Massachusetts

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Hampden County

Westfield: Founded in 1669, due to its alluvial lands, the inhabitants of this area were devoted to agricultural pursuits for about 150 years. Early in the 19th century the making of bricks, whips, and cigars became the principal occupations. The establishment of industry in the community changed its character from agricultural to a thriving industrial city during the latter part of the 19th century. Manufacturing is now the largest source of employment in Westfield.	Westfield Crossroad	Westfield Bridge Plaque
	Westfield river	Westfield Whip Manufacturing

Deli and Housing	Industrial Canal	Holyoke: The manufacturing town of Holyoke was the first pre-planned industrial city in the United States, created with the idea of utilizing the tremendous water power available through the nearby Connecticut River.
Picnic by a car	Dilapidated Housing

Chicopee: Chicopee, another manufacturing city on the Connecticut River, has transformed a number of 19th century industrial locations into mixed modern uses. An example of this is the complex of 19th century brick buildings known as Cabotville Industrial Park which has housed a variety of small and medium sized industries.	Cabot Factory	Housing Mural
	Town Hall	Chicopee Ames Spalding Factory

Ludlow Factory

Ludlow Factory

Ludlow concert on the lawn

Concert on the
lawn

Ludlow:
Ludlow, originally known as Stony Hill, is a suburban town located in the northwest corner of Springfield.

New Bedford

New Bedford: New Bedford was once a famous whaling port. Although the whalers are gone, the nautical flavor of the town is still perpetuated by a Seamen's Bethel, which was immortalized by Herman Melville in 'Moby Dick' and substantial old houses which were once homes of captains and wealthy traders.	Residential Street	Seamen's Bethel
	Historic District	Court House
	Captain's Home	Mariner's Bethel

Cambridge & Boston Metro-West

Harvard Square	Central Square City Hall	Cambridge: Cambridge, a city laid out in an orderly grid of streets, bounded today by Eliot Square and Linden Street, Massachusetts Avenue and the River, is now well known as the "University City". Many people have heard stories about its historic shrines, its learned scholars and scientists and its distinguished authors and poets. However, its history can be dated back to 1630, when a fleet of Puritans from England settled in the north bank of the Charles River. This city was known as New Towne until 1638, after the General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony gave £400 towards a college. Before 1846, when Cambridge became a city and united all villages together, it was the home of of Old Cambridge, East Cambridge and Cambridgeport. Old Cambridge had grown slowly and still retained its rural character. Small shops catered to the community and to students have given a unique charm to the area. Cambridgeport grew up along the roads leading to the Longfellow bridge. Pleasant residential neighborhoods spread out from Massachusetts Avenue, while Central Square became the downtown of the city. downtown East Cambridge was opened for development in 1809, when the Canal Bridge was completed. The area was the city's major industrial center until the 1880s.
Houses in East Cambridge	Houses with three decks in East Cambridge
A Senior Center and YMCA	A Preschool Classroom
Storefront in Central Square	Houses off Central Square
Church in Central Square	Houses off Central Square

Ann Witte, awitte@wellesley.edu
Economics
Date Created: November 15, 1999
Last Modified: August 15, 2000
Expires: January 15, 2002

© 1999, 2000 Wellesley Child Care Research Partnership