USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Great Barrington > History of Great Barrington, (Berkshire County,) Massachusetts > Part 37
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434
HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
publication of The Independent Press was suspended in the summer of 1847, and The Courier has, from that time, been the only paper printed here.
In November, 1848, Clark W. Bryan resumed his connection with Mr. Cushing, and assumed the busi- ness 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 management of the paper under the firm 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 post-office, and a little later substituted a steam press in place of the old hand press. Mr. Rogers erected the substantial Courier Building in 1870, to which he transferred his business in January, 1871, and contin- ued 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.
The Housatonic Agricultural Society.
This Society had its origin in a gathering of a few gentlemen at the Berkshire House, October 30th, 1841, "to consider the propriety of forming an Agricultural Society in the southern part of Berkshire County." Major Samuel Rosseter presided at this meeting, and committees were appointed from each of the eleven southern towns of the county to confer with the peo- ple and ascertain their views upon the subject. This movement resulted in the organization of the Society before the end of the year, though it was not incorpo- rated until 1848. At its formation-in 1841-Major Samuel Rosseter was chosen President: Increase Sum- ner, Secretary; Philip Barnes, Treasurer.
The first exhibition of the Society was held on the 28th and 29th days of September, 1842; and, as we have elsewhere remarked, the first passenger train, on
435
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
this section of the Housatonic Railroad, brought peo- ple to attend this exhibition. The cattle were gath- ered on the, then vacant, lot next south of the Congre- gational Church, and the Academy Hall was the recep- tacle of household manufactures. The people of the surrounding towns flocked to the "Cattle Show" in great numbers, and in the success of this experimental exhibition the hopes of its originators were more than realized. For several years the cattle were exhibited on what is now Rosseter street, and in the Robbins' Grove, and household articles in the Academy Hall until 1845, when these were transferred to the Town Hall over Egbert Hollister's store. In these years, and later, the Plowing Match was one of the main features of the show, and Main street was devoted to the exhibition of horses. The annual addresses were made at the Congregational Meeting-House.
The Society organized under its Act of Incorpora- tion, April 11, 1848, and the following officers were then chosen: Seth Norton, President; William Dewey, Gilbert Munson, Vice-Presidents; Charles N. Emer- son, Secretary ; Edward P. Woodworth, Treasurer. In 1849, the Society having offered a premium of $10 to the town making the best exhibit of twenty yoke of oxen, "Major Rosseter walked proud behind the plow, while before at least a hundred stalwart oxen were aligned, while his Excellency, Governor Briggs, and magnates marched behind."
In 1854, the Society purchased land south of the village, and the next year erected buildings, and laid out the track for the showing of horses. From a small beginning the Society has increased its membership to more than 1,600, and its annual premiums to $3,000. Its list of officers contains the names of many of the most prominent agriculturists of the south part of the county ; and its beneficent effects upon the agricultural interests of this section are fully attested by the improved condition of farms and farm buildings, the introduction of better implements of husbandry, and an increased attention to the breeding of cattle and horses. The Cincinnatus Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons.
The charter of this Lodge-which bears amongst
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HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
others the signature of Paul Revere, then Grand Mas- ter-was granted by the Grand Lodge of Massachu- setts, December 9, 1795, the Lodge to be held in New Marlboro; and the persons named in the charter were principally of that town and Tyringham, though a few were residents of Great Barrington. Amongst these were Dan Chappell, Moses Hopkins, and John Nash. The first meeting of the Lodge was at the house of Joel Brigham in New Marlboro, January 1, 1796; and meetings were held in that town until October 1797. From that date Great Barrington was for six months the place of meeting, and, after that, the assemblages for each consecutive six months were at New Marlboro and Great Barrington.
The lodge was permanently transferred to this town February 12, 1800. The time of holding meet- ings, originally the first Wednesday of each month, was changed in November 1799, to the Wednesday on or before the full moon. The first place of meeting in Great Barrington-1798-was the brick house now of Moses C. Burr, north of the Bung Hill corner; from 1800 to 1806 at the house of John Farnum-now Jere- miah Atwood's; in 1806 and for several years at the Leavenworth Hall, and later at the tavern of Timothy Griswold. In October, 1824, a hall over the store of Isaac L. Van Deusen and George Pynchon, at Van Deusenville, became the Lodge room ; but after 1828, no meetings were held for many years.
The Lodge was reorganized May 31, 1852, in this town, but was removed to Sheffield early in 1853, where it remained until October 1857, when it was re- turned to Great Barrington. The following named residents of Great Barrington were masters of the Lodge earlier than 1828: John Whiting, Samuel Ros- seter, William Whiting, Hezekiah Lathrop, Washington Adams, and Constant Southworth.
The Monument Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was established here under a charter granted Oc- tober 12, 1875.
The Fire District.
The Great Barrington Fire District was organized August 12, 1854, embracing the village and sufficient
437
THE FIRE DISTRICT.
outside territory to include 1,500 inhabitants .. At a little earlier date-February 21, 1854-nineteen men in uniform, escorted by the Falls Village Brass Band, paraded the streets drawing a small Garden Engine. To that date the village never had either a fire engine or fire company, and this band of young men formed the nucleus of the HOPE FIRE COMPANY, organized at about that time. The demonstration then made re- sulted in the purchase of a Fire Engine by subscrip- tion, towards which the sum of $1,600 was raised within a week. The Engine, a fine Button machine, was received by the. Fire Company-then numbering eighty men, in uniform-on the 13th of June, 1854. The Engine House-since removed to Bridge street- was erected by the Fire District, on Castle street, in the fall and winter of 1854, the town contributing $500 towards the building. Reservoirs were built by the District, in various parts of the village, the supply of water, to a considerable extent, being furnished by the roofs of adjoining buildings.
For many years-1850-65-the subject of supply . ing the village with water for domestic uses, as well as for the extinguishment of fires, was discussed ; but no decisive steps were taken until 1865, when the Legis- lature passed an Act for supplying the town of Great Barrington with pure water. This act authorized the Fire District to conduct the water of East Mountain Brook to the village, and also gave authority to the town to issue Water Scrip, bearing interest and pay- able within thirty years, for the expense of the pro- posed outlay. Under the Act, the town had authority to assess and collect taxes upon the polls and estates of the Fire District, for the payment of the scrip and interest, though it was expected that the revenue to be derived from the water works, when completed, would render such taxes unnecessary.
The town, on its part, at first accepted, but after- wards rejected the provisions of this act. In 1866, in a very dry season-August to October-measurements of the water in the brook were made by a committee of the Fire District, and the result of nine measure- ments, on as many different days, showed the minimum
438
HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
capacity of the brook to be but two barrels per minute. Many were of the opinion that this brook could not furnish an adequate supply of water for the village; but others were more sanguine. The agitation of the water question, with the refusal of the town to co- operate in the matter, resulted in the formation of
The Great Barrington Water Company,
organized in August, 1868, with a capital of $20,000 in shares of $100 each. This company, in the fall of 1868, built the reservoir, and brought the water of East Mountain Brook to the village. Hydrants, for use in case of fires, were also put in ; and the supply of water, from that time, has proved abundant, with the exception that, in very dry seasons, it has been ne- cessary to enforce economy in its use.
The Great Barrington Gas Company.
In 1854, the Berkshire Woolen Company put up works for the manufacture of gas, for their own pur- poses. This was first used for lighting their woolen factory, October 30, 1854. From these works sprang the Great Barrington Gas Company-organized in 1855 -which laid pipes through the Main street and intro- duced into the village the gas made by the Berkshire Woolen Company. The gas was first used for lighting places of business in October, 1855, and has since come into quite general use. In 1871, the erection of lamp posts in the village was begun by the Fire District ; and the streets were for several years lighted by gas, for which kerosene has latterly been substituted.
The National Mahaiwe Bank.
This bank, incorporated as the Mahaiwe Bank, with a capital of $100,000-since increased to $200,000- was organized May 24, 1847, and went into operation in the following autumn. Its first place of business -- for a few months-was in the old office of Registry of Deeds, but was removed to a south room in the Berk- shire House, where it remained until the completion of its present Banking House, built in 1847. Its first board of Directors, consisted of Wilbur Curtis of Eg- remont, Edward F. Ensign of Sheffield, Noah Gibson
439
BANKS-COURT-HALLS.
of New Marlboro, George W. Sterling, Asa C. Russell, John Lewis, and Ralph Taylor, all of Great Barring- ton. Wilbur Curtis was the first President, and served until his resignation in April, 1855; John L. Dodge was then chosen President, and has continued in that office to the present time. The Cashiers of this bank have been Henry Hooker, John T. Banker, William Bostwick, Isaac B. Prindle, and Frederick N. Deland. This became a National bank in 1865.
The Great Barrington Savings Bank,
was incorporated February 23, 1869, and began busi- ness on the 1st of June in that year. Its first officers -chosen May 8, 1869-were Egbert Hollister Presi- dent, David S. Draper and R. N. Couch Vice-Presi- dents, M. Ludlow Whitlock, Clerk. Doctor William H. Parks was the first Treasurer, and continued in office until May 7, 1879, when Charles J. Taylor, the present Treasurer, was chosen. The deposits in this bank-at one time exceeding $530,000-were, on the 1st of January, 1882, $210,428.
The District Court.
The District Court of Southern Berkshire was es- tablished in 1870, with one presiding judge and two associate justices. Of this court the Hon. Increase Sumner was the first judge, holding his office to the time of his decease in 1871, and was succeeded by the Hon. James Bradford, the present incumbent.
Town Halls.
The old meeting-house east of the Great Bridge served the purposes of a town house, until 1837, and was last used for a town-meeting on the 31st of May of that year. It was soon after taken down, and in the following summer the town built upon its site a new town-house, which was completed, and first occu- pied by the town November 13, 1837. This house, a modest appearing, high, one-story building, painted white, with green blinds, was about forty by sixty feet in size, stood fronting west on the Common, and was erected at a cost of $1,800. This had been in use only seven years, when on a Saturday night-November 9,
440
HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
1844-a political caucus was held in it, at which the chairman of the meeting carelessly emptied the wick of an expiring candle into a wood spittoon, filled with saw-dust, and at an early hour the next morning the building was in ashes. The meeting for the annual election-November 11, 1844-called to be held at the town-house, assembled upon its ruins, and adjourned to the Congregational meeting-house, where it was held in the porch of that building.
The question of building a new town house was then agitated. The inhabitants of Van Deusenville were clamorous for its erection in that village, raised money by subscription for the purpose, and were aided in their demands by residents of the north and east parts of the town. So great a diversity of opinion as to location existed, that it was found difficult to agree upon a site. In this dilemma-in 1845-the town leased of Messrs. J. C. & A. C. Russell, a hall in the building now Egbert Hollister's store, which was used as a town hall for fifteen years, when the lease was transferred to the old Congregational church, which had then been removed to Bridge street. In this building the town meetings were held until 1876, when the present new Town Hall was ready for occupancy.
The New Town Hall.
The erection of this fine, brick structure, standing upon a lot of somewhat more than one and one-half acres, in the central part of the village, has supplied the want of a commodious place of assemblage for public purposes, long felt by the citizens of the town. This was built in 1875, was first opened to the public Janua- ry 1, 1876, and occupied by the town for the spring meeting of that year. In addition to the public hall, the building contains rooms for the accommodation of the Registry of Deeds, the District and Probate Courts, the Public Library, and the Town officers. The cost of the building (including the land) was $50,763. The cost of the land, with old buildings then standing, was $12,115.50, of which $2,000 was paid by subscrip- tion. Towards the erection of the building, the county -in consideration of rooms for the Courts and Registry
441
MONUMENT-LIBRARIES.
.- of which it has a permanent lease-contributed the old Registry building (afterwards sold by the town for $4,700) and in cash $6,500. The net cost to the town -deducting buildings sold and the amount contributed by the county and by individuals-is a little in ex- cess of $35,500.
The Soldiers' Monument.
For several years following the War of the Rebellion the question of erecting a Memorial Hall or a Monu- ment commemorative of the lives and services of the soldiers of the town in the war, was a theme of discus- sion in the town meetings. The agitation of this question resulted not only in the erection of the Monu- ment, but, incidentally, in the building of the Town Hall. The Monument was set up in 1876, after the completion of the Town Hall, and occupies a conspicuous position in front of that building. Toward the erection of the Monument, an appropriation of $5,000, was made by the town in 1872; but the expense attending consider- ably exceeded that sum, and the balance was contrib- uted by a public spirited citizen-Mr. John H. Coffing.
Libraries.
About the year 1800-perhaps a little earlier-a library, owned by proprietors and called The Union Library, was formed here, and was kept at the store of Samuel Whiting, Esq., on the Castle street corner, Mr. Whiting officiating as librarian. This collection of books, never very large, embraced a useful and standard class of works, and was in existence until January 1823, when the books were disposed of at public sale. The next effort towards a public library was in 1861 when the Great Barrington Library Association, was formed, its capital consisting in sixty-five shares of ten dollars each. This association gathered a very respect- able collection of books, which were productive of much good. This library continued until April 1881, when its books were transferred to the Great Barrington Free Library, then recently incorporated. As its means have permitted, this Corporation has made ex- tensive additions to the old collection, and with its books, „free to all, commends itself to the consideration and
442
HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
liberality of the inhabitants, upon which it must de- pend for its future success. That the Free Library may be sustained by the good sense and generosity of our citizens is earnestly to be hoped. We have else- where mentioned the extensive collection of books-the Cone Library-at Housatonic, sustained, and made- open to all who wish to use from its stores, by the- liberality of Mr. Henry D. Cone.
Manufactures.
The Manufactures of the town consist chiefly of the Cotton warps and Marseilles quilts from the five large mills of the Monument Mills at Housatonic; of the fine Writing papers of the Owen Paper Company, also at Housatonic; of the Pig-iron of the Richmond Iron Works at Van Deusenville; and of the woolen goods of the Berkshire Woolen Company in the main village.
Population and Valuation.
The population of the town at different periods is as follows :
1776, by Colonial Census,
961
1790, by United States Census,
1,373
1800, by United States Census,
1,754 (1)
1810, by United States Census,
1,784
1820, by United States Census,
1,908
1830, by United States Census,
2,264
1840, by United States Census,
2,704
1850, by United States Census,
3,264
1855, by State Census,
3,449
1860, by United States Census,
3,871
1865, by State Census,
3,920
1870, by United States Census,
4,320
1875, by State Census,
4,385
1880, by United State Census,
4,658
(1) And 264 dwellings.
By the Census of 1875 the town had
1,132 Ratable Polls, 141 Farms, 680 Horses,
798 Native Voters, 955 Families, 1,138 Cows,
146 Naturalized Voters, 839 Dwellings, 585 Sheep.
Value of Farm Products for the year ending May, 1875, $188,124
Value of Manufactures-for same time, 1,032,039
The Valuation of 1875 Personal Property, $1,190,222
Real Estate 1,974,576
Total, $3,164,798
CHAPTER XXXII.
GREAT BARRINGTON IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
1861-65.
The course pursued by the town in the war for the preservation of the Union, the spirit which animated its citizens, and the services rendered by its soldiers reflect no discredit upon its former history.
By the census of 1860, the inhabitants of Great. Barrington numbered 3,871 ; and though divided upon political questions and the issues involved in the war, they were none the less zealous or patriotic than their Revolutionary predecessors had been, and en -- tered with great unanimity upon the struggle for the maintenance of the constitution and government which their fathers had fought to establish. The position of political parties is shown by the vote at the Presiden -- tial election-November, 1860 -- when there were cast for the Lincoln electoral ticket, 379 votes; for the Douglas electoral ticket, 160 votes ; for the Bell-Ever- ett electoral ticket, 35 votes ; for the Breckenridge electoral ticket, 14 votes ; total, 588. On the ballot. for member of Congress, the Douglas, Bell-Everett, and Breckenridge parties united and gave for Norman T. Leonard, the Fusion candidate, 208 votes, against. 379, for Henry L. Dawes. At the election of 1864, when 640 votes were cast, the Lincoln electoral ticket received 429 votes; the Mcclellan electoral ticket received 211 votes. And in 1868 from a total of 686- votes, there were cast for General Grant 452, and for Horatio Seymour 234; the majority for General Grant,
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HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
218, being precisely the same as that for Lincoln four years before.
The Selectmen of the town in this period were : in the first year of the war, 1861-62, Walter W. Hollen- beck, John Burget, Henry Foote ; in the second year, 1862-63, John M. Seeley, George Church, Benjamin F. Gilmore; in the third and fourth years, 1863-64 and 1864-65, John M. Seeley, George Church, Charles J. Taylor. Isaac Seeley was Town Clerk, and Egbert Hollister Town Treasurer throughout the war.
The bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, followed by the massacre of Massachusetts soldiers at Baltimore-April 19th, 1861-then hurrying forward to the seat of government-brought home to the minds of the people the reality that war had actually begun.
As the citizens gathered for worship at the village churches on Sabbath morning, April 21, the news of the attack upon Massachusetts soldiers by the mob at Baltimore was speedily disseminated, causing an in- tense excitement, depicted upon every countenance. At the Congregational Church the Rev. Horace Wins- low opened the services with a fervent prayer for the welfare of the country; and in the afternoon was so overcome as to stop in the middle of his discourse, de- claring that his mind was not upon his subject, that he could not finish his sermon, and concluded with a most eloquent appeal to his hearers upon the crisis, and the issues of the hour. On Monday evening at an impromptu gathering of the people, in front of the Berkshire House, a few brief addresses were made, and the situation and measures to be adopted were dis- cussed. The next morning-Tuesday, April 22d- hand-bills containing the following call, signed by sixty-five citizens, were posted upon the trees of the village and scattered throughout the town :
PATRIOTS, ATTENTION !
"The inhabitants of Great Barrington and adjoining towns are invited to attend a public meeting at the Town Hall on Wednesday, the 24th instant, at three o'clock, p. m., for the purpose of adopting prompt measures to aid the Government of the United States in sustaining the Constitution, executing the laws, and suppressing the traitorous Rebellion now existing in the Southern States, April 22, 1861."
445>
FIRST WAR MEETING.
To this call, the people, for the time laying aside : differences of political opinion, responded almost spon- taneously. The meeting, or "Convention" as it was termed, was largely attended by citizens of the town,. both gentlemen and ladies, with a liberal representation from other towns, and a band of music from South Egremont ; all of which filled the old hall on Bridge street to overflowing. Joseph Tucker was chosen temporary chairman, and prayer was offered by the : Rev. Horace Winslow. The permanent organization. of the meeting was then effected by the appointment of David Leavitt, President ; John H. Coffing, Ralph. Taylor, Asa C. Russell, Walter W. McIntyre, Vice Presidents; Joseph Tucker, Walter W. Hollenbeck, William Whitlock, Secretaries.
The President upon taking the chair proffered. some well timed remarks, declaring his devotion to order, liberty, the constitution, and his willingness to, contribute both in means and services to sustain them. The Honorable Increase Sumner, Egbert Hollister,. James Sedgewick, Harvey Holmes, and Justin Dewey, . Jr., were chosen a Committee to draft and present reso- lutions. Mr. Sumner, from the above Committee, re -- ported the following :
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.
" Whereas, several of the Southern States of this Republic, . in violation of the Federal Constitution, have attempted to secede from the Union, and are now in open rebellion against ., the National Government, have violently seized the public property, have wantonly assailed the troops and taken forts be- . longing to the Union, and are, by the use of all means in their . power, waging treasonable and rebellious warfare, one of the . results of which has been the shedding of Massachusetts blood, . consecrating the 19th of April, 1861, with the immortal memories of April 19th 1775 ;
"Therefore the citizens of several towns in Southern Berk -- shire in Convention assembled, irrespective of previous party . preferences, actuated by sentiments of loyalty to the Union, and especially desirous of participating in the noble and patriotic action which distinguished every section of our glorious Com- monwealth and all classes of its citizens, do resolve as follows :
" 1st, Resolved .- That the crisis demands the exertion of every American patriot to arrest the progress of treason and re- bellion, now so flagrantly aggressive, and to reduce to order and.
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HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
obedience all who have risen in hostility against our Union, its Constitution and Government.
" 2d Resolved .- That in the true spirit of loyalty, we stand pledged with our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, to aid in maintaining the authority of the National government over all the States and Territories; over every inch of our republic, we go for upholding and triumphantly sustaining 'the flag of our Union forever,' and protecting it against insults and indignities from foes without and traitors within.
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