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 54
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Aeres.
Names.
Houses. Tillage Land. Mowing Land. Pasturage.
Joseph Belding, Jr ..
1
23
10
10
Nathaniel Sarthe.
1
12
414
Thomas Sauderson.
1
9
3
Nathaniel Coleman
Abel Parker ...
20
4
10
Jonathan Smith
I
6
7
Elisha Frary.
1
5
12
John Wait.
1
92
7
Joseph Scott.
1
14
2
5
Seth Wait
1
Thomas Crafts.
1
Philip Smith
1
16
1>
12
Noah Bardwell,
I
G
1
4
3
20
Nathan Graves.
1
Widow Lois Parker
1
3
John Wait, Jr.
1
20
10
30
Benjamin Scott.
1
23
7
Benjamin Scott, Jr.
1
17
3
Martin Graves
1
10
5
3
Salmmmm White
1
11
11
18
Perez Bardwell
1
20
Samuel Carley.
I
Benjamin Smith
1
Thomas Allen ..
I
William Kellog
John Graves
30
Elihn Graves
David Scott, Jr.
G
Four residents were not taxed : Rev. Rufus Wells, Joseph Sanderson, Sr., Joseph Belding, Sr., and Richard Chauncey.
Pasturages in town were owned by the following non-resi- dents :
Elisha Allis, Nathaniel Hawks, Reuben Belding, Gideon Dickinson, Simeon Mutton, Noah Coleman, Abner Dickinson, Eleazer Frary, Daniel Graves, Samuel Dickinson, Remembrance Bardwell, Eleazer Allis, Elijah Morton, Joseph Bil- lings, Jonathan Allis, Joseph Smith, Benj. Wait, Jr., David Billings, Eliakim Field, Medad Field, Samuel Church, Noah Nash, Elijah Dickinson, Benj. Wait, Jonathan Morton, Moses Wait, Israel Williams, David Morton, Obadiah Dickin- son, Mary Smith, Elisha Wait, Moses Frary.
The entire number of dwellings in 1771 was 40. They were occupied by 48 families, and sheltered 320 inhabitants. There was a tan-house owned by Paul Belding, a saw- and grist-mill by Reuben Belding, and a saw-mill by Edward Brown.
In 1790 there were 120 dwellings and 130 families; the in- habitants numbered 735.
In 1850 the town had its greatest population,-1129; in 1875 there were 204 dwellings, 210 families, and a population of 958. In 1820 the total valuation of the town was $206,858, and in 1875 it was $769,361.
The total number of deaths for the hundred years ending in 1871 was 1375,-a number greater than the population of the town has been in any one year. Of this number, 141 were between the ages of seventy and eighty years; 114 between eighty and ninety years; 23 between ninety and one hundred years ; and 1, Hannah Lesure, who died in 1865, was more than one hundred and one years and four months old. Mrs. Mary Waite was ninety-nine years and nine months old, and loft 150 descendants. David Scott was upward of ninety- four years old at his death. He had 11 children, 86 grand- children, 109 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grand- children,-in all 212.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
The act incorporating the town of Whately, approved by the governor April 24, 1771, invested the inhabitants with all the privileges and powers enjoyed by the towns of the prov- ince, except that of sending a representative to the General Court. This privilege was to be shared with the town of Hat- field from time to time indifferently, each town bearing its proportion of the expense of sending a member according to their respective proportion of the province tax. The taxes levied by the town of Hatfield, before Whately was set off; were to be collected by the officers of the old town, and proper division of the same was to be made with Whately. William Williams, Esq., was empowered to warn the first town-meet- ing, and only such as were recognized inhabitants of the town of llatfield, at the passage of the incorporating act, were to claim the privileges of inhabitants at the meeting in Whately.
The town was also empowered to proceed against all persons residing in town without proper license, and secure their re- moval in the same manner that it might have been done in Hatfield.
In 1810, " Thomas Sanderson, Ebenezer Barnard, and Jus- tin Morton, with all their polls and estates together, with all the lands and the inhabitants thereon," were taken from the town of Deerfield and annexed to Whately.
In pursuance of the warrant by Esquire Williams, the first election of town officers was held at the house of Daniel Mor- ton, the first innholder, May 6, 1771, with the following re- sult : Selectmen, John Wait, Simeon Wait, Edward Brown, Salmon White, Philip Smith; Town Clerk and Treasurer, Salmon White ; Assessors, Edward Brown, Philip Smith, and Sahnon White; Constables, Joseph Belding, Jr., and Henry Stiles ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, Thomas Crafts; Sealer of Leather, Thomas Sanderson ; Surveyors of llighways, Peter Train, Oliver Graves, and Benjamin Smith ; Fence- Viewers, Israel Graves, Noah Bardwell, and John Wait, Jr. ; Field-Drivers, Benjamin Seott, Jr., John Brown, and Joseph Crafts ; Tithingmen, Elisha Belding, and Noah Bardwell; Wardens, Benjamin Smith, Perez Bardwell, and Abraham Turner ; Deer-Reeves, John Crafts, Martin Graves, and Eli- sha Frary ; Surveyor of Shingles, Thomas Crafts; log-Reeves, Peter Train, Gad Smith, and Lemuel Wells.
THE TOWN RECORDS
contain appropriate legislation on the various town interests, much of which is quoted in chapters devoted to those mat- ters. Other action, showing the characteristics of those times, and how faithful the people were in the performance of little things, is here produced. At some of the early meetings it was
"Voted to build a pound forty feet square.
" Voted to provide a grave-cloth for the use of the town.
" Voted that David Scott and Joseph Scott be a Committee to provide two biers for the use of the town. .
" Voted that hugs may run at large from May 1st to Oct. 15th, being properly yoked and rung.
" Voted to let two milch cows to a family run on the commons.
" May 19, 1780,-An uncommon darkness was over the earth for some homs.
"In 1791 the town voted that Thomas Sanderson be a delegate to attend a meeting at the house of Caleb Alvord, in Greenfield, to consult on the promniety of petitinning the General Court for a lottery for the purpose of building a bridge over Deerfield River.
"In 1797 the town voted that it would not give liberty to inoculate for the small-טקx ."
1798 .- " Voted to give a bounty of six shillings for wild-cats."
1801 .- " A wolf was killed in Whately. The lonunty paid by the town was $10." 1804 .- " Voted to build three horse-blocks near the jueeting-hunse."
1×12 .- " Voted that every man have liberty to wear his hat in town-meeting."
In 1790 the town voted that "all persons that are found seized of the freehold estate of the clear annual income of £3 shall be entitled to habitance, to every intent and purpose." Persons not so possessed " were warned and cautioned as the law direets," to prevent them from gaining a settlement and making the town liable for their support, as the following warrant will show :
" HAMPSHIRE, 88,-To either of the ronstables of the town of Whately, in said county, Greeting: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, You are directed to warn Samuel Brass and Sabra Andross, transient persons, lately come into this town for the purpose of abiding therein, not having the town's consent therefor, that they depart the limits thereof with their children and others nuder their care within fifteen days, and make due return of your doings to the clerk of the town.
" Signed by the SELECTMEN."
After the Shays rebellion a number of persons were " warned" to depart the town to prevent them regaining a settlement.
The town owns a good hall at Whately hamlet, which was enlarged in 1871 to a commodious two-story building. The upper part is used for public meetings, and the lower story is divided into a school-room and town offices. In one of the latter is kept the town library, containing a few hundred vol- umes, and for the support of which a yearly appropriation of frem $30 to $60 is made.
David Scott
1
11
30
Paul Smith.
Joshına Beldin.
Elisha Smith.
1
10
11
6
16
Lemuel Wells.
724
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
Whately has a poor-farm, valued at nearly $5000, and makes an annual allowance of from $1200 to $1900 for the maintenance of the poor of the town.
In 1879 the selectmen reported the assets of Whately at $6873.52, and the liabilities at $11,350.01.
In 1872 nearly $1500 was voted by the town to secure the publication of the Rev. J. Il. Temple's " History of Whately," read at the celebration, July 4, 1871, the first centennial of the town's existence.
The principal town officers of Whately, from the first meet- ing, in 1771, to 1879, have been as follows :
SELECTMEN.
John Wait, 1771; Edward Brown, 1771; Simeon Wait, 1771; Philip Smith, 1771-72; Salmon White, 1771, '75, 1777-78, '84, '86, '90, 192, '94; Noah Wells, 1772, '75, 178, 182, 183, 188; David Scott, 1772; Elisha Frary, 1772, '80; Thomas Sander- son, 1773, 175, 1777-78, 1783-87, '89, 190, 1792-90, 198, 1803, 1812-17 ; Oliver Graves, 1776-77; Joseph Belding, Jr., 1770-77, 183; John Smith, 1776-77, '80, 1787-80; Perez Chapin, 1780; Silas Smith, 1781; Noah Bardwell, 1781, 1700-91, '93, '96; David Graves, Jr., 1781-82; Col. Josiah Allis, 1783-80, 1791-93; Major Phineas Frary, 1704-99, 1803-6, 9, 1812-15; Asa Sanderson, 1795, 1>03-5, '12, '13; John White, 1795, 1798-1800, 1802-11; Capt. Seth Frary, 1800-2, 1804-5, 1814-15; Levi Morton, 1801, '3; Bezaleel Smith, 1804, '5, '11 ; Gideon Dickinson, 1806-8, 1810-11; Zenas Field, 1807-8, 1810-11, '16; Oliver Graves, Jr., 1809, '16, '18, '19; Capt. Ru- fus Smith, 1811 ; Consider Morton, 1812-13; Capt. Salmon Graves, 1812-13; Oliver Morton, 1814-16 ; Orange Bardwell, 1814-15 ; Lemuel Wait, Is16, '18; Isaac Frary, 1817, '19; Silas Frary, 1817-18, '20; Seth Smith, 1819-21, 1821-27 ; Thomas Crafts, 1820-22, 125, '28, '30, 1832-36; Capt. William Fay, 1821, 129; Charles Morton, 1822; Deacon James Smith, 1822; David Stocklaidge, 1823-26, '28, '31, '40, '43; Deacon Justus White, 1823-24, '31; Dexter Morton, 1823; Dr. Chester Bardwell, 1826; Calvin Wells, 1827, 1835-39, '45; David Saunders, 1827; Daniel Brown, 1828-29, '30, 43; Levi Bush, Jr., 1829; Capt. Luke Wells, 1×30; Chester Brown, 1831-36, 1840-41; Luke B. White, 1832-34; Hiram Smith, 1837-39, '46, '55, '6]; J. (. Sanderson, 1837, 1844-45, 1>49-50; Arnold Morton, 1838, 139, 1:43-44, '47, '51; Dexter Crafts, 1:40; Rufus Graves, 1841, '46, 'GI; Stalham Allis, 1/41 ; Ro- dolphins Sanderson, 1542, 47; Plyna Graves, 1842 ; Capt. Seth Bardwell, 1842, '51, 1×75-76; Lyman Dickinson, I>43-44, 155 ; Daniel F. Morton, 1>46; Thomas Wait, 1:47, 1849-50, 1852-53; Samuel B. White, 1848-50, 1852-53, 1856-57, 1861-66, 1×68-69; John Field, 1844; Abel W. Nash, 1848; Capt. Asa Parker, 1851 ; Stephen Belden, 1852-53, '59; Elliot C. Allis, 1:54, '74; Zelina W. Bartlett, 1854, '67; Isaac Frary, Jr., 1854; James M. Crafts, 1855; Rufus Dickinson, 1:56-57, '59, '69; J. W. C. Allis, 1856, 1×68-69; Alonzo Crafts, 1857, '60, 1862-64, '67; Alfred Bellen, 1858; Dennis Dickinson, 1858, '72; Edward Bardwell, 1858-60, 1862-67, 1870-73, '59; L. W. Hannum, 1860-61 ; Elihn Belden, 1>65; Eliphas H. Wood, 186G; Har- vey Moor, 1868; Sammel Lesure, 1870; Samnel C. Wood, 1870; Elbridge G. Crafts, 1871, '73; David Ashcraft, 1871 ; 8. W. Allis, 1872-79; Chester K. Waite, 1×74-78; Hiram Bardwell, 1577-78; R. M. Swift, 1879.
TOWN CLERKS.
Salmon White, 1771-79; Dr. Perez Chapin, 1780-81 ; Thomas Sanderson, 1782, 'S6, 178-08, 1800-1 ; Col. Josiah Allis, 1787-88; Dr. Benj. Dickinson, 1799; William Mather, 1802-9, 1812-13; Elijah Allis, 1810-11 ; Thomas Wells, 1814 ; Lnke Wells, 1815-25; Edward Phelps, 1820; Chester Wells, 1827-30; Martin Woods, 1831-32; Eurotas Morton, 1833-34; Dr. Myron Harwood, 1835-36, 1838-41 ; Stalham Allis, 1837; Samuel Lesure, 1842-56, 1860-71, '79; Dennis Dickinson, 1857-59.
REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT.
John Smith, 1783; Thomas Sanderson, 1784, 1812-13; Capt. Salmon White, 17×5; Cul. Josiah Allis, 1757-88; Maj. Phineas Frary, 1805, 'S, '10, '144; John White, 1825; Rev. L. P. Bates, 1829; David Stockbridge, 1830; Thomas Crafts, 1831; Capt Luke Wells, 1832; Chester Brown, 1833; Leamler Clark, 1834, '40; Calvin Wells, 1835; Asa Dickinson, 1836; Rodolphus Sanderson, 1>37; Samnel B. White, 1838, '46; Elijah Allis, 1839; Thomas Nash, 1842 ; Jabez lease, 1>41; Dr. Chester Bardwell, 1>47-48, '51; Deacon Justus White, 1849; Abel W. Nash, 1852; Josiah Allis, 1853; Edwin Bardwell, 1854; Biram Smith, 1855; William II. Fuller, 1858- 59; L. W. Hannom, 1861 : Capt. Seth Bardwell, 1864; Alfred Beklen, INGS; Seth B. Crafts, 1871; E. 11. Woud, 1875.
DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
C'ul. Josiah Allis was delegate to the convention to ratify the Federal Consti- tntion in 1788. Deacon Thomas Sanderson was delegate to the convention to revise the Constitution of Massachusetts, 1820.
THOROUGHIFARES.
The early roads of the town appear to have been located with the idea of giving every lot-owner easy access to his land, and were designed to run with the cardinal points of the compass as nearly as the nature of the country admitted. As the plan was projected by the town of Hatfield before the commons were allotted, this could be done without trouble; yet subsequent circumstances have much modified the courses
of these roads, but our space will not allow us to note the changes which have taken place.
Among the first north-and-south roads were the "Straits" and " Chestnut Plains" Streets, each projected ten rods wide. The latter is on the plains, along the base of the hills, near the centre of the town, and retains its original width a short distance. The former is on the old Indian trail, on the land which divides the meadows from the uplands, and was the most direct route from Hadley to Deerfield. Between these two another road was opened about 1779, which was named the "Claverack" by the soldiers returning home from that place .* The Poplar Hill road, in the western part of the town, was opened to the public about 1773, and the river road was opened at various times from 1756 to 1806. The earliest east-and-west roads are the one by Mount Esther and the "Christian Lane," laid out in 1716, and designed to be ten rods wide. Other roads were located as the interests of the town demanded.
The first appropriation for the highway was made in 1771, when £16 were voted, sufficient to furnish 128 days' labor ; but the future allowances were more liberal, and included the construction of bridges, the streams at first having been forded. In 1878 the town voted $1600 for the support of roads and bridges, and placed them in charge of twelve surveyors.
The Connecticut River Railroad was opened through Whately in 1846. It runs parallel with the river, about two miles from it, and has a station at East Whately, where good shipping facilities are provided. The passengers arriving and departing per year aggregate about 4500. Before the rail- road was built the river afforded communication with the markets on the south. After the South Hadley Canal was built, in 1795, freighting was carried on in flat-bottomed boats, about 16 feet wide and 40 feet long, and rigged with two short masts and sails. They had a stopping-place at Bel- den's Landing and at David Stockbridge's wharf, just cast of his tavern. The opening and closing of navigation occasioned many a merry-making and carousal at the taverns near the wharves.
In 1785, Joshua Belden established a ferry neross the river, near his house, the boat being propelled by poles. Afterward it was worked by means of a wire; and in 1820 the business was so great that it gave constant employment for a ferry- man. About this time Samuel Bartlett had it in charge. The ferry was discontinued before 1830.
INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.
Agriculture has always been the principal occupation of the people of Whately, although other interests have received con- siderable attention. The abundant yield of hay in the meadows, and the good grazing qualities of the uplands, early directed attention to dairying and stock-raising. But these interests did not maintain their prominence, and gave way to other pursuits, chiefly to
TOBACCO CULTURE.
This plant was cultivated and used in town before the Revo- lution, but it was not grown for the market much before 1800. About that time Joshua Belden, Levi Morton, and Perez Wells were among the largest growers, and sent the tobacco out by peddlers for sale in the hill-towns of the county, but it was not until 1845 that the culture of seed-leaf tobacco as a field crop was introduced. Horace Dickinson and Lewis Wells procured some seed from Connecticut, and planted about an acre apiece, selling the crop at two cents per pound for fillers and six cents for wrappers. The next crop was sold at an advance, and the acreage was largely increased. At the end of ten years 69 acres were in cultivation, from which $9165 were realized. In 1865, with tobacco selling at twenty
* Now the city of Hudson, N. Y.
725
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
cents per pound, the value of the erop in Whately was $105,- 344. About 300 acres are now cultivated annually, yielding 1600 pounds per acre, the variety being the Connecticut-seed leaf, although lately the culture of Havana-seed leaf has been begun. Among the principal growers are J. W. C. & S. W. Allis, cultivating 20 acres, and preparing it for the manufac- turer; Elihu Beklen, who owns a warehouse holding 600 cases ; Alfred Belden, employing from 10 to 80 men; Rufus Dickinson & Sons, John White & Sons, Henry K. White, Walter & Alonzo Crafts, S. E. Allis, E. G. Crafts, E. Il. Wood, and others.
The raising of broom-corn and the manufacture of brooms was begun in Whately about 1805 by the Belden Brothers, but the business did not assume much importance before 1827, when Francis Belden devised machinery which enabled them to produce a better and neater article at a smaller cost. Others engaged in growing the corn and manufacturing brooms, among them being R. T. Morton, Abel W. Nash, Solomon Mosher, Carlos Swift, J. M. Cooley, Lucius Graves, and Eli- phas H. Wood. The latter is yet engaged in the business at East Whately, his sales in some years amounting to $30,000, but the general cultivation of broom-corn has greatly decreased, and now reaches only a fraction of its former proportions.
MANUFACTURING.
The first improvement of the water-power in the town was made near Indian Hill, on Roaring Brook, by Adonijah Tay- Jor, about 1763, and was employed to operate a grist-mill. A few years later Mr. Taylor also built a saw-mill at this place. In 1803, Thomas Sanderson became the proprietor of these privileges, and the mills have since been carried on by that family. At present they are operated by Elon C. Sanderson. Before 1820, Eli Sanderson had a mill for wool-carding and cloth-dressing near the present mills.
The best stream in the town, and one of the best for its vol- ume in the State, is West Brook. In its course of four and a half miles within the town it furnishes more than a dozen good sites for manufacturing. Each privilege has an average of seventeen feet fall, whose power is constant, and not subject to much interruption by freshets. Beginning at the upper part of the stream, among the most noteworthy interests have been the following : A saw-mill, by Dexter Morton, was put in operation about 1830; is now operated by E. A. Warner. The next power was improved by Reuben Jenney about 1822 to operate a trip-hammer ; here is now a wood-turning shop, by E. A. Jenney. The power below this was used by Elihu Harvey and others, but is at present idle. On the fourth power Thomas Nash had a woolen-mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1845.
On the next power below, Jonathan Wait had cloth-dressing machinery about 1811. It was afterward otherwise employed by James Cutter, Austin Allis, Capt. Seth Bardwell, Thomas Nash, and others ; Sunier Smith's jobbing-shop is at present loeated here. The sixth power was one of the first improved in town. About 1765, Edward Brown erected a saw-mill, which he sold in 1791 to Noah Bardwell, Asa Sanderson, and Moses Munson. It is now the property of Luther Sanderson.
As early as 1784, Moses Munson built a grist-mill on the next power below, selling it to James Smith in 1805. Twenty- five years later the building was transformed into a gimlet- factory. At present it is a planing-mill and jobbing-shop, by Covell & Smith.
The next two powers were early improved, and were used principally to operate elothing-works and knitting-machinery for Amos Pratt, Morton & White, Il. L. James, and others.
On the tenth privilege Seth Bardwell, Levi Bush, Jr., and David Wells built a woolen-mill in 1833, which had ten lovms. It was burned in 1889, and was rebuilt by Capt. Bardwell and supplied with twenty looms. In 1872 it was again destroyed by fire.
Below the last named, Noah Bardwell put up an oil-mill about 1780. Afterward flax-dressing, iron-casting, and to- barco-manufacturing were here carried on. It was destroyed by fire in 1877.
The twelfth power was first made to operate a lathe for Hi- ram Smith, and thereafter a husk-mill. At this place Ilarvey Moor & Son have at present grist- and cider-mills.
The next privilege has a fall of about forty feet, and was employed about 1768 to operate saw- and grist-mills for the Beldings, of Hatfield. In 1792 the property passed into the hands of a company, but was owned before 1800 by Isaac Frary. The mills were last owned by the Wells Brothers, and were destroyed by the freshet of December, 1878.
At the power below, Charles and Perez M. Wells have a grist-mill, baving three run of stones, which is supplied with good machinery, and does a large amount of business annu- ally.
The fifteenth site was improved about 1800, and has been employed to operate cloth-dressing and wool-carding ma- chinery, a comb-factory, wood-working machines, etc. Here Justin Wait has at present a jobbing-shop.
Below is another power, on the Hatfield line. On the Whately side were iron-works at an early day, and William Wing's fulling-mill.
On Hopewell Brook, Joshua Belden got in operation a small saw-mill in 1797, which was improved after 1800. In 1850, Charles D. Stockbridge here carried on the manufacture of paste blacking, and at a later day Elisha Bolden used the power to grind the mineral paint found in this loeality.
Tanneries were built in town before the Revolution by Paul Belden# and Thomas Sanderson. The latter's business was continued by his son, Thomas, and his grandson, John Chap- man. Solomon Adkins, Jr., had a tannery at the hamlet be- fore 1790, which was afterward carried on by Stalham Allis and Dexter Frary, on West Street. Asa Sanderson had a tannery and shoe-shop about 1795, which were very profitable to the proprietor.
From 1785 to 1792, Amasa Smith, hatter, carried on his business in the town. After this period hats were made in Whately at the shops of Benjamin and Joseph Mather, at the hamlet ; Benjamin Munson, in the Straits ; and Joel Munson, in the southwest district.
Small distilleries have been carried on at different times and places by Reuben and Aaron Beklen, Zenas Field, Levi Mor- ton, John Brown, and Peter Wing. At the hamlet Edward Phelps had a distillery about 1818, and in later years the busi- ness was carried on by Dexter and Noah Crafts. In 1826, R. B. and J. F. Harwood began the manufacture of wallets and pocket-books on a small scale, increasing their business until it formed an important industry. Others engaged in this branch of business were Stephen Belden, Lemuel Graves, Miles B. Morton, and W. F. Bardwell.
As early as 1578, John Locke made bricks in town, near Capt. Stiles' house. He was succeeded by Daniel Morton, Jr., and Lewis Stiles, and at later dates Thomas Crafts, Jus- tus Crafts, Chester Wells, Oliver Dickinson, Levi Bush, and Luke Wells were brick-makers.
Stephen Orcutt was the first to engage in the manufacture of common pottery, about 1777. Thomas Crafts started a pottery in the Lane in 1802, and from 1821 to 1832 he made a large number of black tea-pots. Their manufacture was begun about 1820 by Sanford S. Perry & Co. In 1833, Thomas Crafts began the manufacture of stone-ware, and continued it fifteen years. Afterward, his son, James MI., was extensively engaged as a stone-ware and tile-manufac- turer, employing about a dozen hands. Other potters have been Quartus Graves, NIeman Swift, Obed Wait, Luke Wait, Justus Crafts, and Ralph E. Crafts.
* This name was written in early days Belling.
726
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
Before 1820, Edward Phelps made needles, probably in the Straits, making the head flat instead of round. A few of these needles are yet in the possession of James M. Crafts.
Most of the foregoing interests have long since passed away, and comparatively little manufacturing is at present carried on. Besides those mentioned, the Dickinson Brothers are en- gaged in preparing corn-husks for use in mattresses, and Seth D. Crafts manufactures brooms. The town is well supplied with the ordinary mechanic-shops.
STORES, TAVERNS, AND POST-OFFICES.
The only hamlet in town is Whately. It is situated near the centre, and has a very fine location along Chestnut Plains Street, which is bere 10 rods wide. The place contains the public buildings of the town, a hotel, store, post-office, and a few hundred inhabitants. A mile east is the railroad station, where is also a store and a post-office, called East Whately, which was established about 1820. David Stockbridge was the first postmaster, and the office has since been held by Josiah Allis, Caleb L. Thayer, Horace Hastings, and Elihu Belden, who has L. L. Eaton* as his deputy. The stores here have been kept by E. II. Wood, Caleb L. Thayer, II. II. lastings, and L. L. Eaton.
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