Industrialization

Industrialization

Period: Mar 18, 1669 to Mar 18, 1957

1st mill in Westford - saw and grist mill - is erected near Nab Pond on Saw Mill Brook

Mar 18, 1680

Fulling mill built at Brookside - stays in business for 140 years

Mar 18, 1724

Opening of the Framingham and Lowell Rail Road

Mar 18, 1729

Incorporation of Westford

Mar 18, 1729

Construction of Middlesex and Pawtucket Canals finished

Mar 18, 1797

Incorporation of Lowell

Mar 18, 1826

Moore Brother buy the main mill in Brookside and convert it to the manufacture of yarn

Mar 18, 1828

Opening of the Boston and Lowell Rail Road

Mar 18, 1835

Closing of the Framinghamand Lowell Rail Road

Mar 18, 1835

Abbott and Company comes into existence and begins the manufacture of carpet yarns in Graniteville

Mar 18, 1840

Opening of the Stony Brook Rail Road

Mar 18, 1848

Boston and Maine Railroad takes over the lease of the Stony Brook Rail Road

Mar 18, 1848

Forge Vilage Nail Company is bought out by the Abbott Worsted company

Mar 18, 1854

Jonas Prescott given a land grant on Forge Pond and bulds a corn/grist mill

Mar 18, 1861

Thomas Hittinger buys the picnic area of Forge Pond and expands his ice business to Westford

Mar 18, 1864

Isaac Carkin opens the Oak Hill Quarry - the first quarry in Westford

Mar 20, 1872

Opening of the Nashua and Lowell Rail Road

Mar 18, 1873

Opening of the Nashua, Acton and Boston Rail Road

Mar 18, 1873

Official opening of the Stony Brook Rail Road (leased and used by the Nashua & Lowell Rail Road)

Mar 20, 1873

Charles G. Sargent and Francis A. Calvert buy Thomas Richardson's saw/grist mill in Graniteville and open the C.G. Sargents and Sons Company

Mar 18, 1878

Opening of the HE Fletcher Rail Road

Mar 18, 1895

Closing of the Nashua, Acton and Boston Rail Road

Mar 18, 1925

Final Local and Regional Passenger Trains on the Stony Brook Rail Road

Mar 18, 1953