Uxbridge, Massachusetts encyclopedia topics

Early history

Nipmuc, " small pond people” praying indians, settled at Wacentug("tribe that fished rich waters.)" John Eliot (missionary), established 14 praying Indian villages, including two at what would later become Uxbridge. 1662 settlers bought Native land, "8 miles²(13km)² W. of Medfield" “for 24 pound Ster”. Squinshepauke became Mendon(1667), which burned in King Phillip's War (1675). Uxbridge (W. Mendon) incorporated (1727) and Farnum House

held the first town meeting. Rev. Webb's church, was Mass.'s first new Congregational church in the Great Awakening. Lowell Mason wrote the hymn tune Uxbridge Uxbridge became a crossroads village and hub of early industries, powered by renewable energy from the Mumford, West, and Blackstone Rivers.

Revolutionary period

Residents fought in the American Revolution including, Seth and Joseph Read who joined Committees of Correspondence(1774). Dozens of local men fought at the Lexington alarm, and at Bunker Hill. Colonels Seth Read

, J. Read, Tyler, Chapin, Captains Green, Bezaleel Taft, Hall, Rawson, Lieutenants Wheelock, J. Taft, Farnum, and White, served with 46 local heros. Baxter Hall(Lexington drummer), served at Bunker Hill and at West Point when Gen. Arnold escaped." Deborah Sampson enlisted as Robert Shurtlieff, was wounded, and became a women's rights hero. Shays Rebellion, an uprising of farmers, had it's opening salvos here. Lt. Wheelock died at Springfield.

Quakers

A settlement of Quakers in the southern outskirts changed the character of the town. RI Quaker abolitionists settled at Quaker City building mills, railroads, houses, tools and wagon wheels. Southwick's store housed Uxbridge's "Social and Instructive Library". Friends Meetinghouse

claimed "fiery abolitionist" Abby Kelley. The second Great Awakening touched Quakers, women's suffrage, human rights, and changed local mortuary practices for the poor. The "meeting" later disowned Kelley. Historic Quaker homes were underground railroad sites. Agriculture was prominent at south Uxbridge.

Transportation

A crossroads location let transportation advance. The Middle Post Road, set down by Ben Franklin as the 9^th Mass. Turnpike, carried French and Indian War troops, 1812 War supplies, and passed a Civil War camp near "Stage Coach Hill". Teamsters drove huge wagons on the "Great Road" to Worcester and Woonsocket. Erie Canal Irish laborers, built the Blackstone Canal which carried thousands of tons of goods yearly from Worcester to Providence (1828).

The Providence and Worcester Railroad replaced the canal(1847). A second railroad ran here. Route 146 provides freeway access.

Industrialization

The Blackstone Valley is considered the "birthplace" of the American Industrial Revolution. Uxbridge, an early mill town, had industries, forges, distilleries, and 20 local mills. Richard Mowry built and marketed equipment to manufacture woolen, linen or cotton cloth. 561 workers made 2.5 million yards of cloth in 1855. Capron's Power looms made "the first" cashmere satinets. Ben. Taft's Ironstone forge let Caleb Handy make tools, scythes and guns. Wm. Arnold's mill worker housing remains. "Hecla" had American Woolen, Daniel Day's 1810 Woolen Mill, and H. Lowell's shoe factory. Wheelockville's Waucantuck Mill, coined "wash and wear" fabrics. Calumet's (Central Woolen) ran 24/7 making Civil War cloth. Linwood's cotton mill and Robert Rogerson' Crown and Eagle Cotton Mill were near N. Uxbridge's Rivulet Mill. Blanchard's quarry rebuilt Boston and NYC curbs. Today's industries include: high tech, services, hospitality, and one remaining textile corporate base.

Public health

Public health played a role here. Smallpox killed natives

, locals, and men in physician and Colonel, Seth Reed's regiment. Uxbridge voted against smallpox vaccine(1775). Dr. Samuel Willard ratified the U.S. Constitution in Massachusetts and treated local smallpox victims. Local Selectman, Joseph Richardson, died of smallpox. Sen. Bezaleel Taft, Jr, and woolen mill pioneer Daniel Day, both died of Tuberculosis(1840's). Dr. Leonard White published reports of early childhood vaccine related deaths (1885). State pathologist, Theobald Smith, warned health officer Dr. White about possible links between mosquitoes to an outbreak of malaria at Uxbridge, asking White to have citizens, add screens and drain collections of water, while urging White's son to collect mosquito specimens for further analysis.(1896). This preceeded confirmation of mosquito-malaria links by Ronald Ross, MD in India, in 1898. The Board of Health advised a clean water supply in 1905. Sen. Richard T. Moore helped craft Massachusetts health care reform(2006).

Recent history

Uxbridge transformed a textile economy, to historic parks and tourism. Historic mill fires signaled the end of local textiles. Mills closed, rivers were polluted, and renewal followed. The Great Gatsby('74) and Oliver's Story were filmed here. The NYT called school reforms "a little revolution, ...started in this tiny town". The National Heritage Corridor has a Heritage State Park, of the River Bikeway, the Trunkline Trail, and West Hill wildlife refuge. 60 Federalist homes add to 54 National, and 375 state sites including: Georgian Elmshade, and other styles. A 2007 fire destroyed the

Bernat Mill, 500 jobs, and 65 businesses. A 1953 Time Magazine said Harold Walter's mill led New England's textile industry. Civil War, WW I, WW II Army and nurse corps uniforms, the first Air Force uniform, "Uxbridge 1683 Blue", and "latch hook kits" were made here.

Notable people and families

Immigrant forefathers, like Robert Taft I, had kinfolk who became national leaders. Taft's grandson's widow, Lydia Chapin Taft, was "the first woman voter"(1756). Samuel Taft hosted George Washington's innuagural tour.

Ezra Taft Benson was a Mormon Apostle(1846) and Utah Territory Legislator. His great grandson was Secretary of Agriculture and Mormon Church President. Peter Rawson Taft I's son was War Secretary Alphonso(1874). Grandson, President William Howard Taft, stayed at Taft House(1910). Arthur MacArthur, Sr. was Lt. Governor and Supreme Court Justice in Wisconsin, and DC. Grandson, Douglas was a famous general. Seth Read added E Pluribus Unum to U.S. coins and founded Erie, Pennsylvania. His descendents were Great Lakes ship captains, and Congressmen. Phineas Bruce and Benjamin Adams were Congressmen. Benedict Arnold's widow died here(1836).

The Aldrich family included a US Senator who started the Federal Reserve, and grandson, Vice President Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller. Joshua Macomber and William Augustus Mowry, were educators. Ed. Sullivan won a Medal of Honor(1898). Tim Fortugno, pitched for the Angels, White Sox and Reds(1990's). Richard T. Moore was a FEMA executive (1994-1996). Brian Skerry, is a photojournalist

Government

The Representative town meeting government, has a Board of Selectmen: Kevin J. Kuros, Chairman, Michael Potaski, Vice Chairman, Peter Baghdasarian, Clerk, 2 Selectmen, and Town Manager: Jill R. Myers.

Geography

The town's total area is 30.4 square miles (78.7 km²) {with 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (2.73%) of water}, located SW of Boston, SE of Worcester, NE of New York City, and NW of Providence, (Greater Boston CSA).

Elevations are to . It borders Douglas, Mendon, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Burrillville, and North Smithfield.

Demographics

2000's census, showed 11,156 people, 3,988 households, and 3,034 families. 98.04% were White, 0.95% Hispanic, 0.15% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.61% Asian, and 0.07% Pacific Islander. Density was 377.6 people/ mile² (145.8/km²). 9.5% of households had a 65 + person living alone, 29.2% were under 18, 5.8%, 40.9% from 18 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64. Median income was $61,855 and Per capita income was $24,540. 4.7% fell below the poverty line.