Lowell: Why The Pawtucket Falls

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Lowell was originally land owned by the Pawtucket Indians which allowed them to fish at the Pawtucket falls. The land was slowly sold off to colonist until the land was eventually taken with a deed issued in 1714. Lowell was formed as part of the cities of Chelmsford. Shortly after, Industrialists began using Chelmsford as a location for new mills and manufacturing plants. Pawtucket falls offered a strong source of water power which gave rise to the construction of a sawmill, gristmill, and fulling mill by 1737. Although filled with water-powered potential, logging companies couldn't transport lumber downstream because of the Pawtucket falls 32 foot drop. In 1797, the Middlesex Canal was built to avoid the issues associated with the Pawtucket

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