History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 134

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896

USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II > Part 134

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).

Ariel, Sr., settled near Chicopee Falls before 1786, in which year he and others conveyed lands to Byers and Smith, as elsewhere mentioned. He owned considerable tracts of land within the town and had numerous descendants, but few of whom bearing the Cooley name continue in the vicinity. " Cooley Brook" derives its name from this family. Calvin, son of AAriel, Sr., married Chloe Bliss, Oet. 14, 1806, had nine children, of whom Lucius, of Chicopee Falls, married Mary Clough, Dee. 31, 1838, and had Harriet A., who married Edwin A. Buttrick, and resides at Chicopee Centre; Ella M., who married Robert Russell, and resides at Holyoke; and Lydia S., who married Oliver Bangs, of West Springfield, Ang. 6, 1860.

The first dwelling, of which any account remains, was that creeted by Henry Chapin, as described in the preceding pages.

It is claimed, but upon what authority is not known, that the first cultivation of the soil within the present town limits was on the south side of the Chicopee River, near its mouth, in 1645.+ This date is fourteen years prior to the purchase made by Henry Chapin from William Pynchon.

The first tavern has left no positive evidences of its origin or situation ; but as the inn described as standing at the north end of Chicopee Street in an early day, and that occupied by Japhet Chapin, on Springfield Street, were both of unknown origin, it is safe to divide the honor that history accords of priority between them. The same dilemma exists in the case of the first school-house, and so the old structure at Skipmuck and that at Chicopee Centre are entitled to the reverence of those who delve in statelier classic halls,-share and share alike.

The first church edifice was erected in 1752 for the First Congregational Society, and occupied the site of their present church, on the west side of Chicopee Street. It was removed in 1826, and the present church erected in that year.

The first merchants at Chicopee were Moses Christy and Samuel Harthan, who were partners in the dry-goods and gro- cery business, and occupied a store where now stands that of Lanekton & Pond, on Market Square.

lower end of Exchange Street. The government scouts one day appeared in the vicinity, and encountering Jobn Van Horn, a brother of Azariah, who had a lean- ing toward the rebels, asked how matters stood, Said John, " Oh, I guess they're all gone." The scouts marched bravely on, but soon came in view of the out- posts, who fired, when they took to their heels. John heard the firing and saw them coming, and in turn, fearing punishment for his duplicity, made tracks for the Great River.

* Ens. Benjamin married Sarah -, and had Obadiah, who married Rebecca Williams, and had Jonathan, who married Joanna Colton, and hal Jabez. who married Abigail Hancock, and had Ariel, who settled at Chicopee Falls, then Skenungonnek.

+ Holland's Western Massachusetts.

The first postmaster at " Cabot," or Cabotville, was Moses Christy, who kept the office in the store above described. The office was afterward removed to a building which stood where the savings-bank now stands.

The first physician was probably Dr. David Bemis, at Chie- opee Factory.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN.

The following is a part of the act incorporating the town of Chicopee, passed April 25, 1848:

" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by authority of the same, as follows :

" SECTION 1 .- All that part of the town of Springfield which lies northeily of the following described lines, namely,-beginning at a stone monument by two oak-trees standing together on the bank of Connecticut river near to and noitheily of the house of Edwin Spooner, and running thence westerly by a line at right angles with the river to the easterly line of West Springfield, thence returning to said stone monument and running thence northeasterly a straight line to a stone monument standing on the sontheily bank of Chicopee river at or near the westerly extremity of the 'Birchem Bend' of said river so called, thence the same course to the thread of said Chicopee river, and thence easterly by the thread of said river to a point opposite the southwest corner of the town of Lud- low, and thence to the said corner of Ludlow, and bounded easterly by said town of Ludlow, northerly by the towns of Granby and South Hadley, and westerly by the town of West Springfield, is hereby incorporated into a separate town by the name of Chicopee,t and the said town of Chicopee is hereby vested with all the powers, privileges, rights, and immunities, and shall be subject to all the duties and requisitions to which other towns are entitled and subjected by the Constitution and Laws of this Commonwealth.

"SECTION G .- Said town of Chicopee shall continue to be a part of the town of Springfield for the purpose of electing Representatives to the General Court, State officers, Senators, Representatives to Congress, and Electors of President and Vice-President of the Cuited States, until the next decennial census shall be taken in pursuance of the thirteenth article of Amendment of the Constitu- tion, and all meetings for the choice of said officers shall be called by the Select- meu of Springfield, and shall be holden in the town of Springfield. The Select- men of Chicopee shall make a true list of persons within their town qualified to vote at every snch election, and shall post up the same in said town of Chicopee, and shall correct the same as required by law, and shall deliver the same to the Selectmen of Springfield before any such election, by whom the same shall be taken and used in the same manner as if it had been prepared by themselves."

At a meeting held at " Cabot Ilall," in the village of Chie- opee, on the 17th day of May, 1848, at one o'clock P.M., after prayer by the Rev. Crawford Nightingale, Timothy W. Car- ter was chosen moderator and William L. Bemis clerk. A strong feeling had sprung up in regard to the dismemberment of the old town of Springfield, with her record of more than two centuries, which called forth from Mr. Carter an admir- able address, which was as "oil upon the troubled waters." He, in part, said :

" We are now invested with powers and duties which as good citizens we are lamal to exercise for the good of the whole. Shall we not enter upon these duties regardless of past differences of opinion, with a determination that the new town of Chicopee shall sustain as high a character for good government, order, and respectability as the distinguished town of which she has heretofore formed a part ? We commence a career among our sister towns not a feeble organization just struggling into being, but at once endowed with all the ele- ments of vigor and maturity, with a population and valuation second to but one within the limits of the four western counties of this Commonwealth. In the exercise of strict economy in all our expenditures, carefully regarding the rights of those who are to contribute to the government and the various interests of the town, we shall be enabled to provide amply for the publ e convenience and all needful improvements, and bestow upon the poor that assistance to which by their misfortunes they are entitled at our hands; and, above all, liberally to endow the children and youth with such uteans of education and moral im- provement as shall accord with the advancing spirit of the age. Frumu this time forward our destiny, under God, is in our own hands, and praise or disgrace will be ouis as we shall discharge or neglect the duties we owe to the present and the future. Let us then step forth upon this new theatre of action with high purposes of good toward ourselves and of benefit nud blessings toward those who shall succeed us, that, when two centuries of our history shall be written, we may have proved a worthy descendant of our distinguished ancestor."

At this meeting five selectmen, three assessors, and three school committeemen were chosen by ballot, viz. : Selectmen, Sylvanus Adams, Harmon Rowley, Ezekiel Blake, Amos W. Stockwell, Adolphus G. Parker; Assessors, Sylvester Allen, Amaziah Bullens, Harmon Rowley ; School Committee, Rev.

# In 1852 the line was run and monuments re-established between Chicopee and Springfield; and likewise, in 1833, the lines on the sides of Ludlow and South Hadley ; and the same year the Granby line was run.

964

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

Jonah G. Warren, Rev. Eli B. Clark, Rev. Robert Kellen. A committee was appointed, consisting of John Wells, Charles Sherman, Samuel Mills, Jr., Samuel H. Shackford, Ira M. Bullens, A. G. Parker, Robert E. Robertson, Joseph Clough, and William R. Kentfield, who reported the nomination of the following persons elected to the several offices named : Overseers of the Poor, Clark Albro, Andrew Hubbard, and Phineas Stedman ; Surveyors of Highways, Jacob P. Brown, Sidney Chapin, and Joseph B. MeCune; Pound-Keeper, Almon Nelson ; Constables, Sylvester Churchill, William Wheeler, Benjamin F. Willard, William L. Bemis, John C. Bartlett, Simeon B. Fairbank, George Mosman, Amory Doo- little, Alfred Warriner, Luther Pierce, Andrew Hubbard, and William R. Kentfield ; Measurers of Wood and Bark, Madi- son E. Willey, Benjamin E. Ballord, Sylvester Allen, Clossen Pendleton, Phineas Stedman, Emilus E. Albro, George S. Taylor, John E. Carpenter, Andrew Hubbard, Varnum N. Taylor, Otis Chapman, Elijah P. Kimball, Nathaniel Cutler, and Amaziah Bullens; Sealers of Leather, Adolphus G. Parker, Joseph W. Hitchcock, and Andrew Hubbard; Board of Health, Clark Albro, Andrew Hubbard, Phineas Sted- man, John R. Wilbur, M.D., and Daniel K. Pearson, M. D .; Fence-Viewers, Lysander Chapin, Caleb S. Chapin, Edward S. Robinson, Orrin Fuller, Lyman Van Horn, and Norman Day; Surveyors of Lumber, Veranus Chapin, Benjamin Parsons, Sylvester 'Allen, Joseph Clough, Richard Johnson, Francis Moore, and Norman Chapin ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, William G. Bliss ; Field-Drivers, Oliver F. l'in- ney, Varnum N. Taylor, Samuel P. Clough, Frederick A. Barber, Ebenezer Bartlett, Levi Chapin, Titus Chapin, Ben- ning Leavitt, James Wells, Ezra II. Corning, Benjamin B. Belcher, Royal Wyatt, Abel Chapin, Luke W. Kimball, Jon- athan C. Bowker, Henry Moore, Aloristan Wait, and Robin- son Brock ; Tithingmen, Charles P. Collins, Horatio Colton, Levi C. Skeele, Alexander HI. Childs, Sylvanus Adams, James Kervin, Patrick Gorman, Luther Streeter, Davis Dunham, David M. Butterfield, Cyrus Spaulding, Benjamin H. Ellis, Lemuel II. Brigham, Cyril A. Southworth, James L. Sikes, Lneius E. Ladd, William MeDermott, Ralph White, Josiah Osgood, Lester Dickinson, William Blake, and Harvey Rob- inson ; Committee on School District Boundaries, John Wells, Edward Renney, and Phineas Stedman.

By the town regulations adopted in 1849, the selectmen, school committee, overseers of the poor, surveyors of high ways, and treasurer are required to make reports, which are annually published.

Previous to the organization of the town a flood carried away two of the bridges, and otherwise did serious damage within the territory now included within its bounds. The two bridges referred to spanned the brook near Willimansett depot, and were replaced by structures of stone and brick, laid in cement. Thus the work of the town authorities was commenced under somewhat unfavorable conditions ; but the inhabitants gener- ously supported them.

Schools have been liberally maintained and ably conducted, highways kept decently and in order, the poor cared for, and all the institutions of the town efficiently administered.

PRESENT TOWN OFFICERS.

Selectmen and Overseers of Poor, William R. Kentfield (chairman), Silas Mosman, Edgar T. Page, Terrence Hogan, William White; Town Clerk and Treasurer, Lester Dickin- son ; Assessors, Lewis M. Ferry (chairman), Dwight L. Shaw, George W. Bray; Tax Collector, John B. Wood; School Committee, George V. Wheelock (chairman), Isaac F. Porter, Francis F. Parker, William E. Dickinson, Bildad B. Belcher, Henry J. Boyd ; Poor Agent, Josiah B. Fuller ; Highway Surveyors, Homer Hamilton, William F. Howard, Gilbert V. Billings; Police Department : Edwin O. Carter, Justice ; Simon G. Southworth, Luther White, Special Justices ; Leon-

ard C. Ilill, George F. Williston, John E. Connor, William A. Dunham, Policemen, the latter at Chicopee Falls; James Kaveney, Bridge Policeman.

The indebtedness of the town on Feb. 28, 1878, was $110,050 ; amount over cash and cash assets, $95,267.57.

CIVIL LIST. SELECTMEN, 1848 to 1878.

1848,-Sylvanns Adams, Harmon Rowley, Ezekiel Blake, Amos W. Stock well, Adolphus G. Parker.

1819,-Sylvanus Adams, Orange Chapin, Bildad B. Belcher, Ezekiel Blake, John

Wells.

1850 .- John Wells, Nathaniel Cutler, Giles S. Chapin, Bildad B. Belcher, Lucius E. Ladıl.

1851 .- Charles R. Ladd, Giles S. Chapin, George S. Taylor.

1852 .- Charles R. Ladd, George S. Taylor, Abner B Abbey, John Herrick, Mar- shall Pense.

1853 .- George S. Taylor, Benning Leavitt, Abner B. Abbey, John Herrick, Mar- shall l'ense.

1854 .- Nathaniel Cutler, Benning Leavitt, Timothy W. Carter, Anstin Chapin, John II. Smith.

1855 .- Titus Chapin, John E. Marsh, Caleb S. Chapin, William 1. West.

1856 .- Otis Chapmao, Andrew Hubbard, Davil F. Randall, John A. Denison.

1857 .- Otis Chapman, Benning Leavitt, Sidney Chapin, Andrew Hubbard, Wil- li un I. D. Conuer.

1858 .- Otis Chapman, Giles S. Chapin, John E. Marsh, Thomas A. Denison, J. Henry Churchill.

1859,-Otis Chapman, John E. Marsh, Thomas A. Denison, J. Henry Churchill. 1860,-Otis Chapman, J. Henry Churchill, Theodore Williams, Lucas B. Chapin, Thomas A. Denison.

181 .- Otis Chapman, Lucas B. Chapin, Daniel Knapp, William Thayer, Silas Mosman.

1862 .- Otis Chapman, Lucas B. Chapin, Daniel Knapp, William Thayer, Silas Mosman.

1863,-Otis Chapman, Lucas B. Chapin, Daniel Knapp, Edgar T. Paige, Silas Mosman.

1864 .- 8. Adams, P. Cadwell, William R. Kentfield, Henry S. Herrick, George II. Knapp.

1865 .- George H. Knapp, Henry S. Herrick, Russell S. Furncy, Simon G. Southworth, Charles S. Stiles,

1866 .- Williamu R. Kentfield, Russell 8. Furney, Simon G. Southworth, Milo A. Taylor, B. H. Stedinan.

1867 .- William R. Kentfield, Milo A. Taylor, Simon G. Southworth, Benjamin H. Stedman, Bailey West.

ISGS .- Wru. R. Kentfield, Milo A. Taylor, Simon G. Southworth, Benj. II. Sted- man, Bailey West.

1869 .- Wm. R. Kentfield, Simon G. Southworth, Josiah B. Fuller, Wm. Blake. Marshall Pease.

1870 .- Thomas A. Denison, Josiah B. Fuller, Marshall Pease, Edgar T. Paige, James E. Taylor.

1871 .- Josiah B. Fuller, Marshall Pease, Edgar T. Paige, Erasmus Stebbins, John R. Wilbur.

1872 .- Josiah B. Fuller, Marshall Pense, Edgar T. Paige, John R. Wilbur, Heory 11. HarTis. 1873,-C. M. Kendall, Marshall Pease, S. D. Stoddard, John R. Willmir, Henry H. llarıis.

1874 .- C. M. Kendall, Marshall Pease, S. D. Stoddard, John R. Wilbur, Patrick Rourke.

1875 .- C. M. Kendall, John R Wilbur, Giles 8. Chapin, George M. Morton, Patrick Ronrke.

1876 .- John R. Wilbur, Giles S. Chapin, George M. Morton, Patrick Rourke, Warren S. Bragg.

1877 .- Jolin R. Wilbur, Edgar T. Paige, Patrick Rourke, Warren S. Bragg, Wm. White.

1878 .- Wm. R. Kentfield, Silas Mosman, Edgar T. Paige, Terrence Ilogan, Wm. White.

TOWN CLERKS.

But four persons have served in the office of town clerk since the town was erected, viz. :

Wm. L. Bemis, from its organization in 1848 until April, 1854; Jonathan R. Childs, until April, 1836 ; Moses W. Chapin, until April, 1857, who was succeeded by Lester Dickinson, the present clerk, who has filled the office for twenty-one consecutive years.

REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT.

The first election for representatives was held in Chicopee in November, 1850. The following persons have represented the town and district :*

1851, John Wells, Giles S. Chapin, Alpheus Nettleton ; 1852, J. K. Fletcher, Jonathan R. Childs, Alpheus Nettleton; 1853, Sammel A. Shackford, Edward I.

* From 1851 to 1857, inclusive, Chicopee was a district by itself; 1858 to 1866, was in the 7th district, with Ludlow ; 1867 to 1876, was in the 6th district, with Ludlow and Holyoke; since then has formed the 3d district by itself.

965

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

Haskell, Charles R. Ladd; 1854, Samuel A. Shackford, Loman A. Moody, Charles R. Ladd; 1855, Guy Davenport, Loman A. Moody, Erastus Stebbins; 1856, Syl- vester Allen, John H. Smith, Jonathan Jones; 1857, Lewis M. Feny, John II. Smith, John Wells; 1858, George H. Chapman, James Renney ; 1859, George M. Stearns, Albert Fuller,$ 1860. Joseph B. McCune, George S. Taylor; 1>61, James M. Smith, George S. Taylor ; 1862, Phineas Stedman, Hezekiah Root ;* 1863, James M. Smith, William Thayer; 1864, Moses W. Chapin, Lafayette Temple; I865, John Wells, Jacob S. Eaton;$ I:G6, Emerson Gaylord, George W. Knapp; I>67, Enoch V. B. Holcomb, Elwin II. Ball;+ 1868, Edwin N. Snow, Ezia II. Flagg ;; 1>69, Jerome Wells, S. H. Walker ; } Is70, Lewis M. Ferry, Henry A. Pratt ; } 1871, Henry HI. Harris, Charles A. Corser ;; 1872, George Arms,; Reuben Sikes ;* 1873, William R. Kentfield, Edward MI. Chapin ;+ 1874, George D. Rolinson, Allen Iligginbot- tom;+ 1875, S. A. Jacobs, Jacob W. Davis;+ 1876, Charles A. Taylor, Edwin S. Kirtland ;; 1877, Warren S. Bragg; 1878, Jarvis P. Kelly ; 1879, Frank 11. Morton.

VILLAGES.

THIE VILLAGE OF CHICOPEE, OR CHICOPEE CENTRE,

formerly " Cabotville," stands mainly on the south side of Chicopee River, near its junction with the Connecticut. It occupies a narrow plain and gently-sloping hillside, and far- ther east a portion of undulating table-land.

It has two hotels, one of brick, eight churches, including the ancient church in " Chicopee Street," an imposing brick structure for a town-hall, in which is the town library of 5000 volumes, three assembly-halls, and numerous fine busi- ness blocks of a progressive pattern. Besides these are sev- eral millsį of mammoth proportions, in which thousands of operatives are employed, and a large number of adjunct tene- ments, of brick, in which most of the operatives reside. The streets are irregular, but neat, generally, and many are bor- dered with handsome and even stately residences, both of wood and the all-abounding brick. Brick prevails for side- walks, though many of the best walks are of a composition of tar and gravel. A crowning glory of this village is its excel- lent schools, in which the various grades are ably taught. The school-houses are seven in number, inclusive of the high school and " St. Joseph's,"-Catholic.

CHICOPEE FALLS

is a snug village lying on both sides of the river Chicopee at Skenungonuck or Chicopee Falls. The larger portion stands within the bend formed by the détour of the river to the northward, and occupies the adjacent slopes and terraces. It is chiefly distinguished for its manufactures, which, though existing as early as 1800, did not assume important propor- tions nor much affect the growth of the place until a quarter of a century later. Here also the mills and many other struc- tures are of brick ; but the residences are chiefly of wood, some large and elegant. As in Chicopee, the streets are irreg- ular, and the side-walks of briek and composition. The vil- lage contains one hotel, five churches, and three school-houses.

WILLIMANSETT

is a small hamlet at the northerly end of " Chicopee Street," on the east side of the Connecticut and opposite Holyoke. Its interests are principally agricultural.

SCHOOLS. SKIPMUCK.

Very little has come down respecting the earliest schools of the town, the edneation of the young doubtless having been conducted in connection with the affairs of the church, in a large degree, as in other portions of the colony. Districts Nos. 3 and 5 were formed as early as 1812, the latter com- prising the territory between Indian Orchard on the cast and flog-Pen Dingle Brook on the west, the Chicopee River north, and what was called the " Old Morgan House" south. A school- house was erected in this district, at what is known as Skip- muck, in 1812, or soon after, which was in size 20 by 30 feet, inclosed with rough clapboards, had two small windows and a huge stone fireplace. For the seniors wide boards for desks

were placed against the sides of the room at a proper angle, and in front of these three long seats with legs like milking- stools. Thus facing the wall they had a very narrow hori- zon, and no doubt envied the freshmen who occupied the cen- tre of the room on similar benches. This is a sample of the provision made for a considerable period, and there was hut little change until manufacturing enterprises took on a new life in the deeade following the year 1822.

The following are some of the teachers of this school : John W. Belcher, Deborah W. Belcher, Sarah Snow, and a Miss Griswold.

CHICOPEE FALLS.

In the fall of 1825, a brick school-house was erected by the Boston and Springfield Manufacturing Company, where the present High School building stands, on Church Street, and presented to the distriet. It was at first of one story, but in time another was added, making its seating capacity 150. A swinging partition separated the departments. This was swung up and fastened by hooks to the ceiling, when the house was used for religious services. The first teacher here was Closson Pendleton ; subsequent teachers, Eli Bates, Fanny Bliss, Anna Smith, Elihu Adams,? 1829; Alvira Childs, Ezekiel Adams, Bildad B. Belcher, about four years, to spring of 1833; Fanny G. Ames, Mary Wood, Otis A. Seaman, Samuel Alvord. This building was demolished upon the completion of the one next deseribed.

On nearly the same ground as the preceding, in 1845, a large and convenient brick school-house was built, at a cost of $7000, and opened Jan. 7, 1846, when an address was de- livered by Hon. Oliver B. Morris, of Springfield. This build- ing was for the higher branches. The first principal was Samuel Alvord, who remained until December, 1848. IIe was succeeded by William Torrence, who remained but a short time, and was followed by Alonzo Leland until October, 1850; Samuel Alvord again until March, 1853; Joseph C. Barrett to November, 1854; Philip D. Hammond to Novem- ber, 1855; Henry W. Peirce to November, 1856; . James K. Lombard to July, 1857; Edward P. Nettleton to March, 1859 ; Henry A. Buddington to November, 1859; Edward P. Nettle- ton to February, 1862 ; Erskine S. Bates to November, 1863 ; L. M. Peiree, to June, 1871 ; II. C. Hallowell, to -, 1874; Frederick Lawton in 1875; A. R. Nichols in 1876 and part of 1877; W. P. Beckwith, remainder of 1877 and part of 1878. Elliott S. Miller is the present principal.

An early sehool-house was built for Distriet No. 3 on the north side of the river, at the Falls, some time prior to 1829. In the winter of that year, Bildad B. Belcher began there his labors as a teacher. In 1846 the old house was superseded by one of brick. In the summer of 1870 the latter gave way for another and better building, ereeted in Granby Street, at a cost of about $12,000. It will seat 210 scholars. All ehil- dren now attending are of foreign parentage.

The finest of all the school buildings in the town is that erected in 1875-76, on Springfield and Chestnut Streets. It cost $22,500, and was opened for use in the spring of 1876.

SCHOOLS AT CHICOPEE.

An old school-house which stood at the junction of South and Springfield Streets, in Chicopee, was removed in 1845, or thercabouts, and devoted to other uses. This structure was erected between the years 1810 and 1812, and faced south on South Street. The chimney, of brick, was a ponderous affair, whose open mouth was a serious feature for the boys who were assigned the duty of supplying it from the generous pile of huge logs at the door. Here Ezekiel Adams taught, about the year 1825. He died recently at Springfield. Dennis Bangs taught subsequently in 1829. Then followed Mr. Crosby, Miss Warner, and Miss Atkins in due order. The

* From Ludlow. + From Holyoke.

# For description of " manufactures" see farther on.

¿ Died December, 1878.

966

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

most anxious inquiry concerning the first teacher in this quaint structure meets no response.

In 1834 the brick school-house situated on School Street, between Cabot and Centre, was erected at a cost of $2000, and in 1842 another for the higher departments was completed, and is now known as the high-school building of the present system. It stands on Grape Street, between Ehn and Grove. Nathan P. Ames gave a fine bell for this school, and John Chase gave $1000 toward the cost of the building. The first exercises therein were held in July, 1842. Charles P. Ames, a graduate of Dartmouth College, was the first principal, but died in October the same year. He was succeeded by Calvin S. Pennell until March, 1847, and he by William W. Mitchell, who remained until May, 1854, when he resigned, and was succeeded by B. H. Bailey until November, 1856; George D. Robinson, until June, 1865; llenry Lyon, until March, 1866; Alphonso E. White, until November, 1868; Warren B. Stick- ney, until June, 1869; Truman H. Kimpton, until November, 1873; Edward H. Rice, until -, 1875; II. R. Burrington, until -, 1878. Rufus B. Richardson is the present princi- pal. William Valentine was principal of the grammar de- partment in the high-school building for twenty-three years, ending in June, 1878. Miss Ellen S. Robertson, assistant in that department since December, 1857, still retains the posi- tion. A brick school-house was built at Willimansett in 1846, and one in Chicopee Street in 1846, costing $1600.

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.

History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 134

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 896

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896