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History of Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA
Journey back in time to Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA
Visit Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and ancestry.Do You Have Lawrence Roots? Share MY Ancestral Story!

Lawrence, Essex, Massachusetts, USA
Lawrence bears the name of Hon. Abbott Lawrence of Boston.
How New England Towns Received Their Names
The Day
New London, Connecticut
October 21, 1914
Lawrence includes: Hallsville, Arlington District, Carltonville, Chapinsville, and City Hall.
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There is MUCH more to discover about Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA. Read on!
Lawrence Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards
Discover Lawrence: History, News, Travel, and Stories

1853 - Lawrence is incorporated as a city
Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
1854 - Lawrence
Lawrence, a post-town and semicapital of Essex county, Massachusetts, on the left (N.) bank of the Merrimack river, 26 miles N. from Boston, and 12 miles N. E. by E. from Lowell. This is one of those wonderful creations of the manufacturing enterprise of New England, under the influence of which, a petty village, or perhaps a tract without inhabitants, is almost instantaneously converted into a populous city. In 1845 the Essex company constructed a dam across the Merrimack river at this place, by which a fall of 28 feet in the entire volume of the river has been obtained. The work cost about $250,000. A canal, more than a mile long, and from 60 to 100 feet wide, and about 12 feet deep, con ducts the water from the dam to the different mills. The town is laid out on both sides of the Spicket river, but chiefly between the Spicket and Merrimack, with streets extending from river to river. Near the centre is a handsome common, comprising 17 1/ 2 acres. The principal public buildings are a ... Read MORE...
Lawrence, a post-town and semicapital of Essex county, Massachusetts, on the left (N.) bank of the Merrimack river, 26 miles N. from Boston, and 12 miles N. E. by E. from Lowell. This is one of those wonderful creations of the manufacturing enterprise of New England, under the influence of which, a petty village, or perhaps a tract without inhabitants, is almost instantaneously converted into a populous city. In 1845 the Essex company constructed a dam across the Merrimack river at this place, by which a fall of 28 feet in the entire volume of the river has been obtained. The work cost about $250,000. A canal, more than a mile long, and from 60 to 100 feet wide, and about 12 feet deep, con ducts the water from the dam to the different mills. The town is laid out on both sides of the Spicket river, but chiefly between the Spicket and Merrimack, with streets extending from river to river. Near the centre is a handsome common, comprising 17 1/ 2 acres. The principal public buildings are a ... Read MORE...
1860 - January 10 - The Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA, collapses, killing 146 workers.
The collapse of Pemberton Mill has been deemed the worst industrial accident in Massachusetts history and one of the worst industrial disasters in American history. On January 10, 1860, the large factory in Lawrence collapsed without warning. An estimated 145 workers were killed and 166 injured. To add to the horror, someone accidentally knocked over an oil lantern during the rescue efforts. The flames caught on the mounds of cotton waste and splintered wood, turning the wreckage into an inferno with many survivors still trapped in the refuse and burned alive. Many of the workers at the mill had been women and young children.
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January 10, 1860
The collapse of Pemberton Mill has been deemed the worst industrial accident in Massachusetts history and one of the worst industrial disasters in American history. On January 10, 1860, the large factory in Lawrence collapsed without warning. An estimated 145 workers were killed and 166 injured. To add to the horror, someone accidentally knocked over an oil lantern during the rescue efforts. The flames caught on the mounds of cotton waste and splintered wood, turning the wreckage into an inferno with many survivors still trapped in the refuse and burned alive. Many of the workers at the mill had been women and young children.
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January 10, 1860
1868 - A lady in Lawrence, Mass., suddenly awoke in the night with the impression that her little girl was in danger.
Feeling her way in the dark to the child's crib, directed by a strong impulse, she put her finger into the little sleeper's mouth, and to her astonishment took from thence a large pin.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
February 1, 1868
Feeling her way in the dark to the child's crib, directed by a strong impulse, she put her finger into the little sleeper's mouth, and to her astonishment took from thence a large pin.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
February 1, 1868
1868 - Lawrence (Mass.) factory hands have a free reading-room, and 8,000 volumes in their library.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
November 28, 1868
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
November 28, 1868
1869 - A large six-horse wagon containing thirteen persons, returning on the night of the 30th ult. from a festival at Pelham to Lawrence, Mass., upset and severely injured five of the passengers, two it was feared fatally.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
January 9, 1869
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
January 9, 1869
1870 - In Lawrence, Mass,. a few days since, some one threw a torpedo into the mouth of a little girl as she was returning from school, and the torpedo exploded and lacerated her tongue and mouth severely.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
July 16, 1870
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
July 16, 1870
1870 - In 1849 Lawrence, Mass. had only 100 inhabitants. This year the census says 28,829. Lowell has about 42,000.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
September 10, 1870
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
September 10, 1870
1878 - Twenty-three milk dealers in Lawrence, Mass., have petitioned for the appointment of a milk inspector.
They have found themselves undersold by rival dealers, and say it cannot be done with profit unless the milk is watered.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
February 9, 1878
They have found themselves undersold by rival dealers, and say it cannot be done with profit unless the milk is watered.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
February 9, 1878
1888 - On the 24th John Roche and Patrick Cavanaugh, while at work on the chimney of the new Pacific mills at Lawrence, Mass., fell 120 feet with the elevator. Neither was killed but both are seriously injured.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
December 1, 1888
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
December 1, 1888
Lawrence Massachusetts, 1890
LAWRENCE is one of our splendid industrial cities, which has sprung up, as if by magic, at the bidding of the mechanical, the liberal and enterprising spirit of the State. It is situated in the northwestern part of Essex County, on the Merrimack River, 26 miles from its mouth, eight miles above Haverhill, nine below Lowell, and 26 miles north of Boston. Methuen lies on the north and west, Andover on the south and west, and North Andover on the east. It embraces an area of about a square mile and a half, — 2,173 acres being on the north side, and 2,012 on the south side of the Merrimack River.*
The Shawsheen enters the Merrimack at the eastern line of the town, having formed half the divisional line between the city and North Andover, which is completed from this point by the larger river. The Spicket River crosses the northern portion of the city, entering the Merrimack within the limits, and just after receiving the waters of the northern canal. The tide flows up the Merrimack to... Read MORE...
LAWRENCE is one of our splendid industrial cities, which has sprung up, as if by magic, at the bidding of the mechanical, the liberal and enterprising spirit of the State. It is situated in the northwestern part of Essex County, on the Merrimack River, 26 miles from its mouth, eight miles above Haverhill, nine below Lowell, and 26 miles north of Boston. Methuen lies on the north and west, Andover on the south and west, and North Andover on the east. It embraces an area of about a square mile and a half, — 2,173 acres being on the north side, and 2,012 on the south side of the Merrimack River.*
The Shawsheen enters the Merrimack at the eastern line of the town, having formed half the divisional line between the city and North Andover, which is completed from this point by the larger river. The Spicket River crosses the northern portion of the city, entering the Merrimack within the limits, and just after receiving the waters of the northern canal. The tide flows up the Merrimack to... Read MORE...
1890 - Tornado
A Number of Lives Lost, Many Persons Killed and Injured and Hundreds of Houses Razed to the Ground - The Victims.
LAWRENCE, Mass., July 27. - A cyclone, equaling in destructive power those so frequently reported from Western communities visited the suburbs of South Lawrence at about fifteen minutes past two o'clock yesterday forenoon, and in fifteen minutes had killed six people; seriously injured fifteen; slightly injured twenty; cut a swath through a thickly populated section two hundred feet wide and a mile long; rendered five hundred people homeless; destroyed or greatly damaged from seventy-five to one hundred buildings, and inflicted a loss of at least $100,000, all of which was uninsured against damage by wind or storm.
South Lawrence is a busy railroad junction, and is occupied mainly by well-to-do mechanics. The northern boundary of the belt of the destruction was but three streets south of the lofty mills with their busy throngs of thousands of workers; showing how... Read MORE...
A Number of Lives Lost, Many Persons Killed and Injured and Hundreds of Houses Razed to the Ground - The Victims.
LAWRENCE, Mass., July 27. - A cyclone, equaling in destructive power those so frequently reported from Western communities visited the suburbs of South Lawrence at about fifteen minutes past two o'clock yesterday forenoon, and in fifteen minutes had killed six people; seriously injured fifteen; slightly injured twenty; cut a swath through a thickly populated section two hundred feet wide and a mile long; rendered five hundred people homeless; destroyed or greatly damaged from seventy-five to one hundred buildings, and inflicted a loss of at least $100,000, all of which was uninsured against damage by wind or storm.
South Lawrence is a busy railroad junction, and is occupied mainly by well-to-do mechanics. The northern boundary of the belt of the destruction was but three streets south of the lofty mills with their busy throngs of thousands of workers; showing how... Read MORE...
1895 - Lawrence
Lawrence, a city, one of the capitals of Essex co., Mass., on both sides of the Merrimac River, and on several divisions of the Boston & Maine Railroad, 26 miles N. by W. of Boston, and 10 miles N.E. of Lowell. It contains a city hall, a court-house, 31 churches, a high school which cost $80,000, a public library, a theatre, 6 national banks, 3 savings-banks, a masonic temple, large reservoirs for water-supply, a jail, a city prison, public and Catholic hospitals, a Catholic protectory, a convent, and a house of Augustinians. Three daily, 6 weekly, and 3 Sunday newspapers are published here. Near the middle of the city is a public park of 17 acres. The river, which is here nearly 1000 feet wide, falls 28 feet in the course of half a mile, affording immense water-power, which is employed in cotton-mills and other factories. In 1845–47 the Essex Company constructed a solid granite dam, 900 feet long and 40 feet high, across the river, which, in its natural condition, flowed over a bed... Read MORE...
Lawrence, a city, one of the capitals of Essex co., Mass., on both sides of the Merrimac River, and on several divisions of the Boston & Maine Railroad, 26 miles N. by W. of Boston, and 10 miles N.E. of Lowell. It contains a city hall, a court-house, 31 churches, a high school which cost $80,000, a public library, a theatre, 6 national banks, 3 savings-banks, a masonic temple, large reservoirs for water-supply, a jail, a city prison, public and Catholic hospitals, a Catholic protectory, a convent, and a house of Augustinians. Three daily, 6 weekly, and 3 Sunday newspapers are published here. Near the middle of the city is a public park of 17 acres. The river, which is here nearly 1000 feet wide, falls 28 feet in the course of half a mile, affording immense water-power, which is employed in cotton-mills and other factories. In 1845–47 the Essex Company constructed a solid granite dam, 900 feet long and 40 feet high, across the river, which, in its natural condition, flowed over a bed... Read MORE...
1912 - January 11 - Bread & Roses Strike begins in Lawrence, Massachusetts
1912-01-29 - Martial law declared in textile strike in Lawrence, MA
historyorb.com
January 11, 1912
1912-01-29 - Martial law declared in textile strike in Lawrence, MA
historyorb.com
January 11, 1912
1913 - 11 BOYS DROWN IN RUSH TO SWIM
Forty Lads Plunge Into River When Walk Collapses
ALL FIGHT HARD FOR LIFE
A Narrow Wooden Walk, Leading Over Fifteen Feet of Water to Municipal Bathhouse in Merrimac River, Gave Way.
Lawrence, Mass. - Eleven boys, all lads 8 to 12 years old and the children mostly of poor working people, lost their lives in the Merrimac River here, when a runway leading from the river to a municipal bathhouse collapsed under the combined weight of about fifty youngsters who crawled eagerly upon it anxious to get out of the hot sunshine and be the first to get undressed and dive into the cooling stream.
The Dead.
ALLGBRO, SECONDO.
BOLSTER, WILLIAM.
BOULANGER, JOSEPH.
COTE, JOSEPH.
GAUDETTE, ALFRED.
HENNESSEY, JOSEPH.
JONES, ROLAND.
McCAMP, JOSEPH.
THORNTON, WILLIAM.
TINTAR, FLOWER.
WOIGENA, MICHAEL.
It is possible and more than probable that others perished, although two divers worked on the bottom of the river all evening but were unable to find more bodies.
When the runway... Read MORE...
Forty Lads Plunge Into River When Walk Collapses
ALL FIGHT HARD FOR LIFE
A Narrow Wooden Walk, Leading Over Fifteen Feet of Water to Municipal Bathhouse in Merrimac River, Gave Way.
Lawrence, Mass. - Eleven boys, all lads 8 to 12 years old and the children mostly of poor working people, lost their lives in the Merrimac River here, when a runway leading from the river to a municipal bathhouse collapsed under the combined weight of about fifty youngsters who crawled eagerly upon it anxious to get out of the hot sunshine and be the first to get undressed and dive into the cooling stream.
The Dead.
ALLGBRO, SECONDO.
BOLSTER, WILLIAM.
BOULANGER, JOSEPH.
COTE, JOSEPH.
GAUDETTE, ALFRED.
HENNESSEY, JOSEPH.
JONES, ROLAND.
McCAMP, JOSEPH.
THORNTON, WILLIAM.
TINTAR, FLOWER.
WOIGENA, MICHAEL.
It is possible and more than probable that others perished, although two divers worked on the bottom of the river all evening but were unable to find more bodies.
When the runway... Read MORE...
1916
Lawrence, a city, one of the capitals of Essex CO., Mass., on both sides of the Merrimac River and on several divisions of the Boston and Maine R., 26 miles N. by W. of Boston and 10 miles NE. of Lowell. It contains a city- hall, court-house, public library, theatres, hospitals, a masonic temple, various other notable buildings and institutions, and city parks. The river, which is here nearly 900 feet wide and is held by a huge dam constructed in 1845-17, falls 28 feet in the course of half a mile, affording immense water-power, which is employed in cotton-mills and other factories. Lawrence is one of the foremost industrial cities of New England and its cotton-, woollen- and worsted-mills are among the largest in the world, giving employment to upward of 13,000 hands and producing annually about 170,000,000 yards of cloth, one mill alone furnishing about three-fifths of this amount. Lawrence has also large paper-mills and manufactures of steam-engines, boilers, mill-machinery,... Read MORE...
Lawrence, a city, one of the capitals of Essex CO., Mass., on both sides of the Merrimac River and on several divisions of the Boston and Maine R., 26 miles N. by W. of Boston and 10 miles NE. of Lowell. It contains a city- hall, court-house, public library, theatres, hospitals, a masonic temple, various other notable buildings and institutions, and city parks. The river, which is here nearly 900 feet wide and is held by a huge dam constructed in 1845-17, falls 28 feet in the course of half a mile, affording immense water-power, which is employed in cotton-mills and other factories. Lawrence is one of the foremost industrial cities of New England and its cotton-, woollen- and worsted-mills are among the largest in the world, giving employment to upward of 13,000 hands and producing annually about 170,000,000 yards of cloth, one mill alone furnishing about three-fifths of this amount. Lawrence has also large paper-mills and manufactures of steam-engines, boilers, mill-machinery,... Read MORE...
Here's a list of some of the best places to go and things to do in Lawrence:
Merrimack Repertory Theatre:
If you're a fan of the arts, the Merrimack Repertory Theatre is a must-visit. It hosts a variety of plays and performances, showcasing local and national talent.
Lawrence Heritage State Park:
Dive into Lawrence's history at the Lawrence Heritage State Park. You can explore the exhibits, take a walk along the river, and enjoy a picnic in the beautiful surroundings.
The Claddagh Pub:
For a lively evening, head to The Claddagh Pub. It's a popular spot for good food, drinks, and live music. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming.
Pacific Mills:
This historic site is a great place to learn about the industrial history of Lawrence. The Pacific Mills complex has been repurposed, and some buildings are now apartments, but you can still appreciate the architecture and the history.
Roller Kingdom:
Roller Kingdom is perfect for some family fun. Whether you're a pro skater or just starting, the roller rink offers a great time for all... Read MORE...
Merrimack Repertory Theatre:
If you're a fan of the arts, the Merrimack Repertory Theatre is a must-visit. It hosts a variety of plays and performances, showcasing local and national talent.
Lawrence Heritage State Park:
Dive into Lawrence's history at the Lawrence Heritage State Park. You can explore the exhibits, take a walk along the river, and enjoy a picnic in the beautiful surroundings.
The Claddagh Pub:
For a lively evening, head to The Claddagh Pub. It's a popular spot for good food, drinks, and live music. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming.
Pacific Mills:
This historic site is a great place to learn about the industrial history of Lawrence. The Pacific Mills complex has been repurposed, and some buildings are now apartments, but you can still appreciate the architecture and the history.
Roller Kingdom:
Roller Kingdom is perfect for some family fun. Whether you're a pro skater or just starting, the roller rink offers a great time for all... Read MORE...
Discover MY Roots: Lawrence Ancestry
Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA
We currently have information about 89 ancestors who were born or died in Lawrence.View Them Now (sorted by year of birth)
Ancestors Who Were Married in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA
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Genealogy Resources for Lawrence
Our Lawrence Gift Ideas


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Massachusetts Gifts - Cranberries, Baked Beans and Fluffernutter - I Love Massachusetts! - Ceramic Mug MA
Our Ceramic Mug, Cranberries, Baked Beans, and Fluffernutter - I Love Massachusetts! is more than just a beverage holder; it's a piece of art that celebrates the flavors and traditions of the Bay State. So whether you're sipping your morning coffee, evening tea, or a comforting cup of hot cocoa, you can do it with style and a dash of Massachusetts charm. Plus, it's a fantastic conversation starter. Imagine sharing stories about your favorite Massachusetts memories while enjoying a drink from this delightful mug.

Massachusetts Baby Gift - Bay State Baby: Made in MASS, Loved Worldwide! - Baby Short Sleeve Onesie®
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Massachusetts Roots Genealogy Coffee Mug - Celebrate Your Bay State Heritage!
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Patriotic Memories: Memorial Day Vintage Postcard Coffee Mug
Remembering the Brave, Honoring the Fallen Celebrate the spirit of Memorial Day with this stunning ceramic coffee mug featuring vintage postcards commemorating the holiday. Perfect for honoring the brave men and women who served, this mug is both a functional keepsake and a nostalgic work of art. Whether you're sipping your morning coffee or enjoying an afternoon tea, this dishwasher-safe and microwave-friendly mug is a timeless way to show your patriotism. Ideal as a gift for veterans, history buffs, or anyone who cherishes American traditions, this mug makes Memorial Day even more meaningful.
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