MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report
CARLISLE
Report Date: 1980
Reconnaissance Survey Town Reports, produced for MHC’s Statewide Reconnaissance Survey between 1979 and 1987, introduce the historical development of each of the Commonwealth’s municipalities. Each report begins with an historic overview, a description of topography, and political boundaries. For the purposes of the survey, the historic period has been subdivided into seven periods: Contact (1500–1620), Plantation (1620–1675), Colonial (1675–
1775), Federal (1775–1830), Early Industrial (1830-1870), Late Industrial (1870–1915), and
Early Modern (1915–1940/55). Each report concludes with survey observations that evaluate
the town’s existing historic properties inventory and highlight significant historic buildings, settlement patterns, and present threats to these resources. A bibliography lists key secondary resources.
Town reports are designed for use together with a series of town maps that demarcate settlement patterns, transportation corridors and industrial sites for each historic period. These maps
are in the form of color-coded, polyester overlays to the USGS topographic base map for each
town on file and available for consultation at MHC. For further information on the organization and preparation of town reports, readers should contact MHC.
Users should keep in mind that these reports are now two decades or more old. The information they contain, including assessments of existing knowledge, planning recommendations, understanding of local development, and bibliographic references all date to the time they were
written. In some cases, information on certain topics was not completed. No attempt has been
made to update this information.
Electronic text was not available for digital capture, and as a result most of the reports have
been scanned as PDF files. While all have been processed with optical character recognition,
there will inevitably be some character recognition errors.
The activity that is the subject of the MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report has been financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park
Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the
Interior. This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights
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prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been
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MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth
Chair, Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc
[email protected] / 617-727-8470
MiC RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY REPORT
Date:
March 1980
Community:
Carlisle
TOPOGRAPHY
Located on rugged and rocky upland t e r r a i n . Higher elevations of glacia l l y reshaped bedrock, some outwash features as well. Generally a thin,
rocky s o i l . Some lowland marsh along Concord River, Extensive upland
bog/swamp i n r e s t of town. Watershed area w i t h NW p a r t of town draining i n t o Merrimck while SE section flows i n t o Concord.
POL1TICAL BOUNDARIES
F i r s t d i s t r i c t of Carlisle established 1754 from northern p a r t of Concord (including Bloods' Farms). Second d i s t r i c t established 1780 with
addition of sections from B i l l e r i c a , Acton and Chelmsford. Incorporated
as Town of C a r l i s l e , 1805.
HISTORIC OVERVIEW
Affluent suburban town on periphery of Boston suburban axis. Located
on i n t e r i o r highland along Concord River with headwaters of Merrimack
t r i b u t a r i e s . Native s i t e s suspectedalong Concord valley and Spencer
and M i l l Brooks. Early zone of English settlement from Concord and
Chelmsford with several documented mid-17th century m i l l s i t e s and some
probable l a t e F i r s t Period houses. Limited agricultural economy during
Colonial period with formation of town center by l a t e 18th century.
Restricted i n d u s t r i a l potential during 19th century, except f o r b r i e f
copper smelter operation. Town center retains well-preserved s e t of
early 19th century structures, with several authentic period houses
on outlying roads. C a r l i s l e was beyond immediate zone of suburban expansion before mid-20th century, without r a i l r o a d o r s t r e e t railway
service. Recent growth has been regulated t o preserve h i s t o r i c period
landscapes, with careful selection of suburban development and excellent
survival of original features throughout town.
IV .
CONTACT PERIOD (1500-1620)
A.
Transportation Routes :
Located on periphery of highlands along Concord River. Conjectured
t r a i l s appear t o follow northlsouth grain along r i v e r valley as Maple
S t r e e t and River Road t o e a s t , and possibly Acton and Curve Streets t o
west. Other l i k e l y routes through central portion include Bedford,
Concord-East S t r e e t s through town center.
Settlement Patterns:
No documented period s i t e s . A few unspecified s i t e s reported
along Concord and on terraces overlooking Spencer, Pages, and Great
Brooks. Additional s i t e s l i k e l y i n these areas.
C.
Subsistance Pattern:
4ccess t o seasonal f i s h runs i n Concord River.
potential. Upland and lowland hunting/gathering.
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Carlisle
Some agricultural
D.
Observations :
While s i t e s a r e probable along Concord, uplands a r e too rugged for
extensive period occupation. Area i s on border between Nipmuck related
t e r r i t o r y ( i n t e r i o r , freshwater ponds) and riverine-coastal orientation
of Pawtucket group s i t e s i n t h i s area could help define these groups
more clearly.
FIRST SETTLE3ENT PERIOD (1620-1675)
A.
Transportation Routes :
Native t r a i l s remain as highways i n 17th century.
Population :
Small, probably a dozen families o r l e s s by end of period.
Settlement:
Three separate l o c i of e a r l y settlement: Bloods1 Farms (Bedford
Road south of Pages Brook) a f t e r 1653; Chelmsford "South End" (Curve
S t r e e t area around Great Brook) a f t e r 1655; people from Concord focused
around m i l l on Spencer Brook (South Street/Concord Road) a f t e r 1662.
Apparently l i t t l e interaction between these groups.
D.
Economic Base:
Small-scale agriculture, grazing and lwnbering. Mills important
within each settlement area: Robert Blook, sawmill on Pages Brook
about 1660; George Robbins' m i l l on Great Brook a f t e r 1655; James Adams1
sawmill on Spencer Brook, 1662.
E.
Observations:
A composite of outlying milling areas from Concord and Chelmsford
(reminiscent of Walpole) and the semi-autonomous c o m i t y of Blooks'
Farms. No p a r t i c u l a r relationship m n g these. There appears t o be
very good potential both f o r F i r s t Period structures and pre-King
P h i l i p ' s War archaeological s i t e s (domestic and m i l l ) .
COLONIAL E R I O D 11676-1775)
Transportation Routes:
Location of town center by mid-18th century creates radial road
pattern from meetinghouse as Bedford-Westford Roads, Concord-EastRutland S t r e e t s , and Lowell-School-Bellows H i l l Roads. Secondary roads
to m i l l s i t e s include Brook and Cross S t r e e t s .
B.
Population:
Slow growth during 17th and early 18th century - - limited agricult u r a l land available plus i n s t a b i l i t y due t o f r o n t i e r warfare. Estimate
of 30-40 families by 1754 with increased growth a f t e r . No specific
figures available.
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Carlisle
C.
Settlement:
The three f i r s t period l o c i remained dominant up through 1750 with
gradually more farms and roads connecting them. Momentum f o r a town
center began i n 1730's with much controversy over location. bfeetinghouse
b u i l t 1758 o f f Bedford Road - - by end of period t h i s area began t o
emerge as town center.
D.
Economic Base :
Agriculture and grazing - - some evidence of upland bogs being
drained f o r pasture . Apple orchards (cider) . Lumbering. Several
mills: John B a r r e t t ' s f u l l i n g m i l l , Great Brook, 1691; Adam's mill,
Great Brook, 1730; Solomon Andrewst sawmill, Greenough Pond, 1757. An
undated (probably 18th century) lime k i l n o f f West S t r e e t near Spencer
Brook. Several taverns : Black Mansion, Bedford and Maple S t r e e t s ,
1750; Spauldingls, East S t r e e t , 1754; Old Revolutionary Tavern, Stearns
S t r e e t , 1757; Red Lion, West S t r e e t , 1771.
E.
Architecture:
Residential: Nearly a l l examples of the period seem t o have been
vernacular, two-storey houses of the c e n t r a l chimney type. A t l e a s t
one central-chimney cottage with a gambrel roof appears t o date from
the period, although local sources a t t r i b u t e an unlikely construction
date of 1654. lhere i s l i t t l e evidence of any high-style Georgian
architecture, although individual examples (related t o those i n Bedford) may have existed.
F.
Observations :
Separatism of 17th century was overcome during 18th century as
outlying but topographically r e l a t e d sections of Concord, Chelmsford,
B i l l e r i c a and Acton began t o coalesce i n t o a town. Period landscape
is remarkably i n t a c t i n much of the town.
VII.
FEDERAL PERIOD 11775-1830)
A.
Transportation Routes :
Radial highways from town center remain from 18th century. Concord River bridge t o Bedford i n 1790s joins Bedford Road a t r i v e r
meadows.
B
.
Population :
Gradual growth u n t i l 1820, a f t e r which population declined; no
foreign-born population known. Union Calvinist Society formed 18271830; Baptists present ca. 1824, but no congregation formed.
C.
Settlement Location:
Some scattered farm houses and cottages b u i l t , major new building
occurred on main roads a t C a r l i s l e Center.
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Carlisle
-4 D.
Economic Base:
Remained e n t i r e l y agricultural community with several small grist
and saw mills on available water power.
E.
Architecture:
Residential: Vernacular examples of the period divided between
central chimney cottages, central chimney two-storey houses and rearwall chimney, two-storey houses, few of which possessed decorative det a i l s beyond the entry. Several ambitious Federalist s t y l e houses with
end-wall chimney plans and high-style decorative d e t a i l s b u i l t i n
scattered locations (southeastern and southwestern sections). 83
houses existed i n C a r l i s l e i n 1831.
I n s t i t u t i o n a l : Federalist s t y l e meetinghouse b u i l t 1811 ( F i r s t
Parish) painted "s trawl1 color with "Chocolate Collourl t r i m and mahogany
color doors. Six school "squadrons" ( l a t e r d i s t r i c t s ) established 1780,
no schoolhouses seem t o have been b u i l t p r i o r t o 1818 when a brick schoolhouse was b u i l t a t the town center, brick schoolhouse b u i l t i n North
D i s t r i c t , 1828 (Lowell S t r e e t ) , wood-frame schoolhouses may have been
b u i l t i n other d i s t r i c t s . Hearse house b u i l t 1809 (16lx9'); "noon
houses" b u i l t by meetinghouse, 1788 (demolished 1837).
C o m r c i a l : A t l e a s t one tavern a t center (1782) , domestic i n
s c a l e and plan, probably enlarged t o contain public h a l l ; possible
one-storey s t o r e building a t center ca. 1810-20.
Industrial: Artisan workshops and g r i s t and saw mills; no mechanized
manufacturing present.
VIII.
EARLY INDUSTRIAL PERIOD (1830-1870)
A.
Transportation Routes:
Highways remain from early 19th century. No railroads through
area, although branch from Acton touches Westford l i n e (1870) with
l i n k highway as Westford S t r e e t .
S l i g h t increase between 1840 and 1850, thereafter s t a b l e u n t i l dec l i n e a f t e r 1865; very small foreign-born population made up primarily
of I r i s h immigrants. No new religious s o c i e t i e s formed.
C.
Settlement Location:
Small amount of new construction a t town center and on Bedford
Road near Brook S t r e e t ; l i t t l e change i n s e t t l e d area.
D.
Economic Base:
Discovery of copper deposit i n the h i l l north of South and Concord
s t r e e t s introduces b r i e f l y C a r l i s l e l s only manufacturing industry, a
copper smelter operated by the leading church b e l l founders, Henry N.
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Carlisle
Hooper 6 Co. ?he local townspeople objected, however, t o the vegetationk i l l i n g fumes, and, unable t o purchase the neighboring farms the operation was abandoned i n 1849 -- coincidental with the discovery of the
Lake Superior ore bodies.
E.
Architecture:
Residential: No high-style present; of the small number of new
houses constructed, most were side-hall examples of the Greek Revival
and I t a l i a n a t e s t y l e s , both one and two-stories. Single ambitious
examples e x i s t a t the town center of Carpenter Gothic and I t a l i a n a t e
styles .
I n s t i t u t i o n a l : Late Federalist s t y l e meetinghouse b u i l t f o r Union
Calvinist (Congregational Society) 1831-32, enlarged 1837, 1866. School
d i s t r i c t s reduced t o f i v e a f t e r 1837. Wood-frame schoolhouses b u i l t
i n 1839 (south and e a s t d i s t r i c t s ) , 1840 (North D i s t r i c t ) and 1869 (East
D i s t r i c t ) . Brick schoolhouse, Greek RevivallItalianate s t y l e b u i l t a t
Center, 1848. F i r s t Parish meetinghouse divided i n t e r n a l l y i n t o two
h a l l s , 1852. Town farm purchased 1852-53; town-owned hearse house
b u i l t 1867.
Commercial: Limited commerce a t town center, one two-storey woodframe commercial block l i k e l y by 1850s, other businesses possibly
housed i n pre-existing tavern and houses.
Industry: No mechanized industry; small number of g r i s t and saw
mills as well as one-storey wood-frame artisanlworkshops f o r blacksmithing,
shoemaking and hoop-making.
IX.
LATE INDUSTRIAL PERIOD (1870-1915)
Transportation Routes:
Roads remain from mid-19th century.
area.
B.
No s t r e e t railway routes through
Population:
Fluctuation i n 478-569 range throughout period; slow growth of
foreign-born population t o a peak of 110 i n 1905, I r i s h were l a r g e s t
foreign-born group u n t i l ca. 1895, a f t e r which Norwegians became the
l a r g e s t group. No new religious s o c i e t i e s formed.
C.
Settlement Location:
No enlargement of s e t t l e d area.
D.
Economic Base:
Barrel-making supported dominant agricultural economy.
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Carlisle
-6E.
Architecture:
Residential: No high-style present; nearly no new construction
evident; some side-hall plan and center entrance I t a l i a n a t e houses may
have been b u i l t up t o ca. 1880; several extremely simple side-hall
examples of the Queen Anne s t y l e were b u i l t ca. 1900.
I n s t i t u t i o n a l : Victorian Gothic s t y l e addition t o Union Calvinist
(Congregational) Church, 1882, chapel added 1910-12 ; memrial chapel
( a s t y l i s t i c ) b u i l t p r i o r t o 1908 a t town-owned cemetary. New South
Schoolhouse b u i l t 1887; central graded school established by 1899-1900,
d i s t r i c t school houses closed by 1905, Colonial Revival s t y l e central
school house b u i l t 1908. Queen Anne s t y l e , brick l i b r a r y b u i l t 1895-1896;
new house b u i l t a t town farm, 1881.
Commercial : Wo-storey, gable- face, commercial block ( l a t e I t a l i anate s t y l e ) b u i l t a t center, 1879 (burned 1925).
Industrial : No development.
X.
EARLY MODERN PERIOD (1915- 1940)
A.
Transportation Routes :
Colonial highways r e b u i l t as autoroutes during mid-20th century
including Route 225 (Bedford-west ford Streets) through town center.
B.
Population:
Continuous slow growth throughout period.
C.
Settlement Location:
Scattered.
D.
Economic Base :
No new industries, though dairying, orchardry, truck gardening,
and poultry r a i s i n g thrive.
E.
Architecture:
Residential: Several small country e s t a t e s developed i n southeast
and southwest sections of town, single high-style examples of Colonial
Revival and neo-medieval s t y l e s (1920s?). Other new construction
limited primarily t o m d e s t bungalows and Colonial Revival s t y l e
cottages/
I n s t i t u t i o n a l : Bungalow s t y l e firehouse b u i l t , 1925; possible
private hospital b u i l t i n Colonial Revival s t y l e (ca. 1920-30) on
South S t r e e t .
Commercial: Small nwnber of scattered farm stands; two-storey
bungalow/astylistic commercial block b u i l t a t town center, 1928.
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Carlisle
Industrial : No development.
XI.
SOURCES
Bull, Sidney Augustus, History of the Town of Carlisle, Massachusetts,
1754-1920 (1920).
Williams, Martha F., 30 manuscript notebooks i n Gleason Library, Carlisle,
d e t a i l i n g h i s t o r i e s with photos and some plans of a l l (?) o l d houses
(no industries) i n Carlisle. Indexed. 1931-1941.
Wilkins, Ruth C . , Carlisle, I t s History and Heritage (1976)
MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Carlisle