USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Holland > History of the town of Holland, Massachusetts > Part 2
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
BRIMFIELD
NORTH
PROVINCE LAND
1 1/2 MILES
PLAN OF THE REFORMED SURVEY
PURSUANT TO THE FOREGOING
ORDER
RIVER
BRIMFIELD
3
STURBRIDGE
QUINEBOS
parg
THE CRAM LINE
BLACK
LEAD MINE
G
1 1/2 MILES
id
CONN. COLONY
land ; while the line cd is known as the "Cram Line," because it formed the western boundary of a claim sold by the Win- throp heirs to Humphrey Cram, and others, and the line bd is part of the town line of Holland today, north side, for the act of the General Court incorporating Holland makes the line bd coincident with the north boundary of Thomas Lechmere's farm, (said Lechmere was one of the Winthrop heirs) and the point d its northwest corner. It will be noted that the line cd cutting through Siog Lake does not show the west half of Holland. The dotted line ab conforms very nearly with the east boundary of Holland today. Map shows the reformed survey of
PROVINCE LAND
25
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF HOLLAND
1728. We refer our readers to the history of Brimfield pp. 250- 255; also to pp. 26, 27, foot notes giving the home sites of pio- neers on some of this land. We may feel assured that these hills and valleys were heavily covered with wood and timber, that the ponds and streams were well stocked with fish, and that all the materials and conditions for home-making were here, and it is no wonder that settlers from Connecticut came north to take up land as well as others from Brimfield, and nearby set- tlements, so that the region about "Siog Lake," or "Kesioge region" was furnished with settlers soon after Brimfield be- gan to be settled, for the earliest grant of land to a settler in what is now Holland was made in 1730 to Joseph Blodgett. What is now known as the Polley Place.
Joseph Blodgett is believed to be the first settler in the region now known as Holland. The records show that he bought land there in 1730. The Mass. Archives reveal the fact that Brimfield had twelve men who were scouts as early as 1725* Joseph Blodgett was received into Brimfield church 1724. He was married 1719, and it seems probable that he went from Lexington to Brimfield soon after the time of his marriage. It seems manifest that what became Holland began to be set- tled with the other parts of Brimfield, which then included Holland, Wales, Monson, parts of Palmer and Warren as well as what is now Brimfield.
It shows that the region was occupied by white men and had received its name, Brimfield. The hills of Holland are high enough to give it a beautiful and picturesque scenery.
#While Brimfield was being settled there was a body of twelve men in command of Sergt. Joseph Knowlton whose duty it was to defend the settlers. Most of the men came from Springfield, but the fol- lowing came from Brimfield and are so enrolled. The time of service was from July 1 to October 30, 1725. Mass. Archives. Benjamin Warner Azariah Cooley Micha Towsley Bezalael Sherman
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
Blodgetts mountain, named after the first settler is in the northwest part, an elevation of 900 ft.,* while south of it is an elevation called Williams Hill, named for like reason, and south of that is an elevation called Rattlesnake Mt., because specimens of that reptile were found there by the early set- lers, the height being 1000 feet. Still father south is Needham Mt., named after a family of early settlers, with its summit 1100 ft. above sea level, forming the highest point of land in Holland and with the preceding mountains forming a natural barrier on the west. In the southeast part of the town is a precipitous elevation 900 ft. high known as Great Hill Mt. in 1795, since named Howlett's Mt., while north of it is a rough and broken tract near the lead mine of about the same altitude, while farther north is Blake Hill, an elevation of 1000 ft. and north of it is Lumbard's Hill of which the west slope is in Holland. Thus the town is buttressed on its east and west lines by a range of mountains, while between them is the valley of the Quinnebang River with other smaller valleys. From Blake Hill the finest view in town may be secured for while other elevations are as high, the view is not as unbroken for they are covered with forest. But Blake Hill is not wooded at the summit and is so situated with the others as to afford a fine prospect. The larger part of the town lies at one's feet. The various flecks of white nestling among the trees mark the sites of the homesteads, while the smooth fields about the houses denote the thrift of the occupants. In the foreground is Holland common, with the public buildings, the most conspicuous being the church with its index finger pointing toward that other home bright with fields "fairer than day" the home of men's hearts' and spirits' longings. The soul expands as one gazes. Brimfield center is plainly visible, with its cluster of neat homes and its church spire the
*Heights are given from Map issued by the U. S. Geological Survey.
27
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF HOLLAND
central object of the group, historically the mother church of the one first mentioned. The broad valley stretching away northwesterly to Brimfield attracts the eye and we see the Quinnebaug River, its blue waters sparkling in the sunlight ly- ing in it sinuous, like a huge serpent, with the lakes which make Holland famous in its course, concealing, as it were por- tions of its body. Beyond Brimfield village is Steerage Rock with its watch-tower, and other elevations equally noted for scenery. The large area visable is dotted with markings of white in strong contrast to the green, showing the positions of remote homesteads and now and then a group indicating a village. Northward the eye roams and Monadnock in New Hampshire looms up in the distance and easterly from it Watatic and still easterly, Wachusett with its summit house, can be dis- tinctly seen. In the east we see the hills of Charlton, while to the southeast and south we see the northern hills of Rhode Island and Connecticut. Thus besides viewing a wide expanse of Massachusetts, we see portions of four other states. Faith grows as we gaze. The "everlasting hills" and "the strength of the hills" as descriptive of Omnipotence have new force and meaning. Omnipotence was directed by beneficent purpose here. Variety, beauty, utility, pleasure for the eye, means to supply the wants of the body, inspiration for the soul are here in lavish profusion, and all incite due faith and homage. The soul responds to its clearer vision, its nobler impulses, its spiritual longings. Care and toil are forgotten, and we lose ourselves in contemplation of that home and of that land, "where cares and toil shall end," as the natural home for men.
But if the visit to Blake Hill is made when earth has put on her beautiful garment, and is decked in all the glory of her autumn coloring, the scene is grand to a degree that defies des- cription. Mountain, hill, and valley, are one vast mass of mingled color; profusion of color without confusion, richness, without, a suggestion of gaudiness, separate trees of the forest
28
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
by their coloring attract the eye, conspicuous as if to invite admiration, and the lover of nature has his attention attraeted over the vast landseape now here, now there. Lake, river, cloud, sunlight, add to the glory of the scene. Admiration and wonder possess the soul. Earth with its vision of beauty and glory is beneath; the infinite space in which it moves above and all around. Into the soul there comes the question, which is the more natural, the more reasonable to man, faith or un- belief? The living soul responds with feelings of adoration and praise, the expression of a faith it is happy to own.
Minor hills stand between the two border ranges before mentioned, one of which is Indian Field Hill, but the hills large or small did not deter the pioneer settler from coming. The beautiful and varied scenery of their wooded slopes rather invited them. The valleys between afforded ample lands for tillage, while their rugged slopes when cleared of wood and timber yielded excellent pasturage for herds of cattle. In- dustry and love of home are written in the stonewalls laid by those early homemakers, for we find them extending over the highest ridges and most inaccessible places, bearing silent yet eloquent testimony to the builders' life and purpose.
All the hills of Holland are elongated elevations with their major axes extending north and south and this makes the longitudinal valleys extend in the same direction while the transverse valleys extend east and west. The valley of the Quinnebaug is the great longitudinal valley of the town; and the valley through which flows Stevens brook, better named South Meadow brook (for it is the natural drainage outlet of South Meadow, and the name would then have the sanetion of Geography and History both, and would be permanent) is a good ease of transverse valley, and the valley of May brook is another. One of the attractions that brought settlers to this region was the fine fish with which the ponds and streams were stocked. Siog Lake was a name applied to it by the
29
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF HOLLAND
Indians probably because of the fine pickerel to be caught from it, Siog being an Indian word for that fish, and the lake has always been noted for its fine specimens, and the abun- danee of supply. Kesioge was the name applied to that region about Siog Lake and that term probably came to be applied to the lake itself, which originally meant the territory about it. We find the name spelled Quesiog and Quosiog also.
The soil of Holland was called good being more easily plowed and worked on account of its sandy or loamy charac- ter. Under the soil it shows the signs of its origin, in its lack of bedding, the character of the material and the bowlders, frequently found alien to the region, proving that they were brought from a distance. Deposits of glacial drift are seen on every hand and form most of the surface except on the hills and where native ledges outerop. The ledges are mostly a coarse granite and gneiss with some shales, while in places the sand and gravel contain considerable hematite and in other places is ochreous, yet iron ore has not been found in quantity sufficient to work profitably. The vein of graphite, ealled plumbago, or black lead, used in making pencils, found in Sturbridge near Holland line, would, if traced out, extend into Holland; yet no effort has been made to trace it or to work it in Holland. The quality of the graphite is fine, but the cost of mining and transportation to cars has discouraged efforts to mine it. No other minerals of any value are found in Holland, but the glacial drift makes fine filter material for water, so that the water from Holland's springs and wells is of the very best for man or beast, as the various streams of the town bear testimony by their clear and limpid waters. The Quinnebaug (meaning "Long Water") River rises# in Masha- paug (means "Great Water," see History of Union) Lake, Connecticut, and flows north, entering Holland near its south- easterly corner, and, by a serpentine course, flows the whole
*See early maps and plans. State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts.
30
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
length of the town from south to north and entering Brim- field turns easterly by almost a right angle and furnishes at East Brimfield the only water power of any account that Brim- field possesses. But its course through Holland, besides afford- ing hundreds of acres of most valuable river-bottom land, afforded ample water power to saw the lumber and to grind the grain of the early settlers. Ruins of four mill dams being found between Siog Lake and the Reservior, which with the reservoir dam makes five dams in less than a mile. Nor is this all. Stevens Brook, named after the abutting owner, now called "Howlett Brook" has seven dams; May Brook, so called from the abutting land owner has four; and Lumbard Brook, one; Marcy Brook, one; showing how readily the pioneers util- ized the water power to saw the lumber. For the old "up and down" saw the power was adequate but with the invention of the circular saw, power in some of them was lacking, and with the shortage of lumber and the portable mill, they went out of use and then to decay. But we may readily believe that the abundance of water power aided in the rapid settlement of "Kesioge region." For a further discussion of the various dams we refer our readers to the chapter upon the manufac- turers of Holland. Of course it is not to be supposed that they were all built or in operation at any one time. They were built according to need and to avoid hauling the logs long distances. The D. E. Butterworth mill is the only one that remains, a relic of days gone by. Being built about 1835, it is far from being the oldest mill in town, for the Mun- ger mill erected on the place later known as the "Parson's place" was much older. Joseph Belknap is believed to have built a mill still earlier, at or near the site of Alexander's dam for his son Jonathan, who sold his saw mill to Jno. Graham and Alfred Lyon 1781, "which was on the dam with Eliphalet Janes' grist mill." The former at the west end of the dam and the latter at the east end.
31
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF HOLLAND
The Quinnebaug river in its course through the town emp- ties into a natural basin and forms the beautiful Siog Lake, which has already been mentioned. This lake is about three quarters of a mile long and would average about one quarter of a mile wide. It has always been famous for its fish, and fishing parties have come from far and near to try their luck, and, if skillful, seldom went away without a good catch. Evi- dence is not wanting that the swampy tract northwest and north of it was at one time a part of it, and that the ledge at East Brimfield, wore away so as to let the water down leaving the old shallow lake bed in part a swamp. However, Siog Lake has many fine beaches for bathing and boating, while the abutting land owners are using their shore property for summer cottages. Mr. John F. Hebard has three cottages on its shore. Mr. O. L. Howlett has two. Mr. A. J. Bagley has one cottage, which was formerly an old homestead. These three gentlemen are residents of Holland. Mr. Lynch, a non- resident abbuttor has built one. It seems evident that the shore of this fine lake will soon be fully occupied with summer cottages for others are building. The lake known as "Siog" has always been famous for its pickerel, a nice and gamey fish, the delight of sportsman. But Mr. Chas. S. Allen, who is at work on a map which will show the position of the home- steads of the early settlers of Brimfield, has in his researches found proof that they gave it another name also, that name being Pequiog. Rev. Jason Morse in his "Annals of Brimfield Church" has a map in which, what is known as "Graham" pond, later known as "Gould" pond, is given the name "Pe- quiog" pond. Mr. Morse is manifestly in error by the follow- ing, quoted from a deed from William Nelson of Brimfield to David Wallis of Woodstock, of a tract of 259 acres of land north of, and joining "Pequiog pond." It is the deed by which the elder David Wallis acquired possession of his home.
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
"Beginning at Pequiog pond thence north in Winthrop's line (sometimes called Cram line) to Winthrop's northwest corner; thence northerly, westerly, southerly on John Anderson, thence easterly on Joseph Belknap to the river, thence up the river to said pond, thence on the pond to bound first mentioned."
Pequiog as well as Siog was therefore an Indian name for this beautiful lake. Pequiog means "cleared or broken land." (See R. A. Douglass-Lithgow's Dictionary of Indian proper names), and as applied to the lake by the Indians would mean "the lake in the region of cleared land." Nor is the evi- dence lacking that the region near this lake was a loved home for Indians because of the fish in pond and streams as well as game in forest. Arrow heads are found in abundance in this region giving evidence of occupation by the aborigines, and the fact that Indian wigwams stood on or near the shores of this pond to which they looked for a never failing supply of food, and the cleared patches about it being of a sandy or loamy soil and easily worked, were used by the squaws for raising a supply of corn and beans, may be regarded as confirm- ing both history and tradition. How apt are the two names of this lake then? An Indian village is said to have been on Indian Field Hill, and we presume that was why an Indian cemetery was on Elisha Marcy's farm.
Miss Louisa M. Howlett asserts that arrow heads were found so plentiful on the east bank of the river opposite her father's home as to suggest that the Indians had a battle there before the time of occupation by whitemen. No record of it as a fact exists. The arrow heads may have been the remains of ungathered weapons used in hunting expeditions on Morgan Meadow, which would be splendid grazing ground for deer, and other game. This may be the reason for so many being found there. Tradition has it that a natural cavity in a ledge in the northwest corner of Holland was used as a pot for cook- ing by heating the stone.
33
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF HOLLAND
Graham pond, north of Siog Lake, lies partly in Holland and partly in Brimfield. It derived its name from one Archi- bald Graham who was a soldier in the French and Indian War appearing in a muster roll of 1758 and lived near Brimfield line on the East Brimfield road. Early plans of the region show that it lies in the two towns aforesaid but some later maps fail to show this fact. The pond later came to be called Gould pond, after a man who owned, for a time, the Graham homestead. It is a natural sheet of water and fish of the usual varieties abound in it. It has an outlet to the river in a northerly direction.
Mud pond was a small natural pond lying just west of the Quinnebaug channel, on the Partridge homestead. It was sup- plied by water from the brook which flowed across the road at the foot of Amber Hill. It had a small outlet into the river and was about four acres in area. It was completely sub- merged when the reservoir dam was built. Holland Reservoir is another lake, artificial in origin, made and owned by the Hamilton Woolen Company of Southbridge for storage pur- poses. It is a shallow lake about three miles long and aver- ages about a quarter of a mile wide. It was a very great mis- fortune to the town when the land was taken from the abut- ting landowners for such a purpose. The loss of that river- bottom land injured the adjacent farms more than the diminu- tion in acreage would imply, for that bottom land produced hay which kept the uplands in good condition and enabled those farms to keep large herds of cattle. With that land flooded the farms were crippled. Lewis C. Howlett sued the Hamilton Woolen Company, not being able to agree to their terms, and secured his price, but the price even then was in- adequate considering the damage done both to individuals and to the town. The land flooded had been called "Beaver Dam Meadow" and farms holding strips of it had been counted good for years. The Company were empowered to do it by
(3)
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
virtue of an old flowage law, intended to encourage the build- ing of saw and grist mills to accommodate the farmers. The wrong inflicted in this case soon led to the repeal of the law. Much of the water is lost by evaporation (about one-half) be- fore it reaches the Company's pond at Southbridge owing to long distance, to shallow water, and to the large area of the reservoir so that it has never come up to the Company's ex- pectations in utility. But the value of the property has great- ly increased in the fifty years. Its value as a site for an elec- trie power station is enhanced with each succeeding year. May it soon be utilized for that or some other purpose. As there is about ninety feet fall between the level of the reser- voir and the level of Siog Lake, the whole would furnish power for a fine electric plant. Fish of the same species as those found in Siog Lake, abound in the Reservoir.
CHAPTER II.
GENERAL FORMATIVE HISTORY.
The sources of history of the region that became Holland are very meagre, covering the period of its settlement, for the records of Brimfield were destroyed by fire about 1748, and the records of Wales are partially lost. That it was settled about as early as the rest of the town seems evident. The first settler within the territory of what is now Holland was Joseph Blodgett if record of purchase be proof, who came to Brimfield from Lexington probably soon after his marriage in 1719, for the records of Brimfield church* show that he was taken into the church there by letter 1724. The lure of a new region had called him and his young wife west, and he received his allotment as shown on the Proprietor's Book as follows: 90 A. on South Meadow Road April 15, 1730. 20 A. on South Meadow Road April 16, 1730. This lay south of the first pur- chase and was probably the house site occupied, as we shall see later, by Joseph Blodgett Jr., now by Mr. Gaudette. Nov. 26, 1730, he bought 10 A. of South Meadow. Where he had lived the six years since being taken into the church we have found no way of ascertaining. When he bought he was the father of six children. His home was northwest of Blodgett's hill named after him and the number of his lot was No. 14. His homestead became known as the Polley place later and this family are by, representatives still remembered. Joseph Blod- gett must have been a man of resolute will and dauntless spirit, essential to a pioneer for his house at that early date was liable to attack by Indians. Down past his home came men and teams from Brimfield settlement on the way to South Meadow, always in company, to cut the swale hay that grew in abun- dance there. When they arrived at the meadow, pickets were
*See Morse's "Annals of Brimfield Church."
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
posted to guard against surprise by Indians (so tradition de- clares) while the rest went to work cutting and curing the hay. Toward night a train of teams loaded with hay would return always together, for mutual protection. There is no record of attack by Indians but the precaution taken proves the danger. In any case settlers from Brimfield settlement moved south while others from Woodstock and Union moved north attracted by the new region (Ke-siog-e country), as it was called. Thus the region that became Holland did not remain unsettled long. History shows that it was settled along with the rest of Brimfield. Woodstock, which belonged to Massachusetts until 1750, by a map published in 1869, shows names which will be immediately recognized and connected with some of Holland's earliest settlers. Brown, Browning, Bugbee, Chandler, Foster, Goodell, Lyon, May, Marcy, Perrin, and Phillips. Union also had its quota, as also Brimfield and Sturbridge not to mention towns more remote. All of them men of principle, a force in church and town, just the brain and brawn out of which to build a town. While they were adventurous they were not adventurers. They did not roam for the love of adventure. When they found the place suited to their need and ideas, they took root, and became fixtures in the community, and grew with it. It is a good indication when a man making his home in a community takes interest in its welfare and bears his part cheerfully in its burdens as a corporate body. That these men had high aims and noble purposes is shown by their industry and thrift. The stone- walls enelosing their holdings, in some places exceedingly dif- ficult to build, bear silent yet eloquent testimony to their life and purposes. They were emphatically home makers. Of English, Scotch and Irish descent mostly they had all the in- tensity of feeling for home and the home circle peculiar to those people. To own a home however humble and to care for
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GENERAL FORMATIVE HISTORY.
the loved ones in it, giving them the best training and such comforts as they could afford was their highest aim and most earnest endeavor, as it must ever be to every true man. How true the words of the poet Longfellow; which applies to their homes for most of them doubtless were very humble:
"We may build more splendid habitations,
Fill our rooms with paintings and with sculpture, But we cannot
Buy with gold the old associations."
The springs of their life and character flowed from their faith in God, and in the comfort and training of the Christian Church. Ample proof of this is found in their regular attend- ance and hearty support of it, even when the distance was great. They knew the source of all civic virtue and worth, the bulwarks of the state, and they had no delusions about it. Distance to church was a more potent factor in subdivision of towns than any other. The history of Brimfield proves this. It led to the rapid formation of new towns. Each new town incorporated had early the right by Charter of Mass. Bay Colony to send a representative to General Court. The English government had taken offense and alarm at the in- crease of the representative element in the Massachusetts Legis- lature; the incorporation of more new towns was forbidden unless they would consent to forego the privilege of repre- sentation.
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