Keese Street
From Worcester Activist wiki
Also EARLE, EDWARD AND NEWPORT STS.
He was of a remarkably nervous, sensitive organization and espoused public and social reforms with great vigor, taking advanced aggressive ground in support of anti-slavery, temperance and woman suffrage,” wrote the Gazette on Oct. 3, 1881.
The newspaper was discussing Timothy Keese Earle who was the largest manufacturer of card clothing in the United States.
Mr. Earle, a native of Leicester, came to Worcester at 16. He went to work for his uncle Silas, who was a pioneer in the business.
A Card in the weaving industry is a perforated board, or plate, in a “dobby” or a Jacquard loom for operating successive combinations of wires which move the warp threads.
In 1842, Earle branched out in Worcester with his brother, Edward, as T. K. Earle & Co.
In 1857, they built the largest card clothing factory in the country. For many years, Mr. Earle was a minister in the Quaker faith. He was a member of the Worcester School Board for several years: a frequent candidate of the Prohibition party for lieutenant-governor, senator and mayor.
He built an elegant stone mansion on a Worcester hillside over looking the city where he had founded his fortune.
The last of four brothers, Earle became ill of tuberculosis and took to his bed.
A few months before his death, he decided to be his own executor and divided his entire estate –about $400,000 – among heirs and charitable associations.
He told visitors: “I haven’t a cent in the world!”
Keese street, named for his middle name in 1885, runs from Grafton street east.
Earle street in 1857, was named for his brother, as was Edward street.
Newport street also has an Earle derivation. It was so named because Mrs. Edward Earle was born there.
The core of this article comes from A History of Your City Streets.
