History of Newton, Massachusetts, USA

Newton, Massachusetts
Middlesex county. A very beautiful, agricultural and manufacturing town, the Nonantum of the Indians, 7 miles W. by S. from Boston, 12 S.E. from Concord, and 7 N. from Dedham. Charles river washes the borders of this town 15 miles, and, by two falls of considerable extent, affords it a great and valuable water power. Nine bridges cross Charles river in this town. The soil is generally very good, and highly cultivated. There are 2 cotton, 1 woolen, and 5 paper mills in the town, and manufactures of nails, rolled iron, candles, vitriol, barilla, chaises, harnesses, morocco, leather, boots, shoes, machinery, chairs, and cabinet ware; the value of which, the year ending April 1, 1837, amounted to $815,872. Newton was incorporated in 1691; it formerly comprised the town of Cambridge, and is noted as the birth place and residence of many distinguished men. Population, 1830, 2,377; 1837, 3,037. A Theological Seminary was established in this town, in 1825.

Newton is a corruption of New Town, by which name this part of Cambridge was called after it was dropped by the alder part of the town. Previously it had been called Cambridge Village.

The Indian name was Nonantum, and the hill on which the apostle Eliot collected the first congregation of Indians, still is called by its Indian name. The first minister of Newton was a son of the apostle.

Newton is nearly surrounded by Charles River, the falls of which furnish excellent sites for mills and factories.

The town has also a large pond, near which, on a beautiful hill, is the Baptist Theological Institution.

Besides the agricultural or East part of the town, there are four or five large and distinct villages, in one of which, called West Newton, is one of the State Normal Schools.

The chief manufactures are paper, cotton and woollen cloth, and nails.

Distance from Concord, 12 miles; from Boston, 7.

The exact period of the commencement of the settlement of Newton is unknown. It was originally a part of Cambridge, and was styled Cambridge Village, or New Cambridge. It was incorporated in I&91. This is a beautiful agricultural and manufacturing town, the Noanntum of the Indians. It is 12 miles S. E. of Concord, 7 N. of Dedham, and 7 miles west from Boston. Population, 3,037. There are five churches, 2 Congregational, 2 Baptist, and. 1 Episcopal. The Newton Theological Seminary, under the patronage of the Baptist denomination, was founded in this place in 1825, and was incorporated by the legislature the next year. In 1828 a brick building, three stories in height, besides a basement story, 85 feet long and 49 wide, was erected, at an expense of about $10,000. Three convenient houses have been since erected for the professors. In the mansion house are accommodations for the steward’s family, a dining hall, a chapel, and recitation rooms. The regular course of study occupies three...

Newton, a post-township of Middlesex CO., Massachusetts, intersected by the Boston and Worcester railroad, 10 miles W. from Boston, contains 1 bank. Pop. 6258.

At Denver, Col., a few days ago, a man tried to have himself sent by express to Newtown Corners, Mass., by securing himself in a box expressly manufactured by himself for that purpose. The box was five feet long, three feet high, and furnished with provisions and all necessary articles pertaining to a bed chamber. The express company refused to receive the box, which was valued at $300, on account of its insecurity. The box was left standing on an end, with the man in it, at the express office, for two hours, the man standing on his head all that time, as was afterward discovered. As the box was being removed, the man stirred while endeavoring to remain perpendicular, which led to his detection. The box was addressed to himself, and was so artfully arranged that he could have escaped at pleasure before reaching his destination.