Ludlow

By Karen E. Pilon

Incorporated on February 28, 1774, Ludlow, Massachusetts, was originally a part of Springfield. The origin of the name remains a mystery, though the most probable explanation is that it was named afterRoger Ludlow, an early prominent New England citizen who played a great part in building up the town and taking care of its citizens. The Ludlow Manufacturing Company, formed around 1900 by Charles T. Hubbard, helped shape the town by providing housing, a library, schools, playgrounds, and even a clubhouse for the diverse community. Ludlow was home to many sawmills and gristmills, utilizing the power from the several sources of water nearby, including the Chicopee River, Broad Brook, Higher Brook, and Stony Brook. The town is most noted, however, for its factory mills and production of jute yarns, twine, and webbing. Less well known was the glass-making business that was prevalent in the early 1800s. John Sikes manufactured glass bottles andother glassware and the Ludlow Manufacturing Company glass works operated for only a short time before closing in the depression years following the War of 1812. Today, Ludlow remains a culturally diversecommunity made up of Portuguese, Polish, French, and Irish residents, just to name a few.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Sep 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781439627082

Karen E. Pilon

Local author Karen E. Pilon has compiled over 200 photographs, most from the collections of the Ludlow Historical Commission and the late Ludlow historian Herbert McChesney, to bring us this timeless tribute to the people and places that have shaped Ludlow�s colorful history. Ludlow makes for an entertaining and educational presentation that will be appreciated by readers of all ages.

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INTRODUCTION

The Ludlow of today is vastly different than the Ludlow of 225 years ago. When Ludlow broke away from Springfield and signed its charter on February 28, 1774, some 200 to 300 people called it home. There were no bridges over the Chicopee River, only fords, which were often impassable. The earliest references to a bridge were about 1781. Ludlow was largely an agricultural community with many sawmills and gristmills, as three major streams snaked through town in addition to the Chicopee River. Farms in 1800 averaged in size from 50 to 100 acres. Dairy, poultry, and sheep farms were in abundance, as farmers needed to sustain their own families as well as turn a profit.

About 1900, the mills started popping up along the Chicopee River, drawing much of the population to the downtown or village area; today, this area is comprised of East, Sewall, and State Streets. The Ludlow Manufacturing Associates were responsible for the migration; they provided schools, housing, a hospital, and recreational facilities for mill employees.

Even as the 20th century progressed, Ludlow remained small and quiet. When the baby boom hit after World War II, new housing developments sprang up. Much of Ludlow’s farmland was lost to construction: the building of the Ludlow Reservoir in 1873; the building of the Westover Air Force Base (now Westover Air Reserve Base) in the late 1930s; and the building of the Massachusetts Turnpike in the 1950s.

Today, Ludlow has a population of about 19,000, and her people are a mix of all cultures. We are proud of our town; every 25 years brings a parade, town picnic, and celebrations of that nature. This year, 1999, marks the 225th anniversary of Ludlow’s incorporation. Ludlow boasts no claims to fame, and no inns tout that George Washington slept here. No revolutions were started here, and that is probably just as well. Ludlow’s people lived quietly and comfortably, enjoying life. It sounds a bit like the Ludlow of today.

One

EARLY LUDLOW

LUDLOW VILLAGE, C. 1910. This overview shows Ludlow at the turn of the 20th century. Very much a mill town at this time, the housing, the library, and Union School (center) were all provided by the Ludlow Manufacturing Company. Sawmills and gristmills were abundant in the early 1800s, giving Ludlow a vast agricultural and rural area. In the 1870s, the Ludlow Manufacturing Company was formed, thus attracting residents and employees to the village or downtown area. The exact origin of the name Ludlow is not known; most likely, it was taken from a prominent resident by the name of Roger Ludlow (a contemporary of William Pynchon, the founder of Springfield, Massachusetts).

MAP OF LUDLOW, 1857. Most of the main roads remain today; little has changed. Note on this map, family names are listed along each road, denoting residences. Originally part of Springfield, Ludlow was incorporated on February 28, 1774. Some early settlers included the families of Joseph Miller, Aaron Colton, Shem Chapin, Joshua Fuller, and James Miller. On Facing Hills Rock, high above the town, a bungalow belonging to Frederick Burr once stood. The stone foundation still remains, although time and vandals have taken their toll.

LUDLOW MANUFACTURING COMPANY, VIEW FROM NORTH WILBRAHAM. This view shows the rows of mills on the