were then in operation, and there
were several sawmills and gristmills. Ira Frye's Tavern stood on the
site of the American House. There was Hurd's mill, a blacksmith shop at
Massic Falls, a few other such establishments as a country village
usually affords, and several substantial dwelling-houses, farmhouses,
and cottages, conspicuous among which was the Livermore House in
Belvidere.

[Illustration: ROGERS HOMESTEAD, BELVIDERE.]

The operations of the Merrimack Company soon attracted settlers. In
1822, a regular line of stages was established between East Chelmsford
and Boston. In 1824, the Chelmsford Courier was established, and
became at once the organ of the growing community. The next year a
militia company was organized; the Fourth of July was celebrated with
appropriate ceremonies; the Middlesex Mechanics' Association and the
Central Bridge Corporation were incorporated; the Hamilton Manufacturing
Company was established; and the inhabitants of the village of East
Chelmsford petitioned to be incorporated. The petition was granted, and
Lowell became a town March 1, 1826, with a population of about two
thousand. The name of the town was adopted in honor of Francis Cabot
Lowell, a business associate of Nathan Appleton, and a promoter of the
manufacture of cotton goods in this country.

The years of 1827 and 1828 were marked by great depression in the
commercial and manufacturing circles of the country, but Lowell had
a good start, and her prosperity was assured. The Lowell Bank, the
Appleton Company, and the Lowell Manufacturing Company, were established
in 1828,--the year the first ton of coal was brought to town. The coal
was used for fuel in the law office of Samuel H. Mann.

In 1829, the Lowell Institution for Savings was incorporated, and
William Livingston established himself in trade. For a quarter of a
century Mr. Livingston was one of the most active, most enterprising,
and most public-spirited citizens of Lowell. Much of the western portion
of the city was built up by his instrumentality.

[Illustration: WORTHEN-STREET OR SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.]

The Middlesex Company was established in 1830, as was the Lowell fire
department. The Town Hall was also built; and Lowell numbered sixty-four
hundred and seventy-seven inhabitants.

[Illustration: CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH.]

In 1830, Mr. Jackson undertook to connect Boston and Lowell with a
railroad. A macadamized road had been surveyed, when this new ro