USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Cheshire > History of the town of Cheshire, Berkshire County, Mass. > Part 16
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
tangled grasses, one sees the sunken graves, and on the mildewed sepulcher- al stones clustered there reads the familiar names of some of the old families of Cheshire. Although the locality remains, in the sad look of neglect can plainly be read that the farm has passed into other hands.
Many, many years ago Uncle Stephen Northup and Hezekiah Mason walked in company down the western slope from Thunder. Coming upon one of these spots they stopped in their walk, and struck with the beauty of the scene Hezekiah said with great earnestness:
"I tell you now if I live to die I'm going to be buried here."
Uncle Stephen more thoughtful and moderate responded after a short pause as he started up to pursue his walk:
" Yes its very pleasant, but I reckon I'll keep on down to the Corners', I seem to like it by the old church."
Judging from the inscriptions one may conclude that some of the fathers believed with the Bible that it is not well for man to dwell alone. Under a drooping willow or by some low growing pine is often seen a trio of gray stones with the following words, " Sally beloved consort of Cyrus, who died in 1797. Patience the virtuous consort of Cyrus, who died in 1800. Serene the well loved relict of the late Cyrus, who departed this life in 1806."
Alanson P. Dean and his brother Martin built a tannery on the Hoosac where for many years a lively business was carried on. Employment was given to a goodly number of men. Both of the proprietors built pleasant homes for themselves. A boarding house was put up, and well conducted for the convenience of the workmen, besides tenements for such as wished to rent them. The plat had the appearance of a thrifty, profitable institu- tion of labor.
In 1845, Daniel Brown added to these industries a grist-mill which he planned to put upon the ground occupied in 1836, by the pot loft of the Crown Glass Company. In digging for the wheel pit the men found the white chunks of sand, not knowing what it was or how valuable it might prove. Mr. Frank Sayles seeing the chunks scattered about or gathered into heaps. took some of the deposit and sent to Boston for analysis. It was returned with a favorable decision, and every body knew beyond a peradventure that the old Crown Glass Company in their ignorance had brought their sand from Lanesborough to mannfacture glass, while an inexhanstible mine lay concealed beneath the spot upon which they stood.
The verdict at Eden's gate has come home to man thronghont the ages. God has made the world, and man the monarch of it. He fills the caves of ocean with pearls and coral, seams in the mountain with richest gems, and hides the ore deep in the mine, but man's right hand must win the rest, and wrench the secrets so thoroughly hidden from the earth.
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FROM 1837-1847.
In 1845, Andrew Bennet left the farm on the hillside and bought the house now owned by Miss J. Brown. A man of excellent judgment and kindliness of heart, he filled a large place in the little village and was often called upon to occupy offices of trust. His sons, Ambrose and Luther, afterward moved into the village, while another son, William P. Bennet, and daughter, Mrs. Amy Brown, occupy the ancestral farms.
CHAPTER IX.
FROM 1847-1857.
-
GEORGE FISHER. STEAM MILLS. DEVELOPMENT OF GORDON SAND BED. IRON BUSINESS ESTABLISHED. GLASS MAKING. GEORGE MARTIN. MAN- UFACTURE OF BRICK. TANNERY. RICHARDSON & SON. E. D. FOSTER. SCHOOLS. METHODIST CHURCH BUILT. CATHOLIC WORSHIP ESTABLISHED. UNIVERSALIST CHURCH ERECTED. BAPTIST CHURCH. JOHN C. WOLCOTT. DR. ISAAC COLE. TIN SHOP. CABINET SHOP. WAGON SHOP.
This era, from 1847 to 1857, following so closely the construction of the Adams and Pittsfield railroad, was marked by a fresh impetus and the found- ing of a variety of new business interests in the village of Cheshire.
Farmers wishing to retire and live a less active life than they hitherto had done, turned their eyes toward the village with its fair promise of being a quiet, pleasant location for a home.
John M. Bliss, Sen., exchanged his farm at Muddy Brook, and took in the trade a house just being completed on Main street. The old red farm house at Muddy Brook was a charming home of the long ago. It stood upon the brow of a hill, down which a cross road run leading to the farms in the intervale, before the lower road was constructed, and connecting it with the old stage road over the hills, after it was built in 1832.
George Fisher came to town as early as 1835, and has grown up with the town since it awoke from its first nap. He has always been an active citizen and his name a familiar one in both business and political circles.
He built the large house known since as the residence of Stephen Chap- man, and the cottage next to it. He then took the farm of J. M. Bliss, Sen .. and moved from the village, but not from the town. In 1853 he made still another move upon a farm to the east, a farm npon which have been found deposits of gold and silver, and a strata of fine soap-stone.
George Fisher comes of a family that has had honorable mention in the history of the state for more than two hundred years. Coming up with their contemporaries from the early towns of the coast, they formed homes and settlements, were burned out by the remorseless Indian, proceeded
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FROM 1847-1857.
farther into the wilderness, their axes crashing against the primeval trees. Their names appearing in the records of the different settlements as survey- ors, deacons, chairmen in the council chambers, and always known as prom- inent men and ardent patriots. It was just as a band of these men were asking for a name to the new township they were forming, that Burgoyne's surrender hastened the treaty Franklin had been striving to make at St. Cloud, after the capitulation at Saratoga, Louis XVI recognized the colo- nies and formed an alliance. So this committee with Jabez Fisher at their head, named their settlement Franklin, to which compliment the graceful statesman responded by presenting the town with books to establish a public library. And from this town, and from this family of such prominence and note, bearing its coat of arms, came our own townsman, George Fisher, bringing with him the same spirit of public zeal that animated his ancestors.
In 1847 the mountains were densely wooded, like huge cones clad in unbrok- en green they encircled the town, save where the valley roads opened their way here and there. Spruce and hemlock were the woods that predominated, but were intermingled with beech, maple and pine. After the advent of the railroad the call for lumber increased, as the market was accessible, and the lumbering trade was a lively and profitable one for a time. Choppers were employed at good prices, the streets were made lively by the bells of the teamsters driving over the hard packed wintry roads. The saw-mills were driven, and the buzzing of the mammoth saws and tumbling of the great wheels sounded incessantly. Lumber was shipped daily at the station for different places. Chatham, just growing up under the impulse of the Har- lem railroad, connecting there with the Boston and Albany, was three- fourths built with lumber sawed from these mountain trees. The big dam at Holyoke contracted for Cheshire timber, and to dwellings and towns it was sent by far too often to keep the tally.
This called for steam mills, the first one ever built in town was that at Scrabbletown, by Lawriston Potter, which he soon sold to Steers. Later, Potter built a steam mill'on his garden plat, just beyond the low, rambling house still standing at Scrabbletown.
In 1847 Samuel Smith bought the land and all right of sand in the bed dis- covered in 1845. Within the month of May, 1847, the sand bed changed hands twice. First, it was sold to Henshawe & Obdelle. Second, to the Berkshire Glass Company.
During this year sand was shipped to France, and two dividends were made to the stockholders. After the discovery of sand in 1845, it was dug, but in a primitive and crude style. No machinery was used in the begin- ning, being hauled from the beds in carts drawn by horses, rude sheds were built where it was washed and packed.
148
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
Mr. Francis Potter, now in California, is said to have dug and shipped the first invoice of sand from this bed.
In 1847 Mr. Chandler T. Ford, a student from Williams College, came to Cheshire, rented the office that adjoins now the residence of Miss Jeanette Brown, and taught there for two successive winters a select school, 'where young gentlemen and ladies were at liberty to pursue astronomy, philoso- phy, and higher mathematics if they chose to do so. This move inaugu- rated an era of select schools. Mr. W. G. Waterman, a gentleman of marked education. and a lover of books, a gentleman too, who had been deeply interested in the educational interests of the town, put up a house on Main street in 1849, containing accommodations for a school. This he opened late in the year of 1849, taking an unlimited number of day scholars and some boarders.
In 1848 James N. Richmond and Seneca Pettee bought the land for the iron furnace of R. B. Wolcott. The buildings were drafted at once and construction began, they were not completed, however, until Jannary, 1851. The 18th of January, 1851, the furnace was filled with coal to heat it. February 11th the first casting of pigs was made from iron ore dug in the King ore bed.
The business was managed for a time by Messrs. Pettee & Richmond, then N. II. Stevens, a gentleman in the iron works at North Adams. becoming one of the owners, moved into town for a short time acting as superintendent of the furnace.
Next a company was formed called the Union Iron Co., which, keeping the institution for only a term of months, turned it over to Sampson, Bright & Barker. These gentlemen kept it until 1857. when it was closed for a while.
In 1848 Mr. George Martin located upon a mountain woodland farm in Cheshire. For a few years he spent with his family the summers on this farm, and returned with the fall to his home in the city of Albany. Nat- urally a business man, his name was known ever after this date among the townspeople. In 1856 he moved his family to the village, and began the business of a butcher, a branch that was needed in Cheshire, and one to which Mr. Martin was bred in " Merrie England " before ever he came over the waters to America. Commencing in a small way, using only one half a beef per week, with his accustomed energy he pushed his business, and it was soon increasing on his hands. The Hoosac Tunnel was in the course of construction at that time, with periodical seasons of silence, and labor. As a busy year came around. and the rural hamlet at the western terminus increased rapidly in population, Mr. Martin secured the contract to supply them with the meat they consumed, and found that from one-half a beef. he required full fifteen each week to fill his orders.
149
FROM 1847-1857.
In 1848 the Methodist church put up their new edifice on Main street. A neat building with a pleasant audience room. Although no large amount was expended upon this structure, it was used to the best advantage, and, the church seemed when completed like one of the most cheery houses of worship in the land.
Elder John Foster preached through 1849, and part of 1850; but ill with that fatal disease, consumption, he died during the year, and Elder Hunt was stationed at Cheshire.
In 1851 South Adams and Cheshire were associated with Elder Thomas Lodge as pastor, 1852 Elder S. H. Hancock, 1853 Elder A. W. Garvin with parsonage at Cheshire. In 1854 Rev. S. H. Hancock with 90 mem- bers in the church, and 70 scholars in the Sunday-school. In 1857 Rev. James G. Phillips was pastor.
In 1848 the land was given by Mrs. Sally Foster, daughter of Captain Brown, to the Universalist church and society for a church building to be erected in which a preacher of their peculiar faith and doctrine should preach, and the building was put up without delay. The wealth of this denomination was in the hands of a few. These few gave liberally, and a pretty building upon a remarkably pleasant site was the result of their undertaking. Rev. Almond Mason was their pastor at this time. His father was an early dweller, an " Old-timer " of Cheshire, but Mr. Almond Mason himself was born in the town of Adams. He was, however, well known in the vicinity, and much beloved. A man of persuasive manner, with much personal magnetism, and great power of control over the young.
Mr. Mason was a grand singer, while he taught the people from his pulpit he paid marked attention to his choir, often joining them in his own deep voice of rich pathos and beauty. Crowds often attended the services of this minister, captivated by the music he always managed to ยท have from his choir of young people, and interested in his lessons of faith, practice and morality. His doctrines of present punishment for sins com- mitted, and universal salvation. He had many followers who avowed themselves believers in his creeds.
Almond Mason had, in early manhood, sat under the teachings of Father Leland, as indeed had many who now identified themselves with this new departure. To use the somewhat homely, but apt figure of Leland him- self: "Some who had been hatched in the days of the Great Reformation as his chickens, were Davis's pullets, in the Methodist excitement of 1823, and were now full fledged, hens of Mr. Mason's."
It is a significant fact that the descendants of the Ten Aggrieved Brethren who turned sorrowfully away from Elder Leland and his church came (many of them) and united themselves with this interest. In 1850
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
Rev. Mr. Miller was preaching to the church. In 1852 the Rev. Mr. Plumb officiated in the pulpit. coming from over Stamford way, he never lived among the people. In 1853 Mr. Palmer was engaged, and as supplies for short times Rev. Mr. Waggoner and Guilford.
Owen Turtle entered Cheshire in 1848. He has always been an in- dustrious frugal man, working all these years, save perhaps one or two, in the beginning, for the Berkshire Glass Sand Company. He has just cause for pride in his children all of whom do him honor. Thomas received the appointment from this district to enter West Point in 1863, where he grad- uated with honors in 1867. James, his second son, gradnated at Michigan University, and is a civil engineer. William, his third son, is a rising young lawyer in Pittsfield, a graduate of Harvard law school, while Owen. Jr., is making a success in the teaching of music. He is highly gifted in this direction and has a fine voice. He is connected with the conserva- tory of Music at Pittsfield.
In 1849 Thomas Olin bought the saw-mill on the notch road, and for many years turned out large quantities of Imber. At the same time Francis Jones and Reuben Humphreyville bought the saw-mill above this. At a later period this was owned by Jones and Norman Cotton.
In 1850 Mr. Potter kept a clothing store on Main street.
In 1850 James N. Richmond bought land of Thomas Brown on the north side of the highway beyond the Hoosae at the Scrabbletown crossing. Upon this land a new glass house was erected. A stock company was formed among capitalists, and the money was mostly owned in New York City. Something like $80,000 was the sum they operated with. The buildings were put up under the personal supervision of J. N. Richmond, who was a lawyer by profession and practice, but being by nature a shrewd business manager with a taste in that direction, he had given his attention to this branch of business, had moved to Cheshire not far from the beginning of this decade, and after closing his interest with the iron furnace, was employed by the New York parties as their agent in the construction of the glass house. Men were imported from New Jersey and Pennsylvania who were blowers, flatteners and entters, and thoroughly trained in the skilled labor of glass- making. Honses were built by the company for the workmen, which they might rent or purchase as pleased them best. Many brought their families and made homes for themselves in the little boro'of Scrabbletown. At night the bright lights from the furnace and blowing rooms gleamed out across the Hoosae and its meadows, and with the castings at the iron works, and the lamps sending their rays over the snowy streets from Foster's store, and the long windows of his house on the corner, rendered that portion of the village especially bright and cheery.
151
FROM 1847-1857.
The glass factory at first manufactured window glass only, but com- menced in 1854 to make rough plate glass for floors and roofs. For this they cast the glass, rolled it under an immense pressure, and when finished it was half an inch in thickness. They used 2,800 pounds of sand, 500 pounds of soda ash, 800 pounds of lime, to make 600 feet of half-inch glass, which it took them a day to construct. This they sold in market for fifty cents per foot, a yield of $300 per day for nine months in the year, the re- maining time being used for repairs.
In 1853, this factory burned, but was rebuilt at once by J. N. Richmond. It then passed into the hands of a stock company who kept it for only a short time, changing owners again it took the name of The Crystal Glass Company. Experiments were constantly made looking toward a polished plate glass. The proprietors argued that the sand was so abundant, so close to the works, and of such superior quality that they should soon be able to furnish the market with the finest of plate glass.
In 1857 Covell Wolcott, Esq., run the factory for one single year, then its doors were closed, the fires burned out, the huge smelting pots were empty; the flattening ovens, and cutting tables fell into disuse ; darkness and soli- tude brooded over the yards, and through the long buildings, fit home for bats and owls, and the busy industry was over. The men thrown out of em- ployment could not retain their homes, so gradually left for other towns where work could be obtained, and the last condition was worse than the first.
Stores were put up by the iron company and glass company. The first upon the site of the home of R. V. Wood, and the latter directly across the way.
W. F. Richmond was the book-keeper for the glass company, at this store where they had their office for the transaction of all business.
A large millinery store was opened in the . winter of 1849-50 in this part of the village.
In 1850 Peter Trotier was engaged in the manufacture of brick between the depot and the hill toward the south. Deposits of clay were found there.
In 1850 Ira Richardson & Son bought an interest in the tannery of the Dean Brothers and the firm name was Deans & Richardsons. In 1855 the Deans disposed of their interest and it became Richardson & Son.
Ezra Edmunds who was the village shoemaker built the house opposite that of Dr. Cole's and carried on his shop here until in 1850 he sold to Israel Cole, a wealthy farmer from Adams.
In 1850 E. D. Foster built the house now owned by H. C. Bowen. It was a beautiful home well arranged without and within, filled with books, pictures and music with which its master loved to surround his family.
152
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
There was no more attractive residences, nor none where young people so well loved to congregate as at this one. Pleasant parties were given there by its genial owners and the hospitable doors thrown open. The society lover, as well as the lover of fine books at that time, will ever remember the advantages of that home.
In 1850 the old brick school-house was sadly dilapidated. Its yellow benches were eut and hacked by the jack-knife of many a boy, the seats broken in places, the hearth sunken underneath the long box stove. the desk defaced, the windows were cracked, and patched with putty.
The worn door sill, and the wooden steps were polished by the contact of all the feet that had trodden them, while the dark red paint was worn smooth, and almost black from smoke and time. The caricature of some teacher drawn on the plastered walls, or ent in the painted woodwork, a couplet here and there, printed by some mischievous nrchin, and the hun- dred names and initials-more or less-scattered hither and yon about the old building told many a tale of those who once made the walls echo with their mirth and song. In the winter of 1850-51 the last term was taught with a crowded class, and the ensuing spring the familiar building was torn down.
On the church green another school house went up. dazzling in fresh paint and green shades, with long windows, and new fashioned desk. where another race of girls and boys ate and exchanged bites of their apples and cookies at noontime, and raced on their sleds and skates at recess.
It 1850 Father Cavanagh, a parish priest from Pittsfield, commenced holding divine service in Cheshire. He made appointments from place to place at private houses.
In 1850 R. M. Cole took into partnership his brother C. D. Cole, the firm becoming R. M. Cole & Brother.
In 1851 Rev. F. S. Parkes was secured as pastor of the Third Cheshire church, and officiated as such for four years, until 1855, when Elder Henry Clarke of Pittsfield, who had always been a favorite in the parish with old and young, was secured and returned to take charge of the church, although he resided in Pittsfield.
During the stay of Elder Parkes there were some troubles among the people of the church, however, there were twenty additions to its roll by bap- tism, and there were ninety-nine members when Elder Parkes closed his labors with them in 1855.
The subject of a Sabbath-school in connection with the Third church had often been agitated, but as Elder Leland did not quite approve of working in this way, it had never met with hearty approval. Elder Leland believed that home was the place to teach children, rather than Sabbath-school.
In 1855 the objections subsided somewhat and a Sunday-school organized
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FROM 1847-1857.
under the preaching of Elder Clarke, with James N. Richmond, Esq., as superintendent. In 1856 the association met with the Cheshire church- delegates and members from seventeen churches in attendance. In 1856 Dr. Cole was appointed Sunday school superintendent. In 1857 Elder Pease filled the pulpit, with 102 members.
In 1852 a steam mill for sawing lumber was put up on the banks of the Hoosac, just beyond the depot. After a few years of operation the firm ' dissolved, the mill fell into the hands of R. C. Brown, who with Francis Jones for partner carried it on for a time and sold to Augustus Loyd.
In 1852 Mr. Foster removed the store that he occupied, and which stood across the village street from Captain Brown's to the lot next west of his new residence, enlarged the capacity of the building, increased his stock, and went on with his trade for some years at this point.
In 1852 Miss Clara Cone opened a school in the basement of the Third Baptist church, and for a term of years the organization grew in strength. Miss Darling succeeded Miss Cone, and always some efficient teacher was found to fill the gap, as one left the post, and the district school was so crowded with children of all ages and sizes that those who left it for the forms, neatly arranged in the neighboring basement, were scarcely missed.
In 1852 Father Cuddihy came among the people and made arrangements to use the Mechanic's hall. He remained as pastor until 1854. During this year Father Purcell, parish priest at Pittsfield took charge of the Cheshire parish, and continued preaching to the people at Mechanic's hall.
All these growing industries, but especially the steam mills and lum- bering, the Berkshire Glass Sand Co., the iron furnace and glass house were feathers in the cap of Cheshire. They brought capital to the town, made freight for the railroad, put money in circulation and filled the town with people.
In 1853 Alanson P. Dean erected the fine and commodious dwelling on the Meeting House Hill, which has been filled in modern times with city boarders by Mrs. R. C. Brown.
In 1853 Dr. L. J. Cole feeling his health giving away under the arduous labors of years, made arrangements to associate himself in his profession with some younger man, and took into practice with him Dr. Isaac Cole. They built the office still standing on Main street, and owned by Mason Chapman. Dr. L. J. Cole was absent during this summer in Boston, be- ing on the committee for revising the Constitution of the Commonwealth.
In the fall of 1857 the partnership was broken up by Dr. Isaac Cole, who was completely won by the manifold attractions offered at the far west, unfold. ing so rapidly at that period, and left for the country beyond the Mississippi.
Dr. Cole, finding that his ride was more extensive, his duties greater than
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
ever they had been before, feared that physically he could not cope with them, and sold his office and ride to Dr. A. M. Bowker of Savoy, who im- mediately took possession of the office and house vacated by Dr. Isaac Cole. And Dr. Cole, after thirty years of continued, conscientious practice, re- tired, thus giving himself time to recuperate and regain his health.
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