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Rated #1 place to live in New
England by Money Magazine in 1995.
The phonetic pronunciation of
Haverhill is: HAY-VRILL
Haverhill, Massachusetts, population
of approximately 60,000 people (year 2005), is located in northeastern
Massachusetts; about 32 miles north of Boston on the New Hampshire
border; and about 16 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The Merrimack
River flows 12 miles through the heart of the city and is directly
responsible for the city's shape and character. Haverhill is
connected to New England via Interstate Highway 495 and by commuter
rail. Interstate Highways 93 and 95 are only a 10 minute drive
away. Haverhill has three airports including Logan International
Airport within 30 miles. With Haverhill being centrally located
in New England, it is easy to understand why Haverhill is considered
a gateway city for global technology and commerce.
- Graphic showing Haverhill's
location on a map of the United States of America.
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Haverhill's location on our planet
is: 42.785605 N, 71.072057 W. Haverhill's geographical area encompasses
34.38 square miles (32,0005.5 acres) of which land area is 32.04
square miles (30,505.5 acres) and water area is 2.34 square miles
(1,500.0 acres). Haverhill has 232.08 miles of road.
The 2000 Census shows Haverhill has 58,969 residents, up 7,551
from 1990. The census figure represents the third-highest population
boost among communities across the State of Massachusetts. Haverhill
showed the greatest growth of any city in the Merrimack Valley
between 1990 and 2000.
Haverhill Deed of Township
Haverhill was founded in 1640
by twelve English Puritans from Ipswich, MA and Newbury, MA as
a frontier settlement. Pentucket was the original name of the
settlement -- named for the nearby Native American tribe. Although
homes were built and the farm lands were being tended, it was
not until two years later in 1642 when the "Haverhill Deed
of Township" was finally signed. John Ward, Robert Clements,
Tristram Coffin, Hugh Sherratt, William White and Thomas Davis
signed for the settlers. Pentucket tribe members Passaquo and
SaggaHew, with the consent of Passaconway, signed for the tribe.
The settlers purchased the land for 3 pounds and 10 shillings.
Haverhill is named after Haverhill, England. |
|
Year |
Population |
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1850 |
5,754 |
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1860 |
9,995 |
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1870 |
13,092 |
|
1880 |
18,472 |
|
1890 |
27,412 |
|
1900 |
37,175 |
|
1910 |
44,115 |
|
1920 |
53,884 |
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1930 |
48,710 |
|
1940 |
46,752 |
|
1950 |
47,280 |
|
1960 |
46,346 |
|
1970 |
46,120 |
|
1980 |
46,865 |
|
1990 |
51,418 |
|
2000 |
58,969 |
- Graphic showing the Haverhill
Deed of Township.
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Hannah Duston
Hannah Duston (1657-1732) is
noted in history for her daring escape in 1697 from 10 Native
Americans. On March 15, 1697, Hannah, her 1 week old daughter
Martha, and 39 others were kidnapped and forced to walk over
45 miles to a site along the Merrimack River near Concord, NH.
The legend says that her daughter was then murdered. Soon after
her baby's murder, Hannah learned that she was to be taken to
a faraway village. Fearing for her own life, Hannah plotted her
escape knowing that there was little chance of any rescue attempt
being made to save her. On March 31, 1697, Hannah scalped and
killed her 10 captors and escaped. Hannah brought back the scalps
to prove her story and collect a bounty.
- Picture of Hannah Duston Statue.
George Washington
George Washington visited Haverhill
on November 4, 1789. Washington was on a "triumphant circuit"
touring New England. On his return to New York City, Washington
chose Harrod's Tavern on Main Street to spend his night. Washington's
impression of Haverhill was that it was "the pleasantest
village he had past through...... it has commercial advantages
and beauty of location". After he left Haverhill, the townspeople
named its main meeting square Washington Square.
- Picture of George Washington.
Cattle
From 1700 to 1800, Haverhill's
early industries were farming, fishing and shipbuilding. Around
1800, Haverhill had become a regional center for the cattle market.
Haverhill's businessmen were always quite zealous for making
a profit. They took advantage of the cattle market by producing
as many different products as they could from the cattle. Products
included salt beef; combs made from horns; and leather products
such as gloves, saddles, harnesses and shoes.
Ladies' Upper Laced Boot, 1883
It was the shoe industry that
first made Haverhill's mark on the world. In 1811, 20,000 pair
of shoes were being produced. By 1830, the number of pairs of
shoes produced had grown to 1,500,000. In 1890, over 11,000 people
were employed in the shoe industry and that number continued
to grow well into the early 1900's. Haverhill became a world
leader in the shoe industry and was called the "Queen Shoe
City of the World". At the shoe industry's peak, Haverhill
had over 200 shoe establishments with a fine complement of support
businesses.
John Greenleaf Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892),
the celebrated Quaker poet and abolitionist, was born in Haverhill
in 1807. Whittier is best renowned for his poem "Snowbound".
Whittier is also recognized for his works as an editor of several
newspapers.
- Picture of John Greenleaf Whittier.
Macy's Department Store, New
York City, New York
Rowland Hussey Macy (1822-1919),
of the New York City department store fame, got his start in
the retail business by opening his dry goods store in downtown
Haverhill in 1851. Macy's store was located on Merrimack Street.
Macy's first parade was not in New York City as most may think,
but was held in Haverhill on July 4, 1854. It was too hot that
day and only about 100 people turned out to view the parade.
Macy's policy for his store was "His goods are bought
for cash, and will be sold for the same, at a small advance".
In 1858 Macy sold his store and with the financial backing of
Haverhill's Caleb Dustin Hunking, he left Haverhill to open a
new store in New York City.
- Picture of Macy's Department
Store, New York City.
Haverhill became incorporated
as a city in 1870.
Bell's 1st Telephone Call.....
"Mr. Watson, come here, I want you."
Thomas S. Sanders (1839-1911),
was a prosperous leather merchant in Haverhill and the principle
financier for Alexander Graham Bell's telephone. Sander's oldest
child was a deaf mute. Sanders had befriended Bell, a specialist
in teaching the deaf, after Bell had become Sanders child's tutor.
It was in Haverhill that Bell conducted his telephone experiments.
Sanders invested $110,000.00 into Bell's telephone invention.
In 1877, Sanders along with Bell, Thomas Watson and Gardiner
Hubbard formed the Bell Telephone Company. The first business
telephone call was made in Haverhill, between the home of Sanders
on Kenoza Avenue, and his sole cutting business on Merrimack
Street.
- Picture of Alexander Graham
Bell.
William H. Moody
William H. Moody (1853-1917),
Haverhill's City Solicitor in 1888, was elected to the U.S. House
of Representatives in 1895 and was subsequently reelected 3 times.
In 1902, Moody resigned his House seat to accept an appointment
as Secretary of the Navy from President Theodore Roosevelt. In
1904, Roosevelt appointed Moody U.S. Attorney General. In 1906,
President Roosevelt nominated Moody to the Supreme Court to which
Moody served until 1910. Moody is also notarized in history as
one of the prosecuting attorneys in the famed Lizzie Borden "hatchet
murder" trial in 1892 while serving in the Massachusetts
District Attorney's Office.
- Picture of William H. Moody.
Louis B. Mayer
Louis B. Mayer (1885-1957), of
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios fame, got his start in motion
picture industry in Haverhill. In 1907, he purchased and renovated
the rundown Gem Theater for a bargain price. (He promptly renamed
it the Orpheum Theater.) Mayer made it his policy to only show
top-quality films in his theater. That policy led to a thriving
business for Mayer. Because of his success in Haverhill, Mayer
expanded to other areas in New England and within a few years
he owned the largest theater chain in the region. In 1916, Mayer
left Haverhill and ventured west to Los Angeles, CA and formed
his own production company. His company, after a series of mergers,
became known as MGM Studios.
- Picture of Louis B. Mayer.
- Picture of Downtown Waterfront
1910-- Westside.
- Picture of Downtown Waterfront
1910-- Eastside.
Archie
- Bob Montana (1920-1975)
Bob Montana (1920-1975), in 1941,
created the "Archie Comic Strip" depicting his days
as a student at Haverhill High School (HHS). Montana was a member
of HHS class of 1939. HHS is called Riverdale High in the comics
presumably because of the influence of the Merrimack River. "The
Thinker" stills sits outside at HHS's front entrance. The
main characters, Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and Reggie
are all based on Montana's real-life friends at HHS and their
teenage adventures.
Footware-to Software: Cyber District
Following the Great Depression
and WWII, Haverhill's shoe industry faded. But new businesses
soon appeared like Western Electric in the 1950's and continuing
on to Pepsi Cola in 1997. The city has recovered nicely by combining
a good mix of residential living with a good business and technology
base. Haverhill has several industrial parks and an emerging
"Cyber District". The Cyber District is located in
downtown Haverhill's nationally registered Historic District.
The district's streetscapes are recognized as having one of the
finest Queen Anne architectural styles in America.
- Picture of Footwear-to-Software
Task Force Logo.
Rolling Hills and Farmlands
Haverhill has many working farms
and is abundant in rolling hills. Rich with natural resources,
Haverhill is blessed with many lakes, streams and ponds and an
array of parks, trails and conservation areas. The Merrimack
River provides a perfect home to an increasing population of
bald eagles. Recreational activities can also be enjoyed at Haverhill's
five golf courses, downhill ski area, public skating rink, horse
riding academies or at its sailing program.
Schools
Haverhill strives to have one
of the best educational systems in the United States. Haverhill
takes great pride in the learning environment it has created
for its children. Along with its accomplished elementary, middle
and high schools, Haverhill has a vocational high school and
is the home of Northern Essex Community College. Haverhill opened
two new schools, (Silver and Golden Hill) in 1995 and two more
new schools (Bradford and Pentucket Lake) in 1998. (Total
cost for the 4 school equals approximately 60 million dollars.)
The Nettle School is currently being rehabilitated. In 1997,
Haverhill completed a 5 million dollar expansion of its public
library.
- Picture of the Golden Hill School.
New Police Station
Public safety and health care
are very important to Haverhill's citizens. In the fall of 1999,
Haverhill's new police station (6 million dollars) was completed.
The new station is a state-of-the-art facility; housing a centralized
communications center for both the police and fire departments.
In addition, the new police station is equipped with the most
modern crime-fighting, crime-deterring and crime-analyzing tools.
Haverhill has a full service hospital in the city; has several
rehabilitation and long-term care facilities; and has numerous
fitness centers.
- Picture of the New Police Station.
The Great Race
The spirit of community can be
found in every corner of Haverhill. Volunteerism has always been
an overflowing advantage for Haverhill. The City of Haverhill
sponsors many events throughout the year that bring that spirit
alive. The 4th of July Celebration, Septemberfest and Downtown
Christmas Stroll are great examples that bring about Haverhill's
charm. "A modern city with a small town flavor"
is how many visitors and residents best described Haverhill.
Haverhill was selected as the The History Channel's host city
for the finish of its 16th annual "Great Race". The
race, a cross country, antique automobile road rally, started
in Tacoma, Washington on May 31, 1998, and ended in Haverhill
on June 13, 1998. Due to the worst rain storm in 41 years, only
14,000 people turned out for the Great Race (expected attendance
was to bring an additional 50,000 people into the city to watch
the cars cross the finish line); but those that did attend had
a fantastic and memorable time.
- Graphic showing the History
Channel Great Race Logo.
Additional Notable Citizens:
LOUIS ALTER
(1902-1980)
Composer
DANIEL APPLETON
(1785-1849)
Publisher
BAILEY BARTLETT
(1750-1830)
Patriot
ENOCH BARTLETT
(1902-1860)
Horticulturist
WILLIAM F. BARTLETT
(1840-1876)
Soldier
JAMES BRICKETT
(1738-1818)
Patriot
JOHN C. CHASE
(1870-19??)
Socialist
STUART CHASE
(1888-1985)
Economist
JAMES U. CROCKETT
(1915-1979)
Horticulturist
MURIEL SANDERS DRAPER
(1886-1952)
Socialite
FRANKIE FONTAINE
(1920-1978)
Entertainer
BENJAMIN GREENLEAF
(1786-1864)
Educator
ANN HASELTINE JUDSON
(1789-1826)
Missionary
FRANK HOWARD LAHEY
(1880-1953)
Surgeon
JAMES R. NICHOLS
(1819-1888)
Scientist
NATHANIEL SALTONSTALL
(1639-1707)
Magistrate
WINFIELD TOWNLEY SCOTT
(1910-1968)
Poet
TOM BERGERON
( - )
TV Personality
Information Sources:
Books:
Chase, George Wingate. The History of Haverhill, Massachusetts
Somersworth, NH: New England History Press in collaboration with
the Haverhill Historical Society, Haverhill, MA, 1983.
O'Malley, Patricia Trainor and Tedesco, Paul H. A New England
City - Haverhill, Massachusetts Northridge, CA: Windsor Publication,
Inc., 1987.
Phillips, Charles. Archie His First 50 Years New York City, NY:
Abbeville Press, 1991.
Brochures:
What Do George Washington And Archie Have In Common Haverhill
Historical Society, Haverhill, MA.
North of Boston, 1997-1998 Visitors Guide North of Boston Convention
and Visitors Bureau, Peabody, MA.
Whittier Family Homestead Trustees of the Whittier Homestead,
Haverhill, MA
Other:
Haverhill Public Library, Haverhill, MA.
Haverhill Public Library Special Collections, Haverhill, MA.
Library of Congress
United States Geological Survey
Various Internet Sites
*Year 2000 population estimated by Massachusetts Secretary of
State William F. Glavin as reported in the Eagle-Tribune, June
21, 1999, page 1, Haverhill Edition.
Other states and countries with
cities/towns named Haverhill:
Florida, Iowa, Kansas, New Hampshire, England
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