Waltham was the site of the first fully integrated textile factory in America, built by Francis Cabot Lowell in 1814, and by the 19th century the Charles River was one of the most industrialized areas in the United States. Its hydropower soon fueled many mills and factories. By the century's end, 20 dams had been built across the river, mostly to generate power for industry. An 1875 government report listed 43 mills along the tidal estuary from Watertown Dam to Boston Harbor.
Waltham was the site of the first fully integrated textile factory in America built by Francis Cabot Lowell in 1814 and by the 19th century the Charles River was one of the most industrialized areas in the United States Its hydropower soon fueled many mills and factories By the century's end 20 dams had been built across the river mostly to generate power for industry An 1875 government report listed 43 mills along the tidal estuary from Watertown Dam to Boston Harbor