USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Holland > History of the town of Holland, Massachusetts > Part 8
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March 9, 1751 John Bishop Trenanee Webber Ebenezer Bishop
Voted and confirmed by the town.
March 18, 1751.
Brimfield records, page 130
The return of a highway from the Great Brook a little southeast from Nehemiah May's until it comes into the road
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HOLLAND ROADS.
between Mr. John Webber's and Trenance Webber's laid out (2) ? rods wide, and marked as followeth : Beginning at a hem- lock tree marked standing by said brook being a corner of Mr. William, Lyon's land, thence running northwesterly to the west end of said Nehemiah May's barn; thence northerly to a large flat rock and stones upon; thence bearing northwesterly to a white oak marked standing on a brow a little west of a valley ; thence, turning and running to a white oak; thence, to a small black oak; thence to a small walnut on the east side hill; thence to a white oak ; thence, to a small black oak; to another black oak ; thence, to a large white oak standing by the old path; thence, to a large hemlock standing by a little run; thence, to a white oak ; to another small white oak; thence, to a heap of stones two rods from the west end of Benjamin Perrin's house; thence, to a small black oak standing at the south end of Daniel Thompson's field ; thence, in the now trodden path until it comes to Morgan's Brook (so called) later Stevens' Brook; thence, running north on the line between Mr. Moses Lyon and John Bishop Jr's. lands, one-half on said Lyon's and one-half on said Bishop's, until it comes to said Bishop's northeast corner ; thence bearing northwesterly and running in the most convenient place along down a valley into the old path that goes from Mr. Webber's towards Mr. Moses Lyon's; thence, running northwesterly in the now trodden path until it comes to the other between the said John Webber's and Trenance Webber's. All the above said trees are marked with the letter H on the west side to said highway.
By order of the Selectmen
March 12, 1759. Joseph Blodgett.
The above petition read and voted and accepted provided the several owners of the land it runs through give their right to same.
John Sherman, Town Clerk.
The first settlers were anxious to settle on this road, i. e., South Meadow Road. They settled there doubtless that they might have easy access to the swale hay that grew on South Meadow. Even before their homes were established there
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
were men who used to go there from Brimfield so tradition says with teams in a considerable company and armed. When they arrived at the meadow, piekets were posted to avoid sur- prise by Indians, while others proceeded to the labor of cutting and curing the hay. No record is found of an actual attack, but their precaution proves the reality of the danger. It in- vited settlers to the region, and played an important part in the early history of Holland. A church was begun, 1764, on the west side of that road as we shall see. That road formed the greater part of the boundary between the east and west parishes of South Brimfield by legislative enactment in 1766. and when Holland was incorporated in 1783 the east side of that road was designated as the west boundary line for Hol- land, which put the whole of the road from Brimfield, south line to the Connecticut line into South Brimfield to keep in repair. Capt. Nehemiah May was representative for that year and men charged him with being responsible for the injustice and justly. It led to a dispute. South Brimfield naturally objected while Holland declined all responsibility for it as being outside her territory. We find that Holland voted, 1789, to petition the General Court to be annexed to Brimfield in choice of a representative. South Brimfield was keeping Hol- land from sending any representative to General Court. From record of a town meeting held Dec. 21, 1795, it was voted to treat with South Brimfield in regard to South Meadow road, and by a meeting held Jan. 11, 1796, it was voted to accept of South Brimfield's terms. The terms were that Holland was to take two fifths of South Meadow road and have two-fifths of the representation at General Court that the town and district were entitled to have.
This agreement was arrived at through work of a com- mittee. But Asa Fisk in behalf of South Brimfield petitioned the General Court, Jan. 16, 1789, that a part of South Meadow
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HOLLAND ROADS.
road be set off to Holland and the district clerk of Holland was ordered to show cause why the prayer of the petitioner should not be granted. This petition failed, probably as not coming from the right source, but June 8, 1795, a petition of the Selectmen of South Brimfield prays that a just part of South Meadow road be annexed to the district of Holland and the Selectmen of Holland are ordered to show cause why the prayer should not be granted.
Certificate of Asa Dana, District Clerk of Holland.
This certifies that Joseph Bruce, Col. Alfred Lyon and Deacon David Wallis be a committee to settle with So. Brim- field with regard to So. Meadow Road. Full power is given to the committee.
Dated Monday Dec. 1, 1795.
Certificate of Oliver Wales, town clerk of So. Brimfield. At a town meeting this day held for the purpose of choosing a committee to settle with the district of Holland in respect of the support of the county road that divides said town and district, and chose Oliver Wales, Joel Rogers and Darius Munger, Esq., with power to settle with said district, provided they, the said district would agree to have two-fifths (2-5) of said road an- nexed to be made a part of the district.
A true copy from the records.
Oliver Wales, Town Clerk.
Dated Dec. 30, 1795.
South Brimfield, January 12, 1796.
We, the committee of South Brimfield and the District of Holland, chosen to settle the dispute that hath arisen between said town and district in regard of the support of the county road that divides said town and district are agreed upon by us the said committee, that one mile two hundred and ten rods of the north end of said road shall belong to and become a part of the said district forever hereafter, and we further agree that the district of Holland shall have two-fifths of the representatives in future forever hereafter, and that we further agree that we
(8)
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
will begin in the following order: The first shall be chosen in So. Brimfield, the second in said district of Holland, the third in South Brimfield, the fourth in Holland, the fifth in So. Brimfield, when any is chosen, and so in rotation forever hereafter. And it is agreed by the said committees that a record of this agree- ment shall be recorded in said town and district by their town and districts clerks.
We, the subscribers, Selectmen of the town of So. Brim- field and of the district of Holland hereby certify that we have measured off the one mile two hundred and ten rods of the county road beginning at Brimfield line being Holland's pro- portion of said road, agreeable to a late act of Court, and have erected a stake and a large heap of stones on the west side of said road, being the corner of said district, said heap of stones stands nigh the south end of Abijah Potter's pasture."
Witness our hands,
John Munger, Samuel Shaw, John Polley, Joseph Bruce,
Selectmen of So. Brimfield and Holland. Attest Asa Dana, District Clerk.
Dated April 25, 1796.
AMENDMENT OF THE ACT OF INCORPORATION. "COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS."
In the year of our Lord one Thousands Seven Hundred and ninety-six-An act in addition to an act passed in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-three, in- corporating the East Parish of South Brimfield into a district by the name of Holland.
Whereas difficulties have arisen respecting supporting the public road which is by said act the dividing line between So. Brimfield and the district of Holland. For the remedy of which-Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- tives in General Court assembled and by authority of the same, that from and after the passing of this act, one mile two hundred
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HOLLAND ROADS.
and ten rods of the before mentioned road beginning at Brim- field south line and running southerly shall forever hereafter belong to and become part of the district of Holland.
Passed. February 4, 1796.
Oliver Wales, Joel Rogers Darius Munger South Brimfield Committee.
Joseph Bruce, Alfred Lyon, David Wallis
Holland Committee.
Attest, Asa Dana, District Clerk.
This question, which had been a bone of contention since 1783, was now settled. The distance was measured off for Hol- land's part and a stake and heap of stones on the west side of South Meadow Road marked the limit of Holland's part, and a stake and heap of stones on the east side of the road directly opposite marked the beginning of So. Brimfield's part. Stone monuments now take the place of the stake and stones in each case, they being put in place by mutual agreement, 1829. It is interesting to note that more than half of Holland's part is still a public highway, while much of So. Brimfield's part has been discontinued, due to time's changes, and the building of a new piece of road which acts as substitute for part of the old.
This question of the upkeep of South Meadow road being now settled we find that John Polley of Holland was elected to represent South Brimfield and Holland at General Court for 1798.
By the same authority, Jason Morse, we know that a road was laid out, 1735, from near Mr. Argard's down the hill southeasterly to where Edwin Hall now lives. It simply improved
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
a piece of the old Indian trail before mentioned. This old road can still be traced. It led settlers to occupy land in that vicinity of which John Anderson was a later purchaser. See the Anderson genealogy. This road was known as "South Road."
This road was extended as need for it was demanded by new settlers coming in, and just when the road was built by where the church was built in 1764, we have not aseertained. It was known as the "South Road." See page 65. Also for mention of other roads as existing in 1782.
After Holland was incorporated in 1783, new roads and changes in position of roads are frequent, and so indefinite in their wording that it is difficult to designate the change. When it is voted to build a road from the chestnut staddle to the oak staddle, or to discontinue the road from "the Maple tree to the Gilacer of Balm tree," it may have been definite enough to the town elerk then, but such description becomes very in- definite to the reader fifty or a hundred years later.
THE ECLIPSE LINE
In 1803 the stage turnpike through Holland was built. It was part of a stage line from Hartford to Worcester. Over this line the mail for Holland used to be brought. The turn- pike was built by a company, which used to charge a fee of those passing over it. Toll gates were established two miles apart with gatehouse in which the gatekeeper lived. One such house is the place where Michael Flannigan now lives. Another gatehouse was the William Lumbard place which was situated on the town line, east side. It did not prove to be a paying enterprise. The company wanted the town to take some shares of stock, 1807, but the town declined to invest. This road was a real benefit to the town, but financially it was a failure. Finally it was taken over as a county road, 1835, and the town voted to repair it. It seems evident that the
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HOLLAND ROADS.
first regular mail service Holland ever had was over this turn- pike and stage line, and the first postmaster that Holland ever had was David Marcy, who received his appointment as post- master, 1812. He had just built Holland hotel. This stage line created the need of one in Holland and the town had made the offer of part of the common to Luther Carter if he would build one of the size prescribed. Over this turnpike came Lafayette, 1824. He is said to have stopped over night in Windham, Conn., and then proceeded on towards Worcester next morning probably reaching Holland for dinner as stated.
From the church site on the hill north of Dr. Dean's, a road extended easterly down the hill through Otis Williams' pasture where Benjamin Reeve lived, across the flat east of the hill and up through the cemetery proceeding easterly through the woods, and crossing the road to East Brimfield extended across Mr. A. F. Blodgett's pasture and made the road bed of the present road from a point about 20 rods east of Holland common to the bridge. When the Hartford and Wor- cester stage road was built, 1803, it put this road out of com- mission except a little piece from the East Brimfield road to the cemetery and the other parts were soon discontinued. For further study of Holland roads we refer our readers to the map, and to the town records.
CHAPTER VI.
MANUFACTURES OF HOLLAND
By an old map in the Mass. Archives made in 1728, the Quinnebaug River rises in Mashapaug Lake, Conn. It is evi- dent that the Indians regarded that lake with the brooks that flowed into it as the source of that river. For a river of its size it is remarkable for the amount of power it furnishes. This is true not only for Massachusetts but also in its course through Connecticut. It was a potent factor in getting the region settled, for prospective settlers could see that the power could be used to saw the heavy growth of timber with which much of the region was covered. Dams were built and the power utilized for this purpose and for grinding the farmers' grain. But when the mills could not be used for this purpose the owner tried some other, always failing of success for laek of transportation facilities being unable to compete with those that had it after railroads came to be built.
The most important manufacturing plant ever built in the town of Holland was what was known as the Fuller factory, built by Elbridge Gerry Fuller in 1833. It was situated about 1,500 feet east of Siog Lake. Only the foundation is left to mark the site. In this factory Mr. Fuller employed about 35 hands, says Harry E. Back, Esq., whose admirable booklets on the head waters of the Quinnebaug River we have read and valued. Some of the men and women employed by Mr. Fuller are still living. "The mill was 80 ft. x 30 ft., built of briek, and had four floors. The brick was probably made on the farm of Sumner Janes, which is now owned by Mr. Warrington, situated about half a mile south of the factory site. The mill had thirty looms and two pairs of mules operated by four spinners. Water power drove the machinery. Thread was first manu- factured being put in skeins. Afterward print cloth was made,
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MANUFACTURES OF HOLLAND.
then yard-wide sheeting, which did not prove profitable, and the mill took up the manufacture of print cloth. The mill was burned July 11, 1851, being struck by lightning. About the mill there had grown up a small village known as Fullerville or Fuller's village. It was to accommodate the children of this village that this school site was chosen, 1847-8, near where Mrs. Freeman Blodgett now lives, instead of the old site near the four corners below the town hall. The village consisted of tenement houses, warehouses, store, and blacksmith shop. Drake and Darling leased the mill of Mr. Fuller for about three years. About 500 feet upstream east from the mill was the dam which held the water for the power. A canal con- ducted the water down to the mill to gain power. At the north end of the dam about 1815 a sawmill was built. Mr. Fuller transformed this into a shingle mill in 1830. Nothing remains of this either. Fuller factory was built in 1833. It naturally exercised an influence in the town's politics as
well as in its population. Holland became a town in 1836 by an act of the General Court enabling districts formed prior to 1785 to become towns with full rights. See Revised Statutes 1830-1835, Chapter 15. The following is the United States' Census of Holland as it appears on the official record, State House, Boston :
1790 U. S. 428
1870 U. S 344
1800
445
1875 state 334
1810
420
1880 U. S. 302
1820 453
1885 state 229
1830 453
1890 U. S. 201
1840
423
1895 state 199
1850
449
1900 U. S. 169
1855 state 392
1905 state 151
1860 U. S. 412
1910 U. S. 145
1865 state 368
1
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
In John W. Barber's Historical Collections, 1839, in the pas- tor's library of Brimfield Church we find the population of Holland given as 495 for 1837. That is larger by 72 than the census of 1840. What caused the falling off? It was natural that the owner and operator of a cotton mill should have con- siderable influence in town politics. Mr. E. G. Fuller filled most of the town offices, and was representative to General Court three times, being Holland's representative in 1832, 1834, 1847, just the period of greatest activity of his mill and when Holland became a town, with enlarged powers. He was prom- inent as a supporter of the Holland Baptist church; and al- though opposition to him was bitter, yet he was prominent in town affairs and was representative more than any other man. Barber's "Historical Collections" declares that "Mr. Fuller's mill in 1837 had 1,024 spindles. That it used annually 20,902 pounds of cotton; that it manufactured 104,512 yards of cloth valued at $10,451.20. Males employed, 12; females employed, 17. Capital invested, $15,000." Clement B. Drake, son-in-law to Mr. Fuller, was superintendent of the mill for a while, and then in company with Mr. Darling under the company name of "Drake and Darling" carried on the business, for about three years, leasing the mill of Mr. Fuller. It is a great pity that the mill could not have been a permanent institution of the town growing in wealth and using the water power that has been running to waste all these years.
See Map-I.
About half a mile upstream from Fuller's mill-site is an- other dam. It is probably where Joseph Belknap built the first saw mill in town. It is the site where Eliphalet Janes, Holland's first town clerk had a grist mill when Hol- land was incorporated, 1783. History has it that he lived upon the Eleazer Moore place, now owned by Joseph Fales. Mr. Baek says that "it was built by Abijah Pierce about 1803."
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MANUFACTURES OF HOLLAND.
If so, it is probable that Mr. Pierce simply repaired the dam. William Moore was the next owner and in 1834, built the mill, still standing, about 100 yards down stream bringing water to it by a canal which men of the town dug for greater fall that they might have a mill. This building was used by Ed- ward Blodgett for grinding the lead taken from the Sturbridge lead mine. Upon the easterly end of the dam stood a grist mill long since gone. Subsequent owners were Clement B. Drake, Willliam E. Fenner, Henry Webber, and Nathaniel Alexander. Mr. Drake built a saw mill at the west end of the dam about 1850. Nothing is left there now but ruin. The rushing waters mark only the flight of time and the changes it brings. See II.
Into the pond formed by the Drake dam flows a rivulet called Janes' brook or Lumbard's brook. Upon this brook Mr. Back states "Alvin and Harvey Janes built a saw mill, about 1840. The building was sold to Uriah Marcy and he moved it to the brook on his farm in 1860." See III.
About 500 yards further up stream we come to another dam, now in ruins. Here is where James Paddock ran a foundry. He tried to manufacture iron from ore found near- by. His home stood on a cellar hole on a bluff above the river, one of the most beautiful and romantic house sites in Holland. It was on the old road from the stage turnpike to the bridge near Alexander's dam. Mr. Paddock had the pro- gressive spirit, but lack of facilities for such work, and the fact that the iron ore of New England is of poor quality, for many have tried it, the work was finally abandoned. We find reference to Mr. Paddock's forge in a vote about that road in 1798, so conclude that he was at work there then; how long thereafter is not known. The abutments to the bridge are there but the dam just above is a ruin. A map in the Mass. Archives drawn, 1795, shows a bridge at this point. See IV.
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
About 500 yards further upstream is another dam built by Calvin Frizell in 1839. He was somewhat of a genius hav- ing the spirit and aptitudes of a born mechanic so those who remember him deelare. He sold the property to a son of par- son Wood who tried to manufacture water wheels and wagons. Those who remember his efforts say facetiously, "that he got one water wheel so that it would almost turn." Rev. John Carpenter finally bought the property. The house site where Calvin Frizell lived is just east of the dam. A cellar is all that marks the site. (See V.) Tradition says that the house was taken down to make Carpenter's store at Drake's bridge or near Fuller's bridge.
Proceeding upstream we find the dam built by the Hamilton Woolen Co., in 1865, for storage purposes, which has already been described. See VI.
Into the Quinnebang from the west flows Morgan's brook, later called Stevens' brook, now sometimes called Howlett's brook. It should be called "South Meadow Brook." Upon this brook just west of the bridge, of the road to Union is a dam where was a mill called Stevens' Mill. Here cloth was dressed ; the farmers bringing the product of their home looms to receive the final dressing that would put a nap or soft sur- face to the cloth before being made up into garments. Card- ing was also done here, so that housewives were not compelled to card by hand. Tailoring was also done. Leavens Stevens was the proprietor, assisted by his son, Jarvis. The mill is gone now. See VII.
About half a mile up this stream is another dam in ruins ; for what purpose built we have not been able to determine unless for storage purposes. The dam is near a house-site once occupied by Ephraim Bond, an early resident of Holland and it may have been built for a saw mill. See VIII. Near the bridge over this brook on the "Old South Road," (discon-
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MANUFACTURES OF HOLLAND.
tinued from William Lilley's barn to the old southwest school- house site in 1828) is another dam where tradition has it that a mill stood. One by the name of Chandler lived there on a house-site nearby ; but whether he ever run the mill we have not been able to discover. See IX. Further up the stream we come to a dam built by Col. John Butterworth in 1849, where he built a small mill and made cotton batting. See X.
A few rods farther up the brook Col. Butterworth built in 1835 a saw mill, for lumber and shingles also a grist mill. It still survives, a relic of bygone days, the only one of all the many that once did that work in the region. The property is now owned by D. E. Butterworth, grandson of the original proprietor. See XI.
Across the road northwest of this mill is a mill-site where it was expected and intended to manufacture silk. It was built about 1850 by Col. Butterworth, Squire, and Charles P. W. Fuller. So far as we have been able to learn no silk was ever manufactured there, yet a few kept silk worms to raise the silk but gave it up. But candle wicking and cotton cloth are said to have been made there for a time, the water being con- ducted in a long canal to the mill from a reservoir farther up- stream where the dam built for storage, now in ruins, marks the place. XII and XIII.
Further up the stream and north of what is known as the Parson's house-site is another mill dam. Here was erected probably the second saw mill in the territory that became Holland. The homestead was known as the Munger home- stead. John Munger lived there, son to deacon Nathaniel Munger, who lived on the place now owned by James Henry Walker. Simeon Munger, son to John Munger, lived there in the early days of Holland and raised a numerous family recorded in the town records. Here, we may believe, the lum- ber was sawed with which the west faction built the church between Grandy and Rattlesnake mountains, in 1764, or at a
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
dam near Nathaniel Munger's house. No one now living re- members the time when a mill stood there, by Simeon Munger's, but evidences of its being a mill site are not lacking, and "Munger's mill" is spoken of, in the town records of early date. Joseph Blodgett was first owner of the land but he did not build the mill. See deed of Joseph Blodgett to John Munger. XIV.
Retracing our steps to the Uriah Marcy homestead we find a brook flowing into South Meadow brook, known as Marey's brook. It has its rise among the hills at the south end of the town. About half a mile south of the house on this brook, Uriah Marcy had a mill and dam built in 1860. His son, Hallowell Marey, doing much of the work. It was here that he got the experience that enabled him to become the successful lumber merchant he is now. As before stated the wheel and machinery were brought from the mill on Janes' brook. The wheel was of the "overshot" type, and drove an "up and down" saw. A mass of ruins now marks the place. See map number XV.
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