Advancing the social, educational, civic and economic interest of the village and it’s inhabitants
HISTORY
Leeds, a village within the city of Northampton, has a rich manufacturing history from cotton to wool to silk thread, vegetable ivory buttons to small machinery parts. The village bustled with productivity in the 19th century, experienced the devastion of the worst flood in history at that time. The village rebuilt, flourished until one by one the factories failed or were sold. Learn more about Leeds history with the resources below.
Leeds Mill River History Walk Brochure
The Mill River Greenway Initiative started a walking tour project to connect Mill River villages through their history and relationship to the river. In 2014, MRGI / LCA members, Heidi Stevens, Sue Carbin and Jason Johnson led a couple of historic walking tours of Leeds. MRGI asked the three LCA members if they could write content and select photos for a Leeds self-guided history walk brochure (Northampton‘s was already printed, Leeds would be the second in the series). The eight page brochure has an easy to follow map marking the eight sites and includes a 160 year timeline of Leeds’ mills and their manufacturing milestones. The brochure was published by the MRGI in July, 2015.
Download/print the Leeds Mill River History Walk Brochure
Leeds History Interpretative Signage
To compliment the self-guided walking tour, in 2016 the LCA applied for and was awarded a $3,000 grant from the Community Preservation Committee to design, execute and have produced interpretive historical signs. LCA board members, Jason Johnson, Sue Carbin and Heidi Stevens collected old photos and content to use on the signage.The eight signs, designed by Heidi Stevens, are positioned near historical sites and display images and text that correspond to their locations. You can stroll around the village center and learn more about its history.
A map of the sign locations and what is
depicted on each can be downloaded here:
Leeds History Interpretative Signage Map
