Industrial History-North Central
Mass. Resource List
Summer 1999 Institute at Mount Wachusett Community
College for Narragansett, Gardner and
Athol-Royalston School Districts in collaboration with University
of Massachusetts Boston
Primary Source Research:
Do a catalogue search of reference materials at your school
or public library (or get your librarian to do this search). Prof.
Tom Malloy of Mt. Wachusett Community College received help from
their librarian who found information on the North Central Mass.
towns off of two systems (OCLC & CWMars). Many records housed
at the Mass. Archives are catalogued through the RLIN system (Library
of Congress). In addition to your public library, other research
facilities are listed under Organizations below.
Archival Material
Town/City Records: Check for your town/city or your
"mother town" at libraries and historical societies,
museums for published volumes; Also check Morman microfilm re
official records
• Vital records of Massachusetts to 1850; available
for most Massachusetts towns then in existence.
• Census Records – local, state, national
• Valuation & Tax Reports
• Town Meeting Records
• Town or City Annual Reports
• Valuation Lists; early manuscript tax records may be in storage
• City Directories
• Business inventories, account books.
Military Records:
• Records of Mass. Militia
• Mass. Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, Civil War
• Regimental Histories contain original records
• Individual town records of involvement in the Civil War; often
a commemorative volume published.
• Other wars e.g. LeBlanc, Cyrille and Flynn, Thomas, Gardner
in World War II
Family History Material : To be found at archival repositories,
libraries, historical societies, museums;
• Check under individual family names
• Genealogical Records, Dictionaries
• Passenger Lists
• Biographical Sketches:
e.g. Jack Randolph Hutchins, "The story of Jacob Hutchins
of Athol, Massachusetts, Revolutionary soldier; and accounts of
other Hutchins who served in the Revolutionary War". 1976
• Original Diaries:
e.g. Aaron Greenwood, b.1813, d.?; Started Diary in 1846,
kept for 36 yrs. 18 vols. Orig, 7 vols. Extant. Transcribed by
Gardner Historical Commission, 1983.
State Records/History
Department of Commerce and Development has produced profiles
of the state’s Communities. Current profiles can be seen online
at http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/cc/index.html
Hart, Albert, Commonwealth History of Massachusetts. 5
volumes. States History Co., 1930.
Historical Data on the Cities and Towns of Mass., Prepared
by MA Archives and published by the New England Historic Genealogical
Society, 1997, 101 Newbury St., Boston 02116 $9.00d
Massachusetts Archives, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125,
(617) 727-2816. Town, City, Military Records, Census Records,
petitions, all dealings with state can be seen at this repository.
Bibliographies & Other Secondary Sources (May contain Primary
Sources as well)
Local Histories: School Districts include Gardner, Athol,
Royalston, Baldwinville, Templeton, Phillipston; also related
Ashburnham, Westminster, Winchendon, Petersham, Hubbardston. Nearest
cities Fitchburg, Leominster, Worcester.
Greene, J.R., Bibliography of Quabbin Valley History, 1992,
includes Petersham and New Salem. J. R. Greene recommends the
Parks and Haskell volumes in the New England History Bibliography
series cover most of the published titles relating to the history
of towns of this region.
Ashburnham:
Holden, Raymond and Barbara, Ashburnham, Massachusetts,
1885-1965, 1970.
Rajala, Kaino Waltari, Finns of Ashburnham, MA 1903-1983.
Travers Printing, 1985.
Stearns, Ezra, History of Ashburnham, Massachusetts, 1734-1886.
Published by the town, 1887.
Athol:
Caswell, Lilley Brewer, Athol, Massachusetts, Past and
Present. 1899.
Chaisson, Kathryn A., Athol’s historic buildings and places:
a partial inventory; ed. Richard J.
Chaisson, photographs by Roderick H. McColl, Athol Historical
Commission, 1986.
Greene, J.R., Athol’s Past in Maps, Transcript Press,
1974. See also Bibliography of published items relating to Athol’s
history, publ. late 1980s, can be seen at the Athol Public Library
(check to see if it can be photocopied.)
Images of America, Athol. Arcadia Press
Lord, William G., History of Athol, Massachusetts, 1953.
Gardner:
Bent, Alma, Moore, Ester, and Turcotte, E. Guy, Gardner:
A Portrait of its Past. Gardner Historical Commission, 1978.
Gardner Historical Society, "The History of the Gardner Museum";
the architecture and history of the building. (flier available
at Gardner Museum).
Glazier, Lewis, History of Gardner, Massachusetts, Charles
Hamilton Central Exchange, 1860.
Herrick, William D., History of the Town of Gardner. 1878.
Images of America, Gardner, Arcadia Press series.
Kuymnowski, Judith, Fascinating Facts of Gardner, with
the Elm Street Art Club, n.d. For school children.
Moore, Esther Gilman, Gardner, Massachusetts: 1785-1967:
Gardner, MA: Hatten Printing Inc., 1967.
Petersham:
Black, John D., Planning One Town: Petersham, a Hill Town in
Massachusetts, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1952.
Coolidge, Mabel Cook,The History of Petersham, Massachusetts.
Petersham Historical Society, Inc., 1948.
Harvard Forest models and other research through Harvard Forest
HQ (see Organizations below).
Phillipston:
Lord, William Gardiner, Historical Address at Celebration of
150th Anniversary of Incorporation, Athol: Athol
Printing Co., 1936.
Royalston:
Bartlett, Hubert Carlton, Reflections on Royalston, Worcester
County, Massachusetts, U.S.A., Fitchburg, MA, The Reflector, 1927.
Caswell, Lilley Brewer, The History of the Town of Royalston,
Massachusetts (including Roylaston’s soldier record, written
and comp. By Hon. Fred W. Cross) published by the town, 1917.
McCormick, Nat., Royalston, Massachusetts: A New England Town,
1992.
Templeton:
Eaton, Ethel, and Lord, Elizabeth, The Story of Templeton.
Publisher & date?
Westminster:
Heywood, Wm. S., History of Westminster. Lowell MA:
Vox Populi, 1893.
Hudson, Charles, A History of the Town of Westminster,
G. W. Stacy Printer, 1832.
Winchendon
Greenwood, Lois, Winchendon Years 1764-1964. 1970.
County Histories:
Crane, Ellery, Ed., History of Worcester County, 4 vols.,
Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1924.
Hurd, D. Hamilton, History of Worcester County, 2 vols.
J. W. Lewis Co., 1889.
Jewett, C. F., History of Worcester County, 3 volumes,
1879.
Worcester County Directories.
Region:
Stories, Folklore, Guides
Burrage, Charles, Favorite Drives Around Gardner. Press
of The Gardner News, 1986.
Chaisson, Dick, Hometown Chronicles, Athol, MA: Millers
River Publishing Co., 1985.
Greene, J. R., Strange Tales from Old Quabbin, Athol, MA,
1993; see also More Strange Tales from Old Quabbin (1999).
Malloy, Tom , Profiles of the Past: An Illustrated History
of Ashburnham, Gardner, Hubbardston, Templeton, Westminster and
Winchendon, Massachusetts. Ill by Jim Murphy, Athol: Miller
River Publishers, Athol, MA 1984.
Map and Visitors Guide to North Central Massachusetts (the
Montachusett Area), National Survey, 1981. Also North Central
Massachusetts, including Map, by National Survey, 1986.
Sinclair, Warren, Wachusett: Wajuset Gatherings from Then and
When, Salem: Higginson Book Co., 1996.
Strength in Diversity – Worcester’s Finish Community, by
the Finnish American Club of Rutland, FTSS & Worcester Historical
Museum, 1994.
Walker, Williams, EZ (with Postscripts by J.R. Greene and
Allen Young), Athol Historical Society.
Young, Allen, North of Quabbin: A Guide to Nine Massachusetts
Towns: Athol, Erving, New Salem, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston,
Royalston, Warwick and Wendell, 1983.
Local Place Names origins and significance (any studies
by historical societies available?)
Newspaper Stories: Check their archives for local stories. Recently
appearing: The Gardner News 8/16/99, "Warren Sinclair – a
Man of Diverse Interests", President of S. Gardner Historical
Society and Lecturer on local history, furniture industry;
also from The Gardner News: Favorite Drives Around Gardner,
by Charles Burrage, 1986.
Resources, Business, Industry:
Business Directories (for Worcester County)
Furniture Company catalogues (Gardner Museum has P. Derby &
Co., Conant Ball & Heywood-Wakefield)
Foster, Charles H. W. , Stepping Back to Look Forward.
Petersham, Mass.: Harvard Forest, Harvard University, 1998. This
is a history of the forests in Mass., 339 pp. with illustrations.
Gardner Machine Shop-Builders, and Manufacturers of Chair and
Woodworking Machines, c. 1980. (at Gardner Museum)
Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce, "Historical Profile
of Furniture & Woodworking" 2 pp., c. 1978.
Greenwood, Richard, A Brief History of the Heywood-Wakefield
Co., Gardner, 1951.
Heywood-Wakefield publications: A Completed Century 1826-1926,
The Story of Heywood Wakefield Company, 1926. "Shop News",
Heywood Wakefield Quality Inside & Out, Handout from
Gardner Museum’s former exhibit, "Jourrney into the History
of the World Renowned Heywood-Wakefield, 1989. These publications
can all be seen at the Gardner Museum.
Rouland,, Steven & Roger W., Heywood Wakefield Modern Furniture,
Collector Books, 1995 (catalogue).
Stone, Orra L. , History of Massachusetts Industries. 3
Vols., S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1930
The Watkins Family and Simplex—The First 100 Years, published
by Simplex , Gardner, MA (patented the first time recorders and
still in business today)
Places to Visit, Contact:
Gardner Museum, 28 Pearl Street, Gardner, MA 01440, (508)
632-3277 Collections of local families; industry artifacts, furniture,
silver, carriages, stoves, and timepieces. Special exhibits on
furniture Industry technology and tools, designs on wood; samplers,
school memorabilia; artifacts, research publications, some historical
records. School programs by appointment.
Gardner Heritage State Park, Downtown Visitor Center, 26 Lake
Street, Gardner 1440, (508) 630-1497;) Exhibits on the chair industry;
has brochure on "Walking Tour" prepared by the Gardner
Historical Commission; School programs by appointment. (Also part
of State Park is Dunn Pond, Route 101, Gardner 01440 (508) 632-7897)
Harvard Forest, Harvard University, P.O. Box 68, 324 North Main
Street, Petersham, MA 01366, (978)-724-3302, fax, (978) 724- 3595,
dioramas & educational area, slide show, woodland habitats
Leominster State Forest, Route 31, Westminster, MA (978) 974-2303,
4,126 Acres, historic site with public access and recreational
facilities
Jacob’s Ladder, good view of old forests. Location Hubbardston
American Antiquarian Society, 185 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA
01609, (508) 755-5221, fax (508) 755-3311; website http://www.americanantiquarian.org/
Library with U.S., Mass. and regional collections, family
papers. School programs offered.
Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge,
MA 01566 (508) 347-3362, fax (508) 347-5375, website: http://www.osc.org
Exhibits on early industries, trades in rural settings, self guided
tours and special school programs by reservation; research library
on early trades, industries, including issues of "The Chronicle
of the Early American Industries Association".
Other Organizations to Contact:
Public Library – local history collections; check also vertical
files for newspaper, magazine articles.
Historical Societies: town & city, regional, DAR etc.
Historical Museums not mentioned above for memorabilia of families;
artifacts of industries, especially chairs & parts; also resources
for industry (mines, gravel pits, quarries, forestry)
Historical Commissions: Inventory of old houses, (architectural
tour), landmarks
Industrial commissions/chambers of commerce; business directories,
trademarks
Ethnic Social Groups: Check your city/town phone directory for
social clubs.
Churches and church cemeteries.
Local public cemeteries; Commissioners’ records
Regional Newspapers; many have libraries or archival files
Forest & Wood Products Institute, Mount Wachusett Community
College; Information on Technology Program, careers, forestry
products public awareness; 444 Green Street, Gardner, MA 01440,
(978) 632-6600, x 320, fax (978) 632-6155, website http://mwcc.mass.edu/html/fwp.html
The Mohawk Trail Association – business services
The Johnny Appleseed Trail, 110 Erdman Way, Leominster MA 01453,
(978) 534-2302, Fax (978) 534-2436, website
http://www.appleseed.org
Worcester Convention & Visitors Bureau
Worcester Historical Society
People/Consultants
Warren Sinclair, 55 Union Street, Gardner, MA 01440; topics
on Greater Gardner history, Mt. Wachusett.
Tom Malloy, History Dept., Wachusett Community College, Gardner,
MA 01440. History of Greater Gardner, ethnic diversity of region,
the cemetery as a historical source. t_malloy @mwcc.mass.edu
J.R. Greene, Athol history, Quabbin; large collection of local
memorabilia. 33 Bearsden Rd., Athol, MA 01331-3401 (978) 249-9376.
Nick Weidhaas, Director, Forest & Wood products, Mt. Wachusett
Community College; n_weidhaas@mwcc.mass.edu;
also Joseph K. Smith, Associate Director, j_smith@mwcc.mass.edu
Dick Chaisson, formerly with Worcester Telegram, Sanders St.,
Athol, MA 01331. Regional history.
Gordon Briggs, Walking tour of Athol
Allen Young, formerly Athol Daily News
Photos, A/V, Media
On the Web: Current Monographs from Mass. Dept of Commerce
& Development
Check Library of Congress general and American Memory Project;
WPA microfilm, oral history tapes on depression, communities of
Mass. at http://www.loc.gov
Postal cards: check museums, AAS; also yard sales, antique shops.
See also J.R. Greene in Athol, MA who is a dealer in Mass. view
postcards.
Old photographs: Look for family collections in museums, historical
societies.
"Photo Survey of Gardner’s Old Burying Ground" (town
library, also ck. City Archives) Other localities
may also have this type of survey
"Picturesque Gardner: 38 views of Public Buildings, Churches
and Business Blocks of Gardner, MA."
Gardner: Lithotype Publishing Co., 1889.
Maps
State Series, 1794, 1831, 1877-78
Beers Atlas by towns or county: Atlas of Worcester, e.g. 1870,
1898 series.
Richards’ Atlas of Worcester County, 1898, with detailed town
maps.
Sanborn Insurance Maps, available in Mass. State Archives (larger
villages).
Bird’s Eye View; Aerial View of Athol Mass., O.H. Bailey &
Co., 1878; almost all other towns.
Library of Congress collection of historical maps.
• Landmarks:
Gravestones of Ministers especially, but cemeteries in general
Indian sites
Cellar holes
Mill sites
Military and other monuments
Old growth forests
Town commons or centers (landscape technology, plan)
See separate bibliography on Industrial History in Mass. and Teacher’s
Guide to Industrial History Electronic Library at MSP website:
http://k12s.phast.umass.edu/~masag/
under Highlights.
