Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire, 1875 page 186
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ty-three miles north-west from
Concord; thirty south from Hav-
erhill and five north of Lebanon.

The Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire, Seventh
Edition, Compiled by Alonzo J. Fogg. Concord, N.H.:    D.L.

186    NEW-HAMPSHIRE    GAZETTEER.


Railroad. One half mile from
the College to Norwich station, on
the Passumpsic and Connecticut
Rivers Railroad.

HARRISV1LLE.

Cheshire County. Harris-
ville was formed from the northern
part of Dublin, and the southern
portion of Nelson, and incorporat-
ed, as a town. July 2, 1870. The
village of Harrisville received its
name many years ago, from Betliu-
el Harris, an active and enterpris-
ing man, who, in 1820, commenced
business here without any capi-
tal save his energy and persever-
ance. Mr. Milan Harris has a
large interest here in the woolen
mills, and received the honor of
being the first representative to
the Legislature of New-Hampshire
after the town organization. The
surface of the town is rough and
uneven, being situated on the
height of land between the Con-
necticut and Merrimack rivers, but
the soil is good and yields fine
crops. The water power at Har-
risville is staple and as good as can
be found in the State. The mills
are situated on a small stream
called North Branch or Nubaunsit
River, and discharging its waters
into the Contoocook at Peterbor-
ough, nine miles distant from
Harrisville, and in its course has a
fall of over 600 feet. This stream
is fed by large ponds lying in the
towns of Hancock, Nelson, and
Harrisville, which have been dam-
med at their outlets, and now flow
several thousand acres, including
the original ponds. From Spots-
wood Pond ten feet can be drawn
into Long Pond which is over four
miles in length. Fourteen feet
can be drawn from Long Pond in-
to Harris Pond which is at the
head of the river, and at Harris-
ville. When the gates are closed
at night scarcely a drop of water
escapes. The four mills at Harris-
ville, as yet, have never been able
to test the full capacity of this val-
uable reservoir, by several feet
Nearly all the manufactories at
Peterborough are situated on this
small river.

Employments. Harrisville is de-
cidedly a manufacturing town. M,
Harris Woolen Co., have two
mills; capital invested, $ 160,000;
employ 60 males, and 65 females,
who annually receive for their la-
bor, $48,000; and annually pro-
duce 200,000 yards of tricot cloth,
of all colors, and Moscow beav-
ers valued at $ 330,000. Cheshire
mills have $ 100,000 invested;
employ 40 males, and 40 females;
annual pay roll $ 30,000, and pro-
duce 800,000 yards colored flannel,
valued at $ 360,000. There are al-
so lumber mills, and clothes-pins,
and wooden ware are manufac-
tured, to some extent.

Resources. Production of the soil,
$35,000; mechanical labor, $84,
000; stock in trade, $43,161; stocks
and money at interest, $22, 460;
deposits in savings banks, $57,308.

The village of Harrisville, is
situated on elevated ground, about
1,300 feet above the ocean, and is
probably the most elevated ground
in New-England for manufactories
as extensive as these. There is
one store, one church edifice, one
graded school-liouse, post office,
telegraph office, seventy-five
dwelling houses, and about 450
inhabitants.




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