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Dudley is a
rural, upland college town with two major rivers, the Quinebaug and
the French. After King Philip's war, in 1684, the Nipmuck Indians
sold large tracts of land to colonists and the town was populous
enough to be incorporated in 1731. It was the first town
incorporated after the formation of Worcester County. The town was
at first seen as unsuited for agriculture, but the large number of
ponds and reservoirs created in the 19th century provided ample
water power for significant textile, manufacturing and industrial
development. Along with its industrial base, and despite its
reputation, Dudley maintained a large agricultural establishment,
growing hay, grains and vegetables and raising sheep and cattle. The
introduction of woolen mills made Dudley an industrial force in the
county and by 1832, 40,000 yards of broadcloth and 70,000 yards of
satinet was being produced by residents and French Canadian and
Irish immigrants. The town's economy was dominated by the textile
industry until the 20th century. In 1865, two million yards of linen
and burlap were woven in Dudley. Modern Dudley still shows
indications of its rural background from the poultry farms, dairy
farms which produced milk, butter and cheese and vegetable and
market gardens.
(Seal supplied
by community. Narrative based on information provided by the
Massachusetts Historical Commission) |
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