History of Clinton, Massachusetts, USA

Clinton was first settled in 1654 as a part of Lancaster.

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

March 14, 1850 - Clinton is incorporated

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1854 - Clinton
Clinton, a flourishing manufacturing post-village of Worcester county, Massachusetts, in a township of its own name, on the Nashua river, which affords good water-power, and on the Worcester and Nashua railroad, 35 miles W. by N. from Boston. The township was set off from Lancaster in 1849. Clinton is remarkable for its rapid growth, and for its extensive and peculiar manufactures, the more important of which consist of Lancaster ginghams, Brussels carpets, coach lace, figured counterpanes, fancy cassimeres, car pet-bags, and machinery. The most prominent among the numerous establishments are the Gingham or Lancaster mills, which are considered to be the most complete of the kind in the United States. The buildings are situated on the banks of the Nashua, in the eastern part of the town, and cover more than four acres of ground. About 800 hands are employed, who keep in operation 21,000 spindles and 600 looms, producing daily up wards of 13,000 yards, or between 4,000,000 and... Read MORE...

1886 - Gingham was first manufactured in the United States by Erastus Bigelow, at Clinton, Mass., in 1846.
It was the first attempt to manufacture the fabric mentioned by machinery, and enabled the American manufacturers to compete successfully with those of England.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 26, 1886

1888 - Owing to lack of orders the Bigelow carpet mills at Clinton, Mass., shut down on the 3d, rendering thirteen hundred hands idle.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
July 7, 1888

Clinton Massachusetts, 1890
Clinton is one of the younger towns, remarkable for its carpetings and woven wire. It is situated in the easterly part of Worcester County, about 35 miles west of Boston. The Fitchburg Branch of the Old Colony Railroad and the Central Massachusetts Railroad have stations at the centre, and the Worcester, Nashua and Portland Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad has a station at South Clinton. Lancaster bounds it on the northwest and north, Bolton and Berlin on the east, Royalston on the south, and Sterling on the west. The area is but 3,706 acres, besides highways and water surfaces; and of this 1,029 acres is woodland .

The land is much diversified with hills and valleys, but without extremes. The Nashua River pursues a serpentine course northeasterly through the town, affording, with other streams, much hydraulic power. The summer flow is enhanced by the storage afforded by ponds. Sandy Pond of 75 acres, Mossy Pond and Clam-shell Pond, west of the central hills, are beautiful... Read MORE...

1895 - Clinton
Clinton, a post-town of Worcester co, Mass., on the Nashua River, and on the Boston & Maine Railroad where it crosses the Old Colony Railroad, 17 miles N.N.E. of Worcester, 45 miles W. by N. from Boston, and 14 miles $SE of Fitchburg. It contains 7 churches, a national bank, a savings-bank, 2 newspaper offices, and extensive manufactories of ginghams, plaids, Brussels and Wilton carpets, combs, machinery, woollen goods, thread, and wire cloth. The Lancaster Mills of this town employ nearly 1100 hands in the manufacture of ginghams and plaids. Pop in 1890, 10,424.
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

1896 - Dynamite Exploded in Water-Works Aqueduct at Clinton
FOUR MEN KILLED, ONE BADLY HURT.
Dynamite Exploded in Water-Works Aquaduct at Clinton.

Four men were killed and one was fatally injured by an explosion of dynamite in the tunnel of shaft No. 2. Metropolitan water-works aqueduct, at Clinton, Saturday afternoon. The dead are ANDREW KELLY, 35, of Jersey City; JAMES PERRY, colored, 30, of North Carolina; SPENCER BURDEN, colored, 30, of Mississippi; WILLIAM GREEN, colored, 27, of Apple Grove, Va. The injured man is James Foley, 38, of Homestead, Pa. KELLY, PERRY, and GREEN were killed instantly. BURDEN lived four hours. Foley has had a bad fracture of the skull and a deep would in the abdomen.

Shaft No. 2 is on the edge of Clinton and West Berlin, on Clamshell pond. It is 100 feet deep to the bottom of the tunnel. From the shaft the tunnel extends east and west 150 feet through black rock. The accident was in the west shaft. The day shift at 5 p. m. had drilled 22 holes, six feet deep, into the rock and in each hole was placed six... Read MORE...

1907 - CLINTON'S TOWN HALL DESTROYED BY FIRE.
LOSS OF $100,000 - PROBABLY DUE TO CIGARETTE STUB LEFT BY SOMEONE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL DANCE - TOWN RECORDS SAFE, AND NO OTHER BUILDINGS BURNED.

Clinton, Mass., Dec. 7. - This town was visited by one of the most disastrous fires in its history, this morning, when at 5:30 flames were seen breaking from the front end of the town hall located at the corner of Church and Walnut streets. In an hour and a half, the building, the biggest and most valuable municipal structure in town, was a mass of ruins, nothing but a small annex in the rear being left of it. The loss is total on a valuation of something more than $100,000, and the insurance is but $37,500. All town records were saved.

Close to the town hall site is the Unitarian church, but the wind not being that way and a slate roof, prevented this from igniting and going down with the other.

It is thought that a stub of a cigarette or cigar, carelessly dropped during the high school dance, held Friday night, in the big auditorium,... Read MORE...

1916
Clinton, a banking post-township (town) of Worcester co., Mass., on the Nashua River and on the Boston and Maine and the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rs., 45 miles W. by N. of Boston. It has extensive manufactures of ginghams, plaids, carpets, combs, machinery, woollen goods, thread, and wire-cloth. Pop. in 1900, 13,667.
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

Here's a list of some of the best places to go and things to do in Clinton, Massachusetts:
Museum of Russian Icons: Start your visit to Clinton with a trip to the Museum of Russian Icons. It's home to the largest collection of Russian icons in North America. The beautifully preserved icons provide a glimpse into the art, history, and culture of Russia.

Wachusett Reservoir: If you love the outdoors, you'll want to explore the Wachusett Reservoir. It's a picturesque spot for hiking, bird-watching, and picnicking. The reservoir offers stunning views of the surrounding hills and is a popular destination for both locals and visitors.

Central Park: Clinton's Central Park is a great place for a leisurely stroll or a family picnic. There's a playground for kids, a splash pad for hot summer days, and plenty of green space to relax and enjoy the fresh air.

Nashua River Rail Trail: This 11-mile trail runs through Clinton and nearby towns. It's perfect for biking, jogging, or a scenic walk. The trail takes you through beautiful natural areas, offering a peaceful escape from... Read MORE...