Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885, Part 8

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 972

USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885 > Part 8

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BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

the autumn of 1854, when the office-at that time on Railroad street-was destroyed by fire. By this disaster the publication of the paper was delayed only one week. The office was re-opened in the Mechanic's Hall, on the site of the Sumner building, where the COURIER was for several years after- ward published. In the spring of 1846 the title of the paper was changed to the Berkshire Courier and Great Barrington Gazette, and Clark W. Bryan, of Hudson, N. Y., became associated with Mr. Cushing in its publication, under the firm name of Cushing & Bryan ; but Mr. Bryan's connection with the paper-at that time-was only for the space of six months.

In the meantime two other papers had been established here, The Inde- pendent Press, in 1845, by Kipp & Murray, and the Housatonic Mirror, by Theodore Dewey, about April 1, 1846. The COURIER and the Mirror were Whig papers, while the Press was Democratic in politics. A semi-partnership existed between the Press and the Mirror, and the curious anomaly was pre- sented of a Whig and a Democratic sheet printed on the same press, with the same types, and aside from the political editorials, containing the same matter, for such was the case with those papers. But those new enterprises were not of long duration. When Mr. Bryan left the COURIER, Theodore Dewey joined Mr. Cushing in its publication, and the paper, for the time, assumed the name of The Berkshire Courier and Housatonic Mirror. The publication of the Independent Press was suspended in the summer of 1847, and the COURIER has from that time, been the only paper published in Great Barrington. In November, 1848, Clark W. Bryan resumed his connection with Mr. Cushing, and assumed the business management of the BERKSHIRE COURIER. The co-partnership then formed continued just four years, when Mr. Bryan withdrew and connected himself with the Springfield Republican. Mr. Cushing then for nearly ten years conducted the COURIER alone; and in January, 1862, was joined by Marcus H. Rogers, who assumed the manage- ment of the paper under the firm name of Cushing & Rogers. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Rogers purchased Mr. Cushing's interest in the business, removed the office to the second floor of the building next south of the postoffice, and a little later substituted a steam press in the place of the old hand press. Mr. Rogers erected the substantial Courier building in January, 1871, and con- tinued the publication of the paper to January 1, 1879, when he sold the COURIER and the building to Clark W. Bryan, who with his son, James A. Bryan, has published the COURIER to the present time.

LEE .- The Berkshire Democrat was established at Lee in 1840, by E. J Bull, with L. D. Brown editor. The Democrat had a short existence in Lee, however, when it was removed to Stockbridge, and published there under the title of the Weekly Visitor.

THE VALLEY GLEANER .- In 1851 a printing office was started here by Charles French and Josiah A. Royce, two enterprising young men who were occupied for a few years mainly in printing wrappers for the paper manufac- turers. In December, 1856, a prospectus was issued from the office of The

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

Westfield News Letter, announcing that the Lee Home Companion would be published weekly in Lee, commencing January 1, 1857. This stirred French & Royce to a similar enterprise, and on the same date, also, appeared the first number of THE VALLEY GLEANER. The former proved to be a second edition of the Westfield News Letter, with a local editor, and a page devoted to Lee news and advertisements. The GLEANER appeared on a small sheet, 18x24 inches, with only four columns on a page. At the end of the first year the Companion ceased to exist, and the GLEANER was enlarged to five columns on a page, and in 1860 it was again enlarged to six columns. In 1862 Mr. Royce bought out his partner, and for twelve succeeding years was both editor and publisher of the GLEANER, assisted during the latter part of the time by Alexander Hyde, to whom and J. P. Clark, a practical printer, he sold the office in 1874; in the mean time having enlarged the paper to its present size. Mr. Clark retired from the office the first of January, 1876, and in 1877 Mr. Hyde sold out to Rockwell & Hill. May 18, 1881, the concern was pur- chased by James Golden, formerly of the Sentinel, of South Norwalk, Conn. February 1, 1883, Mr. Golden sold out to E. S. Rogers, and returned to the Sentinel, and Mr. Rogers has continued the publication of the paper since. The GLEANER is issued on Wednesday and has circulation of 1,500.

The Central Berkshire Chronicle was established by William H. Hill & Co., in 1868, edited by James Harding. The paper was continued three years, when its subscription list was transferred to the Pittsfield Eagle. In 1876 the Chronicle was revived by Mr. Hill and continued about one year when it was united with the GLEANER.

LENOX .- The Watch Light was the first paper published in Lenox. It was a campaign sheet established by Eldad Lewis, M. D., about the year 1800, op- posing the election of Jefferson. It was continued only about six months.

The Berkshire Star was removed from Stockbridge to Lenox, by Charles Webster, where it was united with the Adams Republican, which had also been moved here by John D. Cushing, January 10, 1828, and published un- der the title of the Berkshire Star and County Republican, by Webster & Cushing. September 11, 1828, the firm was changed to Webster & Stanley, and April 23, 1829, another change was made, making J. G. Stanley editor and proprietor. August 28, 1829, Mr. Stanley disposed of the paper to John Z. Goodrich, who then commenced the publication of the Berkshire Journal. Mr. Goodrich subsequently became one of the most prominent leaders not only of Berkshire, but of National politics, being chairman of the National committee of the Republican party in the formative period of its existence. September 1, 1831, the Pittsfield Argus was removed to Lenox, united with the Journal, and published by Samuel W. Bush, under the title of the Berk- shire Journal and Argus. The subsequent history of the paper is given in that of THE ARGUS, of Pittsfield.

Berkshire Herald, a campaign paper advocating the election of William Wirt, of Maryland, for president, and Amos Ellmaker, of Pennsylvania, for

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

vice-president, was established by J. G. Stanley, January 5, 1832. It was continued for only about six months.

The Lenox Echo, a monthly, was published by W. E. Ranger, then princi- pal of the Lenox High School, the first appearing in December, 1882. The Echo was devoted to school interests and local news, and was continued one year.

NORTH ADAMS. - The Berkshire American, a weekly, was the first news- paper printed at North Adams. It was neutral, and was edited by Dr. Asa Green, who issued the first number early in the winter of 1826-27. The sub- scription list never exceeded 400, and the undertaking was disastrous to those who engaged in it, as they sunk nearly the amount of their investment. The paper had a sickly existence of about two years.

The Socialist was also published by the same unfortunate pioneers, being merely the matter of the Berkshire American reprinted on a smaller sheet without the advertisements. It had about roo subscribers.

The Berkshire American (No. 2.) was started in 1830, Atwill & Turner having been induced to recommence that publication. With the same old Ramage press, but some additions to the type, they got up a very respectable sheet, for those days, which they served to 500 subscribers, for two years. Heman Atwell was the editor.

The Adams Gazette and Farmers' and Mechanics' Magazine, neutral, next came into the field -William M. Mitchell, editor and publisher. This paper had about 450 subscribers, and existed one and a half years.

The Berkshire Advocate. - In 1833 A. H. Wells appeared in the field, and, with the aid of some enterprising citizens, a new press and modern style of type were added to the old concern, and the paper appeared, advocating Whig doctrines. It had 400 subscribers, and lived about one year.

The Greylock Mirror was next brought out, by William M. Mitchell, with 400 subscribers, and was printed about six months. For several years after this none could be found bould enough to undertake the revival of a press here, the want of which, however, was sadly felt by all classes of the community.

THE NORTH ADAMS TRANSCRIPT. - This paper was established, as a Whig sheet, under the title of the Adams Transcript, September 7, 1843, by John R. Briggs, with 600 subscribers. In April, 1844, Mr. Briggs associated with him Henry Chickering, and in the following December retired from the firm. Later, Messrs. Burton and Winton purchased the paper merging it with the Free American. They in turn disposed of the concern to William S. George and then it became the property of William H. Phillips, who united with it the Hoosac Valley News, and took into partnership with him Francis S. Par- ker. Parker subsequently withdrew, and Phillips, in 1866, sold out to Hon. James T. Robinson, who, in company with his son, Arthur, still conducts the sheet. When the News was united with the TRANSCRIPT the title was changed to the Adams Transcript and News, and soon after Mr. Robinson took the paper he changed the name to the Adams Transcript which was retained un-

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

til the division of the town, when it was again changed, to the NORTH ADAMS TRANSCRIPT, which title it now bears. It is a large, nine-column sheet, having a circulation of over 2,000. issued each Thursday.

The Greylock Sentinel was started, as a Free-soil paper, February 15, 1851, A. J. Aikens, editor. In February, 1852, Mr. Aikens retired, and the edito- rial chair was filled by A. D. Brock. The Sentinel had a circulation of about 650, and in the autumn of 1852 was changed to the Free American. In 1853 it was sold to Burton & Winton, who subsequently united it with the TRAN- SCRIPT.

THE HOOSAC VALLEY NEWS was originally established by Clark & Phillips, in 1857, Mr. Phillips subsequently becoming sole owner, who united it with the TRANSCRIPT as stated above. When he sold the latter paper to Mr. Robinson, he also sold the good-will of both sheets, giving bonds not to publish another paper in North Adams; notwithstanding this, however, he, in company with John Mandeville, re-established the NEWS, in January, 1867. He was soon obliged to relinquish the enterprise, however, selling his interest to J. C. Angel. The firm of Angel & Mandeville was con- tinued three or four years, when J. L. Bowen purchased Mandeville's interest and, about a year after, Angel became sole proprietor. In 1877 his son, E. D. Angel, became published, the father still acting as editor. July 1, 1879, the paper was leased to Charles T. Evans, the lease continuing in power un- til October 1, 1880, soon after which the paper was sold to Angel's son-in-law, A. W. Hardman, who, in company with Edward A. McMillin, is the present publisher, the latter having been admitted as a partner in the autumn of 1884. Since that time, however, it has been run under lease by Angel & Evans and by the Oatman Bros., of Pittsfield, Mr. Hardman having had the paper in charge only since October 1, 1883, and during all the period, except when under lease to the Oatman Bros., Mr. Angel has acted as editor. The News is published on Saturday of each week.

PITTSFIELD .- The American Centinel, the first paper established in Pitts- field, was commenced by E. Russell, December 1, 1787, on a sheet ten by eighteen inches, at the head of was printed the following audacious motto :-

"Here you may range the world from pole to pole, Increase your knowledge, and delight your soul."

In the second issue Mr. Russell "returns his thanks to those gentlemen who expressed their anxiety to have the printing office at Pittsfield by engag- ing him to print a certain number of papers, and begs leave to inform them that he has a large number of papers on hand for which he has, as yet, received nothing, and which he wishes those gentlemen to call for, according to agreement. If agreements are not fulfilled, the Centinel must stop." This modest request seems not to have been very generally responded to on the part of the Centinel's subscribers, for the publication of the paper was soon after stopped.

The Berkshire Chronicle was the next paper established here, by Roger

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

Storrs, the first number appearing May 8, 1788. It bore for its motto the following couplet :-

" Free as the savage roams his native wood, Or finny nations swim the briny flood."

The second number of the paper contains two well written moral essays on the first page, and quite extended foreign news on the second, while the other pages are occupied by a good summary of domestic news, a poet's corner headed " The Parnassian Packet," agricultural reading, and advertisements. The first number is twelve by eight inches in size. The 3Ist number which appears as the Berkshire Chronicle and Massachusetts Intelligencer is enlarged to the size of eighteen inches by ten. The advertisements came much more from other towns in Berkshire county than Pittsfield. Fugitive slaves from New York are advertised among other things. This paper was really con- ducted with much talent, and must have been, for its time, a remarkable affair. Its facilities for getting news may be ascertained in the paper of April 24, 1789, which had Boston news to April 20, New York to April 3, and London to December 20, the previous year. In the issue of May 3d the proceedings of Congress are brought down to April 15th. This paper was living January 17, 1790, with no signs of dissolution, though at what time it was discontined we are unable to state.

The Chronicle was succeeded by a paper the very name of which is for- gotten. Tradition tells us that it was published by a Mr. Spooner who soon after the establishment of the sheet removed to Windsor, Vt.

The Berkshire Gazette was started by Nathaniel Holly, Orsemus C. Merrill and Chester Smith, the first number appearing January, 17-, a sheet nine- teen inches by twelve, bearing the following motto : -

"Man is man, and who is more."

Sixteen numbers of the Gazette are preserved, and represent a respectable newspaper. Mr. Merrill withdrew from the firm in June, 1798, and Mr. Holly, in March, 1799. Mr. Smith then conducted the paper alone until its close, which occurred with the close of the year 1799.

THE PITTSFIELD SUN, whose long and honorable career is not yet ended, succeeded the Gazette, being established by Phineas Allen, the first number appearing September 16, 1800. This paper was printed on a sheet thirteen inches long by eleven wide, being on a scale smaller than any of its predecess- ors, except the Chronicle, which was enlarged with its thirty-first number, while the SUN remained as at first for twelve years. The first number was adorned with a rude cut of the rising sun, and bore the motto,-

"Here all may scribble with unbounded sway, If they will do it in a decent way."

The SUN continued to be published by Phineas Allen alone, until 1829, when he admitted his son of the same name, as partner in its publication and editorship. The senior partner died May 8, 1868, but his son continued the paper until May, 1872, when he sold it to his kinsman, Theodore L. Allen.

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

The new proprieter, after conducting it creditably from May to August of that year, sold it to William H. Phillips, of North Adams, who removed to Pittsfield and conducted the paper until it was taken by Horace J. Canfield, who had it in charge until it was taken by the present Sun Printing Com- pany, March 15, 1882. The SUN is Democratic in politics, devotes a large portion of its space to local matters, and issues a very readable sheet each Thursday.

The Berkshire Reporter was the next paper started, by Dutton & Smith. Dutton subsequently retired from the firm, after which the paper was con- ducted by Seymour & Smith for a time, when Seymour retired and the pub- lication was continued by Milo Smith & Co. Smith, however, was not a good business man and got into debt. To get out, he agreed to get ten men of the Federal party. whose organ the paper was, to become responsible for him, on giving them a mortgage on his press and type. He got three, and then crossed the line into New York. The victimized three paid his debts, and continued the paper with the imprint of "E. Leonard, for the proprietors," until about 1815, when it was discontinued.

The American was started by Dr. A. Green, in December, 1825. It was a small sheet and treated local and general affairs alike in a humorous way. Mr. Green soon removed to North Adams.

THE ARGUS .- A handsome sheet, twenty-one inches by sixteen in size, was commenced by Henry K. Strong, the first number appearing in May, 1827. Mr. Strong having become financially embarrassed, left the State, and was succeeded by Samuel W. Bush, May 1, 1828, who conducted the paper until September 1, 1831, when he removed it to Lenox, and united it with the Berkshire Journal, then published by John Z. Goodrich. In removing to Lenox the paper took the name of The Journal and Argus. Mr. Bush con- tinued to edit until September, 1838, when Mr. Goodrich became editor as well as proprietor. With the issue of August 27, of that year, the name was changed to the Massachusetts Eagle. In March, 1838, Messrs. Eastman and Monta- gue became publishers, with Henry W. Taft, editor. Charles Montague became sole proprietor in July, 1838, and on the retirement of Mr. Taft, in 1840, he assumed the editorial chair. In 1842, Mr. Montague removed the paper to its old home in Pittsfield, where he continued its publication until November 20, 1852. It was then purchased by Samuel Bowles & Co., of Springfield, who replenished the material of the office and leased it to Otis F. R. Wait, who changed the name to the BERKSHIRE COUNTY EAGLE. But after the end of one year, the establishment was sold to Henry Chickering, then of North Adams, and Henry A. Marsh, of Pittsfield, who conducted it until July 20, 1855, under the firm name of Chickering & Marsh. At that date Mr. Marsh was succeeded by James B. Davis, and the firm continued to be Chickering & Davis until January 1, 1859, when Mr. Davis withdrew, Mr. Chickering conducting the paper alone until July 1, 1865, when William D. Axtell became associated with him in its ownership and management.

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

March 5, 1881, Mr. Chickering died, and July Ist of the same year, the firm became Axtell & Pomeroy, W. M. Pomeroy having purchased what had been Mr. Chickering's share. March 1, 1883, Mr. Pomeroy sold his share to John B. Haskins, the firm now being Axtell & Haskins. The EAGLE is issued every Thursday.

Old Tip, a campaign paper, was published by Thaddeus Clapp, 3d, in 1840, supporting the election of Gen. Harrison.

The Berkshire County Whig appeared in 1840. It was edited by Hon. Henry Hubbard and his son, Douglas S. Hubbard, the latter being also pub- lisher. In 1849 the publisher migrated to California, and the paper was dis- contiued.

The Cataract appeared in 1844, established by T. D. Bonner. Bonner was a rabid temperance reformer and used the paper for ventilating his very peculiar views, and that, too, in so grossly personal and scurrilous a manner, that his office was at one time mobbed and he was at last obliged to leave, at the end of two years. The paper passed into the hands of Messrs, Quigley, Kingsley and Axtell, who continued it eighteen months, and then sold the subscription list to an Albany publisher.

The Star was commenced in 1847, by William D. Axtell, who published a sprightly and pleasant paper for about six months, when it was discontinued. The Berkshire Agriculturist was commenced in 1847 by Charles Monta- gue and E. P. Little. At the close of the first year, Mr. Little left town, and Mr. Montague continued the publication until 1848, when he sold it to Dr. Stephen Reed, who changed its name to the Culturist and Gazette. Dr. Reed continued to edit the paper until 1858, when it was discontinued.

The Berkshire Medical Journal, a monthly, magazine was published by Professors William H. Thayer and R. Cresson Stiles, in 1861.

The Institute Omnibus was a small but sparkling sheet, published by the pupils of the Young Ladies' Institute for several years.

The Berkshire Gymnasium was the name of a small sheet, published by the students of the institution of that name, during the time it flourished here.

THE PITTSFIELD EVENING JOURNAL was established by Nathan C. Fowler, under the title of the Daily Evening Journal, the first issue appearing Sep- tember 27, 1880. Mr. Fowler retained the paper until August 1, 1881, when he sold out to the Journal Company, with I. C. Smart, editor. March 12, 1883, Whitman & Mills purchased the enterprise, conducting the paper until August 30, 1883, when B. C. Magie, Jr., came into possession. Mr. Magie conducted the paper until December 22, 1883, when it was purchased by Joseph E. See, the present proprietor. Mr. See changed the name of the paper to the one it now bears, and conducts a creditable sheet, the only daily paper published in the county.

STOCKBRIDGE .-- The Berkshire Star was the first paper printed in Stockbridge. It was established by Loring Andrews, of Boston, in the autumn of 1783, the

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

second paper published in the county. After Mr. Andrews, the paper was man- aged by Benjamin Rosseter and Heman Willard, in company ; then by Willard alone ; Edward Seymour, Elisha Brown and Jared Curtis, in company ; Rich- ard H. Ashley and Charles Webster, in company, and lastly by Webster alone. The name of the paper was changed several times, being successively The Western Star, The Political Atlas, The Farmer's Herald, The Berk- shire Herald, and the Berkshire Star. Under the latter name, in 1828, the paper was remove 1 to Lenox, where Mr. Webster was joined by John D. Cushing, publishing the paper under the title of the Berkshire Star and County Republican.

The Weekly Visitor was the next paper established here. It was originally established at Lee, in 1840, by Jonathan E. Field, who removed it to Stock- bridge in 1841, changing its name from The Berkshire Democrat to the Weekly Visitor. The paper lived here about two years, when the types, materials, etc., were taken to Great Barrington, where they were used in giving life to the Independent Press.

The Temperance Banner was commenced here about 1843, by T. D. Bon- ner, a violent temperance reformer. In 1844 he removed it to Pittsfield, changing the name to the Cataract, where he made his batteries so hot and personal as to cause his being warred off.

This completes our list of the newspspers that have been published in Berk- shire county, and we believe it covers them all, unless, perhaps, it be some sınall am teur publication, or a campaign paper gotten out for partisan pur- poses during the heat of an approaching election.

ABORIGINAL OCCUPANCY.

The origin of the North American Indians is a subject which, though it has er grossed the attention of learned men for over two hundred years, must ever remain open to debate; and the question, " By whom was America peopled ?" will doubtless ever remain without a satisfactory answer. In 1637, Thomas Morton wrote a book to prove that the Indians were of later origin. John Joselyn held, in 1638, that they were of Tartar descent. Cotton Mather i: clined to the opinion that they were Scythians. James Adair seems to have been fully covinced that they were descendants of the Israelites, the lost tribes ; and after thirty years residence among them, published in 1775, an account of their manners and customs, from which he deduced his conclu- sions. Dr. Mitchill, after considerable investigation, concluded "that the three races, Malays, Tartars, and Scandinavians, contributed to make up the great American population, who were the authors of the various works and antiquities found on the continent." De Witt Clinton held, that " the proba- bility is, that America was peopled from various quarters of the old world, and that its predominant race is the Scythian or Tartarian." Calmet, a distinguished author, brings forward the writings of Hornius, son of Theo-

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

dosius the Great, who affirms that " at or about the time of the commence- ment of the Christian era, voyages from Africa and Spain into the Atlantic ocean were both frequent and celebrated," and holds that "there is a strong probability that the Romans and Carthagenians, even 300 B. C., were acquainted with the existence of this country," adding that there are "tok- ens of the presence of the Greeks, Romans, Persians and Carthagenians, in many parts of the continent." The story of Madoc's voyage to America, in 1170, has been repeated by every writer upon the subject, and actual traces of Welsh colonization are affirmed to have been discovered in the language and customs of a tribe of Indians living on the Missouri. Then the fact is stated that "America was visited by some Norwegians," who made a settle- ment in Greenland, in the tenth century. Priest, in his American Antiquities, states that his observations had led him "to the conclusion that the two great continents, Asia and America, were peopled by similar races of men."

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Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885, Part 8

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office Number of Pages: 972

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 972