were immediately erected at a cost of over $200,000.  The works were built from plans designed by the late President, and are arranged with special reference to the variety of machines manufactured, consisting of railroad and machinists’ tools, steam-engines, water-wheels, and shafting.  They comprise machine shops, foundries and forges, and rank with the oldest and largest establishments of the kind in the United States.

The Putnams are descendants of Gen. Israel Putnam of Revolutionary fame.

[Illustration:  RESIDENCE OF MRS. SALMON W. PUTNAM, WALNUT STREET]

The Fitchburg Machine Works occupy a large and convenient brick building on Main street, near its beginning, and manufacture machinists’ tools principally.  Opposite is the handsome brick building occupied by C.H.  Brown and Company, manufacturers of the “Brown” automatic cut-off steam-engines, which have gained a wide reputation.  A little further up on Main street is located the Simonds Manufacturing Company.  This company was organized in 1868 with a capital of $150,000 and manufactures machine knives and the well-known “Simonds” Circular Saw.

On Water street are three machine shops to be noticed.  The Union Machine Company makes paper machinery.  The Rollstone Machine Company, manufactures the “Rollstone” Lathe and other wood-working machinery.  The Fitchburg Steam Engine Company, whose business was established in 1871, manufactures steam-engines and boilers, making a specialty of the “Fitchburg” steam-engine, the great merits of which are everywhere acknowledged.  The company, notwithstanding its comparatively recent organization, has a firm foothold in this country, and abroad also.

D.M.  Dillon manufactures boilers and paper machinery.  A.D.  Waymouth and Company, and C.W.  Wilder manufacture respectively the Waymouth wood-turning lathe and Wilder’s patent lathe.

In 1866 Charles Burleigh of Fitchburg invented the Burleigh rock drill, and the next year the Burleigh Rock Drill Company was organized with a capital of $150,000, to make and sell this machine and the Burleigh Patent air-compressor.  These drills have completely revolutionized the business of rock-tunneling.  They were first used in the Hoosac Tunnel and, proved highly successful.  Since then they have been employed at Hell Gate, in the Sutro Tunnel, and at various points in Europe.

[Illustration:  STILES BLOCK, MAIN STREET.]

The Rollstone Iron Foundry, the Fitchburg Iron Foundry, and M.J.  Perault, manufacture castings of all kinds.  W.A.  Hardy operates a brass Foundry on Water street.  There is no space to indulge further in details regarding machinery.  In addition to the above are numerous individuals and firms here engaged in the manufacture of mowing machines and agricultural implements, boiler makers’ tools, electric machinery and apparatus, files, grist and flouring-mill machinery, hay, straw, and machine, knives, wood-working machinery, machinists’ tools, water motors, watch tools, paper machinery and the like.