| History
Spencer was settled in 1717 by Nathaniel
Wood. It was established as a district
from a part of Leicester, and assigned its
name by Lieutenant governor Spencer Phipps
who had signed the order making it a
district. In the late 1700s Spencer
was a major stopping place on the Old Boston
Post Road's stage route between Boston and
Hartford, and on to New York.
Spencer's first mill was built in 1740 on
Seven Mile River. In 1811 Josiah Green
began making shoes, and in 1834 he built a
factory. In 1812 Elliot Prouty began
to "draw" wire in a mill he had
built. His business flourished in his
family until 1916, when it merged with
Wickwire Steel Co. At one time Spencer
has 11 factories and 26 buildings for wire
drawing.
The Howe family of Spencer was known for
its inventions. William Howe developed
a wooden truss bridge, and his brother Tyler
Howe patented a spring bed. Their nephew,
Elias Howe Jr. invented the lockstitch
sewing machine.
Spencer today is largely residential and
home to several large dairy farms. It
also has a strong industrial base. The
town's lakes and ponds provide recreational
boating, swimming and fishing for the
public.
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