WORCESTER COUNTY.

TOWNS.

Ashburnham lies upon the high lands between Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers, and discharges a part of its waters through Miller's River into the former, and a part through Nashua River into the latter. The surface of the town is uneven and is diversified by several large ponds. The township affords excellent farms and grazing lands, and the inhabitants are chiefly devoted to agriculture. Leather has been very extensively manufactured here by a company incorporated with a capital of $30,000. The Boston Soap Stone Company were incorporated here in 1820, with a capital of $20,000. Population of the town

1230.

Athol is a small township lying on Miller's River. A cotton factory was established here during the late war, and has been in successful operation since that time. It is a place of considerable mechanical as well as manufacturing business. Population 1211.

Barre. This is a large township of excel

How is Ashburnham situated, and where do its waters flow? What is the surface of the town? What is said of the lands, and how are the inhabitants employed? What is manufactured here? What is the population ? What is the size of Athol, and how is it situated? What manufactures has it? What is the population?

What is the situation of Barre? What is the chief em.

lent land, well watered by Ware River and several tributaries, which flow into it in different parts of the town. The inhabitants are chiefly devoted to agriculture, and the farmers, many of whom are thrifty and even opulent, are noted for the great quantity as well as excellent quality of the butter and cheese sent by them to the Boston and other markets. Population 2077.

Bolton. The Bolton ridge of hills, which is between two and three hundred feet above the level of Nashua River, lies in the west part of this town and divides the waters of the Nashua and Assabet Rivers. The township originally contained most of Berlin, which has been set off from its south part. Limestone abounds in the east part of the town, and more than 15,000 bushels of quicklime of the very best quality, are prepared annually for the supply of the neighboring towns with that article. Population 1229.

Boylston. Nashua River passes through the north part of this town, having fine interval lands upon its banks and affording several excellent water privileges partially occupied by mills and factories. Population 902.

ployment of the people? For what agricultural products are the farmers distinguished? What is the population? How high are the Bolton Hills? What town has been set off from Bolton? What quantity of quick lime is prepared here annually? What is the population of the town? What is said of Boylston? What is its population?

Brookfield was settled as early as 1660 by people from Ipswich, in Essex County, and at its incorporation embraced the present town of North Brookfield. It was for a long time a solitary settlement, being situated about midway between the old towns on Connecticut River and those on the east towards the Atlantic coast. The inhabitants suffered frequently and severely from the incursions of the Indians. In an attack at the breaking out of King Philip's war in 1675, the savages destroyed all the houses but one which was hastily and slightly fortified, and compelled the terrified inhabitants to withdraw to that for safety. Here they defended themselves against the Indians for four days till they were relieved by a detachment of troops from Lancaster. During the siege a constant fire was kept up between the inhabitants in the house and the savages, who closely beset it on every side. Several attempts were made by the savages to set fire to the fort; in one of which they filled a cart with hemp and other combustible substances, and having set fire to it endeavored to run it against the house; but the ingenuity of the design was defeated by a timely shower of rain, which extinguished the flames..

Brookfield is watered by Chickopee River

When and by whom was Brookfield settled? What was its situation? Describe the attack upon the town in 1775.

and some of its small tributary streams. Podunk Pond in the south part of the town, contains a surface equivalent to somewhat more than a square mile. Another large pond in the west parish affords iron ore. Ore is also found in the bogs and marshes of the neighborhood, and is smelted and cast into hollow ware, stoves, &c. by the Worcester and Brookfield Iron Foundery, which has been incorporated with a capital of $60,000. Brookfield contains a large printing establishment, and a female academy. Population 2292.

Charlton was originally a part of Oxford, which bounds it on the east. It is a large agricultural town well watered by springs and small streams, though it has no river of importance passing through its territory. Population 2134.

Douglass contains some excellent interval lands lying on Mumford River, which passes through the north part of the town, and empties into the Blackstone in Uxbridge. Population 1375.

Dudley contains several Indians, the remains

What rivers and ponds are there in the town? What ore is found here, and for what purpose is it used? What does the town contain ?

From what township was Charlton separated? What is its size and character? What is the population?

What river passes through Douglass? What is said of the land on its banks? What is the population? Indians in Dudley? What rivers

What is said of the

of the tribe which once occupied this region. French and Quineboag Rivers, both considerable streams, pass in a southerly course through this town. They afford a great amount of water power, which has been so extensively occupied as to make Dudley one of the largest manufacturing towns in the county. Five incorporated companies with an aggregate capital of $600,000 have their establishments in this town for the manufacture of cotton and woollen goods. The lands are well watered, fertile, and generally well cultivated. The growing of wool has been undertaken here with considerable zeal. One farmer, who is also a woollen manufacturer, has kept a flock of five hundred sheep. Population 1615.

Fitchburg. Several streams unite in this town and form the north branch of Nashua River. The falls on the smaller streams as well as those on the main one, afford excellent water privileges. The town has had a quick and prosperous growth, owing chiefly to the numerous manufacturing establishments that have been built within ten or fifteen years. Within the distance of two miles on Nashua River there are three cotton and two woollen factories, sevpass through this town? How is their water power appropriated? What goods are manufactured here? What is said of the lands in Dudley? Of the raising of wool in the town? What is the population of Dudley?

What river passes through Fitchburg? What is said of the growth of the town? What manufactories have been

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