History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 78

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 78

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The old tavern was also sold to Col. Ithamar Goodman and Capt. George Gardner, and removed. The Parsons dwelling was removed to the opposite side of the street, where it was known as the "old bake-house." Erastus Chapin at that time was the owner of the old hotel, and was paid $3000 in cash and the fee-simple of the lot afterward occupied by the " Hampden House."

In order to secure the location of the court-house on the spot where it was finally erected, it became necessary to or- ganize and purchase the property now occupied by Court Square and make it over to the county ; and to do this it was found would involve an outlay of about $10,000.

The advocates of the " Dwight location, " as it was called, on State Street, were very active, and it required the utmost diligence to prevent the success of their schemes. We quote from Mr. Stearns :

" Two subscription papers were started, the subscribers to the first forming an association to take the risk of the whole, and after the sale of the lots on Court Street, and the avails of the old building, &c., to pay, or receive, as the case might be, the deficiency, or surplus; and the other, for those who chose to pay what they subscribed without risk. The conditions were that the land fenced in should always remain open and uniacumbered as a public square, and that a site for a court-house, of suitable dimensions, should be tendered t > the County, the Square to be conveyed in trust to the County.

"The balance of the land on Court Street was to be laid out into building-lots, and sold to pay, as far it might, the expenses. The extension from Court Street to the bridge of what was the commencement of Water Street was a natural result, and was soon after carried through."

The project succeeded, and the court-house was built in 1821.

The following is a list, with amounts subscribed, of the sub- scribers to the fund for the purchase of the property : Edward Pynchon, $800; Daniel Bontecou, $800; Eleazer Williams, $400; Elijah Blake, $250; Justice Willard, $100; Thomas Dickman, $100; James Wells, $200; John Ingersoll, $100; Henry Brewer, $50; David Ames, $600; Solomon Warriner, $200; Sylvester Clark, $50; Elisha Edwards, $50; Samuel Osgood, $100; Japhet Chapin, $100; Daniel C. Brewer, $150; Dr. John Stone, $100; Moses Howe, $100; Alexander Bliss, $200; Jobn Hooker, $700; Thomas Sargent, $100; F. A. Packard, $50; Elisha Curtis, $100; Ebenezer Russell, $100; John Hooker, Jr., $50; Joseph Pease, $50; Quartus Chapin, $25; Lewis Ferre, Jr., $25; Pliny Chapin, $50; Charles Stearns, $100; Simon Sanborn, $100; Joseph Carver, $100; Israel E. Trask, $300.

On the second paper the subscriptions were as follows : Dr. Joshua Frost, $250; Jonas Coolidge, $100; Edward Bliss, $20; A. G. Tannatt, $20; Francis Bliss, $20; Daniel Lom- bard, $100; Robert W. Bowhill, $20; Jacob Bliss, $20; Ros- well Lombard, $20; James Chapin, $20; Roger Adams, $20; Ebenezer Tucker, $75; Oliver B. Morris, $30 ; George Blake, $20.

The trees in the square, excepting the two large elms, were planted by various individuals, prominent among whom was Mr. Samuel Reynolds. The iron fence around the square was erected about 1859.

The old court-house was the subject of frequent legislation, and we find among the acts of the county board for 1814 the appointment of Joshua Foot, Esq., as a committee to provide tables and benehes for the " lobbies in the court-bouse."

At the September session of 1814 a committee was appointed to consider the advisability of erecting " fire-proof public buildings," which reported adversely, and recommended that

a room in the " bank" be rented for the use of the clerk ; and it would appear that the necessary arrangements were made, and the sum of $40 was agreed to be paid annually for the use of the necessary rooms in the Springfield Bank. In 1817 the bar of the old court-house was enlarged to accommodate the increasing business.

At the March term of 1820, it would appear from the pro- ceedings of the Court of Sessions that they had become con- vinced of the necessity of erecting new buildings ; for we find that a committee, consisting of John Phelps, Enos Foot, Samuel Lathrop, Jonathan Dwight, Jr., Joel Norcross, Amos Ilamilton, and Daniel Collins, were appointed to consider the propriety of such a course.

From the following entry on the record for the above term, it would also appear that the matter had been taken into con- sideration by the attorney-general :

"Ordered: That Sam1 Lathrop be, and he is hereby appointed agent for the County of Hampden, to appear at the next Supreme judicial term for said County, and answer to the several informations filed by the Attorney-General against the Court of Sessions, and against the County of Hampden, for neglect to erect a court-house and fire-proof buildings for the public offices."

SECOND COURT-HOUSE, BUILT 1821.

At the December term of 1820 the following appears of record :

"Ordered: That there be erected in the Town of Springfield, and completed with reasonable dispatch, for the use of the county, a Court-House of brick, and such hewn and other stone as are necessary and proper for the foundation, cel- lar, and other parts thereof, having suitable fire-proof rooms, with alcoves, cuses, and boxes for the safe-keeping of the Judical and other public Records and doc- umenta of the County, agreeably to the requirements and provisions of law.

"Ordered: That the Court-House be located on the Parsons or Sheldon lot, 80 called, near to and fronting and ranging with the Rev. Mr. Osgood's meeting- house, ao called,-prorided the ground in front of the same be cleared of its buildings, and its hollows filled up and leveled without expense to the County. The ground to be cleared and fitted up by the time the building is completed, and security taken by the deed committee that it shall be done, and made a pub- lic common, agreeably to a plan heretofore made by Mr. Damon, and now before the Court; and provided, also, the Proprietors of the land give a deed to the County, conveying and securing to it a title to the land so to be made a common, as aforesaid, and for that sole use forever ; and also an inalienable title to the land on which the Court-House is to be located, and the land westerly of, and of its width, four rods; and also to the land on the north side between the Court- House and the contemplated road towards the river.

"Ordered: That George Bliss, Esq., and John Ingersol, Esq., and each of them, be a committee to procure, io reasonable time, a deed, or deeds, securing a title to said lands, as aforesaid, to said County.

"Ordered: That the Court-House be built by contract, and that Jonathan Dwight, Jun., Thomas Sargent, Daniel Bontecou, Joel Norcross, and John Phelps be a committee to issue proposals, and to contract for the erection and completion of said buildings,-not to exceed iu size the plans which have been presented,-the work to be commenced next spring: And that Jobn Phelps, Jon- athau Dwight, Jun., and Daniel Bontecou be a committee to superintend the work, and see that it be done in a faithful, substantial manner, and that they be anthorized to draw on the Treasurer of the County for any money which may be needed to carry the contract into effect: And it is also ordered that the County Treasurer be authorized to borrow, on the hest terms he can, and on the credit of the County, from time to time, such sums of money as may be needed to effect the above object,-not, however, to exceed in the whole, without the fur: ther order of the Court, the sum of Seven Thousand Dollars.

"Ordered: That if, in the opinion of the Contracting Committee, any consid-

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

erable expense may he secured and saved to the County from not completing the Court-House during the next season, that they have a discretion in making the contract in such a manner as that the continctor who undertakes to build may not he obliged to finish it during the next season.

"Ordered: That the sum of two thousand dollars be added to the County esti- mate reported in August last."

The orders respecting the court-house lots and common were subsequently so modified as to allow of fencing and planting trees and shrubbery.

The property named in the foregoing orders was conveyed to the county by three warranty deeds, dated April 23, 1821,

and March 19, 1822, and signed by the following parties : Edward Pyn- chon, Daniel Bontecou, Eleazer Williams, Jus- tin Willard, Jas. Wells, Susan Pynchon, Ilar- riet Bontecou, Charlotte Williams, Sally L. Wil- lard, Rebecca Wells, Erastus Chapin, Giles S. Chapin, Ulriea Chapin, Betsey Chapin.

The total considera- tion amounted to twelve dollars, paid by the county.

The contract for the construction was signed on the 21st of February, 1821, and the work was to be completed by the 1st of December of that year. The size of the building was sixty-two by forty-eight feet, and thirty-one feet to the eaves. Material, brick.

The building had a cellar six feet in depth under the whole strue- ture, and a fine Ionic portico of six columns adorned the front. A bell of two hundred and fifty pounds was hung in the tower soon after its completion. Thecon- tract price was eight thousand three hundred and seventy-five dollars, and the building com- mittee was Messrs. Jona- than Dwight, Jr., John Phelps, and Dan. Bonte- con, as previously stated.

HAMPDEN COUNTY COURT-HOUSE, ERECTED 1874.

According to the con- tract, the payments for the work were to be made in seven installments,-six of one thousand dollars each, and one of two thousand three hundred and seventy-five dollars, to be made when the building was completed.

The new court-house was first occupied at the March term of the Common Pleas, in 1822, Hon. Solomon Strong presiding.

In 1851 the building was enlarged by extending to the rear, and other improvements made, at a total expenditure of five thousand dollars .*

THE NEW COURT-HOUSE.

The court-house of 1821 continued to answer the purposes for which it was designed until about the year 1870, when the great increase of population and business rendered the erec- tion of a more roomy and substantial structure imperatively necessary, and the authorities took the initiatory steps for the consummation of the desired end. In everything excepting the location (which might have been more satisfactory ) the plans were well laid, and the completed structure will stand for generations, a monument to the liberal publie spirit and good taste of the people of Hampden County, and of the officials who outlined and superin- tended the work.

The act authorizing the construction of the new building was passed March 3, 1871. The first step necessary after the passage of the act was to secure a proper site, and this was finally settled by the purchase from various owners of the ground lying be- tween Elm and State Street, measuring about one hundred and thirty- six by two hundred and thirty-five feet, and cov- ering an area of about thirty-two thousand square feet. The follow- ing statement shows the names of the various owners and the amount paid to each, taken from the records :

City of Springfiekl, for lot occupied by one of the city schools $17,500.00

George R. Townsley 16,000.00

Lebbeus C. Smith .... 15,000.00 Eliphalet Trask .. 10,000,00 Elizabeth Adams ..... 16,425.75

Interest, about. 790.72

Total cost of land .... $75,716.37 To this add cost of court-house build-

ing. 214,068.93 Cost of furniture ..... 14,757.99

And we have an ag-

gregate of. $304,543.29

From this sum may be deducted a small amount realized from the sale of some of the buildings purchased with the lots upon which they stood, leaving the aetnal cost of the site and building, completely furnished, something over three hundred thousand dollars.

The building is, in extreme outside dimensions, about ninety by one hundred and sixty feet, and covers an area of not far from thirteen thousand square feet. It was erected between the passage of the act, March 3, 1871, and April, 1874, in which latter month it was first opened for public use. It is constructed, " from turret to foundation-stone," of the beau- tiful, stratified gray gneiss from the celebrated Monson quar- ries, in the eastern part of the county, and sometimes, though erroneously, called " Monson granite." This excellent build- ing material is being extensively used in the construction of

* The second court-house is still standing where it was erected. It is at present (1879) occupied by the Springfield Collegiate Institute.

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HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

many public buildings, business blocks, etc., among which may be mentioned the office building of the Boston and Al- bany Railway Company, and the front of the fine new office of the Springfield Republican, both in Springfield.

The new court-house is in the modified mediaval Italian style, with massive central tower, steép roof, and dormer- windows. There are two principal stories, exclusive of a spacious basement and lofty attic, and the second story and tower are crowned with crenellated battlements, after the manner of the feudal ages. The general appearance of the building conveys to the beholder the ideas of good taste, solid- ity, and durability.

The main entrance, on Elm Street, is through a triple- arched portico resting upon two immense square columns with capitals ornamented after the Egyptian mode, and opening into a spacious court, which is floored with colored tiling, bordered with tasteful designs in mosaie. This court con- nects in the centre with a main hall, which traverses the building longitudinally, and from which ample staircases reach the second story.

On the first floor, opening upon this hall-way, are the rooms of the Probate Court and Court of Insolvency, those of the County Commissioners and the Grand Jury, the Police Court and Justices' rooms, the offices of the Clerk of the Courts, Register of Deeds, and Judge of Probate, and rooms occupied by deputy sheriffs.

On the second floor are the principal court-room, the room occupied by the county Bar, the law library, judges' rooms, County Treasurer's office, Sheriff's and witness rooms, and those occupied by the janitor.

Several of the narrow windows in the front angles of the building are furnished with beautiful colored glass, produeing a charming effect upon the interior. A spacious circular opening in the base of the tower suggests preparations for a public clock ; two memorial tablets (unfinished) are set above the groins of the arches of the front portico, and the Latin word LEX appears in large raised letters at the foot of the tower, indicating the purpose for which the building was designed,-a temple of law.

The building is well furnished throughout, heated by steam, and supplied with gas and water from the city works. It is intended to be entirely fire-proof, and is undoubtedly as nearly such as thorough construction and indestructible ma- terial can make it.

COUNTY JAIL AND HOUSE OF CORRECTION .*

The earliest legislation upon the subject of a county jail which we find in the records of Hampden County was at the September term of 1813, when Jonathan Smith, Jr., Jonathan Dwight, Jr., and Daniel Lombard were appointed a commit- tee, with power to select a plan and to contract for the build- ing of a jail, " subject to further order of the court."+

This committee reported in favor of a jail thirty by eighteen feet in dimensions within the walls, two stories in height, and to be constructed of stone. They estimated the cost at $3633.33, including $333.33 for a site containing one acre of land.

At the November term Jonathan Dwight, Jr., Oliver B. Morris, and John Phelps, Esqs., were appointed a committee to estimate the cost of a new jail, and on the 15th of the month reported the sum at $5283. This report was accepted, and the sum of $2500 ordered to be raised hy tax the ensuing year. The treasurer was also authorized to borrow $1000 additional.

The foregoing committee appears to have been discharged and another appointed, consisting of Messrs. Jonathan Dwight, Jr., William Sheldon, and Heman Day, who were authorized to procure a plan and make contracts for the work.

This committee reported in December of the same year (1813) that one and a half acres of ground could be procured of Joseph Hopkins for the sum of $500, which report was accepted, and the land soon after purchased at the stipulated sum. A new committee, consisting of George Blake, William Sheldon, and John Phelps, was appointed to superintend the erection of the jail, and the county treasurer was authorized to borrow an additional $1000 if necessary.

It appears that the building committee made a contract with one Israel Reed, which was subsequently annulled and set aside by the court after Reed had proceeded for some time with the work, and he thereupon commenced suit against the county, which was continued until 1818, when it was settled by arbitration, Reed receiving the sum of $30.

Subsequently another story of brick was added by order of the court, and the jail was completed according to the original design with this exception. At the September term of 1815 the committee of construction reported the total cost at $14, 164.06. It was made a house of correction, probably, from the date of completion.

At the fall session of 1814 a committee of three-consisting of Messrs. Heman Day, William Ely, and George Bliss-was appointed to fix the jail limits. In those days, and for many years afterward, imprisonment for debt was considered, if not a satisfactory way of collecting a debt, at least the proper mode of punishment for those who, not having the fear of the law before their eyes, involved themselves beyond their ability to pay.

After an incarceration in close jail for a certain length of time such debtors were allowed the liberty of the jail limits, or "yard," which comprised a fixed area on all sides around the jail.

The first described limits which we find recorded are em- bodied in the following report of the above-named committee :

"That the following be assigned as the limits of the said jail, to wit : First, that the whole of the land purchased by the county, and on wbich the said jail stands, be included in said limits; and also. that the said limits include the whole of the road passing in front of the Prison House, between a line drawn from the east end of the dwelling-house of John Stebbins on the sontherly side of said road, and in the course of said east end of said house, across said road to the land lately owned by Capt. James Byers on the east, and a line drawn from the north- easterly corner of the home-lot of Jonathan Dwight, Jr., Esq., across said road to a Buttonwood-tree standing on the northerly side of said road, in the land of William Sheldon, Esq., so as to include the whole of said road between said boundaries in the Prison limits, and excluding the lands adjoining said road, ex- cept said county land, and the same to he occupied as the Prison limits in the day-time only, except the said county land."

" The committee also report that the limits be so far extended as that prisoners having the liberty of the yard may, on the Sabbath, in the day-time only, go in the public road to the meeting-house in the first Parish in Springfield, and at- tend public worship, then returning immediately after said worship is concluded."

This report was accepted and adopted.

The jail was somewhat enlarged about the year 1830, and considerable sums have been from time to time appropriated for subsequent enlargements and improvements, until the present structure represents a total outlay of over $50,000. In 1861, $14,000 were appropriated for enlargement of the jail and house of correction, which are both under one roof. The following statement is from the record, and shows the expenditures on the building in the several years from 1863 to 1877, inclusive, with the single exception of the year 1865: 1863, $1245.81 ; 1864, $894.48; 1866, $616.23; 1867, $798.89 ; 1868, $1078.39; 1869, $1613.26; 1870, $676.11 ; 1871, $1634.46; 1872, 8349.93 ; 1873, 81390.79 ; 1874, $9646.87 ; 1875, $542.01; 1876, $828.05; 1877, $680.17 ; total, $21,995.45. The jail con- tains 114 single cells, but has been crowded at times with as many as 200 prisoners. The institution has a regularly- appointed chaplain, who receives for his services an annual

* According to a statement io the journal of Dr. Alfred Booth, the first jail in the county was built on Maple Street, in front of the residence once occupied by HoD. O. B. Morris, and was burned by the Indians at the time the town was de- stroyed, in October, 1675, during King Philip's war. The old log jail of the Rev- olution was the rear part of the old tavern which stood partly on Bliss Street and partly on Union House corner. When Bliss Street was opened it was set back, and subsequently moved to Central Strect.

t For account of the first house of correction of old Hampshire County, erected in Springfield about 1662, see History of Hampshire County, Chap. I.

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

salary of $350, and also an attending physician, who receives a salary of $150 annually.

THE COURT OF SESSIONS.

The first meeting of the Court of Sessions for the county of Hampden convened on the 14th of September, 1812. Hon. Samnel Fowler was the chief-justice, and the assistants were Gideon Butler, Isaac Coit, Joshua Frost, and Abel Bliss, Jr., Esqs. Edward Pynchon, Esq., was appointed County Treas- urer and John Ingersoll Clerk.

At this session the county was divided into jury districts, four in number, and constituted as follows :

First District .- Springfield, Longmeadow, and Wilbraham. Second District .- West Springfield, Westfield, Montgomery, and Russell.

Third District .- Monson, Holland, Brimfield, South Brim- field, Palmer, and Ludlow.

Fourth District .- Blandford, Granville, Southwick, Tol- land, and Chester.

At this term fifty-three persons were licensed as innkeepers in various parts of the county.

The first tax assessed for county purposes was fixed at the recommendation of the committee at $2000, and apportioned among the various towns as per statement below : Springfield, $226.66; Brimfield, $108.13; Longmeadow, $84.86; South Brimfield, $52.83; Wilbraham, $145.47; llolland, $34.40; Monson, $137.12; Ludlow, $59.80; Palmer, $91.26; West Springfield, $254.69; Granville, $123.20; Montgomery, $48.73; Westfield, $174.47; Blandford, $132.13; Chester, $125.65; Southwick, $100.67 ; Russell, $34.57 ; Tolland, $65.36. Total, $2000. It will be noticed that the relative standing of the various towns was essentially different from what it is at the present day, West Springfield being first on the list.

Warrants were issued for the several amounts, directed to the selectmen and assessors who superintended their assess- ment and collection in their respective towns.

The amount assessed for the year 1814 was $1500, to which the court added the further sum of $2500, making a total of $4000; and it was estimated that licenses (of which sixty-two were granted the previous year), bills of costs, duties, etc., would produce an additional $645.

The following statement shows the amount of tax levied for county purposes for various years : For the year 1812, §2000 ; 1814, $4000; 1816, $7000; 1817, $3500; 1821, $5000; 1830, $8000; 1840, $13,000; 1851, $29,200; 1860, $32,000; 1863, $27,000; 1874, 889,958 ; 1876, $80,000.

The tax for 1878 was $80,000, distributed among the several towns according to the following statement: Ag- awam, $1319.40; Blandford, $427.40; Brimfield, $613.23; Chester, $576.06; Chicopee, $6002.33; Granville, $445.98; Holland, $130.07; Holyoke, $10,703.85; Longmeadow, $1412.31; Ludlow, $576.06; Monson, $1505.22; Montgom- ery, $148.65; Palmer, $1932.63; Russell, $427.41; South- wick, $650.40; Springfield, $40,938.55; Tolland, $241.57; Wales, $464.56; Westfield, $7377.48; West Springfield, $3084.78; Wilbraham,* $1022.06; total, $80,000.

This table exhibits in a striking manner the changes which have occurred since the first county apportionment of taxes in 1812. Springfield, from being second in the list, with an as- sessment of two hundred and twenty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, has advanced to the first place, with a tax of forty-one thousand dollars, or nearly four times greater than that of any other in the county. Holyoke, unknown until 1850, now stands second on the list, while Westfield and Chicopee are far in advance of West Springfield, which now occupies the fifth rank among her sister-towns. It should be remembered, how- ever, that the towns of IIolyoke and Agawam have been set off from West Springfield since the formation of the county. Chicopee has also been set off from Springfield.

CHAPTER II.

HAMPDEN CIVIL LIST.

SINCE the organization of Hampden County there have been numerous changes in the county offices. The Probate Court originally only had jurisdiction in matters of probate. Sub- sequently for several years its jurisdiction was extended to insolvency cases. From 1856 to 1859 there was an Insolvency Court, with judge and register. During the continuance of the General Bankrupt Law there was very little business in the insolvency department. Since the repeal of that law the in- solvency branch has again become active. At present the Probate Courts are courts of both probate and insolvency.+

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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 78

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