr. Croston in dressing the wound took 17 stitches. The boy passed a restless night and was suffering badly this morning. He has been employed in one of the stitching rooms on Washington street.
Daily Evening Bulletin
Haverhill, Massachusetts
October 5, 1883

1883 - Stamps Stolen
The Haverhill, Massachusetts, post office was burglarized on Wednesday night and $500 in money and $7,000 worth of stamps stolen.
The Weekly Hawk
Burlington, Iowa
November 8, 1883

1887 - Striking Stitchers Return to Work
The striking M'Kay stitchers in Haverhill, Massachusetts, held a meeting yesterday and voted to notify the manufacturers that they were ready to go to work.
Harrisburg Telegraph
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
September 20, 1887

Haverhill Massachusetts, 1890
HAVERHILL, the Pentucket of the Indians, is an enterprising and uncommonly beautiful city, noted for the manufacture of boots and shoes, and for its recent growth and industrial prosperity. It lies in the northerly part of Essex County, on the north bank of the Merrimack River, at the head of tide-water and of sloop navigation; and is, by the Boston and Maine Railroad, 32 miles north of Boston, and 78 miles southwest from Portland. It is connected with Bradford and Groveland by substantial bridges, and with Newburyport by water and by the Haverhill Branch and the Danvers and Newburyport Railroad.

The town contains three postal centres — Haverhill, East Haverhill, and Ayer's Village (in the northwest angle); the other villages being East Parish, North Parish, Riverside, Rocks Village, Tilton's Corner, and West Parish. It has for its boundaries the New Hampshire line on the northwest; this, and Merrimack on the northeast; the Merrimack River, separating it from Newbury and Groveland, ... Read MORE...

1890 - Shoemakers Return to Work
The shoemakers' troubles at Haverhill, Massachusetts, were settled yesterday and 3,000 men returned to work.
Tyrone Daily Herald
Tyrone, Pennsylvania
January 21, 1890

1893 - HUNDRED LIVES IN DANGER. Ice In the River at Haverhill Breaks Up While People Are Crossing.
HAVERHILL, Mass., Dec. 28. - Special Telegram - The Merrimac River was the scene this noon of a narrow escape from a frightful accident. More than 100 men, women, and children were on the ice. Since the river had been frozen over the operatives in the Haverhill factories who live in Bradford have walked across the river on the ice, instead of on the railroad when suddenly, without a moment's warning, the ice broke up with a report like a cannon. A dozen or more persons were precipitated into the water, but managed to scramble back on the floating cakes of ice or were rescued by their friends. The people managed to reach the shore in safety by jumping from cake to cake. The ice on the Haverhill side had broken away from the shore for about twenty feet and boards were run out from the shore. When the tide rose this noon this ice swung away from the Bradford side, rose in the middle of the stream, and in a few moments the river, from the railroad to the passenger bridge, was filled with... Read MORE...

1894 - Sunday Morning Fire
HAVERHILL, Mass., Jan. 14. - The two story double house at North Groveland, occupied by Charles E Brown, was burned with its contents this morning. Loss on house, $2500, furniture, $800; insurance, $2700. The inmates barely escaped with their lives.
The Lewiston Daily Sun
Lewiston, Maine
January 15, 1894

1895 - Haverhill
Haverhill, a city of Essex co., Mass., is situated on the left or N. bank of the Merrimac River, about 18 miles below Lowell. It is 33 miles N. of Boston by the Boston & Maine Railroad, which here crosses the river, and 6 miles N.E. of Lawrence. A bridge over the river connects this city with Bradford. Haverhill contains about 17 churches, 5 national banks, a high school, a city hall, a public library, gas-works, and printing-offices which issue 2 daily and 2 weekly newspapers. Here are extensive manufactures of boots and shoes, hats, caps, bricks, and flannel. The manufacture of boots and shoes is the principal business of the place, and employs about 10,000 men and women. The river is navigable to this town, which is nearly 18 miles from the ocean. Pop. in 1860, 9995; in 1870, 13,092; in 1880, 18,472; in 1890, 27,415.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1907 - November 28 - In Haverhill, Massachusetts, scrap-metal dealer Louis B. Mayer opens his first movie theater.
It was a small vaudeville theater in Haverhill, Massachusetts, called the "Garlic Box" because it catered to poorer Italian immigrants. wikipedia
historyorb.com

Read more about Louis Burt (Lazar) MAYER (MEIR)

1913 - Women Barbers
Haverhill, Massachusetts, master barbers, who have refused to grant the demands of the barbers' union for a $13 minimum wage, have engaged women barbers to take the places of the strikers.
The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
January 25, 1913

1916
Haverhill, ha'ver-hil, a city of Essex co., Mass., situated on the left or N". bank of the Merrimac River, about 18 miles below Lowell. It is 33 miles N. of Boston by the Boston and Maine R. The city is united with Bradford by bridge. Haverhill contains a number of public buildings, and has extensive manufactures of boots and shoes, hats, caps, bricks, and flannel. The manufacture of boots and shoes is the principal business of the place, and employs nearly 10,000 men and women. The river is navigable to this town, which is nearly 18 miles from the ocean. Pop. in 1890, 27,415 ; in 1900, 37,174. The poet Whittier was born near here in 1807, and was a student at the Haverhill Academy.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

2023 - There's something for everyone to enjoy in Haverhill. Here's a list of places to go and things to do in this charming New England city:
Winnekenni Castle: Explore the beautiful Winnekenni Castle, a historic mansion set in Winnekenni Park. Take a guided tour to learn about its history and enjoy the scenic views of Kenoza Lake.

Plug Pond Recreation Area: Spend a day at Plug Pond, where you can swim, fish, and relax on the beach. The park also offers picnic areas, walking trails, and a playground.

Bradford Rail Trail: Enjoy a leisurely walk, run, or bike ride along the Bradford Rail Trail. This scenic path stretches along the Merrimack River and provides lovely views of the surrounding area.

Maudslay State Park: Just a short drive from Haverhill, Maudslay State Park in Newburyport is a hidden gem. Explore the well-maintained gardens, walk the scenic trails, and have a picnic by the Merrimack River.

Historic Downtown Haverhill: Stroll through Haverhill's downtown area to admire its historic architecture, unique shops, and charming cafes. Don't miss the chance to visit local boutiques and art... Read MORE...