History of Barre, Massachusetts, USA

Barre, Massachusetts
Worcester county. This excellent agricultural township is on high land and is well watered, particularly by Ware river, on which are many mills. The manufactures of Barre for the year ending April 1, 1837, amounted to about $365,000. The articles manufactures were woollen and cotton goods, ($161,000) copper pumps, boots, shoes, carriages, leather, palm-leaf hats, ($167,200) straw bonnets, axes, scythes, and gunpowder. Large quantities of beef, butter, cheese, &c, are annually sent from this town to Boston market. It was incorporated in 1774. Population, 1837, 2,713. It lies 65 miles W. by S. from Boston, 24 N. by W. from Worcester, and 15 N.E. from Ware. Barre took its name in honor of Col. Barre, an eloquent friend of America in the British Parliament.

Barre, (pronounced Barry), was a part of Rutland, and called Hutchinson from 1774 to 1777, when its name was changed to Barre,
in honor of Colonel Barre, a member of the British parliament, who
defended the cause of the American colonies when Gov. Hutchinson was betraying it.

The soil is excellent, and the produce considerable. The most
important manufactories are situated on Ware river and its branches, and the chief articles made are cotton and woollen goods, gunpowder,
and palm-leaf hats.

Distance from Worcester, 21 miles ; from Boston, 60.

This town was the north west part of Rutland original grant. It was made a district in 1749, and called Rutland District, until it was incorporated a town in 1774; when the name of Barre was given to it, as a token of respect to Col. Barre, a worthy friend of America, at that time a member of the British house of commons. The Congregational church was gathered here in 1753, and Rev. Thomas Frink was installed their pastor. He was dismissed in 1766, and was succeeded the next year by Rev. Josiah Dana. Mr. Dana died in 1801, and was succeeded by Rev. James Thompson in 1804. A Trinitarian society was formed here in 1827. Their first pastor, Rev. John Storrs, was ordained in 1829. He was succeeded by Rev. Moses G. Grosvenor in 1832. The succeeding ministers were Rev. John F. Stone, installed in 1834, and Rev. Samuel A. Fay, in 1837.

The above is a southern view in the central part of Barre, as seen from the Barre Hotel. The Unitarian church appears in the central part of the engraving; ...

Barre, a post-township of Worcester county, Massachusetts, about 55 miles W. from Boston, well watered by the Ware river, which affords many valuable mill-seats. It is noted for its extensive manufacture of woollen and cotton goods, shoes, &c. Population, 2976.

There are three cheese factories, having 875 cows; receiving 25,800 pounds of milk daily, manufacturing 2,900 pounds of cheese daily.

Barre is an old town near the geographical centre of the State, which had thrifty days in the stage-coach times ; and since the railroad (Massachusetts Central and Ware River railroads, Boston and Albany system) has entered and established stations at Barre (central village) and Barre Plains, the place has taken a fresh start.

Worcester lies at the southwest, about 21 miles away, and Boston is 60 miles eastward. The town lies in the western part of the middle belt of Worcester County ; having Hubbardston on the northeast, Rutland and Oakham on the southeast, New Braintree and Hardwick on the southwest, and Dana and Petersham on the northwest. Its form is nearly square, with angles at the cardinal points of the compass. The area is 26,442 acres ; or, adding the highways and water surfaces, upwards of 42 square miles. Prince River rises in the north, where there is a pretty pond, runs southward to Barre Plains, in the southern part of the town, where it joins Ware River; this being...