USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume II pt 2 > Part 8
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During six years the career of this association was highly successful. Rooms in James H. Dunham's building, on North street, were fitted up, newspapers were supplied. lectures, social reunions, and musical enter- tainments were provided, a scientific section was organized, a cabinet was collected, and a popular interest in science was created. Expenditures were, however, allowed to exceed receipts. Mr. Colt paid the annual de. ficiency while he was president, and James W. Hull, Samuel E. Nichols. James M. Barker, Albert B. Root, Irving D. Ferrey, Thomas G. Colt, and others rendered efficient service. With the depression of business in 1873 it became apparent that all efforts to maintain the organization would be in vain, and measures were taken to discontinue it.
The old Library Association was still in active operation. Hon. Thomas Allen, Hon. Thomas F. Plunkett, and Calvin Martin, Esq., were liberal friends of the library, and desired to place it on a more per- manent basis. Accordingly, they donated to themselves. as trustees for a library, $8.800; Mr. Martin contributing $5,000, and Messrs. Allen and Plunkett each 81,900 : and with this sum the Agricultural Bank building, on Bank Row, was purchased in October. 1868.
In April, 1869, the Legislature authorized the trustees of the medical college to sell its real and personal estate, and pay the interest of the proceeds, in equal proportions, to the Library and Young Men's Associa tions, until the organization of the proposed Athenaeum, when it should receive the principal ; providing, nevertheless, that so much of the per-
GREY TOWER. RESIDENCE OF MRS. WILLIAM POLLOCK. PITTSFIELD.
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TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
sonal property as it was deemed desirable to preserve, should be depos- ited with the Young Men's Association until the Athenaeum should be prepared to receive it. In 1870, the Legislature changed the name of the Library Association to the Pittsfield Athenaum, but without altering its constitution. In 1870, Mr. Allen fitted the Agricultural banking room with handsome book cases, at a cost of $900; and, together with Mr. Plunkett. invited the Pittsfield Athenaeum to occupy it without rent. The offer was accepted. In 1870, the medical college having been sold. the library, cabinets, and scientific apparatus of that institution were also removed to the Athenænm.
The trustees named in the charter were Thomas Allen. Ensign H. Kellogg. Thomas Colt. George Y. Learned, Edward S. Francis. John Todd, Henry L. Dawes, Edwin Clapp. William R. Plunkett, William F. Bartlett, and James F. Barker. The corporation was organized May 13th, 1872, with Thomas Allen, president ; William F. Bartlett, vice presi- dent ; James M. Barker, clerk and treasurer.
On the same day the trustees received from Messrs. Allen and Plan- kett a deed of the Agricultural Bank building. The trustees of the med- ical college also paid them 84,400, being the residue, after the payment of debts, of the price received by them for the college building.
Measures were taken for the extension of the grounds, and in June. 1872, a committee was appointed to arrange for the erection of a larger edifice. In December, 1873. Mr. Allen addressed a letter to his associates. offering to erect a suitable building, at his own personal cost. not exceed- ing 850,000, and make a free gift of it to the institution, if satisfactory assurance was given within a reasonable time, that a sufficient fund would be raised to free the site from incumbrance, and maintain the AAthe- næum in perpetuity.
Phinehas Allen, at his death, in 1872, left a residuary legacy of about $60,000 to the Athenæum.
At the annual town meeting in 1874 Theodore Pomeroy, Owen Coo- gan, William H. Murray, Robert W. Adam, and Jarvis N. Dunham were appointed a committee, and empowered to cause the obligations of the town to be issued to an amount within the limit of $24,000, for the discharge of the mortgage on the land of the trustees of the Berkshire Athenæum, and for the purchase of additional land. It was also resolved that upon the erection of a new Athenaeum building, "without expense to the town of Pittsfield, for a free library for all its citizens, and for other purposes, the town hereby agrees to pay annually to the trustees of the Berkshire Athenaeum, for the maintenance of said free library and the care of said building, the sum of 82,0009, until such time as said trus- tees shall receive the bequest of the late Phinehas Allen, Esq .. or such portion thereof as shall enable them to realize from the increase thereof. the said sum of $2,000 yearly ; and the erection of said building shall bind the town to the agreement in this vote contained."
*The annual appropriation of the town has usually been $3.000.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
The mortgage was discharged and the additional grounds were pur- chased at a total cost to the town of $22, 400.
Mr. Allen adopted a design for the Athenaeum building which was submitted by William A. Potter, of New York, and the contract for its erection was awarded to A. B. & D. C. Munyan.
The foundation of the Atheneum was laid in the fall of 1874, and the superstructure was nearly completed in the following year.
THE BERKSHIRE ATHENEUM.
The general appearance of this building is shown in the accompany- ing engraving. It is of the richer Gothic style and is one of the finest buildings of its kind in the State. The chief material is the dark blue limestone of Great Barrington, left with a rock face and laid in courses, while the same stone hammered, and thus become a lighter blue, forms a portion of the dressing. The remainder of the ornamental stone work is
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TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
of the red Longmeadow freestone and the red granite of Missouri, the latter of which is almost identical in character with the Aberdeen granite of Scotland. The frontage of the building is ninety feet and the general depth sixty feet. A projection in the rear gives a depth of eighty feet to the main library room, which is thirty feet wide.
In its internal arrangements the building is a model of good taste.
The library then in existence, consisting of 4,200 volumes, was, in 1872, transferred to the Atheneum on condition that it should be kept free to the citizens of the town. The medical college library, of about 1,000 volumes, was afterward added.
The Athenaeum has received valuable donations from time to time. Hon. H. L. Dawes has presented over 2,000 volumes of publie documents. Mr. Franklin E. Taylor, of New York, presented the superb work of Luigui Canini upon the edifices of ancient Rome. This work is in six large volumes, printed on hand made paper, and with a multitude of per- fect engravings, invaluable to the student of architecture or of Roman history. George P. Briggs. Esq., has contributed files of the New York Tribune and Harper's Weekly in the most interesting periods of the na- tion's history. Phinehas Allen contributed complete files of the Pitts- field Sun from 1800 to 1872. Hon. Henry Chickering, files of the Eagle. and Rev. E. Livingston Wells. valuable files of several newspapers. James M. Barker, Esq., has obtained from the commonwealth files of the Boston Daily Adrertiser, and from many quarters such a collection of documents and manuscripts has been received that the Athenaeum has become a mine of wealth for the student of Massachusetts history. Among these should be mentioned the gifts from Hon. Thomas Allen of the American Archives collected by Peter Force, and a few volumes of French pamphlets of abont the period of the French Revolution. and from the late Hon. Thomas Colt a collection of manuscripts of rare value, particularly in regard to our local and Revolutionary history.
In 1878 Curator Hubbel made provision for a free reading room by obtaining a pledge of $150 annually for five years in equal proportions from the following named persons : Theodore Pomeroy, Frank E. Ker- nochan, Mrs. Sarah L. Pollock, George L. Pollock, and John L. Colby. The leading magazines in this country and some of the best European. and a moderate representation of the leading newspapers of New England and New York are provided for the free use of the public. The publish - ers of the various local papers in Berkshire also contribute gratuitously their several sheets.
In the reference room are kept encyclopædias, dictionaries, lexicons. and various other works of reference, which are not allowed to be taken from the building.
It has valuable cabinets, including that of mineralogy, which includes the collection made by Professor Dewey for the Medical College, that of the scientific section of the Young Men's Association, several hundred
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
specimens gathered during the national survey of the 40th parallel, and many fine single specimens contributed by individuals.
The Soldiers' Monument. - The calls upon the town for soldiers in the late war had hardly ceased. before its attention was directed to the pledges made in its name that it would hold in perpetual memory and honor the names of its sons who had died in the service. Committees were appointed to consider the best means of redeeming these pledges by the erection of some monument : and from time to time made partial re- ports. But final action was delayed, at first on account of the town's desire to avoid all expenses not immediately necessary in order to speed- ily extinguish the debt incurred in the war : and when that was accom- plished, from some difference of opinion whether the monument should take the form of a pillar, statue. or a memorial hall.
During the delay on the part of the town, independent action had not been neglected. Immediately after the close of the war, Mrs. Curtis T. Fenn, who had been the efficient directress and manager of the La- dies' Soldiers' Aid Society, devoted herself energetically to obtaining the means for a monument to the memory of the fallen soldiers. By solicit- ing contributions, and by a fair, in cooperation with other ladies, she ob tained a considerable fund. But while it was felt that it would give ad- ditional interest to the monument that the ladies should have a conspic- uous share in providing it. it was also generally deemed proper and fit- ting that the town. in its corporate capacity, should take the greater part in thus honoring the memory of its fallen heroes. Mrs. Fenn, there- fore, suspended her labors and deposited the fund raised by her in the bank, to await the action of the town.
In the spring of 1871 this fund had accumulated to the sum of $3,000. and it appeared to those interested that there should be no longer delay. Accordingly, at the April town meeting, an appropriation of $7,000 was unanimously voted, for the erection of a "suitable and appropriate soldiers' monument." The following gentlemen were appointed a com. mittee, with full power to carry the vote into effect : Samuel W. Bower- man, Thomas Colt, William F. Bartlett, Henry S. Briggs, William R. Plunkett, Ensign H. Kellogg, John C. West, Henry H. Richardson, Alonzo E. Goodrich, Edward S. Francis, and Henry Stearns.
Mr. Colt was chosen chairman of the committee and Messrs. Bartlett, Cole, and Plunkett were appointed a sub-committee for procuring the monument. Several designs were submitted, but that offered by Mr. Launt. Thompson, of New York, an artist of distinguished reputation and acknowledged genius, was so original in thought and so striking and appropriate in character, that the committee had little difficulty in mak- ing their selection.
The monument as finally erected consists of a bronze statue of a color sergeant standing on a square granite pillar composed of pedestal, base, shaft, and capital. The height of the pillar is fifteen feet and four inches, and the figure of the standard bearer is six feet and three inches ; above
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TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
which the spear pointed staff of the colors rises four feet. The sergeant is represented standing in line of battle, looking eagerly into the distance. The figure is erect, but slightly supported by the staff of the colors. which is clasped by both hands : the right gathering the flag -- the stars and stripes-into graceful folds. The statue is correct in detail, as well as truthful in its grand effect ; the uniform and accontrements being faith- fully copied from those of a color sergeant at Fort Hamilton. Both face and figure are of a peculiar military type-as unique and easily recog. nized as that of a French zouave or Cossack trooper -- which the war for the Union developed from material which it found rough moulded in every New England village.
The base of the pillar is truncated at the top, leaving a projection on each face, which bears in bronze-relief, on the west the arms of the United States ; on the east the arms of the commonwealth : on the north and south shields inscribed with the names of the Pittsfield soldiers who fell in the war.
The dedicatory inscriptions are carved on the shaft and are as fol- lows :
On the west face ;
"FOR THE DEAD A TRIBUTE. FOR THE LIVING A MEMORY. FOR POSTERITY AN EMBLEM OF LOYALTY TO THE FLAG OF THEIR COUNTRY."
On the east face ;
WITH GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICES OF ALL HER SONS WHO UPHELD THE HONOR AND INTEGRITY OF OUR BELOVED COUNTRY IN HER HOUR OF PERIL, THE TOWN OF PITTSFIELD ERECTS THIS MONUMENT IN LOVING MEMORY OF THOSE WHO DIED THAT THE NATION MIGHT LIVE.
The names inscribed on the monument are those of citizens of Pitts- field who died in the war, either from wounds, or, before their discharge, from disease contracted in the war; not including citizens of other places, who served on her quota. They are as follows:
1
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
SECOND REGIMENT.
Charles W. Robbins, died in hospital at Louisville, Ky. Michael Mullaney, died in 1862.
EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Charles C. Broad, died at Pittsfield November 4th, 1864. Daniel S. Morgan, died at Baltimore August 9th, 1864.
TENTH REGIMENT.
Sergt. Haskel Hemenway, killed July ist, : 862, at Malvern Hill. Sergt. Thomas Daffee, killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12th, 1864.
Samuel D. Burbank, killed May roth, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va.
James Cassidy, killed May 5th, 1864, at Wilderness, Va. Richard S. Corliss, killed' July ist, 1862, at Malvern Hill, Va. Nelson N. Grippen, killed July ist, 1862, at Malvern Hill, Va.
Charles F. Harris, jr., died September 17th, 1862, at Newport News, Va.
Alfred C. Hemenway, killed May 30th, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Va. Gardner B. Hibbard, died November 13th, 1851, at Washington, D. C. Michael Hogan.
Henry Noble, killed May 12th, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va. Richard Ryan, killed May 12th, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va.
TWENTIETH REGIMENT.
Lieut. Lansing E. Hibbard, killed May roth, 1864. Sergt. John Merchant, killed October 21st, 1861, at Balls Bluff, Va. Oliver S. Bates, died August roth. 1864, at Alexandria. Va.
James Carough, died of wounds, December 15th, 1862. Jonathan Francis, died of wounds, December 13th, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va. Charles Goodwin, killed in the Wilderness, May 5th, 1864.
George F. Kelly, killed October 21st, 1861, at Balls Bluff, Va. James K. Morey, died December 28th, at Salisbury, N. C. Wilbur Noble, died in June, 1862, in New York while on his way home. John A. Sloan, died October Sth, 1862, at Bolivar Heights, Md.
TWENTY- FIRST REGIMENT.
Capt. William H. Clark, died of wounds, August 16th, 1864. Sergt. Justin S. Cressy, killed September ist, 1862, at Chantilly, Va. Sergt. Evelyn A. Garlick, killed September ist, 1862, at Chantilly, Va. Corp. Charles L. Woodworth, killed March 25th, 1862, at Newbern, N. C. Henry F. Chamberlain, died April 6th, 1862, at Newbern, N. C. George W. Jarvis, killed June 2d, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va. Hobart R. McIntosh, killed September ist, 1862. at Chantilly, Va. George E. Menton, killed March 14th, 1862, at Newbern, N. C. Samuel Wright, died March 30th, 1863, of wounds.
TWENTY SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Sergt. Willard L. Merry, died April 19th, 1862, at Newbern, N. C. Sergt. William H. Monnier, died December 4th, 1864. at Annapolis, Md. James S. Bentley, died September 4th, 1862, at Newbern N. C.
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TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
David Bolio, killed June 3d, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va.
Charles H. Davis, killed June 18th, 1864, at Petersburg, Va. James Donlon, died July 20th, 1864, at Andersonville, Ga. Joseph Goddit, died June 27th, 1864, of wounds, at Point of Rocks. Md. Eleazur Wilbur, died August 24th, 1864, at Andersonville prison, Ga. James Williams, died in Libby prison, Va., June Sth, 1864. John Wilson, died May 21st, 1864, at Norfolk, Va.
THIRTY - FIRST REGIMENT.
Captain William W. Rockwell, died December 3d, 1863, at Baton Rouge, La. Louis H. Daily, died June 29th, 1865, at Donaldsonville, La. Henry Holder, died October 13th, 1863, at Cairo, Ill. Edward E. Quigley, died December 24th, 1861, at Chester, Mass. George L. Martin, died October 12th, 1864, at New Orleans, L.a. John B. Ross, died April 11th, 1864, at New Orleans, La. James Tute, died June 17th, 1864, at New Orleans, La. Jonathan F. H. Harrington, jr. 1
THIRTY- FOURTH REGIMENT.
Lieut. James L. Dempsey, died October 17th, 1864, at Winchester, Va., ot wounds received at Cedar Creek, October 13th.
Corp. Noh A. Clark, killed October 18th, 1863, at Ripon, Va. John Casey, killed June 6th, 1864, at Piedmont, Va. Charles H. Dill, died August 20th, 1864, at Staunton, Va. William E. Donnelly, killed at Newmarket, Va. Edgar P. Fairbanks, died November 6th. 1862, at Fort Lyon, Va. John Grady, died November 12th, 1865, at Salisbury. N. C. Nelson Harned, died January 7th, 1864, at Harper's Ferry, Va. Thomas Leeson, died April 3d, 1864, at Martinsburg, Va. John Shaw, died August 27th, 1864, at Staunton, Va.
THIRTY- SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Miles H. Blood, killed September 19th, 1864, at Winchester, Va. Oliver C. Hooker, killed May 6th, 1864, at Wilderness, Va. Patrick Hussey, killed July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg. Pa. Robert Reinhart, killed August 2ist, 1864, at Fort Stevens, D. C.
THIRTY- NINTH REGIMENT.
Elbert O. Hemenway, died at Salisbury prison, N. C., January ist, 1865. FORTY . NINTH REGIMENT.
Corp. Allen M. Dewey, died March 23d, 1863, at New Orleans, La. James B. Bull, killed July 13th, 1863, at Donaldsonville, La. Luther M. Davis, killed May 27th, 1863, at Port Hudson, La. Seth R. Jones, died May 16th, 1863. at Biton Rouge, La. Daniel M. Joyner, died July 2d, 1853. at Baton Rouge, La. Samuel G. Noble, died July 14th, 1863.
Charles E. Platt, died June 6th, 1863, of wounds, at Port Hudson, L.a. William Taylor, died March 20th, 1863, at New Orleans, La. Charles F. Videtto, died April 14th. 1863. at Baton Rouge, La.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.
Eli Franklin, died July 20th, 1863, at Beaufort, S. C.
Levi Bird, died July roth, 1865, at Charleston, S. C. John Van Blake, died December 21st, 1863, at Morris Island, S. C. Henry Wilson, died July 31st, 1865, at Charleston, S. C.
FIFTY. SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Corp. George H. Hodge, died June 5th, 1864, at Arlington, Va.
William G. Bourne, killed May 6th, 1864, at Wilderness, Va.
Chester H. Daniels, died July 28th, 186.4.
Lowell Daniels, killed May 18th, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va.
Horace Danyon, died July 18th, 1864, at Washington, D. C.
Peter Monney, died May 12th, 1864, of wounds,
Lester Tyler, killed May 6th, 1864, at Wilderness, Va.
SIXTY- FIRST REGIMENT.
Thomas 1). Beebe, died February 12th, 1865, at City Point, Va.
Martin F. Mallison, died Setember 12th, 1864, at Galloup's Island.
FIRST REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
Charles T. Chapman, died August 28th, 1863, at Annapolis, Md.
Hiram S. Gray, died August 17th, 1864.
Michael Hanley, died August 22d, 1864, at Andersonville, Va.
John F. Hills, died February 18th, 1865, at Richmond, Va.
John P. Ober, killed June 17th, 1863, at Aldie, Va.
Edward O. Roberts, died Setember 21st, 1864. at Andersonville, Va.
Giles Taylor, died at City Point, Va.
THIRD REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
Abram Malcom, died October 13th, 1864.
Charles Ollinger, killed at Kelley's Ford.
Allen Prichard, died August 11th, 1865, at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
OTHER REGIMENTS.
Timothy Reardon, Second Battery light artillery, killed April 8th, 1864, at Sabine Cross Roads.
Sergt. Byron W. Kellogg, One Hundred and Seventy- third New York Volun- teers, died of wounds, June 30th, 1863, at Baton Rouge, La.
Charles M. Shepardson, Twelfth New York Cavalry, died October 30th, 1864, at Newbern, N. C.
Isaac Johnson, Fifth Massachusetts Cavalry, killed July 28th, 1864, at Point Lookout, Va.
Capt. Henry H. Sears, Forty- eighth New York.
Sergt. John W. Smith, United States Army, died January, 1863, at Harper's Ferry, Va.
James Donahue, One Hundred and Twenty -first New York Infantry, died at Alexandria, Va., April, 1865.
The cost of the entire monument was $10,000. besides which Mr- Thompson received a number of condemned cannon, granted for the work by Congress, through the efforts of Hon. H. L. Dawes.
£
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TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
It was determined to place it at the west end of the park. in or near which a large portion of the Pittsfield soldiers volunteered, and which possessed many other associations of patriotic interest; and the park being not considered in a proper condition for the reception of the con- templated work, the town placed in the hands of the committee before named, a further sum of 87.000, for the purpose of making some long desired improvements. The nature of these improvements was left to the discretion of the committee, by whom the following changes were made : The oval plot which constitutes the park was surrounded by a handsome and substantial granite coping, outside of which a broad gravel walk, with granite curbing, was built. The surface of the plot was graded, and a considerable number of trees, which had become so thick as to impede each other's growth, were felled: The Old Ehn had fallen in 1861. In addition to this, the grade of Park place was reduced so as to make it more uniform with Bank row.
While these alterations were in progress, the town voted an appro- priation of $2,500, to enable the committee to dedicate the monument to its great purposes with such impressive words and ceremonies as should fix them for at least one generation in the minds of the community ; and at the same time add to the honors which the town bestowed on the mem- ory of its heroic dead. To carry these intentions into effect the commit - tee had the good fortune to secure the services of so eminent an orator as George William Curtis. It was afterward determined to have other ex- ercises than those of the platform ; and such as would require great in- dustry, zeal, experience, and good judgment. The committee therefore called to their aid fifteen gentlemen, distinguished for those qualities, viz .: James M. Barker, Graham A. Root, Israel C. Weller, William H. Teeling, Thomas G. Colt, Samuel E. Nichols, William W. Whiting, Frederick A. Francis, William H. Coogan, Michael Casey, Seth W. Mor- ton, George S. Willis, jr., D. J. Dodge, Henry B. Brewster, and Erdman Leidhold. By this committee, the exercises of the day, with the excep- tion of those on the platform, were arranged and carried out, consulta- tion being had with the town committee whenever occasion arose.
The pillar having been previously erected, the statue was raised to its place at noon September 23d, 1872, and immediately draped with the national flags belonging to the two political parties in the town.
The day fixed for the unveiling of the statue was the 24th of Septem- ber ; and never were September skies more cloudless, or September days more genial in Berkshire, than those that favored the ceremonies with which Pittsfield honored her soldiers.
The streets were brilliant with red, white, blue, green and yellow bunting : the flags of many nations, arranged with greater regard to the effects of color than to significant grouping. And, in view of this, the result was excellent ; the gay colors of the banners, and of the few trees that had begun to put on their autumnal hues-mellow and rich but not yet gaudy-contrasting finely with the verdure which the foliage had
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
this year retained in unusual freshness. Nature and art combined to make a gala-day, and the people of Western Massachusetts did not in- cline to resist its attractions. On the morning of the 24th long trains of cars. 'rom all directions, came in, crowded to their utmost capacity. and the town was soon thronged as it had never been on any similar occasion.
The Second Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Militia was holding its annual encampment at the Pittsfield agrienltural grounds and acted as escort for the procession, and the following gentlemen were selected as marshals : Chief marshal. High Sheriff Graham A. Root : aids, Michael Casey, Lieut. Col. Thomas G. Colt, Col. Henry H. Richardson, Capt. F. A. Francis, William W. Whiting, William H. Coogan, Lient .- Col. I. C. Weller, Lient. William H. Harrington, J. L. Peck, and George S. Willis, jr.
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