USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Conway > History of Conway (Massachusetts) 1767-1917 > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
81
FIFTY YEARS MORE.
singing by a quartette; reading of the Declaration of Inde- pendence by Miss Ada Patrick; music by the band; address by Rev. Charles B. Rice of Danvers, Mass .; singing by the quartette; collation; poem by Mr. Olin Clark; after-dinner speaking with Charles Parsons, Jr., as toastmaster. The exer- cises closed with the singing of America.
PATRIOTIC AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS.
The Francis A. Clary Post, No. 164, G. A. R., was organized in 1883 with the following charter members: Samuel Bigelow, Elias Bradford, George Braman, C. C. Burdette, John Connelly, Horace Dill, F. M. Freeman, Joseph Greenyer, George Hassell, Gordon H. Johnson, Franklin Lee, Theodore Lombard, Henry Nye, W. D. Sanderson, Alexander Sinclair, Henry A. Stearns, C. G. Townsend, J. W. Turner, William Watson. The first commander of the Post was Gordon H. Johnson. The present commander is Alexander Sinclair.
The Woman's Relief Corps of the Francis A. Clary Post was organized January 18, 1888, with Mrs. Horace Dill as president. The Corps has been of invaluable assistance to the Post, espe- cially as the number of veterans decreased. The present mem- bership is twenty-five. The president is Mrs. Almeda Mann.
The Chauncey G. Townsend Camp, No. 40, Sons of Veterans was organized in 1892 with George C. Lee, captain. The membership soon reached twenty-five, and the total enrollment has been about fifty. On November 6, 1892, Mrs. Townsend presented to the Camp a large and beautiful silk flag in memory of her husband for whom the Camp was named. The Camp flourished for a number of years until the members became so scattered that meetings ceased to be held. The last records were dated June 3, 1904.
The Morning Sun Lodge of Masons was organized in Ashfield in 1826. The first master was Rev. Orra Martin, pastor of the Baptist church of South Ashfield. The senior warden was Horace B. Childs of Conway. The Lodge was removed to Conway in 1830. It prospered for a few years but finally surrendered its charter about 1840. The charter was restored in 1870 when the present Lodge was formed, retaining the name of the earlier organization. Charles Parsons, Jr., was the first
82
HISTORY OF CONWAY.
master of the reorganized Lodge. Meetings were held for a number of years in rooms built and furnished for its special use at the Conway hotel. Masonic Hall was completed in 1896 and was opened with a public reception in July of that year. The building furnished quarters for the post office and the office of the Electric Street Railway, in addition to the con- veniently arranged assembly and banquet rooms of the Lodge.
The Wequanock Tribe of Red Men was organized in Conway, December 1, 1899. A wigwam was specially constructed for them in the upper story of the Hawkes block and, except for a few years in the old Masonic rooms at the hotel, this has been their place of assembly. George Rhood is the present sachem of the tribe.
A Lodge of Good Templars was formed in 1894 and flourished for a time.
For many years a Young Men's Christian Association held regular meetings. It was officered by young men who afterward became the leading town officials. Entertainment courses were arranged under its auspices and lectures by men of wide reputa- tion were given for the benefit of the public.
In 1891 there was a Farmers' League with Micajah Vincent as president. Its meetings were devoted to the discussion of fruit growing.
Later the Grange flourished for a time, holding its meetings in a room of the town hall still known as "Grange hall."
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was an influential organization for a number of years. In 1905 it presented to the public a granite drinking fountain conveniently located at Masonic Square.
A Fire Company was formed in Conway in 1852. The large hand engine procured at that time is still in use. The chief dependence, however, in recent years has been placed in two chemical engines stored, one at the bank building and the other in Burkeville. The fire company has been very important to the town, always responding promptly to alarms at any hour of the day or night. Thomas Dickinson, John Sprague, Charles Parsons, Jr., and Clarence A. Smith each served for a number of years as fire chief and rendered most efficient and heroic
83
FIFTY YEARS MORE.
service. The officers in 1916 were: Chief, Daniel Mckenzie; first assistant, Edgar Jones; second assistant, Edward Parsons.
The Conway Cornet Band was organized in 1876 with John R. Holcomb, leader. It passed through many changes in its personnel but continued its existence and services to the community for about fifteen years.
In 1907 another organization was formed taking the name of the Conway Brass Band. It made its first public appearance on the Fourth of July of that year. Music has since been furnished for all public occasions, and open-air concerts have been given at frequent intervals during the summer, to the great enjoyment of the townspeople. Mr. Fred Holcomb has been its only leader.
The Conway Club, organized for social purposes, was popular with the young men for several years. It had rooms, fitted up at considerable expense, in the Hawkes block. The rooms were required for a tenement in 1916 and the club disbanded.
The Conway Sportsmen's Club was formed in 1913 with the assistance of Game Warden Ruberg of Greenfield. Its influence is exerted to protect game from lawless destruction. It is also actively engaged in stocking the streams. Large-mouthed bass, pike perch, and hornpout from the state hatcheries have been placed in Lake Wequanock. Trout fry and fingerlings have been put into the various brooks of this locality. Pheasants have been received from the State Game Commission and turned loose in the woods. The annual supper of the club is a very popular event when members of the State Commission and other speakers of reputation have addressed the club and its guests. The officers in 1916 were: President, Alexander Sinclair; secretary and treasurer, A. A. Belair; directors, Edward Affhauser, Allen R. Cook, Edward Graves, Alexander Sinclair, A. A. Belair.
DISASTERS.
The great freshet of 1869 is still vividly remembered by the older residents of the town. It began to rain on Saturday, October 4, and poured in torrents for forty-eight hours. The earth wings of the granite dam at the Tucker & Cook reservoir gave way, and with the water in the reservoir added to the stream, already a raging flood, a clean sweep was made of
84
HISTORY OF CONWAY.
practically everything in its path. The covered bridge at Burkeville was the only bridge remaining on South River from Ashfield line to the Deerfield. Fourteen bridges were washed away in various parts of the town. All of the mills were more or less seriously damaged. The tannery of William Clapp, which had been an important industry of the town, was completely wrecked. The business did not recover from the loss. Several dwelling houses were moved from their foundations and Main Street between the present Field Library and the bridge was the center of a sizable lake. It was estimated that the total damage to the town in public and private property, including dams, roads, and bridges, was about $50,000. The same flood conditions prevailed all over Franklin County and the tracks of the Troy and Greenfield railroad, now extended as far as the almost completed tunnel, were wrecked along the whole length of the Deerfield River.
Another flood equally dangerous to life, though less destruc- tive to property, occurred in 1878. The cause of this was a heavy fall of snow followed by rain and a south wind on the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, December 10. During the night all of this mantle of snow, holding the rain like a sponge on the frozen ground, melted and literally slid, as from the roof of a house, into the river valleys. The Ashfield and Conway reservoirs gave way at about the same time, making an interval of about an hour between the two floods as they reached Conway village. This was fortunate for Conway, for had the flood from Ashfield been added to the volume of water in the Conway reservoir the consequences to Conway village must have been serious indeed. As it proved, the property loss, though heavy, was much less than in 1869. There were many narrow escapes but no loss of life during either disaster.
The town has been visited with serious fires, some of them involving heavy financial loss, others destroying buildings prized for their associations. In the spring of 1898 the old farmhouse built in 1820, by Gen. Asa Howland, burned to the ground together with barn and sheds. The fire left practically nothing but the stone foundations. These buildings had been the pride of the town as the residence for many years of one of her most prominent and widely known citizens. Another house whose
85
FIFTY YEARS MORE.
value consisted chiefly in its historical associations was consumed by fire on the night of February 20, 1916. This house, owned by Dennis Childs, and occupied by Mr. Forbes Batchelder, was built about the time of the incorporation of the town by Deacon Joel Baker. It was the first frame house built in town. After the fire the most prominent object, and about all that was left, was the old brick oven built by Mrs. Joel Baker herself, one hundred and fifty years ago.
A number of business blocks have been destroyed by fire. The bank building, with town office and rooms occupied by the public library, was totally destroyed on the night of January 11, 1878. This fire was an exceedingly dangerous one, threatening for a time to sweep the entire street. The following year the upper cotton mill of the Tucker & Cook Company was burned. These important buildings were at once rebuilt. Other buildings in and about the village have burned and been replaced. Yet in many instances fire has been the means of closing out a business or of obliterating a home: The destruc- tion of the Lawrence block and Foote house on December 24, 1898, left a vacant place in the center of the village. The Burkeville Woolen Mill, once so important to the town, was destroyed by fire on the sixth of March, 1904. A smaller building has since been erected to utilize the water power in the making of taps and dies, but the era of woolen manufacturing in Conway seems to have closed with the burning of the old woolen mill. Of similar importance to the agricultural interests of the town was the loss by fire, on August 1, 1905, of the buildings of the Conway Co-operative Creamery. The Congregational meeting house burned in 1885 but was promptly replaced by a modern and more beautifully furnished edifice.
DIPHTHERIA.
Conway was afflicted with an epidemic of diphtheria in 1874. Beginning with October 21 there were, within a year, thirty-six deaths from diphtheria. In several homes there were two and even three deaths in close connection. Rev. James De Forest, pastor of the Methodist church, lost two children and was himself buried with them. The town was in deepest gloom for several months.
-
86
HISTORY OF CONWAY.
CEMETERIES.
The first burial place in town was a part of what is now known as Howland Cemetery. This cemetery dates with the town's organization. In 1772 land was purchased in the rear of the meeting house for another burial place. This old church- yard at Pumpkin Hollow has long been unused. It contains, however, the remains of people who were prominent citizens in their day, including two officers of the Revolution, Capt. Lucius Allis and Capt. Elisha Amsden. Other old cemeteries, used as the burial place of the early settlers and the founders of the town, are the ones at Cricket Hill, South Part, Poland, and North Shirkshire. The Pine Grove Cemetery was opened for use in 1845. This made seven town cemeteries besides a number of family graveyards in various parts of the town.
Dr. Rice gives the number of deaths from the settlement of the town to the time of the centennial as 2,183. The number since the centennial up to January first, 1917, is 1,321, making the total number of deaths in Conway during the entire history of the town 3,504.
In 1901 the owners of burial lots in the Howland and Pine Grove cemeteries formed themselves into "The Conway Ceme- tery Association," and became incorporated under the laws of the state by a special act of the Legislature. The incorporators named in the act were Henry W. Billings, Charles D. Ives, Gordon H. Johnson, Carlos Batchelder, W. E. Hawkes, A. R. Stearns. The first officers of the Association were: A. P. Dela- barre, president; H. W. Billings, clerk; Carlos Batchelder, treasurer. As a result of this organization there has been a great improvement in the appearance of both cemeteries. Much needed grading has been done and ornamental shrubs have been tastefully placed. The turf is neatly kept and owners of lots are encouraged to provide for their perpetual care. The present Board of Trustees are; C. D. Ives, president; E. T. Cook, secre- tary; A. C. Guilford, treasurer; Emory Brown, A. P. Delabarre, C. F. Elmer, H. B. Hassell.
TOWN OFFICIALS.
The previous chapter gives a list of representatives to the General Court, also a list of town clerks and treasurers for the
87
FIFTY YEARS MORE.
first century. We will complete those lists for fifty years more. Each town in the state sent its own representative in 1856. After that date the towns were grouped together into Repre- sentative Districts. Conway taking turns with other towns has sent the following men to the Legislature since 1867: Carlos Batchelder, 1870; Dr. David Vining, 1881; Henry W. Hopkins, 1886; John B. Packard, 1889, 1896, 1897; Horace E. Miller, 1892; Charles F. Elmer, 1907, 1908.
It is easy to complete the list of town clerks and treasurers, as H. W. Billings continued in both offices until his death in 1915. He was then succeeded by Charles Parsons as clerk, and by Alvin C. Boice as treasurer.
No list of selectmen was given in the previous chapter. We therefore make this list complete from the first town meeting :-
1767. Thos. French, Consider Arms, Samuel Wells.
1768. Thos. French, Joel Baker.
1769. Joel Baker, Jos. Catlin, Elias Dickinson, Nathaniel Field, Simeon Graves.
1770. Thos. French, Joel Dickinson, Cyrus Rice.
1771. Thos. French, Samuel Wells, Jonathan Whitney, Joel Baker, Israel Rice.
1772-73. Jonas Rice, David Parker, Daniel Newhall.
1774. Consider Arms, Israel Gates, Robert Oliver.
1775. Elisha Amsden, Samuel Wells, Noah Belding.
1776. Isaac Amsden, Jonas Rice, Sam'l Crittenden, Elisha Clark, Alex. Oliver.
1777.
Cyrus Rice, Isaac Amsden, Israel Rice, Elisha Clark.
1778.
Samuel Wells, Jonathan Whitney, Elisha Clark.
1779.
Abel Dinsmore, Jonathan Whitney, Israel Rice.
1780. Elisha Amsden, Josiah Boyden, Nathaniel Goddard.
1781.
Alexander Oliver, Prince Tobey, Lucius Allis.
1782.
Prince Tobey, Alexander Oliver, Malachi Maynard.
1783.
Israel Gates, Abel Dinsmore, Malachi Maynard.
1784. Caleb Allen, Abel Dinsmore, Jesse Severance.
1785. Prince Tobey, Caleb Allen, George Stearns, Elisha Clark Josiah Boyden.
1786.
Caleb Allen, Oliver Root, Timothy Thwing.
1787. Lieut. Clary, William Wetmore, Oliver Root.
1788-89.
Ethan Billings, Caleb Allen, Oliver Root.
1790.
William Gates, Caleb Allen, Oliver Root.
1791.
John Banister, Elisha Clark, Oliver Root.
1792-95. John Banister, Caleb Allen, Oliver Root.
1796.
Abel Dinsmore, Jabez Newhall, Oliver Root.
1797. Malachi Maynard, Jabez Newhall, Oliver Root.
1798. Malachi Maynard, Reuben Bardwell, Oliver Root.
1799. Malachi Maynard, Joseph Rice (2d), Oliver Root.
1800
Caleb Allen, Joel Parsons, Joel Adams.
1801.
Caleb Allen, Joel Parsons, Oliver Root.
1802. Prince Tobey, Isaiah Wing, Oliver Root.
1803-04. Joel Parsons, Jabez Newhall, Joseph Rice (2d).
88
HISTORY OF CONWAY.
1805. 1806. 1807-08. 1809-10. 1811. 1812. 1813-14. 1815. 1816.
Joel Parsons, Reuben Bardwell, Joseph Rice (2d). John Arms, Samuel Wrisley, Joseph Rice (2d).
John Arms, David Childs, Joseph Rice (2d).
Isaac Baker, David Childs, Joseph Rice (2d).
Isaac Baker, David Childs, Nathaniel Baker.
Isaac Baker, Joel Parsons, Isaiah Wing. Isaac Baker, Joel Parsons, Elijah Nash.
1817.
Samuel Warren, Joel Parsons, Darius Stearns.
1818. Elijah Nash, Charles E. Billings, D. Stearns.
1819. Elijah Nash, Joseph Rice, Isaac Baker.
1820. Charles E. Billings, William Stow, Noah Dickinson.
1821. C. E. Billings, Joseph Rice, Noah Dickinson.
1822. C. E. Billings, Darius Stearns, Noah Dickinson.
1823. C. E. Billings, Darius Stearns, John Arms.
1824. C. E. Billings, Elisha Clark, John Arms.
1825.
C. E. Billings, Joseph Rice, John Arms.
1826. Joseph Avery, Levi Page, Ira Amsden.
1827.
Joseph Avery, C. E. Billings, Darius Stearns.
1829.
Austin Rice, John Arms, Joseph Avery.
1830.
Charles E. Billings, Darius Stearns, Luther Bartlett.
1837.
C. E. Billings, Eber Lee, James Phillips.
1838.
Luther Bartlett, Eber Lee, James Phillips.
1839.
Joseph Avery, Austin Rice, George Stearns.
1840. 1841.
Kimball Batchelder, A. Rice, Chester Bement.
1842.
Chester Bement, Josiah Dwight, Joseph Avery.
1843.
James Phillips, Austin Rice, John Allis.
1844. James Phillips, Austin Rice, Josiah Dwight.
1845.
Emery Sherman, A. Rice, Daniel Eldridge.
1846. Emery Sherman, John Clary, D. Eldridge.
1847. Emery Sherman, John Clary, Kimball Batchelder.
1849.
Dennis Lee, E. D. Hamilton, Edwin Cooley.
1850. 1851.
William C. Campbell, Edwin Cooley, George Stearns.
1852.
Chester Bement, Daniel Eldredge, M. Dickinson.
1853. 1854.
Isaac Farley, Joel G. Rice, M. Dickinson.
1855.
Emery Sherman, Joel G. Rice, Dennis Lee.
1856. 1857.
W. C. Campbell, Levi Page, Joel G. Rice. . Asa Howland, Levi Page.
1858. 1859. Asa Howland, William A. Howland, F. Arms.
1860. Edwin Cooley, Paul Jenkins, Dennis Lee.
1861. Edwin Cooley, W. C. Campbell, Carlos Batchelder.
1862. Edwin Cooley, Newton Pease, C. Batchelder.
1863-65. William C. Campbell, Consider Arms, C. Batchelder. 1866. W. C. Campbell, William Stearns, C. Batchelder.
1867. W. C. Campbell, L. F. Eldredge, C. Batchelder.
1868. Charles B. Merritt, L. F. Eldredge, C. Batchelder.
1869. W. C. Campbell, Thomas L. Allis, C. Batchelder.
1870. Levi Page, Franklin Pease, L. F. Eldredge.
1871-72. Thomas L. Allis, Chelsea Cook, L. F. Eldredge.
--
- -
1828.
Austin Rice, C. E. Billings, Luther Bartlett.
1832-34. 1835.
Charles E. Billings, William Stow, James Phillips. C. E. Billings, Joseph Avery, Charles Parsons.
1836.
George Stearns, Joseph Avery, Charles Parsons.
Luther Bartlett, John Cotton, C. Bemrent.
1848. William A. Howland, E. D. Hamilton, Alvin Dinsmore.
William C. Campbell, Asa Howland, George Stearns.
John Bradford, L. L. Boyden, M. Dickinson.
William C: Campbell, Consider Arms, Franklin Pease.
.
Isaac Baker, Joel Parsons, Darius Stearns.
Charles E. Billings, Joel Parsons, Darius Stearns.
89
FIFTY YEARS MORE.
1873.
T. L. Allis, Edwin Cooley, Carlos Batchelder.
1874.
T. L. Allis, Edwin Cooley, T. S. Dickinson.
1875.
John B. Packard, Edwin Cooley, T. S. Dickinson.
1876.
J. B. Packard, Edwin Cooley, Alfred Bartlett.
1877-78. T. S. Dickinson, Edwin Cooley, L. F. Eldredge.
J. B. Packard, Edwin Cooley, G. P. Hassell.
1879. 1880.
John B. Packard, Charles Parsons, Jr., Elbridge G. Thwing.
1881.
Charles Parsons, Jr., Franklin Pease, Henry W. Hopkins.
1882. Charles Parsons, Jr., Franklin Pease, Henry W. Hopkins.
1883. Charles Parsons, Jr., Henry W. Hopkins, Alfred Bartlett.
1884.
Charles Parsons, Jr., Henry A. Stearns, Joel B. Page.
1885.
Franklin Pease, Henry A. Stearns, Thomas Dickinson.
1886.
Franklin Pease, Joel B. Page, Elihu B. Ames.
1887.
Franklin Pease, Charles Parsons, Jr., Elihu B. Ames. Franklin Pease, David Newhall, Elihu B. Ames.
1889.
Franklin Pease, B. S. Graves, J. C. Newhall.
1890.
Franklin Pease, David Newhall, Charles H. Willis.
1891.
David Newhall, Franklin Pease, Charles Parsons, Jr.
1892.
Charles F. Allis, David Newhall, Charles L. Mason.
1893.
Charles F. Allis, David Newhall, Charles L. Mason.
1895.
David Newhall, Charles F. Allis, Charles F. Elmer.
1896.
David Newhall, Charles F. Allis, Charles F. Elmer.
1898.
David Newhall, Charles F. Allis, Charles F. Elmer.
1900.
Charles F. Allis, Charles F. Elmer, David Newhall.
1901.
Charles F. Elmer, John W. Fuller, David Newhall.
1902.
Charles F. Allis, David Newhall, Charles F. Elmer.
1903.
David Newhall, W. T. Graves, C. L. Parsons.
1904.
C. L. Parsons, W. T. Graves, C. F. Allis.
1905.
C. L. Parsons, W. T. Graves, C. F. Allis.
1906.
C. L. Parsons, W. T. Graves, C. F. Allis.
1907. C. L. Parsons, C. F. Allis, Alvin C. Boice.
1908. C. L. Parsons, E. B. Graves, George Bolton.
1909.
C. F. Elmer, C. F. Allis, J. F. Parker.
1910.
C. F. Elmer, J. F. Parker, C. L. Boyden.
1911.
C. F. Elmer, J. F. Parker, C. L. Boyden.
1912. C. F. Elmer, J. F. Parker, C. L. Boyden.
1913. C. F. Elmer, C. L. Boyden, Dwight Weston.
1914. A. J. Patterson, C. L. Boyden, Dwight Weston.
1915.
A. J. Patterson, C. L. Boyden, Dwight Weston.
1916. A. J. Patterson, C. L. Boyden, Dwight Weston.
1917.
A. J. Patterson, C. L. Boyden, Dwight Weston.
PHYSICIANS.
Conway has been favored with the services of skillful and devoted physicians. The previous chapter gives a list of the resident physicians who served the community during the first century. The list ends with Doctors E. D. Hamilton and D. T. Vining, who in 1867 were in the prime of life, each having a large practice in this and in neighboring towns. Dr. Hamilton continued in practice until his death in 1883 when he was
1897.
David Newhall, Charles F. Allis, Charles F. Elmer.
1899.
Charles F. Allis, Charles F. Elmer, David Newhall.
1894.
David Newhall, Charles F. Allis, Charles F. Elmer.
1888.
90
HISTORY OF CONWAY.
succeeded by Dr. J. B. Laidley. Dr. Laidley practiced from 1883 until his death in 1910 and was succeeded by Dr. C. E. Perry.
Dr. Vining was a homeopathic physician and at his death in 1888 he was succeeded by Dr. Charles W. Clough of the same school of medicine. Dr. Clough practiced until his death in 1910 and was followed by Dr. C. A. Washburne. Doctors Perry and Washburne both removed from town within two years and Dr. C. H. Dobson has since that time been the resident physician.
POPULATION.
The population of Conway was greatest during the decade of 1790 to 1800. Then for half a century it steadily decreased. The old farms where large families had been reared could not be divided among the numerous sons as they came to manhood, and so the second and third generations literally swarmed like overcrowded hives. Some of the young people found employ- ment in the larger towns. Others migrated to the new lands of the Middle West. Manufacturing began to increase the popula- tion in Conway about the middle of the last century as seen by the census of 1850 and 1860. We give the population by decades beginning with the first census in 1790 :-
1790, 2,092; 1800, 2,013; 1810, 1,784; 1820, 1,705; 1830, 1,563; 1840, 1,409; 1850, 1,831; 1860, 1,689; 1870, 1,460; 1880, 1,760; 1890, 1,451; 1900, 1,458; 1910, 1,230; 1915, 1,219.
The population during the last fifty years has kept about the same except for the ups and downs of manufacturing. The number of people living on the farms has not materially changed in many years.
FARMS AND FARM LIFE.
Dr. Rice tells us that fifty years ago there were sixteen farms still occupied by the descendants of the first owners and occupants. Only five of those farms which he described now remain in the possession of the descendants of the first settlers. Boyden Brothers own in part the original farm of their ancestor, Josiah Boyden. George Collins lives upon the farm of his great-grandfather, Richard Collins, who was the first settler in the neighborhood of Poland. The village farm of Capt. Consider Arms is now the residence of his great-grandson, Charles D. Ives. The farm of Samuel Newhall has been cultivated
-
.
91
FIFTY YEARS MORE.
successively by his descendants, James, Austin, and Joseph, who still lives upon it. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Seffens occupy the farm of Mrs. Seffens' ancestor, Timothy Thwing.
DR. E. D. HAMILTON.
Some of the less productive farms have been abandoned or rather devoted to pasture and woodland. A striking example of this is seen in the once populous neighborhood of Cricket Hill. There have been no less than thirty farmhouses in that section of the town between the present Northampton road and the Poland district. It is said that at one time there were ninety pupils enrolled at the school in this district. Now there are but four houses in the entire neighborhood. A number of
92
HISTORY OF CONWAY.
the old farms in various parts of the town have recently been acquired by the "New Americans" who, with economy, great industry, and good farm management, are paying for the farms and bringing them again into a fair state of productiveness.
Some of the more sightly locations have been sold for summer residences. In 1899 the Franklin Arms place was purchased by James F. Tichenor of New York. Mr. Tichenor remodeled the old farmhouse and made many improvements in the sur- roundings, converting the place into a beautiful country estate. Unfortunately, neither Mr. nor Mrs. Tichenor lived long to enjoy their home and for several years the farm has been occupied for only brief periods by changing owners. Three years after Mr. Tichenor located on "Arms Hill," his friend W. F. Harris bought the Clary farm, also commanding an extensive view. Mr. Harris remodeled the buildings and enjoyed his summer home for several years. Then the buildings burned and for personal reasons the family relocated elsewhere.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.