Merrimack’s History

The close of the Revolution found Haverhill terribly impoverished with her former industries completely prostrated. The depreciation of the currency made the price of the necessities of life exceedingly high, but the word discouragement was not spoken. By 1790 affairs had assumed a more prosperous appearance and in 1797 Haverhill was again a thriving village. Shipbuilding was renewed with great energy, and several of our merchants were direct importers and exporters between New England, England, and the West Indies. Again the wharfs of Haverhill, with the coming and going of vessels, presented an animated spectacle. The sharp whistle of the steam tug was unknown, but vessels were towed up and down the river by horses, a towpath having been constructed on the North bank from Haverhill to Newburyport.

In other respects there were changes. Sumptuous dwellings were being built and the swine, whose meanderings about the street hud hitherto given the village a rustic air, were henceforth debarred that privilege. The great bridge across the river was completed in 1794 and considered a marvel of skill. The stagecoach ran to Boston and Concord twice a week regularly. The principal streets of our community were Water, Main, and Front, now Merrimack, with the outlying parish roads. Only two churches were established, the First Parish, on what is now known as G. A. R. Park, and the First Baptist, which occupied the site of the Academy of Music Building.

The population of the town was less than 3,000 people.

On November 4th, 1789, George Washington, President Of the United States and a Mason, visited Haverhill and took up his headquarters at Harrod’s Tavern, the sign of which was a painting representing Freemason’s Arms. What could he more natural than that those members of the Fraternity who founded Merrimack Lodge should meet in Harrod’s Tavern, hallowed in their eyes by the visit of the beloved Washington, under whom many of them had served in the Revolution, and that the brotherly love and friendship which we now enjoy, the desire to perpetuate the great truths of Masonry to those who should come after, and the wish to keep fresh in their minds the knowledge of the ritual should have been born in this place. We learn that the members of the Fraternity met together frequently under the name of the Masonic Society, but that no minutes were kept of any of these meetings until June 10, 1802 when it is recorded that a vote was passed to petition the Grand Lodge for a Charter. This was granted on June 15th, 1802, and Merrimack Lodge was constituted June 9th, 1803, in the Rev. Mr. Abbott’s Meeting House.

During the years 1807 to the beginning of the war of 1812 the number of candidates admitted was few. On two evenings there not being a sufficient number present to transact business the Master closed the Lodge and on the evening of June 18th so few Brothers were present that the Master did not open.

In 1813 and 1814 twenty-two members were admitted and during these two years appear the only items that refer to the war with England were the raising of Lieutenant Aaron Lewis and a letter received by the Master inquiring about the welfare of George Gilliard, a prisoner of war on parole in Andover.

Rufus Longley was made a Mason in the Lodge in 1815 and was its Master from 1817 to 1826, also from its reorganization in 1852 until his death in 1854. He was educated at Lawrence Academy, Groton, Harvard Collage for two years, graduating from the Medical School at Dartmouth in 1812. He became one of the leading practitioners in this vicinity. He was a public-spirited man, whose interest in the affairs of the town was always active 
and whose sympathy and counsel were wise and stimulat
ing. He was President of the Merrimack Bank for man
y years. His home was at the corner of Water and Green Streets, where he died March 12, 1854, and was buried in
 Pentucket Cemetery with Masonic honors, the Lodge being assisted by members of St. John’s and Grecian Lodges.

Albert L. Bartlett, in his book Some Memories of Old Haverhill, speaks of Rufus Slocomb, who was Master of Merrimack Lodge from 1859 to 1861, in the following manner: “Old Sloe” who earlier kept a tavern on Merrimack Street a short distance West of Main Street and who before the coming of the railroad was a freighter of goods to and from Boston, began business in 1818 and in 1835 kept forty horses and two yoke of oxen constantly employed in his business and his large covered wagons literally lined the road from Haverhill to Boston. In his old age he could dance like a cotillion master and he had a shrill, raucous voice, which like that of Whitefield the apostle of Methodism, could be heard a mile. Small, thin, he was full of intensity and activity, and with a grim sense of humor and unfearing determination be played no trifling part in the history of the town.

David Porter Harmon was Master of Merrimack Lodge from 1827 to 1852. He was one of the pioneer shoe manufacturers of the City: an ardent abolitionist, man of deep convictions and of great courage.

Over the years Merrimack Lodge had evidenced an interest in new Lodges. As early as 1822 Brethren from Andover had sent a petition asking Merrimack Lodge to help them secure’ a charter. Approval was granted and Saint Matthew’s Lodge was chartered, with eighteen of the original twenty-six members having been raised in our Lodge. In 1823, Warren Lodge of Amesbury extended their thanks for the assistance given in obtaining their charter. Assistance was also given to Brethren in Methuen and Lawrence, and in 1867, to Charles C. Dame Lodge of Georgetown. In December of 1864, several members of Merrimack Lodge met and voted to send back to the Lodge a petition asking for a charter for a second Lodge in Haverhill. I quote from that petition: “It is not intended by this movement to have so much a separation as a division for increased facilities, for harmonious action and labor, in which the officers and members of one lodge can freely visit and mingle with the officers and members of the other and cooperate in all practicable ways as heretofore.” It would seem that these were inspired words, for no two Lodges anywhere are more closely knit than Merrimack and Saggahew. Arm in arm and shoulder-to-shoulder our two Lodges march through the years together, rejoicing in each other’s prosperity and each sympathizing with the other in adversity.