History of Webster, Massachusetts, USA

Journey back in time to Webster, Massachusetts, USA

• Webster was first settled in 1713
  and was officially incorporated on March 6, 1832. The area forming the town had previously been divided among the town of Dudley, the town of Oxford a...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• Jan 11, 1811 - Samuel Slater buys his first property in Webster.
  In 1811, in company with a young man named Bela Tiffany, Samuel Slater started a cotton factory at Oxford, now known as Webster. The property in 1817...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1831 - Webster - Slater Mills
  ...By 1831 this plant (owned by Samuel Slater) had increased to six thousand spindles and ninety loom, one hundred and eighty hands employed, and fift...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1832 - Webster set off from Oxford
  
  www.oxford300.com/ oxford_history.aspx
  
  
• 1835 - Samuel Slater Dies in Webster
  ...During his later years, Mr. Slater spent the greater part of his time at Webster, where he died April 21, 1835, in his sixty-seventh year. Through ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1839 - Webster
  Webster, Massachusetts
  Worcester county. This town was incorporated in 1832, and named in compliment to Hon. Daniel Webster, including a part of Dudl...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1845 - WEBSTER. [Pop. 1,403. Inc. 1832.]
  This town was taken from Dudley and Oxford, and named in honor of Daniel Webster, the distinguished statesman of Massachusetts.
  
  Webster is ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Stevens Linen Mill founded by Henry H. Stevens
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• 1848 - Webster
  This town was set off from Dudley and Oxford, and incorporated in 1832. it was named after the Hon. Daniel Webster. The surface of the town is rather ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1854 - Webster
  Webster, a post-township in Worcester co., Massachusetts, intersected by the Norwich and Worcester railroad, 65 miles W. S. W. from Boston. The princi...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1858 - Shoe Business Flourishing
  The shoe business at Webster, Mass., has been in a very flourishing condition for the last few months, affording good wages and plenty of work for al...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1866 - Snake Prank
  In Webster, Mass., recently, some young man placed two small brown snakes in a kind of fancy paper basket, filled the opening with flowers so that the...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1878 - Large Fire At Webster, Mass.
  BOSTON, Feb. 12 - A fire broke out, this morning, in the calendering department of Samuel Slater & Sons' cambric works, at Webster, Mass., and entirel...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  G. D. Bates, Fine Boots and Shoes, Eddy Block, Webster, Mass.
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  Nicholas Gilles
  Dealer in Staple Fancy Groceries
  61 Main Street
  Webster, Mass.
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  1882 bank note
  First National Bank of Webster
  
  Bank was bought out by Guaranty Bank & Trust Company of Worcester, Massachusetts in 1965. fdic.gov
  
•  1884 - Walked to Webster from California
  Warren B. Johnson, aged sixty-five years, who left California on foot June 1, 1882, with a horse, cow and dog, arrived at his home in Webster, Massach...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Charles L. Holt
  Books, School Books, Stationery, Wrapping Paper, Paper Bags and Twine.
  Circulating Library in Connection with Store.
  Agent for Tri Rose Extract.
  Eddy Block, Webster, Mass.
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•  1888 - The Lillie Hoyle Case - Medical Student McQuade of Webster, Under Arrest.
  The Relations Between Him and Dixon R. Cowie - What Henry T Downs Says of the Latter - The Latest Developments
  
  The arrest of Dixon R. Cowie Friday ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• Webster Massachusetts, 1890
  "Webster lies in the southern part of Worcester County, 59 miles southwest of Boston, and 16 miles south of Worcester. French River washes its western...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  September 17, 1890
  (MA) - Worcester Daily Spy, Worcester, Massachusetts
  
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  A busy scene on Main Street
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  Main Street, business section
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  Negus Street
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  Klebart Bros.
  Dealers in Boots, Shoes & Rubbers
  Stockwell's Blk., Main St. Webster, Mass.
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• 1895 - Webster
  Webster, a post-village in Webster township, Worcester co, Mass., on French River, and on the Norwich & Worcester Railroad, at the junction of two bra...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Point Breeze, postmarked 1910
  
  "Point Breeze, a lakeside resort, was purchased by Edgar Hill in 1897. The pavilion included a large dance hall."
  www.digitalcommonwealth.org
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•  1900 - SUICIDE WAS 105 YEARS OLD.
  Last Survivor of Nipunk Tribe Sets Her House on Fire and Dies Rather then Go to the Poorhouse.
  
  WEBSTER, Mass., Jan. 7. Investigation of the causes ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  N.Y., N.H. & H. Railroad Station
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  Soldiers Monument
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  The Thompson School
  
  The Thompson School is a historic school building on Prospect Street in Webster, Massachusetts. The 2+1⁄2-story English Revival brick building was constructed in 1912–13 to a design by Walter F. Fontaine, a leading architect... Read MORE...
  
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  At Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagogg
  chaubunagungamaugg, Webster, Mass.
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  Post Office. Webster, Mass.
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  Beacon Park Theatre, Webster, Mass.
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  Boat Landing, Beacon Park, Webster, Mass.
  
  "Beacon Park, a lakeside resort, was built by Edgar Hill. The three-story main building is pictured, as are some canoes. At the boat landing is a steam-powered excursion boat that would ferry passengers... Read MORE...
  
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  Hotel DeWitt, Webster, Mass.
  James T. Shanley, proprietor
  
  The Sheldon Hotel was built in 1868 on the site of a
  ca. 1830 structure. The Sheldon continued in operation as the DeWitt until it closed in 1931; the building was demolished in 1939.... Read MORE...
  
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  Indian Inn, Webster, Mass.
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  Point Pleasant, Webster, Mass.
  
  "Point Pleasant offered summer cottages along the shores of the lake. Pictured at the entrance is a large arched sign welcoming visitors. Signage is also visible for the store and ice cream... Read MORE...
  
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  A. J. Bates Shoe Factory. Webster, Mass.
  
  Founded by Andrew Jackson Bates. When he was eighteen he went to New York City to seek fame and fortune. After gaining experience in the footwear business, he established the A. J. Bates and Company in... Read MORE...
  
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  Joslin House and Hotel Maanexit, Webster, Mass.
  
  For many years one of the most well known and most frequented hotels in Webster, the Joslin House was built by Nathan Joslin in 1844.
  
  The Joslin House, ca. 1844, was considered the town's... Read MORE...
  
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  East Main St. Looking West, Webster, Mass.
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  E. J. Deloira
  Optician and Eye Specialist 30 Years Experience
  Successor to A. F. Deslauiers
  12 Prospect Street, Webster, Mass.
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  P. H. Powers, Webster, Mass.
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•  1901 - TROLLEY DEAL IN CONNECTICUT: New Haven Road Purchases the Webster and Worcester System.
  NEW HAVEN, Jan. 12 - The New Haven Road has just purchased through the People's Tramway Company of Danielson, Conn., the Webster and Worcester Street...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  Wednesday, April 23, 1902 - Fire at Webster, Mass. - It Was so Hot That it Made the River Boil
  Webster, Mass. April 23 - John D. Putnam's box factory, adjacent to French river, burned last night. A large section of the factory fell into the riv...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Main Street, showing C. P. Davis clothing store, 1905
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  South Main Street, 1905
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  Methodist Church, Webster, Mass., 1905
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• 1906
  Webster, a post-village in Webster township (town), Worcester co., Mass., on the French River and on the Boston and Albany and the New York, New Haven...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Looking up Main Street, 1906
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  Main Street, 1908
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  Cambric Works, S. Slater & Sons, Inc., East Webster, Mass.
  
  Samuel Slater (1768 – 1835) was referred to by some as the “Father of the American Industrial Revolution.” In 1811, Slater moved to Massachusetts and built new cotton mills as well as one ... Read MORE...
  
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  East Webster Depot
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  Lake from Sugar Loaf Hill
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  Main Street, 1910
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  Old Rock Castle School, Prospect Street
  
  The Rock Castle School is a historic school building on Prospect Street in Webster, Massachusetts. The two story masonry building was built in 1871, and was Webster's second high school building. It served... Read MORE...
  
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  Slater Woolen Mills
  
  The Slater Woolen Mills remained the major source of blankets and uniform cloth to the various branches of the U. S. military, as well as providing uniforms to the Pullman service, hotel and other uniformed employees, and... Read MORE...
  
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  Chase Avenue, 1910
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  The Old Red School House, Fenner Hill, 1910
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  Larchar-Branch Building, Webster, Mass., 1910
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  Mechanic Street, Webster, Mass, 1910
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  1911 School St., Webster, MA
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  1912 Ad. George Feige worked as an electrician for his nephew, Charles W. Bergmann.
  (MA) - The Webster, Dudley and Oxford Directory 1912
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•  1913 - Does Anyone Know William Marcik? Instance of How at Least Two New Editors Bit in Going After Story.
  William Marcik, who probably never existed, killed himself fictitiously near Webster, Mass., last Saturday and at least two Illinois cities are claimi...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Filmer School, built 1898
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  Main Street
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  Main Street Looking South, 1915
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•  1920 - Webster, Mass., Mill Closes
  WEBSTER, Mass., Oct. 13 - The South Village Woolen and Worsted mill of the S. Slater & Sons, Inc., was closed indefinitely today, throwing out 2000 em...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Cottage, Bates Grove
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  Larcher Branch Building
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  The Slater Homestead, East Webster, Mass.
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  Bathing Beach, Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, Webster, Mass., 1920
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  Bartlett High School
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  Chase Mill Dam, Webster, Mass.
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• 1929 - Wired for "Talkies"
  Oct. 9 - The Liberty Theatre in Webster, a silent movie venue for several years, is wired for 'talkies.'
  (oldewebster.com)
  
  
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  St. Louis Church
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• 1933 - New Restaurant Opens
  Dec. 4 - John Parker opens a restaurant at 217 Main St., Webster. The special is fruit cocktail, juice, or soup; relish, turkey, roast beef, or lamb, ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1939 - Kuhn Fails to Appear in Court - Bund Leader Arrested for Drunkenness, Profanity in Massachusetts - Out On Bail After Row With Officer
  SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass., July 17 (AP) - A man who identified himself as Fritz Kuhn, leader of the German-American Bund, failed to appear at the appointed h...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1940 - Railroad Abandoned
  April 11 - The New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co. abandons its rail line from Webster to East Thompson, Conn.
  (oldewebster.com)
  
  
• 1955 - WESO On the Air
  March 20 - Radio Station WESO goes on the air for a first time. Announcers and newscasters are Bob Binet, John Bunnewith, Joe Capillo, Esther Costa, B...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1972 - Commerce Insurance Company
  July 1 - Commerce Insurance Company opens for business at the corner of Lake and Main Streets. 14 families poll their finances and raise a total of $2...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  Lake with 45-letter name has spelling errors - The central Mass. lake has one of the world's longest place names
  WEBSTER, Mass. — Officials have agreed to correct spelling errors in road signs pointing to a central Massachusetts lake with a 45-letter name.
  
  Lak...Read MORE...