History of Bedford, Massachusetts, USA

1640 - Bedford is settled

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1729 - Bedford is incorporated

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1826 - Two barns, a shoemaker's shop, &c. were destroyed by fire in Bedford, Mass. on Wednesday 31st ult. - the fire was occasioned by boys firing at swallows on the barns.

genealogybank.com
Bangor Weekly Register
Bangor, Maine
June 15, 1826

1839 - Bedford
Bedford, Massachusetts
This is a pleasant town in Middlesex county, and the source of Shawsheen river. This town was formerly parts of Concord and Billerica, and was incorporated in 1729. Population, 1837, 858. It lies 13 miles N.W. from Boston and 5 N.E. from Concord. Bedford is bounded N. by Concord river. It has some manufactures; principally of boots and shoes.
The New England Gazetteer containing descriptions of all the states, counties and towns in New England: also descriptions of the principal mountains, rivers lakes, capes, bays, harbors, islands and fashionable resorts within that territory. By John Hayward, author of the Columbian Traveller, Religious Creeds, &c. &c. Boston: John Hayward. Boyd & White, Concord, N.H. 1839

1845 - BEDFORD. [Pop. 925. Inc. 1729.]
This town belonged in part to Concord.

The Shawshine has one of its sources in Bedford, and the Concord bounds it on the west.

Agriculture is the chief employment, but shoes are extensively manufactured here.

Distance from Concord, 5 miles ; from Boston, 15.
An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845
Get it HERE!

1848 - Bedford
BEDFORD originally belonged in part to the town of Concord. It was incorporated as a town in 1729. It is not very well situated for an agricultural town. About half of it is meadow land, unimproved, and partly incapable of improvement. It contains, however, several good farms, and nearly all the varieties of soil. The Shawshiiie is the only considerable stream of water. On this stream is a mill which was built before Philip’s war, in 1676, and was then owned by Michael Bacon, who was allowed to have two garrison soldiers stationed there for his safety. Agriculture is the employment of a large portion of the people. The manufacture of shoes for the Boston market was begun here in 1805, by John Hosmer and Jonathan Bacon. in this business about 60 men and 80 women are employed. About 90,000 pairs of shoes, estimated to be worth $50,000, are made annually. There are 2 churches, 1 Orthodox and 1 Unitarian, and about 30 dwelling houses, in the central part of the town. This place is 5 miles ... Read MORE...

1854 - Bedford
Bedford, a post-township of Middlesex county, Massachusetts, 15 miles N. W. from Boston, bordering on Concord river. Population, 976.
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.

1868 - Walking Match at Bedford, Mass.
Boston, Wednesday, June 17.
A walking match of 100 miles, for a purse of $1,000 and the championship of New-England, between a young man named McEtterick and T. A. Scott, commenced yesterday at Mystic Park, in Beford, which resulted to-day in McEtterick's winning the match in 21 hours 6 minutes and 44 seconds. Scott gave out on the 99th mile, having been 21 hours 19 minutes and 8 seconds in completing that number of miles.
The New York Times
New York, New York
June 18, 1868

August 4, 1873 - The Middlesex Central Railroad opens its new extension to Bedford and Concord Center amid local celebrations.

www.bedforddepot.org/ history/ RRHistory.html

August 31, 1877 - The Billerica & Bedford Railroad, the first two-foot common-carrier narrow gauge railway in America, begins shuttling passengers and freight between these two towns.

www.bedforddepot.org/ history/ RRHistory.html

Bedford Massachusetts, 1890
Bedford is a beautiful agricultural town in the central part of Middlesex County, fourteen miles northwest of Boston; having Billerica on the north, the same with Burlington and Lexington on the east, the latter with Lincoln and Concord on the south, and the last, with Carlisle, on the west. Its general form is nearly a circle. It has an assessed area of 8,147, — of which 3,200 acres are woodland. The population in 1885 was 930, with 208 dwelling-houses, The villages are Bedford and West Bedford; the post-offices, the former and Bedford Springs. The three are stations on the Middlesex Central and the Boston and Lowell system of railroads. The Concord River marks the boundary on the northwest for several miles. Farley's Brook enters from the south, and, receiving several other brooks, unites with Fine Brook in the eastern part of the town, and they become the Shawsheen, which has falls with power sufficient for small mills.

The views from the elevated land in the vicinity of Fawn... Read MORE...

1895 - Bedford
Bedford, a post-village of Middlesex co., Mass., in Bedford township, on the Middlesex Central Railroad, 18 miles N.W. of Boston, also on the Bedford & Billerica Railroad (narrow gauge). It has 2 churches, and manufactures of boots, shoes, brooms, &c. The township is bounded on the W. by Concord River. Pop. of township, (1890) 1092.
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

1916
Bedford, a post-village of Middlesex co., Mass., in Bedford township (town), on the Boston and Maine R., 18 miles NW. of Boston. It has various manufactures, etc. The town is bounded on the W. by Concord River. Pop. of the town in 1900, 1208.
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

December 31, 1931 - The B&M ends passenger service on the Lexington Branch between North Billerica and Bedford. This 8.63-mile section is kept open for freight, however.

www.bedforddepot.org/ history/ RRHistory.html

1962 - The Boston & Maine Railroad abandons the remainder of the Reformatory Branch between Bedford and Concord Center and the section of the Lexington Branch between Bedford Depot and Concord Road in Billerica.
The Town of Bedford buys the two right-of-ways (the portions within town limits) a year later.
www.bedforddepot.org/ history/ RRHistory.html

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Bedford:
Minute Man National Historical Park: This is a must-visit for history lovers. Explore the birthplace of the American Revolution, where the famous "shot heard round the world" was fired. You can hike along the Battle Road Trail, visit the Old North Bridge, and tour historic houses.

Hartwell Tavern: Located within Minute Man National Historical Park, this restored colonial-era tavern is a great place to learn about 18th-century life. Interpreters in period costumes provide insight into the past.

The Bedford Flag: Stop by the Bedford Free Public Library to see the Bedford Flag, one of the oldest known flags in the United States. It dates back to 1775 and has a rich history tied to the Revolutionary War.

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge: Nature enthusiasts will enjoy exploring the Great Meadows. It's an excellent spot for birdwatching, hiking, and wildlife photography. The refuge features a diverse range of habitats and is especially beautiful during the fall foliage... Read MORE...