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45-585: Walnut Grove Cemetery is a historic cemetery at Grove and Railroads Streets in Methuen, Massachusetts . The still active cemetery sits on 14 acres (5.7 ha) and is privately funded with a board of directors. The cemetery was established in 1853, and was laid out in the then-popular rural cemetery style. The Tenney Memorial Chapel given by the Daniel G. Tenney in 1927 as a memorial to his parents Charles H. Tenney and Fannie Haseltine (Gleason) Tenney. The chapel

90-796: A column released in the UTW's official magazine The Textile Worker , 85,000 textile workers were out on strike, with 8,000 out in Pawtuxet Mills, 15,000 in Blackstone Valley, 33,000 in New Hampshire mills, 13,000 at Lawrence Mills and 16,000 in the other New England towns. The strike began at the Royal Mill , West Warwick, R.I in the Pawtuxet Valley and spread quickly. With the Blackstone Valley quickly following. In

135-524: A crowd of a 1,000 people who had gathered at the plant of the Jenckes Spinning Company . Juan D'Assumpcau, a nearby grocer clerk, was killed by police fire, and ended up being shot in the backside seven times. 17 others ended up wounded, some from earlier police beatings, and eight from the shots. A local newspaper from the time gives a higher number of casualties, with two men killed and 50 wounded, ten severely. Another source from

180-488: A form of government that had historically and legally been exclusive to cities, the community, in a gesture of traditionalism, retained the name Town of Methuen in its charter. However, because Massachusetts cities have self-governing powers not available to towns, it became known for legal purposes as "The City Known as the Town of Methuen". A subsequent charter, which adopted a strong mayor form of government, officially changed

225-407: A major within the broader strike(s), dispatching organizers to many mill towns, both to aid and to claim leadership over the strikes. However, their conservative approach remained criticized by the more radical workers and hindered effectiveness in some cases. During the strike, 18 injunctions were levied against strikers in an attempt to prevent picketing and striking. By April 1922, according to

270-480: A pay reduction of 20 percent, with hours increased from 48 to 54 hours per week. With support from the UTW, millworkers decided to strike when the change went into effect on February 13. On February 13, 14 mills struck with all but three having to close during the strike. On April 10, several thousand strikers marched in the streets of Manchester. The parade was voted on by its members the night before, during which they also voted to continue striking. The intent of

315-400: A wage cut, joined the strike in response to militia soldiers parading around in the mill they worked at. On June 5, Pontiac Mills started evicting 150 people, 50 families from their mill-owned homes . Latter that afternoon, Rhode Island Judge Justice Tanner issued a restraining order not allowing the eviction of tenants in either Pontiac or Natick. However, It's unclear whether or not this

360-659: Is administered by the Methuen Historic District Commission, which protects the district from alterations that might compromise its historic integrity. Property owners within the historic district must obey the Rules and Regulations of the Historic District Commission. The rules and regulations specify general criteria for materials used, size and proportions of the buildings, colors, as well as other features. Any violation of

405-514: Is also crossed by Route 28 , Route 110 , and Route 113 , the latter two meeting at I-93 Exit 43 (old exit 46). I-93 provides the town's only bridge across the Merrimack; there are several crossings in Lawrence, and several in neighboring Haverhill, but none for 7 miles (11 km) upstream from I-93 all the way to the eastern end of Lowell and also comes down from New Hampshire , providing

450-503: Is the Ranger, named after Rogers' Rangers , the precursor of the U.S. Army Rangers , which was founded by town resident Robert Rogers . The Searles Tenney Nevins Historic District, established by the city in 1992 to preserve the "distinctive architecture and rich character of one of Massachusetts' most unique neighborhoods", is named after the three Methuen city fathers: David C. Nevins , Edward F. Searles and Charles H. Tenney . From

495-596: Is water. Methuen lies alongside the northern banks of the Merrimack River and is bisected by the Spicket (originally " Spigot ") River, as well as many brooks and streams. There are several ponds dotting the area as well, and the town is home to a town forest, a bird sanctuary, and a small state park (Tenney State Park). Pine Island, near the southern end of town in the Merrimack River, is also part of

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540-593: The Blackstone mills immediately joined after hearing about the UTW local's decision to strike. By February, the mills of both the valleys were shut down, and the strike had spread to textile firms in Providence, Rhode Island , Lawrence, Massachusetts , and Manchester, New Hampshire . By February 14, 40,000 to 50,000 textile workers were on strike in New England. The United Textile Workers (UTW) played

585-622: The General Court to grant them permission to form a new town above Hawke's Meadow Brook. Although opposed by their fellow townsmen, the petition was approved the following year (December 8, 1725), and the General Court gave them an act of incorporation under the name of Methuen. The town was named for Sir Paul Methuen , a member of the King's Privy Council and friend of acting Provincial Governor William Dummer . The first town meeting

630-705: The Haverhill/Reading Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail , providing service into Boston's North Station . Small plane service can be found at Lawrence Municipal Airport and the Merrimack Valley Seaplane Base , with the nearest national service being at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport , and the nearest international service being at Logan International Airport . As of the census of 2000, there were 43,789 people, 16,532 households, and 11,539 families residing in

675-868: The Merrimack Valley Conference . Their big rivals are the Andover Golden Warriors, the Central Catholic Raiders of Lawrence , and the Haverhill Hillies. On Thanksgiving Day , the football team plays fellow Merrimack Valley foe the Dracut Middies. The teams first met in a non-Thanksgiving Day game in 1935 and did not play again until the Thanksgiving series started in 1963. The school colors are blue and white, and their mascot

720-607: The 1800s influenced Methuen's development. Construction of the Methuen Cotton Mills at the Spicket River falls in the 1820s and the increased manufacture of hats and shoes in small factories along the Spicket spurred the centralization of Methuen's economic, residential and cultural activities within the area around Osgood, Broadway, Hampshire and Pleasant streets. Three wealthy and prominent families—the Nevins,

765-545: The City of Methuen: Today, the trio's collective vision can be seen in mills, housing, schools, mansions, churches, monuments, playgrounds, the library, and the architectural fantasies that resulted from their artistic rivalry. The historic district boundaries were established to include properties and buildings constructed or used by the Searles, Tenney and Nevins families and the people who worked for them. The historic district

810-729: The Tenneys and the Searles—played a significant role in Methuen's history and development. These families were instrumental in the founding of many of Methuen's landmarks, including the Nevins Memorial Library, the Searles building, Tenney Gatehouse, Nevins Home, Spicket Falls, and the Civil War monument between Pleasant and Charles streets. In 1922, it was affected by the 1922 New England Textile Strike , shutting down

855-513: The UTW completely led New Hampshire. The strike has its beginnings fourteen months earlier. In December 1920, textile workers in New England accepted a 22.5% percent cut. However, in January 1922 this was pushed further. New England mill owners demanded an additional 20% reduction in wages, while New Hampshire and Rhode Island owners specifically attempted to restore the 54 hour week at

900-420: The age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. Of all households, 25.3% were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.17. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under

945-458: The age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 49,627, and the median income for a family was $ 59,831. Males had a median income of $ 41,693 versus $ 31,864 for females. The per capita income for

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990-399: The city was $ 22,305. About 5.8% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those aged 65 or over. Historically, Methuen had a town meeting-selectmen form of government and was known as the Town of Methuen until it adopted a charter replacing its traditional town meeting and selectmen with a council and manager. Even with

1035-430: The city. The population density was 1,954.7 persons per square mile (754.8/km ). There were 16,885 housing units, at an average density of 753.7 per square mile (291.0/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 89.35% White , 1.35% African American , 0.22% Native American , 2.38% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 4.87% from other races , and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos , of any race, were 9.64% of

1080-515: The community name to the "City of Methuen". Methuen's city government consists of a mayor, three Councilors-at-Large, two East District councilors, two Central District councilors, two West District councilors, and six School Committee members. The following are the current members of Methuen's municipal government: Methuen is part of the Massachusetts Senate's 1st Essex district . Methuen High School's athletic teams play in

1125-627: The fastest route to both 25 minutes north to Manchester, New Hampshire , and 25-30 minutes south to Boston. Methuen is served by the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority 's bus service. Daily intercity bus service to Worcester and New York City is provided by OurBus from the Methuen Park and Ride. The nearest rail stations are in South Lawrence and Haverhill, which are both part of

1170-720: The first day, at least 18 plants had gone on strike, by the sixth day 25 plants had closed. On April 29, Deputy Sheriffs began serving eviction notices to the families of strikers that occupied company houses within the Pawtuxet Valley. This included the Interlaken Mills in Arkwright and Harris , and the Hope Company Mills in Hope and Phenix . On the morning of February 21, in Pawtucket, police shot into

1215-482: The funeral procession. Following the event, militia were called in by Rhode Island governor Emery J. San Souci , with machine guns mounted to the roofs of Pontiac Mill and nearby Natick Mill. They were used to escort strikebreakers . Some were stationed at Pawtucket, while the others were stationed at Crompton , part of the Pawtuxet River Valley. Later, one silk weaving mill not affected by

1260-431: The mass meetings, rallies, and pickets. The UTW's refusal to cooperate with other unions (I.W.W., Mulespinners, AFL Loomfixer's) weakened the Lawrence mill's strike. At the time Ben Legere , an I.W.W. leader, had proposed a joint strike committee with representatives from each striking union, which the UTW officials refused. Outside Lawrence, the UTW and ATW broadly and successfully cooperated with each other in organizing

1305-507: The mills in the city over an attempted wage cut. Methuen is located at 42°43′48″N 71°10′46″W  /  42.73000°N 71.17944°W  / 42.73000; -71.17944 (42.730040, −71.179352). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 23.1 square miles (59.7 km ), of which 22.2 square miles (57.6 km ) is land and 0.77 square miles (2.0 km ), or 3.42%,

1350-420: The north. Methuen is located 17 miles (27 km) southwest from Newburyport , 30 miles (48 km) north-northwest of Boston and 25 miles (40 km) south-southeast of Manchester, New Hampshire . Methuen was first settled in 1642 and was officially incorporated in 1726. Methuen was originally part of Haverhill, Massachusetts . In 1724 Stephen Barker and others in the western part of that town petitioned

1395-479: The other workers not a part of the union. By March 1, now with 900 ATW members, they called the strike. On March 27, striking started in Lawrence at seven mills. The organizing at the mills was contested. As the UTW refused to cooperate with other unions, so the I.W.W. held elections in Lawrence for a fifty-member strike committee. The I.W.W. played a crucial role in the organizing within Lawrence, mobilizing

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1440-419: The parade was to be a demonstration of the strike's strength. Strikers carried slogans emphasizing the 48 hour week. In August, Amoskeag restored the pre-strike wage scale. However, workers continued to strike for a return to the 48-hour week, as well as assurances that strike leaders would not be blacklisted. On November 26, strikers returned to work with their demands partially unmet. But some hoped that

1485-500: The population (8.4% Dominican , 5.7% Puerto Rican , 0.6% Guatemalan , 0.3% Ecuadorian , 0.3% Mexican , 0.3% Cuban ). Methuen has a very diverse population and it has gotten more diverse over the years. For a very long time, Methuen and its neighboring city, Lawrence have always been, and still are home to a large number of Lebanese Italian communities. Methuen is also a major Hispanic/Latino community, including Dominicans. There were 16,532 households, of which 33.1% had children under

1530-830: The rules and regulations can result in fines and other possible legal action. Bounded within the Searles Tenney Nevins Historic District are the Spicket Falls Historic District and the Pleasant-High Historic District . Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places , as are many of the other buildings within the area. Notable Court Cases: 1922 New England Textile Strike The UTW & ATW led Rhode Island. The IWW, ATW, & UTW led Massachusetts. Lastly,

1575-613: The same protections. On January 23, 1922, weavers at the Royal Mill in the Pawtuxet Valley of Rhode Island walked out, shutting down the mills. They then marched through Pawtucket , calling out workers at each mill, with many joining the strike. In the Blackstone Valley the United Textile Workers locals responded to the mill owners' announcements, calling a strike. The non-unionized workers of

1620-477: The same time. This set off a wave of prolonged walkouts which would develop into the New England textile strike. In Maine , textile workers did not strike, while in Massachusetts workers at a few of the mills decided to more thoroughly organize before striking. In Connecticut, for the two mills where the wage reduction was made, also did not strike. In addition to strikes by workers directly affected by

1665-503: The textile mills and supporting the broad strike. Late in August, it was announced that wages would be restored to their previous levels before the reduction, with back pay, at the Lawrence mills. This was the first break of mill owners, to concede to reversing the wage cut, which caused many other mills to follow suit. At Methuen, two mills went on strike. On February 2, 1922, Amoskeag Mills announced all departments would receive

1710-456: The time also claims two people were killed. Reportedly before the shooting, Pawtucket Mayor Robert A. Kenyon at the plant read the Riot Act out loud. He then told the patrolmen to be careful but to do their duty and to "shoot if necessary". Another account claims Mayor Kenyon fired their pistol up into the air shortly before the shooting occurred. On February 23, 5,000 –7,000 marched in

1755-412: The town's land. Methuen lies at the northern end of Interstate 93 in Massachusetts, with three exits providing access. A portion of Interstate 495 crosses through the eastern side of town from Lawrence to Haverhill. Massachusetts Route 213 , the "Loop Connector", provides highway access between the two, having three intermediate exits of its own, in addition to the exits for I-93 and I-495. The town

1800-540: The wage cuts, sympathy strikes also occurred throughout. Many of the striking workers were not organized into a union before this. More than half of the strikers in Rhode Island did not belong to a union, while in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, three out of four did not have a union. The lack of wage reduction announcements in the highly organized textile cities of Fall River and New Bedford, Massachusetts , also encouraged workers to organize, in order to receive

1845-464: Was 53,059 at the 2020 census . Methuen lies along the northwestern edge of Essex County, just east of Middlesex County and just south of Rockingham County, New Hampshire . The city is bordered by Haverhill to the northeast, North Andover to the southeast, Lawrence and Andover to the south, Dracut (Middlesex County) to the west, Pelham, New Hampshire ( Hillsborough County ) to the northwest, and Salem, New Hampshire ( Rockingham County ) to

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1890-513: Was designed by architect Grosvenor Atterbury . The earliest burial is estimated to be about 1850; whereas the number of burials before 1960 is unknown, there have been 896 burials since 1960. The cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Methuen, Massachusetts Methuen ( / m ə ˈ θ uː ə n / ) is a 23-square-mile (60 km ) city in Essex County, Massachusetts , United States. The population

1935-548: Was donated by descendants of the original proprietors of Haverhill, and in 1738 the second Methuen meetinghouse was raised. The structure survives to this day, as the Salem N.H. Historical Society building. In 1741, with the fixing of the Northern boundary of Massachusetts , most of this new north parish was removed from Methuen and placed in New Hampshire. It was incorporated as Salem, New Hampshire in 1750. Industrial growth in

1980-638: Was enforced, with two families in Pontiac and five in Natick already evicted. On February 13, the strike began in Massachusetts starting from two manufacturing mills in Lowell . On July 10, another Lowell Mill joined the strike, and another on July 17. In Fitchburg , 2,400 people worked in cotton textile mills, but only 300 were organized with the ATW. Workers there voted to delay the strike to ally with and organize

2025-401: Was held on March 9, 1726, in the home of a resident. The land was set aside for a meetinghouse, which was erected later in 1726 on what is now Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery . The residents in the northern part of the new town of Methuen soon petitioned to have their own meetinghouse (a combination of town hall and puritan church), and in 1736 the north parish was set off. Land for a meetinghouse

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