USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Greenfield > History of Greenfield : shire town of Franklin county, Massachusetts, Vol. I > Part 45
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572
BRIDGES
[1796-1801
brook : 1796, specific repairs on the lower bridge over Green river (Smead bridge). In 1797, it appears that both bridges over Fall river, near its mouth, had been swept away ; and an effort was made to unite with the new town of Gill to construct a road on the east side of Fall river, so that one of the bridges might be done away with; but this relief not proving prac- tical, the town went to the General Court, and in 1798 a law was passed, directing that the town of Greenfield forever maintain the upper bridge over Fall river, and the town of Gill the lower one. The two bridges were constructed in 1697. In 1798 a new bridge was built at Country Farms, over Green river. In 1891, another new bridge at the same place.
Since the town was organized in 1753, bridges have been built as follows : 1760, over Green river at the mouth of Mill brook ; 1766, near the mouth of Fall river ; 1770, the bridge over Green river, at " Hay Meadow," or the Smead bridge ; the same year a bridge over Fall river ; 1774, a new bridge at the mouth of Mill brook, over Green river, also the same year a bridge over Fall river at the "Iron Works" [The town line here has since been changed, so that now the bridge is between Bernardston and Gill.]; 1781, a new bridge at the " Iron Works ; " 1784, a new bridge or specific repairs at the lower bridge over Green river ; 1789, a new bridge over Fall river at Chase's mills (Factory Hollow); 1788, a new road was laid, as elsewhere stated, from the present poorhouse, across Green river to the Green river road, and 1789, a bridge was built near the present pumping station.
March 6, 1801. Voted " To choose a committee to ex- amine the bridge place over Green River at Country Farms and make report to the town at some future meeting respect- ing the probability of making a bridge stand at sª place."
May 4, 1801. Voted " To build a bridge over Green River where the north bridge lately stood."
December 7. Voted "To build a bridge over the pond near Nash's mills."
573
FOURTEENTH MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE
1800 -- 1817]
November 26, 1802. The Fifth Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation opened the new bridge at Montague City with great ceremony. Richard E. Newcomb delivered an address. The cost of the bridge was $11,000, and it consisted of four bents of one hundred and twenty feet each.
December 6. Voted "To choose a committee to repair or rebuild the lower bridge over Green river " (Smead bridge).
December 2, 1805. Voted "To choose a committee to rebuild the lower bridge over Green river." The "Smead " bridge was the " lower " one over Green River until the Four- teenth Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation built what is known as the " Newton " bridge.
April 6, 1807. Voted " That Solomon Arms, Samuel Stebbins and Lemuel Smead be a committee to build a bridge over Green river at the Country Farms."
Voted " That the above committee take care of the bridge over Green river at the mouth of Mill brook."
August 7, 1810. Voted " To build a bridge over the brook at Colonel Wells's sawmill " (Elm street).
The bridge over Grave brook at Colonel Wells's sawmill (Elm street) fell in 1810, and injured Parley Hunt, for which the town paid damages. Daniel Burnham rebuilt the bridge.
September 9, 1812. A special meeting provided that a committee be appointed to repair the south bridge (New- ton).
May 9, 1814. The town voted to build a new bridge over Green river on the Colrain road (Smead bridge).
October II, 1815. Voted " To build a bridge over Fall river " and a committee was chosen to repair the lower bridge over Green river.
A portion of the Newton bridge fell (probably in 1817) and Holmes Mayhew was paid ten dollars by the town in settle- ment for damages July 14, 1820.
May 5, 1817. The town chose a committee to build a new bridge on the Shelburne road (Newton bridge).
574
BRIDGES
[1817-1837
April 5, 1824. Voted "To rebuild the lower bridge over Green river."
" That Samuel Hinsdale, Jr., Julia Smead and Hull Nims be a committee to rebuild sd bridge."
October 6, 1828. Voted "To rebuild the bridge over Green river near the house of Colonel Samuel Wells " (New- ton bridge).
May 4, 1829. A committee was appointed to " rebuild the bridge over Fall river " (Factory Village).
Major Orra Sheldon built the Newton bridge in 1829, for which he was paid $604.96.
November 10. The new bridge at Montague City built by Major Orra Sheldon is opened.
December 7. Voted "That Colonel Eliel Gilbert, Eber Nash and Thomas Nims be a committee to build a bridge over Green river near Julia Smead's."
In June, 1831, the county commissioners on petition of N. E. Russell and others relaid the road between the village and Fall River through the swamp instead of going around to the east of it as formerly.
March 5, 1832. A committee of five were chosen to ex- amine the banks of Green river between Asaph Smead's and Jonas Moore's (Country Farms) and if they find a place where they think a bridge can be erected, which will stand, they are to build one.
March 4, 1833. Thaddeus Coleman, Samuel Wells and George Adams were appointed a committee to rebuild or repair the bridge over Green river at Nash's mills.
At the December meeting in 1837, it was voted to build a covered bridge over Green river on the Shelburne road, and Thaddeus Coleman, Julia Smead and Eber Nash were chosen a committee to do the work, and were also authorized to build a similar bridge across the same river at the mouth of Mill brook if necessary. The "Gorge road " in the upper mead- ows was also laid and accepted.
575
THE NEWTON BRIDGE
1838-1841]
Stage Accident. Gazette & Mercury, October 2, 1838. On Thursday morning of last week, as the Albany stage via. Charlemont was crossing the bridge a little west of Main street in this village, the bridge gave way, and precipitated the stage, passengers and wheel horses, upon the flat below. The leading horses had just cleared the bridge, as they heard the crash and giving a vigorous leap they snapped the hook which held them to the neap, and escaped, though they immediately stopped and waited until they were taken. Several passengers were injured, though none dangerously. The driver was much hurt, but got into the stage and rode home under the guidance of another driver. Four of the passengers were taken to the house of Mr. Robert Wheeler, near the scene of the disaster, where they received those attentions their wounds required.
This bridge has long been a mere apology for a bridge. Its timbers are very rotten, and our citizens who have had oc- casion to pass it within a short time have pronounced the part that fell, unsafe. Last winter the town voted to repair or re- build it and appointed a committee to attend to the business. The committee have built a new one over the water, but con- cluded to leave the old part which was over a low meadow bank, though the result has proved that the whole needed to be entirely rebuilt. We trust the committee will now give us a substantial bridge, the whole length.
May 27, 1839. The town voted to rebuild the bridge over Fall river at Factory Hollow. The old road to Shel- burne, north of the Gorge, was discontinued. A new road was laid from the east end of the Green river bridge to the Leyden road, just north of the house Eber Nash. At the December meeting the town accepted several roads which had been laid by the selectmen. (See Vol. 3, page 335, town rec- ords.)
September 11, 1841. Voted, " To rebuild the upper bridge over Green river near Jonas Moore's the present season (Coun-
576
NEW CONWAY ROAD
[1841-1853
try Farms). A committee of the town reported that in their opinion it was unnecessary for the town to support two bridges (Newton bridge and Smead bridge) so near each other and rec- ommended that a committee be appointed to petition the com- missioners to relay the Shelburne and the Colrain roads so that both may be accommodated by one bridge.
August 22, 1843. The water very high in Green river. The bridge at the mouth of Mill brook was washed from the east abutment and swung around against the west one. The Smead bridge was impassable.
October 8. The dam at Nash's mills was swept away car- rying with it the gristmill and both the Smead and New- ton bridges.
October 15. The bridges across the brook at Quintus Allen's and near the old poorhouse were swept away.
March 4, 1844. Captain Hart Larrabee was chosen a committee to rebuild the bridge at Country Farms. The town voted to delay the building of the bridges over Green river until the question of uniting the roads was settled.
June 19. The town voted to rebuild the Newton bridge and $1,200 was raised to build an open bridge. Theodore Martindale was appointed to build a brace bridge at Nash's mills.
April 7, 1845. The town voted to cover the new bridge at the west end of Main street.
March, 1847. Voted "To rebuild the west abutment of the Newton bridge."
April 7, 1851. The town voted to rebuild the bridge over Green river near Nash's mills and to turn the river at that place, and to repair the Smead bridge.
March 7, 1853. Voted "To raise the sum of $ 3,500 to build the bridge near the gristmill on the new Conway road across the plain ; and also $ 350. to build a culvert on Wells street."
November 13, 1853. The new bridge near the gristmill
577
THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1869
1853-1873]
in process of erection was swept away by flood November 13. Some of Major Sheldon's horsings having been washed out two weeks before, he had placed $1,000 insurance on the work which prevented loss to him.
August 16, 1856. The selectmen were authorized to build a new bridge at Country Farms,
At the annual meeting in 1857, a new culvert was ordered on Davis street and specific repairs on Wells street.
March meeting, 1858. The matter of building a new bridge at Country Farms was left with the selectmen. The town fathers abandoned the location (near the pumping station) where the town for more than sixty years had vainly tried to maintain a bridge, and laid a new way from the Leyden to the Green river road as it is now travelled.
1862. The town voted to build a new bridge at Nash's mills.
In later years the town had been much more thorough in its bridge work, building heavier abutments and raising them above the danger of high water, consequently they lasted much longer.
1865. Nine hundred dollars was raised to repair or rebuild the bridge across Green river at the mouth of Mill brook.
October 2, 3, 4, 1869, occurred the great flood by which six lives were lost and a half million dollars of damage done to roads and bridges in Franklin county. At a meeting held October 16, this town raised $ 5,000 for repairs to roads and · bridges. The hill towns suffered much more in proportion than Greenfield.
March 7, 1870. Fifteen hundred dollars voted for the Newton's and Nash's mills bridges over Green river.
June 24, 1873. One thousand dollars was raised to build a bridge over Green river at Nash's mills. Seven hundred dollars for culvert on Congress street. Voted to extend Wells street.
September 29. Forty-three hundred dollars was raised to
37
578
SUSPENSION BRIDGE AT TURNERS FALLS [1873-1895
pay the share of this town for the building of the upper sus- pension bridge at Turners Falls.
March 6, 1876. Four hundred and fifty dollars raised for repairs on Turners Falls bridge.
The town voted to accept the provisions of Chap. 107, Acts of 1874, in regard to the construction of sidewalks.
March 5, 1877. The town raised $ 500 for building of Water street, as ordered by the county commissioners. Four hundred dollars to grade and build a sidewalk from Allen's corner to the station.
March 3, 1873. A fine of one dollar was established for driving over any portion of Turners Falls suspension bridge faster than a walk.
June 24. One thousand dollars was raised to build a new bridge over Green river at Nash's mills.
December 21, 1878. Eight hundred dollars was raised to repair highways damaged by the late storm.
A committee reported recommending the construction of a main sewer in the ravine north of Main street.
April 7, 1879. The town voted $ 8,000 for building the main sewer, north of Main street.
September 29. The town consented that the county com- missioners may lay a highway from Main street to the new railroad station through the ground of the "old graveyard " (now Miles street).
August 16, 1884. Three hundred dollars raised for repairs on the Newton bridge.
April 16, 1888. Four hundred dollars was appropriated to build temporary bridges on the Plain road. These cheap bridges withstood the floods until the new road was built and they were replaced with iron bridges.
April 1, 1895. Two thousand dollars was appropriated for the thorough repair of the lower suspension bridge. Much of the woodwork was replaced by iron and steel.
May 13. The town voted to replace the old wooden New-
579
THE PLAIN ROAD AND BRIDGES
1895-1900]
ton bridge with a steel one. Eight thousand dollars was ap- propriated for the building of the same.
January 27, 1896. Twelve hundred dollars additional was voted for the Newton bridge.
May 3. Three thousand dollars was appropriated for build- ing the Plain road and its two iron bridges.
April 4, 1898. Greenfield built its share of a stone bridge over the Sheldon brook.
April 2, 1900. The town appropriated five hundred dollars to build a new iron bridge near the house of Charles W. Leighton.
BRICKYARDS
In 1793 Jared George and Roswell Wells were making brick a few rods west of Nash's mills, and Eber Nash was working the same yard as late as 1846.
The brick built into the walls of the Martindale house were manufactured on the farm, on the hill just north of the Nash's mill pond.
John W. Thompson manufactured brick about 1854 on the farm now owned by Clarence Cobb.
Jesse Coombs for a short time had a yard on the south side of the street leading from the village to the Newton bridge.
Large quantities of bricks were made on the north end of west meadow (a part of the sequestered land) by John Hamil- ton and others.
John Marvin made brick for many years at the west end of Main street between the Colrain and Leyden roads, and for the last fifty years this yard has been in active operation. In the excavation of the clay, the work has exposed a most wonderful exhibition of the work of glaciers upon the red sandstone or conglomerate bed rock which underlies the whole field.
The new yard just off Elm street, now owned by the Amer-
580
MANUFACTURE OF BRICK
[1793-1900
ican Brick Co., has produced large quantities of excellent brick.
Joel Merriam made brick for many years at a yard near the farmhouse of J. P. Morgan, on the road to Gill.
The large concern owned by C. C. Dyer, near the railroad tracks at Cheapside, has unexcelled facilities. for the manufac- ture of brick, as both clay and sand are found directly upon the premises, and the railroad extends into the yard.
It is estimated that 13,000,000 of brick were manufactured in town in 1900.
The following notice relates to a pottery business once carried on near the residence of C. Emerson Ballou. Old- fashioned earthern milk pans and jugs were the principal product of these works, according to tradition.
" We, the subscribers, take this method to inform the public that we are now carrying on the Potters Business, in Deerfield, on the road that leads from Shelburne to Deerfield, about fifty rods from the road that leads from Shelburne to Green- field. We have on hand a general assortment of Earthern Ware, manufactured by us, which we will sell by wholesale or retail, upon reasonable terms, for cash or most kinds of produce. Nine pence per pound allowed for good butter, for any of the above wares.
" Deerfield, Sept. 5, 1794.
" JOSIAH CROSSMAN, " SAMUEL HAYDEN."
-
CHAPTER XLI
SCHOOLS
I TEMS regarding the early schools at Green River may be found in the general history of current events in Deerfield as related in preceding chapters.
The following items are taken from Sheldon's History of Deerfield :
1728. " Liberty was given ' to all farmers to procure school dames to teach their children, to be paid three pence a week for each scholar until Oct. 15.'"
I suppose this vote refers to the Green River people living at the " Farms" which was then and long after the centre of population in that district.
1732. " Voted to pay a school dame for keeping a school at Green River this summer."
1733. " Voted four pence a week per scholar allowed to farmers for there schooling the summer past."
1736. " There was a master in town (Deerfield street) and a dame at Green River, at four pence a week per scholar."
* *
I737. " The ' Farmers' were allowed 5d per week per scholar."
*
I740. " Voted not to build a school house at Green River nor to hire a school-master, ye selectmen to determine where
581
582
SCHOOLS
[1740-1760
and how long ye school shall be kept at Green River so the Town."
* * *
I742. " A school master was allowed at Green River, to be provided by the selectmen, who were also empowered to 'get some one to preach there ' this winter."
* * *
*
1744. "Nov. 23. Voted to Green River £60 for 1743-4 for schooling and preaching, to be divided and expended at their will."
* *
1748. "The wages of the school dame at Green River to be 30 s. O. T., per week."
1750. " A master all the year round allowed Green River for school."
History of Schools in Greenfield since the organization of the town.
At a Greenfield town meeting held September 27, 1756, it was voted, " that we hire a school master from the first of January to the last of March."
" That Jonathan Severance, Thomas Nims and Sam1 Munn be a committee to hire a school master."
March, 1757. " Voted to hire a school Dame from the first of April to the last of August."
December 28, 1757. " Voted to hire a Chool master three months and also a Room to keep the Chool in."
December 18, 1758. " Voted to hire a School Dame Six Months this year Beginning the first of Aprill."
" Voted that the Select men should provide a School Dame and a House to Keep school in."
December 3, 1759. "Voted ye Selectmen provide a school master and a House to Keep School in."
" Voted that the People on the west side of Green river be- longing to this District shall have their proportion of the school according to the Rates they pay."
583
SCHOOLS
1760-1768]
October 28, 1760. "Voted to hire a school 4 months."
December 5, 1763. " Voted to Hire a School a year and Likewise that ye Selectmen be a Committee to Order How When and Where sª School shall be Kept."
March 3, 1764. "Voted that there be seven Districts for Schooling to wit one in the street and three in the meadow one by Noah Allins one in the North East Corner and another at Ensign Childs and but one Master and He to Move to each District according to ye proportion and to have a School Dame the other six months and she to Keep School in ye Several Districts according to ye proportion."
" Voted to raise twenty pounds for schooling."
December 2, 1765. "Voted that what School Money. hath been Raised in the two years back Shall be laid where they have had no School." "Voted, to raise twenty-four Pounds, for Schooling for the year ensuing : and if there be any part of the people yt will not provide House and except of the School when offered to them then their part of the School money shall be Laid out upon the other Districts."
December 7, 1766. " Voted that the money that is to be Raised for Schooling this year shall be Laid out in proper Districts, the Select men to Judge what are proper, the money to be Laid out in Proportion to Each Scholer if the money be not Laid out in the Year the Remainder to be returned in- to the Treasury and all the Masters and Dames that are Im- proud to be approved by the Select men."
" Voted to Raise twenty pounds for Schoolling this year."
March 3, 1767. "Voted that these people that hant had their proportion of Schooling this three year past Shall have it this year if there be money in the Treasury the mony to be Laid out this year."
December, 1768. " Voted, to have a school this year."
" Voted that one school att Thomas Nims one at Eben' Graves and they be Committee to provide a School master or
584
SCHOOLS
[1768-1774
Dame as the Select men shall aprove and Noah Allin a Com- mittee provide for that part and Elisha Wells for that part and Timothy Childs for that part the Chools to be aproved By the Select men the Chool to be att Joel Wells or Sam11 Muns."
December 4, 1769. " Voted to Rais fifteen pounds for a school."
December 3, 1770. " Voted to rais fifteen pounds for a school."
" Voted the Select men be a committee to provide a school for ye street and meadow and that Deacon Graves should provide a school for that part David Allen should provide a school for such part Benj Hosley for that part and Jonath Sprage should provide a school for that part Each part to have their proportion of the money according to their Numbers of Schoollers the School Masters or Dames to be approved by the Select men."
December 2, 1771. " Voted to Rais fifteen pounds for a School."
December 7, 1772. " Voted to Raise twenty pounds for a school." In 1773 the same.
March 7, 1774. " Voted to Divide the District into Squadrens for the best advantage for the publick Scholls."
" Voted that the Squadron that Convenes at the School House in the Street Shall Draw their proportion of money according to their Scholars of the money appropriated for Schooling at last December meeting."
"Voted that Every Squadron that have not had their part of the money appropriated for Schooling at Last December Shall Draw it out of the Treasurer to pay an aproved Master or Dame by the Selectmen."
ANCIENT TOWN ORDERS
GREENFIELD, May 31st, 1774.
SIR : Please to pay to Deacon Ebenezer Graves the sum
585
SCHOOLS
1774-1786]
of twenty shillings, for five weeks boarding a schoolmaster last winter, and for so doing this shall be your warrant.
SAM'L FIELD, Selectmen
EBEN'R ARMS, of
SAM'L WELLS, Greenfield.
To Mr. Sam'l Hinsdale, Treasurer of Greenfield.
GREENFIELD, May 3 Ist, 1774.
SIR : Please to pay Mr. James Roberts thirty shillings for five weeks keeping school last winter, and for so doing this shall be your warrant.
SAM'L FIELD, - Selectmen
EBEN'R ARMS, of
SAM'L WELLS, Greenfield.
To Mr. Sam'l Hinsdale, Treasurer of Greenfield.
SIR : Please to pay or discount with Dea'n David Smead, the sum of five pounds and ten shillings, for eleven weeks keeping school together with his board the same time, and in so doing this shall be your warrant, Greenfield, May 21, 1774.
SAM'L FIELD, - Selectmen EBEN'R ARMS, of
SAM'L WELLS, Greenfield.
To Mr. Sam'l Hinsdale, Treasurer of Greenfield.
Town meetings held December 5, 1774, and January 10, 1775, were held at " the School House." The last one was adjourned to the house of Samuel Wells, so it is certain that these meetings must have been held at the village school- house.
There is no record of any action taken by the town in re- lation to schools during the period of the Revolutionary War. Undoubtedly the public schools were suspended, the energies of the people being wholly absorbed in providing for the com- mon defense.
May 8, 1786. " Voted to Raise one hundred pounds for the use of Schooling this year ensuing."
586
SCHOOLS
[1786-1794
" Voted that the School money be proportioned to the sev- eral Squadrons according to the Number of Schollers from fore years old to Sixteen."
" Voted that the Select men with Moses Bascom be a Com- mittee to appoint the Squadrons & approve the Masters and Mistresses to teach said Schools."
December 3, 1787. " Voted to raise the sum of one hun- dred & fifty pounds for the use of Schooling." At a later meeting this sum was reduced to one hundred pounds.
" Voted that the selectmen Town Treasurer & Town Clerk be a committee to appoint the Squadrans and approve the Masters and Mistresses & proportion the Money to the several Squadrons acording to the Number of Schollars in Each Squadron from four years Old to Sixteen."
In 1788, nearly the same action was taken and one hun- dred pounds were raised. Provision was made for the ad- mittance of scholars above fifteen years of age.
From 1789 to 1792. One hundred pounds was raised each year for schools.
March 4, 1793. The article in the warrant was " to see if the town will choose an impartial committee not inhabitants of the town to divide into such and so many School Districts as they shall think best all that part of the Town which is now divided into four Districts in the Northwest part of the town bounded east on Fall river and south upon the School District so called and make report at the Next meeting or act as they shall think proper thereon."
Colonel Hugh McClellen, Samuel Barnard and Samuel Field were chosen a committee for that purpose, and in May made a report which the town accepted.
The town of Gill was set off from Greenfield, September 28, 1793, so that at the December meeting only seventy pounds was raised for schooling.
December 1, 1794. " Voted to raise the sum of seventy pounds for the support of schooling." Voted to divide " the
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