This panoramic print of Leominster, Massachusetts was drawn and published by L. R. Burleigh in 1886. Leominster was incorporated as a town in 1740 along the Nashua River. The surrounding area contained family farms, growing fields of grain and orchards of fruit.
Johnny Appleseed was born in Leominster in 1774. By that time the town’s manufacturing interests were turning towards the production of plastic. Several early plastics manufacturers and related industries emerged in Leominster in the late 1700's.
The first celluloid was developed in Leominster by John Wesley Hyatt, involving heated nitrates mixed with animal horns and hooves and molded to shape combs and other items. Throughout the 1800's, Leominster plastic manufactories were busy producing combs, glasses frames, buttons and toys of all kinds.
The illustration includes labeled roads, buildings and railroad routes. There are inset illustrations of a view of the Common as it was in 1840 and a view of Square looking south, 1886.
Features references to the following locations:
First Congregational (Unitarian) Church.
Orthodox Congregational Church.
Central Baptist Church.
Methodist Episcopal Church.
St. Leo’s Roman Catholic Church.
Leominster Public Schools.
First National Bank and Savings Bank.
Town Hall and Library.
Symonds’ Roller Skating Pavilion.
Old Colony R. R. Station.
Leominster Hotel.
Linden House Mrs. E. Freeman, Proprietor.
Central House. A. W. Gibson, Proprietor.
Leominster Gas Works.
Leominster Enterprise (Weekly) Office.
F. A. Whitney Carriage Company.
Wachusett Shirt Company.
Leominster Shirt Company.
White Star Shirt Company.
W. S. Reed Toy Company.
J. H. Lockey & Co., Piano-Forte Case Manufactory.
C. J. Cobleigh, Piano-Forte Case Manufactory.
F. G. Smith, Piano-Forte Case Manufactory.
J. P. Lockey & Co. Piano Case and Stool Manufactory.
W. H. Jewett & Co. Piano-Forte Manufactory.
A. G. Reckard, Piano-Forte Manufactory.
The Leominster Furniture Mfg. Company.
Geo. L. Rice, Steam Box Shop and Planing Mill.
Tenney & Kenney, Steam Planing Mill and Sash and Blind Factory.
Harwood Mfg. Leatherboard Mill.
E. M. Rockwell’s Woolen Mills.
H. M. Richardson & Co., Childrens’ Carriages.
Miller & Lawrence, Tub and Pail Works.
James A. Stowell, Machine Shop.
A. W. Williams, Horn Goods Manufactory.
W. D. Earle & Co., Horn Goods Manufactory.
Tilton & Cook, Horn Goods Manufactory.
Paton Mfg. Co., Horn Goods Manufactory.
B. F. Blodgett & Co., Horn Goods Manufactory.
G. F. Colburn, Horn Goods Manufactory.
A. Richardson & Co., Horn Goods Manufactory.
J. Smith & Co., Horn Goods Manufactory.
Damon, Howe & Co., Horn Goods Manufactory.
Horn Dealers and Horn Goods Manufactory.
H. E. Davis, Horn Buttons Manufactory.
Wm. Booth & Co., Florentine Goods Mfy.
J. W. Wetherbee, Rubber and Shell Eye Glass Mfy.
C. E. Hudson, Apple Parer Manufactory.
John Mather, Machine Shop.
Gould & Cook, Machine Shop.
C. W. Durant, Carriage Mfy.
Sun Enamel Works, Aldrich Cook, Proprietor.
A. A. Tisdale & Co., Reed Goods Manufactory.