3This well-researched book highlights the dramatic life of the Merrimack River, from the colorful days of the Native Americans to its current status as one of the most scenic recreational waterways in New England. The 117-mile river runs from central New Hampshire to Newburyport, Massachusetts, where it meets the Atlantic. Here the Coast Guard was born, and colonial trade thrived. The Industrial Revolution was launched in the riverside mills of Lowell, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire. The science of clean drinking water was developed in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and the first successful labor action also took place in Lawrence. Thousands of immigrants worked in mills along the Merrimack, and this book tells their riveting stories. In the 70s, the once-filthy Merrimuck was cleaned up to serve again as one of the most popular waterways in New England. And the Merrimack is still an essential resource. It serves as the source of drinking water for a half-million people. Many have seen part of the Merrimack River, but this unique book provides info and images about all sectors of this great waterway.