History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 21

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 21

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1738,-Samuel Bardwell, Joseph Alvord, Reuben Scott, Ensign King, Joseph Root.

1759 .- Clark Alvord, Lieut. Carver, Reuben Scott, Samuel Smead, Joseph Root. 1760 .- Lient. Clapp, Clark Alvord, Joseph Root.

1761 .- Joseph Root, Josiah Alvord, Muses Gunn.

1762 .- Capt. Root, Deacon Gunn, Moses Gumm.

1763-64 .- Capt. Root, Sergt. Smead, Nehemiah Church.

1765 .- Josiah Alvord, Reuben Scott, Moses Gunn.

1766 .- Joseph Root, John Gunn, Samuel Smead, Nehemiah Church, Reuben Scott.

1767 .- Capt. Root, Moses Gunn, Moses Severance.

1768 .- Capt. Root, Clark Alvord, Nathan Smith.

1769 .- Clark Josias Alvord, Nathan Smith, Moses Gunn.

1770 .- Capt. Root. Reuben Scott, Moses Severance.

1771 .- Joseph Root, Moses Gunn, Asahel Keet.

1772,-Capt. Rout, Reuben Scott, Asahel Keet, Ebenezer Billings, Elijah Smith. 1773 .- Joseph Root, Moses Severance, Sergt. Scott.

1774-75 .- Dr. Gunn, Stephen Tuttle, Samuel Bardwell.

1776 .- Samuel Bardwell, Asahel Gunn, Nathan Smith, Asahel Keet, Moses Gunn.

1777 .- Deacon Gunn, Asahel Gunn, Nathan Snuth, Samuel Bariwell, Dr. Gunn.

1778 .- Moses Gunn, Nathaniel Gunn, Samuel Bardwell, Nathan Smith, Israel Gnnu.

1779 .-- Nathaniel Gunn, Moses Gunn, Gideon Bardwell, Benjamin Alvord, Philip Ballard.

1780,-Caleb Kinsley, John Gunn, Jonathan Loveland.

1781 .- Philip Ballard, Nathaniel Guun, Benjamin Alvord.

1782 .- Moses Gunn, Israel Gunn, Caleb Kinsley.

1783,-Moses Severance, Kenben Scott, Elisha Root.

1784 .- Capt. Alvord, Moses Root, Elisha Root, Dr. Gunu, Moses Severance.

1785 .- Israel Gunn, Cupt. Alvord, Jotham Death.

1786 .- Deacon Gunn. Capt. Kinsley, Elisha Ruot.

1787 .- Elisha Rout, Deacon Gunn, Moses Root.

1788,-Lieut. Scott, Ensign Severance, Asahel Kret.

1789,-Moses Rout, Deacon Gunn, Capt. Kinsley.

1790 .- Deacon Gunn, Moses Rool, Ensign Severance. 1791 .- Deacon Kann, Moses Roof, Asahel Gonn.

1792 .- Medad Montagne, Moses Root, Deacon Gunn.

1793 .- Dencon Ouun, Moses Rout, Solomon Clapp. 1794 .- Dearon Gunn, Lyman Taft, Solomon Clapp. 1795,-Deacon Gunn, Muses Root, Medad Montague. 1796 .- Solomon Clapp. Moses Sevorance, Jonathan Root. 1797 .- Deacon Gunn, Solomon Mlapp, Medad Montague. 1798 .- Deacon Gunn, Moses Root, Medad Montague. 1799-1801 .- Deacon Gunn, Capt. Clapp, Jonathan Root. 1802 .- Moses Severance, Ezra Anderson, Martin Root. 1803 .- Martin Root, Capt. Severance, Samuel Risley.

1804 .- Martin Root, Moses Severance, Ezra Anderson. 1805 .- Martin Root, Salmon Gunn, Ezra Anderson. 1806 .- Jonathan Root, Nathaniel Gunn, Ezra Anderson. 1807-8 .- Medad Montague, Saumon Gunn, Nathan Chenery, 1809-10,-Medad Montaguc, Salmon Gunn, Moses Severance. 1×11 .- Medad Montagne, Moses Severance, Samnel Wii-ley. 1812 .- Medad Montagne, Martin Root, Salmon Gonn. 1813 .- Martin Root, Sabuon Gunu, Medad Montagne. 1×14 .- Salmon Gunn, Rodolphus Bardwell, Medad Montague. 1×15 .- Rodolphins Bardwell, Spencer Root, Benjamin Wells. 1816-17 .- Medad Montague, Salmon Gunn, Rodolphus Bardwell. 1818,-Benjamin Wells, Spencer Root, Silas Hosmer. 1819 .- Salmon Gunn, Abel Bancroft, Jeremiah Pratt. 1820 .- Medad Montague, Jonathan Muusell, Jeremiah Pratt. 1821 .- Jeremiah Pratt, Jonathan Munsell, Moses Severance. 1×22 .- Moses Severance, Jeremiah P'ratt, Elihu Root.

1823 .- Jeremiah Pratt, Rudolphus Bardwell, Abel Bancroft.

1824 .- Rudolphns Bardwell, Jeremiah Pratt, Joseph Gunn. 1×25 .- Jeremiah Pratt, Nathan Chenery, Spencer Root. 1826,-Jeremiah Pratt, Benjamin S. Wells, Apollos Gunn. 1827 .- Jeremiah Pratt, Benjamin S. Wells, Martin H. Chapp. 1×25,-Jeremiah Pratt, Benjamin S. Wells, Charles Thurston. 1829,-Benjamin S. Wells, Charles Thurston, Salmon Rout. 1830 .- Benjamin S. Wells, Salmon Root, Rodolphus Bardwell. 1831-32 .- M. HI. Clapp, John Davis, Noadinh Montagne. I¥33 .- M. Il. Clapp, Rodolphus Bardwell, Apollos Gunn. 1834 .- Rodolphus Bardwell, Apollos Gunn, Samuel Leland. 1835,-Rodolphus Bardwell, Abel Bancroft, Ephraim Stearns. 1836 .- Rodolphus Bardwell, Arza Bardwell, Benjamin S. Wells, 1837 .- Benjamin S. Wells, Martin Grout, Elihu P'. Thayer. 1838-39 .- Elihu P. Thayer, Martin Grout, E. L. Delano. 1840 .- Elihm P. Thayer, Erastus Root, Eliphaz Clapp. IS41 .- Elihn P. Thayer, Martin H. Clapp, E. W. Chenery. 1842 .- Elilin P. Thayer, Martin II. Clapp, Martin Grout.

1843-44,-Martin H. Clapp, Ahel Bancroft, Nathan Hosmer. 1845-46 .- Nathan Hosmer, Eliphaz Clapp, Arza Bardwell. 1847 .- Saminel D. Bardwell, Nathan Hosmer, William W. Thayer.

1848 .- Nathan Hosmer, Bela Kellogg, W. W. Thayer. 1849 .- Abel Bancroft, M. II. Clapp, Bela Kellogg.

1850 .- Abner Chandler, W. W. Thayer, R. N. Oakman.

1851-52 .- R. N. Oak man, Alpheus Moore, Lucien II. Stone.

1853 .- L. II. Stone, S. C. Wells, Jesse Andrews.

1854 .- S. C. Wells, Jesse Andrews, A. L. Taft. 1855 .- S. C. Wells, E. F. Gunn, Warren Bardwell.

1850,-R. N. Oakman, Amos Adams, Warren Bardwell.

1857 .- R. N. Oakman, B. F. Pond, L. 11. Stone.

1858 .- R. N. Oakman, L. II. Stone, N. E. Babbitt.

1850,-R. N. Oakman, L. H. Stone, S. S. Holton.

1860,-R. N. Oakman, Sandford Goddard, Richard Clapp.

1801 .- R. N. Oakman, Richard Clapp, Rodolphins Ball.

1462-63 .- R. N. Oakman, Richard Clapp, E. F. Gunn.

18G4 .- W. W. Thayer, Seymour Rockwell, Richard Clapp.

1865,-Benjamin Fay, R. N. Oakman, Richard ('lapp.

1866 .- R. N. Oakman, Amos Adams, J. II. Root. 1867 .- R. N. Oakman, J. 11. Root, Zebina Taylor.

18G8 .- W. A. Bancroft, J. II. Root, R. N. Oakman. 1869-71 .- R. N. Oakman, J. H. Root, Amos Adans. 1872 .- R. N. Oakman, George Hance, Edwin Demond.

1873-74 .- R. N. Oakman, D. P. Abercrombie, Edwin Demond.

1875 .- J. F. Bartlett, R. N. Oakman, Edwin Demond.

1876-78,-Gurdon Edgerton, J. F. Bartlett, Edwin Demond.

TOWN CLERKS.

Joseph Root, 1756-61; Moses Gunn, 1761-70; Elisha Roof, 1770; Moses Gunn 1771-81; Caleb Kingsley, 1781; Muses Gunn, 1782; Joseph Root, 1783-1805; Moses Severance, 1805-9; Elisha Root, Jr., 1809-11 ; Salmon Gunn, 1811 ; Elisha Root, Jr .. 1812; Selah Root, 1813-18; Cephas Root, 1818-20; Isaac Chenery, 1820; Salmon Root, 1821; Solomon Root, 1822; Helaz Alvord, 1823-27; Jona- than Hartwell, 1827-35; Lathrop Delano, 1835-37; E. W. Chenery, 1837-42; Jonathan Hartwell, 1842-52 ; J. C. Bangs, 1852-62 ; C. P. Wright, 1862-G7 ; J. II. Root, 1867-79.

REPRESENTATIVES AT THE GENERAL COURT.

From 1774 to 1857 (when Montague became a part of the Sixth Representative District) the town was represented by the following : Moses Gunn, Joseph Root, Moses llarvey, Caleb Kinsley, Heury Wells, Martin Root, Nathan ('henery,

PECOIST DELA

MONTAGUE PAPER CO.'S MILLS, TURNER'S FALLS, MASS,

L. H. Everts, Pub'r, Phila.

TURNERS

FALLS, MASS.

JOHN RUSSELL CUTLERY CO.'S GREEN RIVER WORKS, TURNER'S FALLS, MASS.

L. H. Everts, Pub'r, Phila.

627

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Medad Montagne, Helaz Alvord, Jonathan Hartwell, Martin H. Clapp, Elisha Leffingwell, Elihn P. Thayer, Nathan Hosmer, Joseph Clapp, Alpheus Moore, Erastus Andrews, R. N. Oakman, Zenas ('lapp, George ('lapp, Calvin Russell.

VILLAGES.

Montague has within its limits four villages, called Turner's Falls, Montague Centre, Miller's Falls, and Montague City.

TURNER'S FALLS,

the most important, most populous, and most prosperous vil- lage in the town, although of recent growth, having been founded in 1867, has made rapid strides toward commercial greatness, and promises to become, at no far-distant day, one of the most important manufacturing points in America. The magical rise and rapid progress of this village were results wrought by the sagacious energy and enterprise of Col. Alva Crocker, of Fitchburg, Mass., who died at Fitchburg, Decem- ber, 1874, while a member of Congress. Col. Crocker was distinguished through the length and breadth of the common- wealth as a man whose great wealth served the useful and val- uable purpose of promoting public enterprise, and it was while personally engaged in searching for a more direct railway route between Miller's Falls and Greenfield than the one pursued by the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad that he was called to observe the magnificent water-power possessed by the Con- neetieut River at Turner's Falls, and, rightly concluding that Nature had thus furnished the means at hand for the founda- tion of a great manufacturing city, he entered at once, with his characteristic promptness and vigor, upon the prosecution of the scheme which, to the exclusion of almost every other interest, took possession of his mind. In company with other capitalists whom he invited to join him, he organized the Turner's- Falls Company (the history of which will be nar- rated hereafter) for the purpose of controlling and utilizing the water-power at that point, expended largely of his wealth in creating manufactories, purchased large tracts of land for a village-site, and, in brief, from the date of the incorporation of the Turner's Falls Company, in 1866, to the date of his death, in 1874, he never relaxed his efforts to push the in- terests of the village briskly forward. It was the pet ambi- tion of his life, the proud hope of his busy career, this plan for the promotion of the prosperity of Turner's Falls until it should not only rival Lowell, Holyoke, and other great man- ufacturing centres, but pass beyond and above them as the greatest of all. What he would have accomplished for the place had he been spared to test his energies to the full, no man can say ; but, estimating the probable results of the future from the great achievements he had effected in the few years he was permitted to devote to the task, it cannot be denied that he would have left Turner's Falls as a splendid monu- ment to his greatness. In the midst of his hopes and his am- bitions, while he was still planning and devising with all his might for the advancement of his favored work, he was sud- denly cut down, and the village of Turner's Falls suffered a severe publie calamity. Only a few days previous to his death Col. Croeker determined to expend $10,000 upon the erection of a public library building at the village, and had, indeed, set on foot measures looking to an early beginning of the work, but the execution of the design was unfortunately prevented by death.

As before observed, Turner's Falls village was not founded until 1867. In that year the Turner's Falls Lumber Com- pany located on the Gill side of the river, and initiated the manufacturing business at that point. The removal, in 1868, of the John Russell Cutlery Company from Greenfield to Turner's Falls marked a new and important era, and from that time forward the progress of the village was rapid.

The growth of Turner's Falls, though retarded by the death of its founder, must continue to be healthful and prosperous. Circumstances calculated to develop the manufacturing in- terests of the country beyond a common degree will naturally

quicken its material prosperity, and rapidly advance it toward that elevated plane which its projectors hoped for it in the future.

The village contains now (1879) a population of 2000, two large paper-mills, employing together 500 persons, the John Russell Cutlery Company's works (the largest of the kind in this country ), employing 600 people, but having a capacity for 1200, a manufactory for the production of water-wheels, saws, rotary-pumps, etc., a leatherette manufactory, a cotton- mill of the capacity of a thousand looms, a fine hotel, two banks, four church edifices, two handsome and costly school buildings, a steam fire-engine company of 18 members, a weekly newspaper publication, several handsome brick busi- ness blocks, numerous stores, a public library, and many ele- gant private residences.

The village is one of the termini of the Fitchburg Railroad Branch, connecting Greenfield and Turner's Falls, and at this point, too, the Connecticut is spanned by two fine suspension- bridges. One, placed below the falls, connects Montague with Greenfield, and was built in 1873, at a cost of $36,000. A second one, located above the falls, and connecting Montague with Gill, cost $42,000, and was completed in December, 1878.

MONTAGUE CENTRE,

the oldest village in the town, and the site of the town's ear- liest settlement, is a station on the Fitchburg Railroad and on the New London Northern Railroad. It was at one time a thriving manufacturing village, but its interests in that di- rection are now limited to a pocket-book factory and a rake- factory. It is attractive in its surroundings, and appears to have been laid out and embellished with an eye to good taste as well as to picturesque effect. Its community is chiefly com- posed of agrieulturists, many of whom are wealthy and reside in homes of substantial but not ostentatious elegance.

The village contains a fine brick town-hall, two churches, a public library, several stores, a saw-mill, grist-mill, and various minor industries.

MONTAGUE CITY,

a station on the Greenfield and Turner's Falls Railroad, was settled in 1794 by a colony of Germans, who were attracted thither by the promise that the completion of the canal pass- ing around Turner's Falls, and through the tract now occu- pied by Montague City, would build up and prosper that region amazingly. So sanguine were its projectors of a bright future for the place that they anticipated greatness in the bestowal of the high-sounding name it now bears. Greatness never greeted it, however, although it is now, and always has been, a bright and cheerful-looking rural village.

For upward of twenty years previous to 1875, Messrs. R. L. & D. W. Goss carried on important and extensive enter- prises at Montague City in the manufacture of lumber, piano- cases, etc., in which they employed 75 men. The only manufacturing industry at that point now is the extensive briek-yard of Mesers. Adams & Son, who employ a force of 50 persons. The village contains a post-office, a graded school, store, and a small collection of substantial dwellings, of which a few possess fair pretensions to elegance. The in- habitants are equally divided between agriculturists and em- ployés at the Turner's Falls mills and Adams & Sons' Yards.

MILLER'S FALLS,

the fourth village, on Miller's River, is a station at the june- tion of the Fitchburg and New London and Northern Railroads. Up to 1868 it was known as Grout's Corners ; but in that year, when there was established in Erving, on the opposite shore of the river, the works of the Miller's Falls Company, the name of the village was changed to Miller's Falls, Its inhabitants are chiefly employés at the works of the Miller's Fall= Com- jany, and number about 200.

628

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

It contains a handsome school building, four stores, a public hall, hotel, and is withal a place possessing much energetic enterprise.

CHURCHES.

The earliest mention touching the matter of preaching occurs in the record of a meeting in 1751 of the freeholders of the second parish of Sunderland, when it was resolved to have preaching, and Deacon Mattoon was appointed " to get a man to preach with us."

Between that date and Dec. 1, 1755, the records are silent as concerns either preacher or meeting-house. It is, however, known that Rev. Judah Nash, of Longmeadow, and a grad- uate of Yale in 1748, was ordained as pastor of the church in 1752. The first meeting-house is supposed to have been erected in 1753. At the meeting above noted (1755) it was resolved " to have six windows on the back-side of the meeting-house, two of which should be on the back-side of the pulpit." It was further resolved "to plum the Bords to Cover the Back- side of the meeting-house." At the same meeting liberty was given to any number of men to build pews for themselves in the meeting-house, it appearing that at that time the dis- trict felt too poor to sent the meeting-house. Further, it was resolved to hire a shell blown at Lieut. Clapp's for a signal on the Sabbath-day .*

In 1759 the district purchased this shell of Lieut. Clapp for £1 10s., and agreed to pay Joseph Root 20s. for blowing it one year. In 1755 it was agreed to procure wood for Rev. Judah Nash, and the inhabitants were notified by a committee to " bring it in." The price of this wood was fixed at 15d. per load.

As a vague indication of the location of the first meeting- house, the records, under date. March, 1757, speak of a bridge over Saw-mill River " near the meeting-house."

Oct. 3, 1757, it was resolved to finish the body of the meet- ing-house with pews, "except two or three short seats in the body near against the end doors."

In the following November it was agreed to choose nine " suitable and meet persons" to seat the meeting-house. In December of that year the selectmen were directed to buy a cushion for the desk of the pulpit. In May, 1758, Stephen Corbin was fined £1 " for his negleet of attending public wor- ship on the Lord's Day." The money was disposed of for the benefit of the poor of the district.

In 1759 the salary of the Rev. Judah Nash was increased from £44 16s. to £53 6s., at which latter the rate was to con- tinue during his ministry. In 1763 it was voted to give Asa- hel Gunn 2s. for turning the key of the meeting-house during the year ensuing. In 1764 five young men-Israel Gunn, Ezra Smead, Daniel Clapp, and two others-were given per- mission to erect a pew in the meeting-house at their own ex- pense. The Rev. Judah Nash was provided each year regu- larly, until 1765, with about 60 cords of wood ; and one day was usually designated as the day on which it should be hauled into the village by the inhabitants.

In 1767 the district renewed its agreement to furnish Rev. Judah Nash firewood annually, and agreed, moreover, to allow him yearly £1 4s., to be laid out in "candle-wood." Then, also, a contract was made with Asahel Gunn, who was to receive 2s. provided " he takes care that the meeting-house doors be opened and shut properly during the ensuing year."

In 1770, at a town-meeting, it was voted that no child un- der ten years of age should be allowed to " go up Galary," and that " the tithingmen bring down Such Bois out of the Galary as are Disorderly, and set them Before the Deacon - Seate."

It appears from the records that the members of a Baptist society in Montague, worshiping in Leverett, declined to con- tribute toward the support of Rev. Mr. Nash, and the town

therefore commenced legal proceedings against them. In 1770 the proceedings were probably abandoned, for, at a town- meeting that year, it was ordered that " the present assessors be enabled to raise such a sum of money as those people was rated (that call themselves Baptists) in the minister's rate the last year, in order to enable the constables to discharge their last year's rates without distraining on the said Baptists for the present, and that said constables shall wait on said Bap- tists until they shall have orders to collect the same." At the same meeting it was voted "the tythingmen to take their turns to set in the Gallery this year."

June, 1772, Moses Harvey and Nathaniel Gunn, Jr., on behalf of themselves and other Baptists, entered their dissent against converting the money arising from the sale of common- lands toward the repair of the meeting-house in Montague. In 1772 it was voted to " scot" the meeting-house gallery. In 1793 it was voted to " pant the meeting-Hous, " and to " Cullor the meeting-Hous the same of Sunderland." About the year 1800 the custom of blowing a shell as a signal on Sabbath- days gave place to that of ringing a bell from the belfry,-a bell having been obtained from Cabotville.t

The old Congregational Church was undoubtedly located on the site of the present post-office, in Montague Centre, and the church which was torn down in 1834-the year of the erection of the present Congregational Church in Montague Centre-was probably the one built in Montague in 1753, of which Rev. Judah Nash was the first pastor. The church now used-above alluded to as having been built in 1834-is a commodious and substantial structure, and is the most con- spicuous edifice in the village. The present pastor, Rev. J. W. Kingsbury, was installed in 1877. Rev. Judah Nash was the pastor from 1752 to 1805,-the year of his death. Following him, to 1877, the pastors were Aaron Gates, Moses Bradford, Benjamin Holmes, James HI. Merrill, Brown Emerson, F. B. . Perkins, Edward Norton, and Chas. H. Daniels. The church has now a membership of 186.

A BAPTIST society was organized in Montague as early as 1767, near the line of the town of Leverett, in which town the worship was conducted. The church was, in 1791, called the Baptist Church of Leverett, and, later, the Baptist Church of Leverett and Montague. Its history will be more fully set forth in the history of Leverett.

An EPISCOPAL society was organized in 1815. It never had a house of worship, contained but few members at its best, and became extinct shortly after 1850.

The UNITARIAN Church was organized in 1828, but had no church building until 1834. In that year the Congregational Church members were divided on the question of locating the proposed new Congregational Church building, and as a result of that division a number of Episcopalian and l'nitarian attendants at the church joined together and erected the present Unitarian Church in Montague Centre. Among the pastors who have preached for the society were Revs. Timothy Rogers, Joseph Field, Rodolphus Dickinson, Luther Wilson, John A. Williams, Wm. HI. Bradley, N. O. Chaffee, Davis Smith, Claudius Bradford, Orange Clark, and A. D. Fuller. J. Q. Cummings is the present pastor, and the number of members is about 75.

There are at Turner's Falls four church buildings and six church societies. The English Methodist Church, organized in 1869, has a church building and a membership of 32. The present pastor is Rev. C. R. Sherman. The German Meth- odist Society, organized in 1871, has a church building and a membership of 25. Rev. A. Flammann, pastor of the Ger- man Methodist Church in Greenfield, supplies the pulpit.

The Roman Catholic Church was organized about 1870. The attendants upon public worship number about 600. Rev. P. L. Quaille is the pastor in charge. The Baptist

* Meaning a conch shel !.

t Now Chicopee.

629

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Church building is owned by the State Convention. Rev. John Shepardson, pastor of the Baptist Church in Greenfield, supplies the preaching. The society includes about 30 mem- bers. There are also at this place a German Lutheran society and an English Congregational society, neither having, how- ever, a church edifice. Rev. A. Mueller, pastor of the Ger- man Lutheran Church at Greenfield, preaches for the former, and Rev. L. S. Parker, of Miller's Falls, for the latter. There is a Congregational society at Miller's Falls, in charge of Rev. L. S. Parker. It was organized about 1870, and has about 40 members, who worship in Union Hall. " Union" religious services are held at Montague City each Sabbath in Goss llall, at which members of all denominations worship in common. Rev. E. A. Wyman, formerly pastor of the Baptist Church at Turner's Falls, supplied the preaching in 1879.

SCIIOOLS.

The first mention made in the records of school matters was at a meeting held Dec. 1, 1755, when it was resolved "that we will hire a school four months this winter, and that we give those people a liberty to keep school (that live on Prov- ince lands) on the District charge so long as their portion of said money will allow, according to what they pay in the town-rate." Under the same date it was agreed to allow Asahel Gunn " what was due for his wife's keeping school, which money was expected to be paid by the town." At the same time it was voted to allow Joseph Root £30 2s. for " keeping school" and for work as assessor and treasurer.

In March, 1757, it was determined to build a school-house, 16 feet wide and 18 feet long, with hewed or sawed logs, and " to set it south of the road, near Ensign King's barn, and near the mill swamp."

In December, 1757, it was resolved "to hire a school four months this winter, to be kept in Joseph Root's corn-house." Later in the same month the school was ordered to be kept at the house of the Widow Smith. In March, 1759, a committee was appointed to buy John Scott's house (in which Widow Preston lived) for a school-house. If they couldn't buy it, they were to procure "stuf" for a school-house. Scott's house was probably purchased, for in 1761 a committee was appointed to repair the school-house and make it comfortable for the winter.

In 1762 it was agreed to give Moses Gunn 40s. per month to teach school four months. In 1764, Deacon Gunn was allowed 5s. 4d. to kindle the fire in the school-house four months. In 1765 it was agreed to hire a " school-dame" for the summer, and that school should be kept in three different parts of the district, six weeks in each part,-at Sergt. Har- vey's, Moses Taylor's, and Dr. Gunn's.

In 1765 the inhabitants of the north part of the district were allowed 32s. to be employed in schooling. In 1766 it was voted to build a school-house " of wood," 18 feet in length and 17 in width. It was decided to locate this school-house ad- joining to Deacon Gunn's fence, about 11 rods southeasterly of the meeting-house. In 1767 it was voted to hire a school " dame," and to have school taught that summer in four dif- ferent parts of the district,

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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. II, Part 21

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