USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume I pt 2 > Part 19
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The Commercial House was built by Maturin Ballou. in 1870, at a
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HISTORY OF BERESHIRE COUNTY.
cost of 840,000. It was kept by Maturin Ballon until 1876, when Edwin Thayer foreclosed a mortgage of $12,000, and took possession. For a year after Mr. Ballon left it the hotel was kept by A. A. Jones and John Thayer, and on Mr. Jones' retirement, John Thayer leased the house and was keeping it on the 3d of Jannary, 1881, when it was destroyed by fire.
On Monday, October 4th, 1869, the village of North Adams was visited by an unusual flood. The total damage was estimated as high as $100,000. A pouring rain commenced on Sunday morning, which con- tinued to increase through the day and night until Monday afternoon. On Sunday evening the rivers were running high, but on Monday morn- ing they burst their banks and flooded the village in all directions. Mill dams were carried away, bridges were swept down stream, foundations were undermined, gardens torn and washed with sand and stoues, and roads and streets plowed up and ruined. During Monday forenoon there was the greatest alarm along the whole course of the North Branch from the Beaver to Braytonville. Families were driven out of their houses in haste and terror to escape the flood which roared and dashed through doors and windows. Union, River, and Eagle streets were torn and gul- lied, and floodwood and debris were heaped in all directions. Part of the Holden street bridge was carried against the northern abutment of the Marshall street bridge, which was badly damaged. River street from the Estes mill to Johnson's ground looked like a mountain torrent. The only manufacturing establishment in the village that was ready to begin work on Tuesday was the Arnold Print works. In that part of the vil- lage known as Willow Dell the water made complete islands of the houses, washing away their door yards, fences, shade and fruit trees, and gardens. Large forest trees two feet in diameter were torn up by the roots. The Clay road leading from Church Hill to the Union was washed out completely to the bank. As the flood went down the North Branch it carried off a wagon shop of E. Witherell's, and at last the lower Union street bridge. Union street from this bridge to Eagle street was deeply plowed and gullied, and all the houses on the north side were more or less flooded. The water pipes in the North Branch were broken and the supply of water greatly interrupted. The west end of the tunnel, from the west portal to a point beyond the west shaft, nearly a mile, was flooded with water and one man was drowned. No trains came into North Adams for several days. From Monday until the following Thurs- day the village was practically isolated from the outside world.
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A militia company was organized the 27th day of August, 1877, when F. N. Ray was elected captain. and it held together harmoniously until 1884 when it was disbanded by orders from the adjutant general. Captain Ray was afterward elected major, and John E. Drew was chosen captain. The other captains were S. B. Dibble, Frank S. Richardson, and Charles L. Frink. The company during its short history gave ser- eral military balls, which were events of considerable social importance.
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The company was dissolved in the spring of 1884 and removed to Gard- ner by order of the adjutant general.
The inconvenience of holding the town meetings alternately in Adams and North Adams began to be seriously felt as the population of Adams increased. The cost of transporting the voters and the loss of time at every election involved, together with the difficulty of managing a large town meeting, and the diversity of local interests in North Adams made the division of the two villages not only desirable but inevitable. A pe- tition to this effect was circulated in Adams in the winter of 1877, and presented to the Legislature at that session. The principal mover in the matter was Mr. Isaac Collins, of Adams. The town of Adams was at that time the largest town in the State, and many citizens in all parts of the town were opposed to a division, thinking that a division would result in loss of political power and prestige. A remoustrance was circulated, numerously signed, and presented. Mr. William C. Plunkett and Mr. Edward R. Tinker were prominent in their opposition. The committee on towns in the Legislature decided favorably on the petition and reported a bill setting off the town of North Adams from Adams. This bill was defeated in the Senate at the last moment, and thus the division was postponed for one year. Early in the following winter the agitation was renewed. Petitions were circulated in favor of the division of the town, and in favor of a city government for Adams. A draft of a city charter was drawn up and published in the Transcript. The petition for the division of the town was the more numerously signed, and the people in both North Adams and Adams at length settled down to the feeling that they could not profitably be united, by the granting of a city charter and that two compact towns were greatly to be preferred to a double- barreled city. The opposition to the division, however, had not died out. The bill for the division passed the House of Representatives, but was amended in the Senate so that its acceptance by the town was made to depend upon a two thirds vote of the citizens of Adams. This action of the Senate excited general indignation, and resulted in the following pe- tition, which was signed by nearly all the prominent business men in Adams, and by a majority of the same class in North Adams.
"Whereas, we, citizens of the town of Adams, without regard to the propriety of incorporating the town of North Adams, believe that the provision contained in the bill for that purpose, providing for its acceptance by the legal voters in said town of Adams by a majority of two-thirds of those present and voting thereon, is unrepub- lican, unjust and not called for by the importance of the act, and liable to engender strife and discord. We therefore pray that the words 'two-thirds,' wherever they occur in said bill, be stricken out and the words 'a majority' substituted in it."
The remonstrance was carried to Boston and handed to Hon. F. P. Brown, of Adams, then senator from the North Berkskire District. This ended all opposition to the passage of the bill. and as the feeling in its favor then seemed to be almost unanimous in all parts of the town, at the suggestion of Senator Brown the bill was passed, to take effect upon its
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passage, without any submission to the people whatever. By the lan- guage of the bill the village of North Adams, including all the territory north of the "Old Military Line," was incorporated into a town by the name of North Adams, with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties incumbent upon other towns in the commonwealth. The proportion of State and county taxes to be paid by the respective towns was to be ascertained and based upon the valuation of Adams in 1877. The towns of Adams and North Adams were to be respectively liable for the support of all present or future panpers, "whose settlements were gained whether by original acquisition or derivation within their respec- tive limits." The town of North Adams was to pay annually to the town of Adams one third of the cost paid by the last named town for the support or relief of paupers " whose settlements were acquired in said town of Adams as heretofore constituted, or were derived from a settle- ment acquired therein in consequence of military services in the war of the Rebellion ; provided that the person who rendered such military service was not, at the time of his enlistment, an inhabitant of said last named town of Adams."
The corporate property belonging to the town of Adams at the time the act took effect, including unpaid taxes, and the public debts of the town existing at said date, was to be divided between the towns of Adams and North Adams "according to the valuation of the property within their respective limits as assessed May 1st, 1877." The expense of mak- ing the survey and establishing the line between Adams and North Adams was to be borne by the towns in the same proportion.
Any justice of the peace, as soon as the act took effect, was author- ized to issue his warrant directed to any inhabitant of the town of North Adams, requiring him to notify voters to meet to choose officers.
By the advice of the selectmen, S. Proctor Thayer sent to Boston to the secretary of state for an official copy of the act of incorporation, and on the 15th of April, 1878, issued his warrant, as a justice of the peace, to James H. Flagg, an inhabitant of the town of North Adams, directing him to "notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of North Adams, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet in Armory Hall, in North Adams, on Wednesday, the twenty-fourth day of April, 1878, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles, to wit :
"First. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.
"Second. To determine the number of selectmen, assessors, overseers of the poor, school committee and constables, the town will choose for the year ensuing.
"Third. To choose all such town officers as towns are by law authorized and required to choose at their annual meetings.
"Fourth. To see how the next town meeting to be held in the town of North Adams shall be notified."
The meeting was called to order at nine o'clock by S. Proctor Thayer. who started to read the bill incorporating the town of North Adams. On motion of Hon. Shepherd Thayer, the reading of the bill, with the excep-
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tion of that portion relating to the calling of the meeting, was dispensed with. After reading the town warrant, it was voted, on motion of Hon. Shepherd Thayer, to exclude from the platform all persons except the selectmen, tellers, and the proper officers. On motion of William Bower it was voted to proceed to the election of moderator. There were thirty- three votes cast, all but one of which were for Mr. A. W. Preston. Mr. Preston, upon assuming the position of moderator, made a brief speech expressing his gratitude for having been the first person elected by the new town of North Adams. He congratulated the "mother town of Adams " on having elected proper and competent officers, and hoped that the mind and heart of every voter would be bent only on securing for the town that which was for her best interest. Judge Jarvis Rockwell moved that the election of town officers be proceeded with, and read the list of officers to be elected, and on motion of E. R. Tinker it was voted to elect these officers on one ballot. Arthur D. Cady was appointed by the mod- erator, clerk pro tem .; Wallace Freeman, L. M. Flagg, and E. D. Tyler to preside over the check list, and George L. Rice, S. Proctor Thayer, George F. Miller, and Frank S. Richardson were selected to count the votes. Dr. George L. Rice, Charles H. Ingalls, and Hon. S. Thayer were appointed a committee to draft by-laws to be submitted to the next town meeting. The officers declared elected were as follows: Clerk, A. D. Cady ; selectmen, R. G. Walden, J. H. Flagg; George French ; school committee, J. Rockwell for three years, O. A. Archer for two years, S. Proctor Thayer for one year ; treasurer, E. S. Wilkinson; assessors, S. W. Brayton, William Burton, R. R. Andrews ; town agent, S. Thayer.
Thus nearly 100 years after the incorporation of the town of Adams did the town of North Adams begin its separate and independent corpo- rate existence. The town meeting in the town of Adams had been held the week previous. The officers elected were as follows : Town clerk, T. H. B. Munson ; selectmen, H. J. Bliss. A. B. Mole, R. A. Whipple : as- sessors, D. J. Dean, Andrews Hall, W. G. Farnsworth ; school commit- tee, Rev. C. H. Ham for three years, W. B. Green for two years ; treas- urer, F. F. Mole ; town agent, H. JJ. Bliss.
The property of the town of Adams was divided as follows. All the real estate and fixtures in the town of Adams as after the division were awarded to the town of Adams, and all the real estate and fixtures in the limits of North Adams were awarded to the town of North Adams. The town farm, however, located in the town of North Adams, was awarded to both towns to be owned in common.
The preliminary meeting for the organization of the Berkshire Na- tional Bank was held at the office of Jarvis Rockwell, September 20th. 1878, when it was decided to call the new bank the " Berkshire National Bank of North Adams." The following gentlemen were nominated for directors : Judge Jarvis Rockwell. A. W. Hodge. H. T. Cady, James Hunter, S. W. Ingalls, and W. H. Gaylord, of North Adams: J. R. Houghton, of Stamford ; James C. Chalmers, of Adams ; and Joseph
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White, of Williamstown. The next meeting was held on the 6th of August. The board of directors previously nominated was confirmed an l the following additional officers were elected : president, Judge Jarvis Rockwell ; vice-president, A. W. Hodge ; cashier, Charles H. Ingalls. It was voted to call in fifty per cent. of the subscriptions within a week, and a committee was appointed to secure banking rooms as soon as possible.
The new bank began business on the 1st day of October following, occupying rooms in Davenport's block. The circulation was at first 890, - 000, of which $75,000 was in $5, and $15,000 in $2 and St bills. George Davis, of North Adams, transacted the first business with the new insti- tution, by depositing $500 to his own credit.
In the winter of 1878 the Boston, Hoosac Tunnel & Western Railway Company was organized. The company consisted of a few Boston capi- talists. General William Burt was at the head of the company, and furnished the energy and push that thwarted opposition and procured the necessary legislation. In carrying out this project General Bart was opposed by the Troy & Boston Railroad and the New York Central Rail- road Company. The courts were appealed to in New York, and the aid of the Legislature was invoked. The Troy & Boston Railroad Company tried the same tactics in Massachusetts, but the victory was finally with the new road. The road was formally opened on Monday, the 21st day of December, 1879. An excursion train left Schenectady at 8 o'clock that morning, taking on guests at various stations, but the train of five coaches did not arrive at North Adams until a little after 1 o'clock. After a short stop the excursionists were taken through the tunnel to the east side, where an express train from Boston carrying guests was waiting. The whole party then returned to North Adams and repaired to the Wil- son House, where they gave their attention to an elaborate lunch which Landlord Swift had prepared. At the conclusion of the feast President Burt made a strong speech, describing the advantages and possibilities of the tunnel route. Speeches were also made by G. Clinton Gardner, then manager of the Troy & Greenfield Railroad, Major Winn, of Shelburne Falls, Judge Yates, of Schenectady, and Judge Gibson, of Salem.
In the warrant for the annual town meeting in 1879 there was an ar- ticle "to see if the town will establish a system of sewers and main drains and will appropriate money for that purpose." Action on this article was postponed until a special town meeting held on the 19th of June, 1879. Mr. George B. Perry, in behalf of a committee of which he was a member, made a report recommending the adoption of a system or plan of sewerage, and that sewers on Main, Eagle, and Center streets be first constructed with a main sewer from Main to River streets. The town voted to accept the report of the committee, and " that the select- men be instructed to borrow $5, 000 in contemplation of taxes assessed in 1880 to pay for the same.". And that the construction be referred to the selectmen in connection with the committee. Before the first of October that year over a half mile of sewer was constructed, completing Center
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street, a portion of Eagle, and that part of Main street west of the june- tion of Main and Eagle. On this line of pipe six man holes were built, breaking up the whole length of sewer into sections, thereby placing the whole system under perfect control. At the annual meeting on April 8th, 1880, 87,000 were appropriated to complete the system, the "swamp" to be sewered first. It was also voted that every person entering the sewers should pay a reasonable sum for the same.
The selectmen of the town held several meetings with the sewer com - mittee to decide whether a sewer should be built in the "swamp" ac- cording to vote, but could not come to any agreement about the matter. At the annual town meeting it was voted to leave the matter in the hands of the selectmen and the sewer committee, and they decided that it would not be advisable to lay a sewer until the town authorized them to lay a larger one. At the request of the Board of Health in the summer of 1884 the selectmen laid a sewer through the "swamp" from land of Mr. A. P. Porter to land of James Hunter to drain off surface water.
On the Sth of April, 1880, the North Adams Club gave a reception which was an unqualified success and one of the most brilliant social events that ever occurred in Berkshire county. The North Adams Club was organized at the Wilson House on the 3d of February, 1873, as a social club. The original members were : Myron H. Barrows, H. P. Briggs. George C. Briggs, F. R. Blackinton, H. J. Clark, C. H. Cutting. Wallace Freeman, F. H. Goodrich, S. W. Ingalls, S. Smith Joy, W. S. Johnson, N. C. Pettis, George L. Rice, F. E. Swift, A. M. Tinker, E. D. Tyler, and V. A. Whitaker. Of these S. Smith Joy has been the most earnest and loyal supporter of the club. The rooms now occupied by the club in Martin's block were then leased and fitted up for its occu- pancy. A handsome parlor, with tasteful appointments, is the central figure of the room ; to this has been added two smaller rooms for billiards and other amusements. The first president of the club was Henrich P. Briggs, who was elected to that position for two years, and the presidents to date have been : George C. Briggs, F. W. Grimes, C. F. Luther, H. J. Clark, Wallace Freeman, Lemuel Pomeroy, and H. G. B. Fisher. An- nual elections had been held in January with one exception, and in ISSO the club had an enrollment of 42 non-resident and resident members. The name of the association, originally the "Adams Club," was changed at the annual meeting in January, 1880, to that of " the North Adams Club." The reception given by the club in April in the same year was notable for the presence of distinguished guests, and made highly enjoy- able by the gathering together of nearly all the members of the club. resident and honorary. It undoubtedly had the effect of increasing the already high opinion entertained by the residents of other towns of the enterprise, thoroughness, and hospitality of North Adams, while adding to the club's reputation and influence.
After the setting off and the incorporation of the town of North Adams, and the necessity of providing a safe and suitable place for the
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town office and the records of the town of Adams became apparent, the subject of building a town hall that would furnish a suitable place for holding town meetings and the necessary offices was freely discussed in the public newspapers, as well as in private. Finally, in the spring of 1880, in town meeting, a committee consisting of William C. Plunkett, Daniel Upton, A. B. Mole, James C. Chalmers, and George W. Adams was appointed " to consider the subject of building a Town Hall and make report, with plans and estimates for the same, at a subsequent meeting." At the annual meeting, March 26th, 1881, the committee made their report recommending the building of a town hall, and Alfred B. Mole, Dallas J. Dean. Daniel Upton. Elisha Burlingame, and Daniel D. Wheeler were appointed a committee to carry into effect the recom- mendations of the previous committee. The committee conferred with the county commissioners, and found that they were desirous of joining with the town in the erection of a building sufficiently large to accommodate the registry of deeds and the Probate and District Courts. Accordingly an act was passed in the Legislature impowering the commissioners to sell the old registry and Probate Court building, and pay a sum not exceed- ing $10,000 for a perpetual lease of room sufficient for that purpose. Nothing was done during that year except to purchase two lots adjoin- ing the " Academy Lot," situated at the corner of Park and School streets, for the site. At the annual meeting, March 28th, 1832, the sum of $10. - 000 was raised toward building the town hall, and it was voted that a sum not exceeding $35,000 be expended for the building including the site. L. L. Brown was added to the committee in place of D. D. Wheel- er, deceased. Subsequently, at a meeting, May 20th, 1882, it was voted to add $10,000 to the sum previously voted to build and furnish the hall. The committee contracted with Bartlett Brothers, of Whately, to erect the building according to the plans submitted by W. C. Brocklesby, of Hartford, Conn. The total cost of the building and site was $41,840.72.
Hospital at North Adams .- On the 21st of September, 1882, three men were killed and several severely injured by a collision of freight trains at Zoar, on the Troy and Greenfield Railroad, and the injured men had to be cared for in farm houses and wherever friends could best secure accommodations and medical attendance. The lack of some suitable place to treat and cure these sufferers was then keenly felt. On the 21st of October, 1882, a caboose, loaded with men, left the depot in North Adams, bound for their labors at the east end of the Hoosac Tunnel, and before they had gone 200 yards their engine collided with another. and thirty-five men were injured. All the boarding houses were crowded with injured and dying men, and the poor fellows did not receive half the care they might have had under other circumstances, while the railroad men and doctors did all in their power. The accident occurred about seven o'clock on Saturday morning and about ten o'clock on the same day W. L. Brown and W. S. Johnson started a subscription for a new hospital. Their efforts were successful, and resulted in several thousand dollars sub-
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scriptions. It was then thought better to allow every one to subscribe, and the solicitation of larger subscriptions was stopped. In accordance therewith an article was published in the next. Transcript, of which the following is a part :
" The most worthy, and from its spirit the most promising public enterprise yet attempted in North Adams is the present movement to found here a free hospital. The persons interesting themselves in the undertaking are of business position and influence to secure its success. The design is to provide an institution suitable for probable needs and to interest in its construction as large a number of contributors as possible. With this view excessive contributions from wealthy men have not been solicited, but the most modest sums will be gratefully received. The 'widows mite' will testify to an interest in the undertaking, which will fail of its full success unless it elicits the abiding regard of the entire community.
" The towns of Adams and Williamstown will be included in the field of sub- scription since it is designed that these towns shall share in the benefits of the in- stitution. When established, benevolent men and women of sufficient means will un- doubtedly endow beds, one endowment being already assured. If necessary it is believed that $25,000 can be raised. As soon as a sufficient sum to secure the success of the undertaking has been pledged, a meeting of all contributors will be held to perfect an organization. The hospital is to have a desirable and sightly location so that the eyes of the sick may minister to recovery."
A short time after the publication of this article a meeting of citizens was held at the Wilson House parlors, and the following were appointed a hospital committee : W. L. Brown, W. S. Johnson, C. T. Sampson, H. G. B. Fisher, and William Arthur Gallup. The committee had several meetings soon after and made efforts to get different localities they thought desirable for hospital purposes. At last on the first of March, 1883, they decided to buy the land on Liberty street near Stoughtonville. formerly belonging to the Estes estate, and W. Arthur Gallup bought it at auction for $3,400. After this there was a long pause and people be- gan to ask about the matter. The fact was was that the architect, W. L. Brocklesby, of Hartford, Conn., and W. L. Brown, and other members of the committee had been consulting with New York physicians and had several times changed the plans, finally arriving at what they con- sidered the best obtainable. The plans were published and bids were taken, the lowest being that of Bartlett Bros., of East Whately, Mass., who had built several large buildings in the vicinity. Their bid was $11, - 750. They first broke ground for the building on Saturday the 27th of October, 1883. The corner stone was laid on the 1st of November, 1883. It was of Longmeadow stone and bore the inscription : "North Adams Hospital, 1883." When the exercises began there were about a thousand people present. The people were called from their en- joyment of the beautiful prospect stretching away at their feet by W. L. Brown, who acted as master of ceremonies. Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. S. McKean, and an address was delivered by Judge Jarvis Rockwell. At the close of his address the judge read a list of articles to be placed in
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