History of Leominster, Massachusetts, USA

Leominster, Massachusetts
Worcester county. A beautiful town, of an excellent soil, and great water power, on both sides of a principal branch of Nashua river, 42 miles N.W. from Boston, and 20 N. from Worcester. This town was taken from Lancaster in 1740, and shared with that town in the sufferings occasioned by Indian hostility. The manufactures of Leominster for the year ending April 1, 1837, exclusive of the product of 5 paper mills, was $111,505. The articles manufactured were leather, boots, shoes, hats, axes, chairs, cabinet ware, combs, tin ware, straw bonnets, palm-leaf hats, chaises, carriages, and harnesses. Population, 1837, 1,944.

A rich alum rock has been found in this town which is said to be a decomposed mica slate. It contains an abundance of plumose, or feather form alum, like that of Milo, one of the Grecian isles, mixed with the green crystals of copperas, or sulphate of iron.

Leominster was once a part of Lancaster,

The soil is good, and watered by a branch of the Nashua.

The inhabitants are mostly farmers, but large quantities of paper and combs are manufactured here.

Distance from Worcester, 7 miles; from Boston, 41 miles.

This town was taken from Lancaster, and was part of what was called "Lancaster New Grant.” It was incorporated in 1740.

The church here was embodied in 1743, and Rev. John Rogers was ordained their pastor. On account of difference of opinion between him and his people about some minor doctrjnal points of religion, he was dismissed in 1757. But about one fifth of the society adhering to him, a poll society was made of them by the legislature, with whom he preached till prevented by the infirmities of age; and was dismissed from them in 1788. After the settlement of the controversy with Mr. Rogers, the church and town proceeded to the choice of a minister, and in 1762 Rev. Francis Gardner was settled their second pastor. After the dismission of Mr. Rogers from the “poll society,” that church and society was dissolved, and the members united with Mr. Gardner's church. Rev. William Ba scorn, the successor of Mr. Gardner, was installed in 1815, and was succeeded by Rev. Abel Conant, in...

Leominster, a post-township of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, intersected by the Fitchburg, and the Fitchburg and Worcester railroads, 21 miles N. by E. from Worcester, The streams afford excellent water-power, which is employed in manufacturing. The village at the centre contains several churches and an academy. Population of the town ship in 1840, 2069 : in 1850, 3121.

During the morning service at the Unitarian Church, in Leominster, Mass., on a recent Sunday, a lady went into a fit. Two other ladies immediately fainted, and before these were all disposed of, a message came to Mrs. Wm. H. Locke, that her father, Mr. Stevenson, who lived in Lancaster, had suddenly died while in the act of shaving. The news caused her to scream aloud, but during all the disturbance the minister kept on with his sermon "all the same."