West Groton is a small settlement that has sprung up in the western part of the town, dating back in its history to the last century.  It is pleasantly situated on the banks of the Squannacook River, and in my boyhood was known as Squannacook, a much better name than the present one.  It is to be regretted that so many of the old Indian words, which smack of the region, should have been crowded out of our local nomenclature.  There is a small water-power here, and formerly a sawmill, gristmill, and a paper-mill were in operation; but these have now given way to a factory, where leather-board is made.  The Peterborough and Shirley branch of the Fitchburg Railroad passes through the place, and some local business is transacted in the neighborhood.  As a matter of course, a post-office was needed in the village, and one was established on March 19, 1850.  The first person to fill the office was Adams Archibald, a native of Truro, Nova Scotia, who kept it in the railway-station.

The following is a list of the postmasters, with the dates of their appointment:—­

  Adams Archibald, March 19, 1850. 
  Edmund Blood, May 25, 1868. 
  Charles H. Hill, July 31, 1871. 
  George H. Bixby, June, 1878.

During the postmastership of Mr. Blood, and since that time, the office has been kept at the only store in the place.

A post-office was established at South Groton, on June 1, 1849, and the first postmaster was Andrew B. Gardner.  The village was widely known as Groton Junction, and resulted from the intersection of several railroads.  Here six passenger-trains coming from different points were due in the same station at the same time, and they all were supposed to leave as punctually.

The trains on the Fitchburg Railroad, arriving from each direction, and likewise the trains on the Worcester and Nashua Road from the north and the south, passed each other at this place.  There was also a train from Lowell, on the Stony Brook Railroad, and another on the Peterborough and Shirley branch, coming at that time from West Townsend.

A busy settlement grew up, which was incorporated as a distinct town under the name of Ayer, on February 14, 1871.

The following is a list of the postmasters, with the dates of their appointment:—­

  Andrew B. Gardner, June 1, 1849. 
  Harvey A. Wood, August 11, 1853. 
  George H. Brown, December 30, 1861. 
  William H. Harlow, December 5, 1862. 
  George H. Brown, January 15, 1863. 
  William H. Harlow, July 18, 1865.

The name of the post-office was changed by the department at Washington, from South Groton to Groton Junction, on March 1, 1862; and subsequently this was changed to Ayer, on March 22, 1871, soon after the incorporation of the town, during the postmastership of Mr. Harlow.