History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 115

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700

USA > Massachusetts > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I > Part 115

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¿ The first meeting-house stood north and west of the second, with the prin- cipal entrance on the east side, and the pulpit opposite. It was removed, and became a dwelling ; was sold to John Chandler near the year 1764, and was sub- sequently occupied by the Goodmans, and recently by Alfred Judd and the widow of Salathiel Judd.

354

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

Present Officers .- Ansel L. Clark, Samuel Smith, Calvin Preston, Deacons; Elliot Montague, Clerk of the Church; Levi B. Allen, Clerk of the Parish, whose father, Levi W. Allen, had previously filled that office during twenty years.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, SOUTH HADLEY FALLS,

was formally organized with nineteen members Aug. 12, 1824. The members were Joseph Bardwell, Sybil Bardwell, Enoch Chapin, Lydia Chapin, Rhoda Moody, Eleazer Owen, Jr., Earl Bishop, Philip Smith, Jr., Huldah Smith, Wm. Clough, Sewall 'Chapin, Asa Nash, Deborah Day, Pamelia Atkins, Alonzo Bardwell, Sybil Abbee, Sabra Childs, Jennette Carpen- ter, Edith Gillett. The movement which led to the formation of the society originated at a meeting of the inhabitants of the south part of the town, hell at the school-house in the "Canal district, " February 28th in the year named. The first services were held in a building standing north of the later church edifice, and which yet is called the "Brick Chapel." The present house of worship was erected probably in 1835, on land purchased of David Ames, Jr., and John Ames, of Springfield. The " chapel" was used until the church building was ready. In March, 1870, an expenditure of $3000 was made necessary to repair damages occasioned by a recent fire.

The church remained as one body until 1860, when, because of certain differences, a part of the members withdrew and maintained for eighteen years a separate existence, claiming the name of the original organization. The parts were made one again in 1878.

The following have served as pastors of this society : John F. Griswold, from Dec. 3, 1828, until Aug. 2, 1831; William Tyler, from Aug. 10, 1832, until Dec. 4, 1843 ; William W. Thayer, from Dec. 4, 1839, until March 29, 1842; Leander Thompson, from Dec. 13, 1843, nntil Aug. 28, 1850; Porter H. Snow, from Feb. 4, 1852, until Dec. 15, 1854; Richard Knight, Sept. 10, 1856, until April 30, 1860; S. J. M. Mer- win, from Dee. 4, 1860, until July 10, 1867; Gco. E. Fisher,* installed Oct. 2, 1867, who was succeeded by Winfield S. Hawkes, the present pastor, installed Nov. 12, 1878. Number of members Oct. 1, 1878, 350.

Present Officers .- John Gaylord, Joseph Carew, Langdon Ayres, William B. Wilder, Deacons ; Stephen C. Weld, Clerk and Treasurer.

A METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

was organized at the village of South Hadley Falls in the fall of 1827, and a house of worship provided five years afterward. The original members numbered 15 or 20, but because of the loss of the church records, at the burning of the shop of Mr. Benjamin C. Brainard many years ago, the names of all can- not be given. A few are remembered : Benjamin C. Brainard, Eunice P. Ashley, afterward Mrs. Brainard, Maria Gaylord, afterward Mrs. Aldrich, Julia Gaylord, Elmira Griswold.

The first class was organized by Dr. Fisk, who occupied the small building known as the " Brick Chapel," whose use for religious purposes was granted by Capt. Ariel Cooley. Dr. Fisk continued to serve the class for two or three years, and was followed by Joel Knight, then a student at Wilbraham, who preached for a number of months, chiefly in a small school-house. The church organization was the result of a revival hell during his ministry. Ile was followed by a Mr. Davis, from Wilbraham, who was occasionally assisted by Abel Stevens, At the times when Mr. Stevens attended the andiences became so large that the school-house was found insutheient, whereupon a larger room was procured in the paper-mill of Mr. Lathrop. The society has been served by many pastors, whose terms of service have usually been from one to three years cach, according to customs of this denomi- nation. The present minister is Rev. John Galbraith.

ROMAN CATHOLIC.

The people of this denomination were for many years served by non-resident priests. No regular society was formed until within a short period, their church edifice dating from 1877-78. This edifice was built under the auspices of Father Harkins, the first pastor, who is now a resident of Holyoke.

CEMETERIES.

South Hadley has four cemeteries. The old cemetery, at the centre village, was laid ont by the proprietors, March 26, 1728, upon ground known as the "Sandy Hill," on the west side of the main highway, or country road, being in size twenty-eight rods along the road, and twelve rods in width. It has since been enlarged. It was voted in March, 1754, to fence the burying-yard with stone.

The first person buried in this ground was John Preston, who died March 4, 1728.

Another place of burial has been provided, a little north and west of the preceding, containing about ten acres of land, and threaded near its eastern border by a small brook. A dam near the south line forms a considerable pond within the grounds.

The third cemetery is at the Falls village, a few rods from the south line of the town, and overlooks the Connecticut River, from which it is but a short distance removed. It con- tains five or six acres, and is under the control of a regular cemetery organization.

The Catholics have a small burial-ground near the north end of High Street, at the Falls village.

HOTELS.

The shad fisheries, and the business of transporting produce by the " falls," made the " wayside inn" more of a necessity in the earlier days of the town's history than do the fisheries and other industries of the present day.

The first inn was opened by Samuel Smith, in 1729, and kept until 1731; the next by Samuel Kellogg, 1733 to 1740; and next, probably by William Eastman, after 1750, and John Smith, from 1759 to 1771. All these were on the Springfield road, north of the present Falls village.

The first innkeeper at "Falls Woods" was Elijah Alvord, in 1755, a man of trade, with a warehouse at the mouth of Stony Brook, at that time, or a few years later. Noah Good- man succeeded him as host. Two years after the road was laid by the falls, a public-house was opened by Titus Pomeroy, on the old Pynchon grant,-known since as " Taylor's field,"-in 1767, and for some years after his death was kept by lis widow. Daniel Lamb established an inn in the vicinity, in 1782.

Not far from the year 1759, a house was erected by John Smith, father of Maj. John, of Hadley, on the north side of the present road from Smith's Ferry to the village of South Hadley. This was enlarged, and in 1773 converted into a hotel by John Stickney. The throngs of fishermen made this step necessary. The honse is now, or was a few years since, owned by Mr. Emerson Bates.

On the west side of the common at South Hadley an inn was put up by Joseph White, and a part of it was afterward incorporated into the public-house recently kept hy Mr. Geo. L. Smith.

Elias Lyman the elder, who conducted the first ferry, had a public-house near the present ferry-landing, in 1770.

What was known as the " Canal Hotel, " a brick structure, which still stands facing the north end of Front Street, at the Falls village, was built by Ariel Cooley, not far from the year 1815. The mason employed was Deacon Enoch Chapin. It was principally for the accommodation of river-men and fisher- men. The aged Lydia Day, now a resident of the village, was employed at this hotel, about the year 1820, and says that meals for a hundred or more fishermen were there served in a

* The church society celebrated its fiftieth anniversary Aug. 9, 1874, the pas- tor, Rev. George E. Fisher, giving an historical address.

DRAWN BY N ROCERS

CAREW PAPER CO., SOUTH HADLEY FALLS, MASS.

RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH CAREW.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

355

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

single day, Ordinary wayfarers were seldom among the guests. In that day the extension in the rear of the main part did not exist. Some of the descendants of Ariel Cooley are now residents of the Falls village,-1879.

The present house, at the southeast corner of Front and Main Streets, was kept as a hotel about the same period, 1820, by a Mr. Bishop, and subsequently became the dwelling of Josiah Bardwell.

TOWN-POOR.

Samuel Mighill, a graduate of Harvard, whose name ap- pears among the early instructors of the Hopkins school, in Hadley, 1705, petitioned for town aid in 1759. He was sup- ported at public charge until his death, April 11, 1769, and was the first person thus supported by the town.

Comfort Domo, daughter of the eccentric Peter,-who was long a dweller on the north side of the mountain, in Hadley,* -experienced much discomfort in her later days. Becoming a town charge, she was warned from South Hadley in 1790, and later was the occasion of controversy between that town and Granby. Each claimed the other should support her. She died in the latter town in 1798.

In Hadley, a family of French neutrals were supported by the town at one period, in and before the year 1762.

AGRICULTURE.

The farming-lands of the town are chiefly devoted to the production of hay and grass, and their resultants,-milk and butter. The yield of milk is large, for which a near home- market is found in the manufacturing districts.

WATER-WORKS.

A system of water-works was introduced at the Falls village, in 1872-73, which derives its supply of water from a reservoir constructed on Buttery Brook, at a point east of the village. The main pipes are from eight to twelve inches in diameter, and supply nearly fifty hydrants, which are used for fire and other purposes. The cost of construction, as reported March 1, 1875, was $55,716.65. The governing body is denominated the " Board of Water Commissioners for Fire District No. 1, of the town of South Hadley."

The present water commissioners are Benjamin Aldrich, President ; Benjamin C. Brainard, Treasurer ; C. A. Bard- well, J. Suhanek, II. E. Gaylord, William T. Hollister. Austin S. Day is superintendent.

MASONIC.

Mount Holyoke Lodge was formed in 1870 with about 20 members. The first officers were Rev. George E. Fisher, Master ; Emerson R. Judd, Senior Warden ; W. M. llarris, Junior Warden; Benjamin C. Brainard, Treas .; R. O. Dwight, Sec.

The meetings of the lodge were first held in a building owned by the Glasgow Company, on School Street, from which, in the year 1874, or carly in 1875, they were trans- ferred to suitable rooms in a new brick edifice on Front Street.

Present officers : James O. Walker, Master; William N. Price, Senior Warden ; P. August Moos, Junior Warden ; Campbell Chapin, Sec. ; Serbertram E. Bliss, Treas.

A chapter of the order known as the " Knights of Pythias" was formed a few years since, at the village of South Hadley Falls. It is composed of Germans.

MANUFACTURES.

Besides the carlier mills mentioned in connection with the first settlement and concerning which nothing more is known, there were others at a later day, which in turn have passed away. Three saw-mills were operated in 1771, all connected

with the falls, owned respectively, from above downward, by Noah Goodman (supposed), William Taylor, and Titus Pom- eroy. One was owned in another quarter of the town by Dr. Ruggles Woodbridge. In the same year a grist-mill on Stony Brook was owned by Samuel Preston, and one on Bachelor's Brook by Josiah Moody.

Asheries, for the manufacture of potash, were conducted simultaneously with the above, by Dr. Woodbridge and by John Marshall, but their sites are not known. Joseph White made potash many years afterward, in a building situated west of the inn then occupied by him between the park and cemetery.

Distilleries were common at the beginning of the century, and South Hadley was the possessor of two, whose history is little known. Their products did not promote their own lon- gevity, whatever the influence upon their patrons.

Caleb Ely had a fulling-mill in 1771, whose exact location is not known.

Forty or fifty years ago-now 1879-the Moodys established a forge on Bachelor's Brook, and many years afterward, about 1850, a stock company started a paper-mill near the site of the Moody grist-mill previously mentioned. Farther down the stream Ezra Allen put up a paper-mill, in or near the year 1859. A button-factory was at one time in operation at what is now " Pearl City," whence the name of that inconsiderable hamlet.

The manufacturing enterprises on Stony Brook have been a cotton-factory, which was burned in 1824 or about that time, and succeeded by the present paper-mill of Judd & Brothers ; a grist-mill lower on the stream, built twenty-five or thirty years ago by Erastus T. Smith, its recent owner ; and a woolen-mill still farther down, built nearly a half-cen- tury ago, by Stephen White, and now owned by L. H. Ar- nold. The last is near the site of one of the old distilleries, and is not at present in operation. The lowest site on this stream is occupied by a sash-and-blind factory, established by John H. Hastings in 1830-35, and recently owned by Howard, Gaylord & Co. Nash & Josselyn made cotton-mops, wicking, and batting in 1855 and subsequently.

A steam saw-mill, on the bank of the river, above the canal, has been in operation for many years, and is now con- ducted by B. Congdon & Co.

The " Morgan Nail-Works" were in operation on the bor- ders of the old canal in 1812-15; Enoch Chapin had an oil- mill as early as 1820 to '25; Bardwell & Bishop a saw- and grist-mill in 1825; Charles Howard and Wells Latbrop a paper-mill in 1824; and D. & J. Ames a paper-mill about 1828. Most of these occupied the site of the present Glasgow mill, or that vicinity. The Ames mill was burned in May, 1844 or '46, and it is said the others were also destroyed by fire at that time or earlier. A dyeing establishment was oper- ated by Eleazer Owens in or near the year 1820, in the same neighborhood.

The enterprise of grinding salt was conducted at the falls in 1824, and possibly at an earlier date. The salt came from Nantucket. In 1844, Carew & Damon began to put up fine salt in bags, and were the first, it is claimed, in that branch of the business.

Present Manufactures .- The canal around the falls at South Hadley was begun and completed during the last eight years of the last century, and was long used for purposes of navi- gation by boats and other craft ascending and descending. Its later use, however, and that which has stimulated the growth of the little village of South Hadley Falls, has been to supply water from the Connecticut for manufacturing uses.

There are at present three mills supplied with power through the canal. The upper mill is that of the Carew Manufac- turing Company, established in 1848, with a capital of $35,000. The main building was burned and rebuilt in 1873. This company employs 80 operatives, and turns out 3000 pounds

* Peter died, and was buried in the South Hadley burying-ground, in 1762, and a head-stone still marks the spot.

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

of fine writing-paper cach twenty-four hours. Power is transmitted through a large turbine-wheel. Officers: Chas. II. Smith, President ; Joseph Carew, Treasurer and Agent.

The middle site is occupied by the mill of the Hampshire Paper Company, chartered May 19, 1866, for the " manufac-

HAMPSHIRE PAPER CO. MILLS, SOUTH HADLEY, MASS.

ture of paper, and fabries of which paper is the principal ma- terial," with a capital of $200,000. The incorporators were Wells Southworth, Edward Southworth, J. H. Southworth, Erastus Hopkins, Alonzo Bardwell, J. L. King, Theodore W. Ellis, and George M. Atwater.

The building occupied by the company was erected in 1800 by the Glasgow Mills Company. The products are fine writing-paper and bristol-board, of which last a specialty is made, the company claiming to be the first successful manu- facturers of that article in this country. The maximum number of operatives employed is 175. A turbine-wheel is used.

Present officers : J. II. Southworth, President; C. H. South- worth, Treasurer.

The lower site is occupied by the Glasgow Mills, a corpora- tion created Feb. 16, 1848, by an act incorporating William Bowdoin, Charles Peck, George M. Atwater, and their asso- ciates, under the name of the " Glasgow Company," for the purpose of manufacturing cotton, woolen, worsted, or silk goods, severally or unitedly. The capital stock has been in- creased from $300,000 to the present figure, $350,000. George M. Atwater was the first president, and William R. Gould, Jr., first clerk and treasurer.

This company has one large brick structure, 200 by 50 feet in size, and six stories high, in which are 389 looms. Work is furnished to 400 operatives, producing chiefly fancy dress- goods and ginghams, at the rate of 70,000 yards per week, and the yarns used in their manufacture. Power is derived from a Boyden turbine-wheel 64 inches in diameter, under 30 feet head.

Present trustees, George M. Atwater, John H. Southworth, J. C. Atwater, Martin W. Burnett, Oscar Edwards, Henry Ilinekley, Howard Foote; President, John 11. Southworth ; Treasurer, George M. Atwater ; Agent, Benjamin C. Brainard.

MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.

Roads .- The early settlers were liberal in their dedications of land for highway purposes. The old road or cartway to Springfield, through what is now South Hadley, laid in 1664, was " in breadth twenty rods," but narrowed in 1710 to ten rods. Before the latter date two roads were established, but

it is not known which was the first laid. These roads united "a little north of the seminary," and with some changes are still maintained. The most westerly road passed over the dingle called " Lubber's Hole," and west of the buildings now west of the park.

In April, 1765, a road called the " Lumber road" was opened from the head of the present canal to a point on the river two or three miles below, to facilitate the carriage of lumber and produce by the falls. The floating argosies of commerce-comprised of lumber, shingles, logs, and other products of the forest, in shape of rafts-gave to the broad river above the falls a show of life in that day which it does not now possess.

A way across Mount Holyoke, at a low place called the " Crack," had been in use a long time prior to 1762; but in that year a country road was laid at that point, extending from the Bay road, in Amherst, to the meeting-house in South Hadley, and four years later was extended "to the Springfield road, near Moses Taylor's."

Ferries .- The first licensed ferryman between South Hadley and Northampton was Elias Lyman, who established a ferry, at what is now Smith's Ferry, in 1770. This had long been a crossing-place. The fare was 3} pence for man and horse, for three summer months, and fourpence the remainder of the year ; for a man, twopence the year round.

Gideon Alvord, of South Hadley, was afterward the ferry- man, and is said to have possessed as much inquisitiveness as acquisitiveness.

Bridges .- The town voted, June 12, 1756, to build a bridge over " Bachelor's Brooke," in the public road leading from the meeting-house to Cold Spring. The present bridge, connect- ing the village of South Hadley Falls with Holyoke, is 1500 feet long, and was erected as a free bridge in 1870-71, taking the place of a swing-ferry.

WARS.

FRENCH-AND-INDIAN WAR.

South Hadley participated to some extent in the later wars with the Indians and French, but met with little of disaster.

In the company of Maj. Seth Pomeroy, of Northampton, at the siege of Louisburg, in 1745, were two men from South Hadley. Phinheas Smith, under Col. William Williams, and Joseph Cook, whose company is not given, were also partici- pants in the siege. Samnel Goodman was taken prisoner at Fort Massachusetts in the following year, and carried to Canada, where he died March 21, 1747. The names of the six brave soldiers from South Iladley and Amherst, who aided in the defense of Fort No. 4, Charlestown, N. II., are given in the history of the town of Amherst, in this volume.

Job Alvord was ensign under Capt. John Burk, in 1757, and was present at the capitulation of Fort William Henry. He was made lieutenant in 1759, or previously. John Wood- bridge, Jr., was lieutenant in 1760, and had been previously commissioned. He was reputed to have been present at the taking of Quebec. Asahel Judd was an ensign in service in Nova Scotia, where he died in 1756.

The following served as privates in the years named, respec- tively : 1755, Titus Smith, Noah Goodman, Daniel Crowfoot, Josiah Snow, John Church, John Hillyer ; 1756, Samuel Henry, Elisha Taylor, Eleazar Loveland, Moses Taylor ; 1757, John French, Jesse Bellows, Obed Severence (died) ; 1758, Oliver Taylor, Benjamin Pierce, Asa Goodman, Seth Smith, Josiah Henry, William Gaylord, Jr., Benjamin Church, Philip Smith, James Patrick, John Marshall, Samuel Rugg, Joseph Hillyer, Thomas Fairfield, Joel White, Eben- ezer Stoddard, James Ball (aged forty-four); 1759, Simeon Goodman, William Taylor, Jabez Kellogg, Titus Pomeroy, Martin Wait, Nathaniel Bartlett, Timothy Ilillyer, Jr., Joel Church, Silas Smith, Ephraim Smith, Samuel Wheeler, Joshua Taylor (aged fifty-three); 1760, Samuel Ball, Na-

357

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

thaniel Gaylord, John Camp, Jr., Thomas Rockwood, Azariah Alvord, Jabez Snow, Thomas Stanley (died), Artemas New- ton (died) ; 1761, Daniel Taylor (died), Eliphalet Gaylord, Eleazar Olmstead ; 1762, Simeon Church, Gershom Barton.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

Though territorially separated from the mother-town many years previous to the Revolution, South Hadley was still united to it in sympathy concerning the vital questions which atlected the public weal. The inhabitants of both were alike tenacious of their rights, and in their own way gave voice to their feelings in opposition to the usurpations of the king. They shut out from their households the obnoxious tea and British merchandise, and appointed the usual committees of " correspondence," " safety," and the like, between the years 1774 and 1778. Names conspicuous on these committees in South Hadley were Ens. Daniel Nash, Lieut. Luke Montague, Deacon David Nash, Maj. Josiah White, John Gaylord, Philip Smith, Ens. Noah Goodman, Capt. Moses Montague, Joseph Cook, Jonathan White, Jonathan Preston, Reuben Judd, Nathan Alvord, Joseph Moody, Silas Smith, Nathaniel White, Joseph Kellogg, John Chandler, Enoch White, David Mitchell, JJosiah Moody, Charles Chapin, Deaeon Daniel Moody, and Ezra Day.

South Hadley was represented at the convention at North- ampton in September, 1774, to consult concerning the general distress occasioned by the attacks of Parliament upon the con- stitution of the province, and in the several provincial Con- gresses at Concord, Cambridge, and Watertown, * in 1774 and 1775 ; and meantime took steps to secure peace and good order at home, and aid the suffering poor of Boston.+

The most notable document, illustrative of the troubles of the period and of the way in which they were met, was ineu- bated some time prior to the actual outbreak of hostilities, and should have created, if it did not, a sensation. The following is that document, unmutilated :

"To the Committee of Correspondence at Boston, Gent'm : Your Pamphlet being Read in a rigilar Meeting of the Inhabitants of South Hadley, the Meet- ing took the contents into Consideration, and appointed a Committee of seven men to consult and report to the Meeting at a proposed adjournment what is proper for this District to do Respecting the premises ; at a Legal Meeting of the frecholders and other inhabitants of the District of South Hadley, hell by ad- journment on the ISth day of January, 1773, the above-said Committee Reported an answer to the Town of Boston, touching the matters in which they Invited the several towns to shew their Sentiments, Said report is as follows:

" Gent'in, the proceedings of the Town of Boston under the Present Exigencies we Esteem very Laudable, and worthy of a Metropolis; we Coneur in general with your Sentiments in Stateing the rights of the Collonists & Provinces and of the Infringements of those Rights; we hold fast our Loyalty to our Sovereign, yet we grone under our burdens, but do not Dispair of Redress ; if the importu- mity of a poor Widow may move au unjust Judge to avenge her, how much more may we hope for redress by frequent application to a Gracious King? The Wheel of Providence often Crushes oppressors, and they are made to fall into the l'it which they diged for others. For Freeborn Loyal Subjects, intending and Really accomplishing the Design of Enlarging their King's Dominions, to be kept under a MILITARY GUARD will naturally and unavoidably Create Such Resentments and Indiguation in the minds of the Subjects as is no ways Consistent with the Honour of a Prince Governing a free people., Inlignity Cast on a Person or a people creates great resentments in the Sufferer. Prohibiting Sliting-mills is Simelar to the Philistians Prohibiting Smiths in Israel when they had subdued them, and Shews that we are Esteemed by our Brethren in Grate Briton as a sort of Vassals to them. What if some impudencies have hapned in time past and Some Exceptionable proceedings have been perpetrated when we were almost Desperate and Ruine at the Door? What man will not Sudenly throw out his arme to prevent his Neighbor from thrusting his Finger in his eye, even although his arme migbt hapen to strike the face of his Superior? Must we be therefore alwais after Stigmatized as traitors on that account ? Not to be tedious, We Esteem onr Selves embarked in the same Botom with the rest of our Neighbors, and we are willing to have it Known and Transmited to Postarity that we Esteem our Selves Burdened and are willing to join in all proper Con- stitutionel measures to obtain Relief. Our Representative being Elected by Joint Ballot by several other Towns with us, we Canot with Good propriety give him

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 115

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 700

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700