apsley rubber company in 1911 wood square in 1907 over next twenty years, hudson grew several industries settled in town. 2 woolen mills, elastic-webbing plant, piano case factory, , factory waterproofing fabrics rubber coating built, banks, 5 schools, poor farm, , town hall still in use today. population hovered around 5,500 residents, of whom lived in small houses small backyard garden plots. town maintained 5 volunteer fire companies, 1 of manned eureka hand pump, record-setting pump shoot 1.5-inch (38 mm) stream of water 229 feet (70 m). on july 4, 1894, fire started 2 boys playing firecrackers disastrously burned down 40 buildings , 5 acres (20,000 m) of central hudson. nobody hurt, damages estimated @ $400,000 (1894 dollars). town substantially rebuilt within year or two. by 1900, hudson s population reached 7,500 residents, , town had built power plant, houses wired electricity. electric trolley lines built connected hudson towns of leominster, concord, , marlborou...