USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Lee > History of the town of Lee, Mass. : a lecture, delivered before the Young Men's Association of Lee, March 22d, 1854 > Part 4
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The following description of our land is from the pen of the Rev. Dr. Ilyde :
"The town is six miles in length and five in breadth, and presents a very diversified appearance. It forms a part of the interval which lies between the Taghconic and Green Mountain ranges. The Green Mountain range, which rises to a moderate elevation, runs partly within the eastern limits of the town, presenting a very picturesque appearance. These mountains are, for the most part, of gentle acclivity, and are cultivated in some places quite to their summits. From the base of these mountains, the surface of the earth
sheep
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HISTORY OF LEE.
is rather uneven, occasionally rising into hills of considerable height, but generally descending until it reaches the plain upon the banks of the Housatonic. West of this river, the land is everywhere undulating in its appearance, inclining towards the south."
So diversified is the scenery in and around our town, that you cannot change your position a rod without a change of scenery, and new objects of interest coming into view.
XI. MINERAL RESOURCES.
MARBLE is the most valuable mineral in Lee as yet dis- covered. The supply is inexhaustible. It is casy of access, and for a generation at least it will be comparatively easy of exportation, as some of this marble lies 120 feet above the river. This marble is of a superior quality. Prof. Hitch- cock says that it "is a pure crystaline double carbonate of magnesia and lime." It is therefore dolomite marble. It is pure white, and is susceptible of a very fine polish. It will also work a perfectly square arris. This renders it a desira- ble material for chimney-pieces, furniture, &c. Frost and heat effect scarcely no change in size or weight. and its strength will sustain 26,000 lbs. to the square inch, while Italian mar- ble crushes at 13,000 lbs. to the square inch, and most of the American marble will crush at 12,000 lbs.
By some of the severest tests to which marble can be put by the chemist and architect, Lee marble was decided to be the best in the world for a building material; hence, a Congressional Committee decided that this should be the . marble to be used for the enlargement of our national Capi- tol. The owners of our Quarry have contracted to furnish the marble for that vast enlargement for $1,000,000.
The following statistics will give an idea of the extent of this branch of business. The Company work 100 men, who get out 500 feet of marble per day. This will weigh 50 tons. The single item of freight is $800 per week, and the Company pay out about $300 per day. The value of marble annually produced is about $125,000.
This business adds wealth not only to the Company en- gaged in it, but to the town. It supports some 500 of our people.
LIME is another production of our mineral resources. Limestone is readily obtained in various parts of the town. 30,000 bushels of good lime are annually produced in Lec. and this business can be enlarged to any extent that enterprise and capital will admit. 5
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HISTORY OF LEE.
IRON ORE is found in different parts of the town. The extensive beds of this ore that have been examined and tested, the specimens in our stone walls and fields, are con- elusive evidence that the mineral resources of our town are not yet fully understood. The time is not distant when this useful ore will be sought for, and be converted into iron within our own limits.
BRICK CLAY is found in several parts of the town, and at the south part it is worked to a considerable extent.
POTTER'S CLAY is found in the south part of the town, and is said to be susceptible of producing excellent ware.
XII. ECCLESIASTICAL.
'The religious privileges of our fathers were very few. This region was a howling wilderness. For many years, the inhabitants were few and scattered over a large territory.
Old Mr. Swift visited the Bassetts soon after their settle- ment here, and, as he looked around him, exclaimed to his friends, "I think that you are very highly favored in this town." When asked, why so? he replied, "I have always noticed that ministers and other good men always pray for the desolate parts of the earth, and I have no doubt but that you share in their prayers."
When David Baker left the Cape, in 1780, he was a young man, and so desolate this region was then considered, that his pious mother remarked, as he left her home, "David is going to Mount Ephraim, and he will never hear another sermon."
These circumstances will, perhaps, illustrate the privation of religious privileges experienced by our fathers. And yet the tone of morals among them was such as should put us, their degenerate sons, to the blush. They were too near the Mayflower to tolerate error in doctrine or immorality in prac- tice. The Town Treasurer's book indicates this high tone of morality. As early as 1780,
Seth Handy paid for breach of the Sabbath, $2,00
Owen Swift for breach of the Sabbath, 2,00
Travellers on the Sabbath, 2,00
Job Hamblin for swearing, 1,00
A stranger for swearing, ,63
For several years, our fathers had preaching from three to eight Sundays in a year, by such men as could for the time be obtained.
The Charter for the incorporation of the town was accept- ed Dec. 26th, 1777, and on the 8th of Jan., 1778, thirteen
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HISTORY OF LEE. 35
days after, the second Town Meeting was held, when the fol- lowing vote was passed, which was all that was done at that time,-" Voted, to raise the sum of £30 lawful money, to be laid out in preaching the gospel. Voted, to choose three men for a Committee, to employ a preacher, and to pay him the above money that is voted,-Jesse Bradley, Oliver West, and Job Hamblin."
The first sum of money which the town voted to raise was " for preaching the gospel."
The first religious meeting was held in Dea. Oliver West's barn, which stood where a barn now stands upon the old Wakefield place, near the burying-ground. The hay-mow constituted the orchestra. That old barn echoed in the sweet- est melody, with the divine songs sung by that choir in which the children of Jonathan Foote composed the most important part. In view of this latter fact, Nathan Dillingham, the then poet of Lee, perpetrated the following :
"David and Ase sing bass, Jonathan and Fenner sing tenor ; Vice and Sol beat them all."
The meeting afterwards was held in Peter Wilcox's barn. which stood in the rear of Mr. Linn's house, on Main street. The meetings were held in Mr. Wilcox's barn, and in the un- finished chamber of Lyman Foote's house, till 1780, when they were held in the first meeting-house.
On the 16th of Nov., 1778, the next year after the adop- tion of the Charter, it was "voted to build a meeting-house 48 by 36 ; and that £700 be raised to defray the expense. Voted, to set the meeting-house where the last Committee ser. the stake," which, on inquiry, I find was in the east side of the Park. For several years, this house had no glass win- dows, no stationary seats, no door-step, and never was lathed or plastered. The rough, massive timbers were exposed from the floor to the ridgepole.
Conecive, if you can, of the place where our fathers wor- shipped God, as it appeared in 1792, when Dr. Hyde first came to town. In the east side of the Park, directly in front of Joseph Bassett's house, stood a building fronting the south 36 by 48, with 30-ft. posts. There is no steeple nor tower. The sides are sheathed up with wide unpainted boards. There is an S-foot projection in front, of one-third the width of the building. As we enter that sacred place, the frame, composed of timbers of enormous dimensions, rough as the woodman's axe left them, meets our eye all around and above. The square pews occupied the larger part of the floor. There are three galleries: in the front of each was one long seat, back of the side seats were four square pews, and in the rear of the front seat were three others. In that front seat stood the singers, with Mr. Holister, their leader. On one side of the
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HISTORY OF LEE.
only door of entrance sat Daniel Santee, the negro, with his long cane in band, and Betty his wife sat upon the other side of the door. Daniel faithfully kept the unruly dogs out of the church, and became a terror to all roguish boys within.
In that plain pulpit, fastened to the north end of the house, midway from the floor to the plates, stood Rev. Alvan Hyde, then a young man. No cushions relieved the tedious hour,-no stove quieted the chattering teeth during those cold Berkshire winters. Such was the place in which, for twenty years, our fathers worshipped God.
Our fathers recognized the liberty of conscience more readily than the most of their cotemporaries, as the following vote will show. , At a meeting of the town, for the purpose of inviting Rev. A. Fowler to become their Christian minis- ter, held April 7th, 1780, it was "voted to exempt all the Churchmen, and Baptista, and the Quakers, from settling and supporting a Presbyterian minister in the town."
The next year, when the town passed a vote to raise money for Rev. Mr. Kirkland, it was "voted to exempt all Church- men, Baptists, and Quakers, paying for preaching."
Here is a recognition of a religious freedom not common in those days.
In 1800, the old unfinished church gave place to this (Con- gregational), which was enlarged in 18-18, by the addition of 22 feet. This house is now, by including the vestibule, 50 by 92 feet. When this house was raised, in 1800, one hundred able-bodied men were selected from this and other towns to raise the frame; and when the frame of the steeple had been raised to its place, Roland Thatcher, the sailor, ascended to the top of the ciglit-inch stick upon which rests the brass ball, and, standing upon the top, swung a bottle around his head three times, and then threw it to the ground. This was deemed a great feat. In the erection of this house, in 1800, Josiah Yale, Esq., one of the early settlers of the town, took a lively interest. To his property, influence, credit, and per- sonal efforts, more than that of any other man, was the erec- tion of this edifice indebted.
When this house was dedicated, in 1800, the young people of Richmond and Pittsfield came on horseback, and hitched their horses to hemlock staddles standing in a hemlock swamp, situated where this church now stands. The original bed of our river is under this church, extending to Dr. Bartlett's, and thence down the Catholic lot.
The CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH in this town was organ- ized on the 25th of May, 1780, with thirty members. The same Articles of Faith and Covenant then adopted have remained unchanged to the present time. In 1790, the town
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HISTORY OF LEE.
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appointed Eben Jenkins, Joshua Wells, John Keep, Abijah Merrell, Seth Backus, and Edmund Hinckley, a Committee " to make some alterations in the Church Covenant;" but no change was effected.
Several extensive revivals have been enjoyed by this church, and in some of them more than one hundred persons united at each season. In 1834, this church numbered 407 members ; and I am told that, in 1826 and 7, it could not have . numbered less than 440-a much larger number than what has been associated with this body at any one time, before or since.
This church embraces many members whose loyalty to Christ is unquestioned, and whose benevolence is worthy of commendation ; and many have gone out from this body who are filling honorable and useful stations in the world.
In 1811, the Congregational church in Dover, Ashtabula Co., O., was constituted in this town, the most of whose mem- bers were till then connected with this church. This emigrat- ing church was then emphatically a "church in the wilder- ness." The members of this Dover church, and congregation connected with it, emigrated from this and adjoining towns.
The statistics of the Congregational church in Lee may be stated thus :
Whole number,
1228
Present
358
No. that have entered the Christian ministry from this church, 16
66 ¥ died while members, 354
66 66 been honorably dismissed, 475
. This church has had seren Pastors, viz. :
. Rev. Elisha Parmley, ordained July 3, 1783, died 1784
Alvan Hyde, D.D., June 6, 1792, 1833
J. N. Damforth, installed June18, 1834, dismis'd 1838 " W. B. Bond, ordained March, 1840, ¥ 1845
Ralph Smith, installed Dec., 1845, 66 1850
S. D. Clark, June, 1851, 66 1852
Nahum Gale, Sept. 1, 1853.
Mr. Gale is a native of Auburn, Mass. Graduated at Amherst College in 1837, and Windsor Theological Institu- tion in 1840.
By these statistics, it appears that the Congregational church in Lee has a history of 74 years. It has had seven pastors. It has been destitute of a pastor 16 years. And yet, since the dismission of Mr. Damforth, their pulpit has not been vacant a single Sabbath when they have not had a pastor. Two of these pastors have died while sustaining that relation.
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HISTORY OF LEE.
This sketch would be imperfect did I not particularly speak of the venerable Hyde. If any one man more than another is worthy of the name of "father of the town," that man was the Rev. Alvan Hyde, D. D. He came into Lee when it was new, and, for many years, he was the only minister in town. The people were few, and permanently located. They were a church-going people. Skepticism and immorality rarely manifested themselves. The fathers loved the Sabbath and its institutions, and their children never heard them speak aught against their religions teacher. The children grew up to maturity around the same pastor, and were wont to regard him more as a parent than one sustaining to them any other relation.
Such was the state of things here during most of the time that Dr. Hyde was the minister of Lce. For more than 41 years, he remained at his post. A whole generation had grown up around him, who loved and revered him as their only pastor.
Mr. Hyde was a good man. The poor, afflicted, and dis- tressed ever found in him a sympathetic friend. He buried the original settlers of the town, with many of their children. and children's children. He married the fathers and mothers of' Lee, their children, and grandchildren. His memory is identified with much that was afffictive and joyous-with all the important interests of the people of this town, during that 40 years' pastorate. His deportment was dignified, exemplary, and devout ; and when occasion offered, he was approachable and quite sociable. Ile was singularly methodical in all his Jabors. His time was so appropriated as to give ample time for every duty ; hence, everything that he did was well done. IIe seldom indulged in anything that neutralized his public efforts. He knew every person in town, and, as a good shep- herd, he called each of his own flock by name, even the youngest children. For more that forty years, Mr. Hyde visited each of the Common schools in town four times a year. and examined the scholars not only in their appropriate studies, but he invariably questioned the oldler pupils in the " Assembly's Shorter Catechism."
No man has done more to train the rising generation, con- struet the conventional forms of society, and mould this com- munity, than did Dr. Hyde. He considered the whole town as constituting his parish, and every individual in it had a claim upon his attention and sympathy. Intruders sometimes. however, caused him much anxiety. Had Mr. Ilyde lived fifty years later, with the new elements introduced into this community, he would evidently have found it. impossible to exert that controlling influence over our people which was universally felt during his useful career. Such a long and successful pastorate is a great blessing to any town.
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HISTORY OF LEE.
This church has had 13 Deacons, of whom four are now filling this office :
Oliver West,
Elected 1783
Died
1816
Jesse Bradley,
1783
1812
Levi Nye,
66
1792
1825
Edmund Hinckley,
1804
1822
David Ingersoll,
66 1812
1839
Joli Thatcher,
66
1816
66 1828
Josiah Spencer,
66
1821
Removed 1833
Nathan Bassett,
1826
Died
1842
Hubbard Bartlett,
1829
E. C. Bradley,
1833
Resigned 1846
Caleb Belden,
1842
Alexander Hyde,
1846
Samuel A. Hulbert,
1852
Oliver West was the first Clerk of this church, and con- tinued to perform the duties of that office till the settlement of Dr. Hyde, when he performed its duties till the time of his death ; when Dea. Bartlett was elected to the office, and is the present Clerk of the church.
. The METHODIST CHURCH AT SOUTH LEE has a history of 49 years.
In 1805. a Rev. Mr. Garrison, an Episcopal Methodist. began a religious meeting in the Red school-house, in the east end of the village, in the south part of the town, which has been continued to the present time. For several years. only one service was held upon the Sabbath. The preachers were generally itinerants, but most generally lived in town. The Rev. Wm. Ross, a native of Lec, was among the first that preached to this people. This church has had not less than 35 different preachers, among whom Rev. Messrs. Gar- rison, Ross, Woolsey. Cook, Rice, Herbberd, Jacobs, T. Clark, Horatio Smith, and Nathan Bangs, are affectionately spoken of. Since 1825, this church has had preaching every alter- nate Sunday. It was formerly a much larger society than at present. Their present number is 42. Much good has been accomplished by this body of Christians in times past. Rev. Richard Hiscox is their present preacher.
The BAPTIST MEETING AT SOUTH LEE originated as fol- lows. In 1825, Rev. Ira Hall, a Baptist minister, came to South Lee, and commenced a religious meeting in the old Red school-house, and for eight years preached every alter-
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HISTORY OF LEE.
nate Sunday in that village. The other Sabbaths he spent in Tyringham. Mr. Hall was a good man. His Christian and ministerial influence is still felt by many families in this town.
The Baptist church of Tyringham and Lee was consti- tuted August 22d, 1827, with twenty members. The mem- bers of this church lived in both of these towns. It has stated public and church meetings, and the observance of the church ordinances in both places.
For nine years past, each meeting has had its own pastor ; while the church organization remains as when first consti- tuted. There is, therefore, one church organization, two societies, two meeting-houses, two meetings, and two ministers, one at Tyringham and the other at South Lee.
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In 1828, a Baptist society was organized in connection with the meeting at South Lee, of which N. Tremain, Esq., was the first Clerk. Through the agency of this society, in part, the meeting-house at South Lee was erected as a " Union Church," owned by everybody and yet by nobody in particu- lar. The people of Lee generally assisted in the erection of that house.
Several extensive revivals have been enjoyed in connection with their meetings. But the removals from town, and by death, and the change of the population, have greatly re- duced the number of professed Christians in that village. The following table will indicate those who have been their pastors :
Rev. Ira Hall, settled
1825 resigned 1833
Isaac Child,
1836
1837
Alex. Bush, ordained Oct. 1838 died June 1844
Geo. Phippin, settled April 1844 resigned April 1846 Forris More, 1846
The Deacons of the Tyringham and South Lee church are as follows :
Arvid Merrell, elected 1832 dead
Ezra Heath,
66 1832 resigned 1847
Cyrus Heath,
1847
Solomon Garfield, 66 1851
Henry Bassett,
1851
Whole No. that have been members, 242 No. baptized, 132 died, 21
honorably dismissed, 76
" present members, 103
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HISTORY OF LEE.
The METHODIST CHURCH IN LEE CENTRE dates its com- mencement as early as 1831. Prior to this time, Methodist meetings had been occasionally held in the school-house near Beach & Royce's, to which several local preachers ministered.
In 1831, the Rev. Messrs. Homer and Starks, two itinerant preachers, established stated meetings in Water street. At this point, Lee Centre became known to the Conference as a missionary station. But it was not till 1838, that they had meetings every Sabbath. The hall in the Centre school-house was fitted up at that time, and served for a place of worship till Jan. 15, 1840, when their church was dedicated. This house was 40 by 56 ft. It was built principally by gentlemen that heretofore had not sympathized with that meeting.
In 1849, their house becoming too strait for them. was enlarged by the addition of 20 feet to its former length. They were encouraged to make this enlargement by a generous proposition from Wm. Taylor, Esq.
In 1837, the society connected with this congregation was formed, of which Hosea Allen is the present Clerk.
I regret that I am unable to state the whole number that have been connected with this church. The present number, as last reported, is 135.
The preachers of this church are as follows :
1831 Homer and Starks 1843 Charles C. Keyes
1832 Julius Field 1844 John Sellick
1833
1845 66 66
1834 J. B. Wakeley
1846 James N. Shaffer
1835
1847
1836 Denton Keeler · 1848 Peletiah Ward
1837 Keeler and Warner 1849
1838 Van Deusen and Nash 1839 Shaw 1851 Z. N. Lewis
1850 J. Z. Nichols
1840 Wm. Gothard
1852 65 1841
1853 L. W. Peck
1842 Charles C. Keyes
The Rev. L. W. Peck is a native of Luzern, Penn. He graduated at the New York University in 1845.
The FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH is the next in the order of time.
In 1844. Albert Marie came into town, and visited the colored people in this place. He met with them and preached to them in school-houses and private dwellings. He organized " The Free-Will Baptist Church in Lee" sometime during that year. It was provided with the proper officers. On the 6
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HISTORY OF LEE.
death of Mr. Juba Stephenson, their last preacher, five years since, this little church lost their greatest support. For several years they have had no church meetings.
The BAPTIST CHURCH IN LEE is the last ecclesiastical organization in this town.
On the 14th of July, 1850, a Baptist meeting was com- mienced in the Academy Hall, and was continued there till Nov. 23, 1852, when their church edifice was dedicated. Their house is 50 by 67 feet, with a spire 148 feet from the ground. There are 109 slips upon the floor of the church, 15 of which are free slips.
The church was organized Sept. 14, 1850, with twenty members. There have been 126 different members connected with this church, 56 of whom were added by baptism.
Few churches have been more united and energetic in the accomplishment of their appropriate work. I do not recol- lect of a single dissenting vote in any decision to which the body has arrived relative to any matter that has come before it. There is no society connected with this church; but the rent of pews is intended to meet the current expenses.
Rev. Amory Gale has been with this people from their commencement, who accepted of the pastorship Sept. 14, 1850, the day of their organization. Mr. Gale is a native of Royalston, Mass. He graduated at Brown University in 1843, and at Newton Theological Institution in 1846.
J. W. Mills was the first Clerk, and A. P. Werden fills that office at present.
The following persons have been elected Deacons of this church :
Moses E. Culver, elected Sept., 1850 Eli Tainter, 6 May, 1852 Hosea Codding, 6 May, 1852
The ROMAN CATHOLICS, for a year past, have held occa- sional meetings in our village. They have purchased an eligible lot, and intend to erect a marble church in the course of another season.
These six and a half churches are sufficient to meet the present wants of this place ; and if our people do not attend church, it cannot be for the want of suitable accommodations, or churches of their own preference.
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HISTORY OF LEE.
XIII. ASSOCIATIONS.
We have a number of Associations worthy of a place in this sketch of the town; some of the most prominent facts . in the history of which have been kindly furnished by their respective officers.
FREEMASONS. The Evening Star Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, was constituted by Charter from the Grand Lodge of the State of Massachusetts, October 10, 1795. Its first Master was William Walker, Esq., of Lenox. Its present Master is Eli Bradley, of Lee. The whole number who have been associated with this Lodge from its commencement is 163. Its present number is 64.
ODD FELLows. The Mahaiwe Lodge, No. 126, I. O. of O. F., was instituted in Lee, Mass., March 30, 1848, with ten Charter members. Since then, there have been initiated and admitted by Card, 114, making in all, 124
Dismissed, to unite with other Lodges, 11
Suspended or excluded for intemperance, and other conduct unbecoming Odd Fellows, 17 Died, 2
Present number, 94
The Lodge commenced with a debt of $400.
It has received for Contributions, Degrees, and Quarterly Payments, $3685 41
It has paid for extinguishing Debt, $400 00
Sick Benefits, 923 42
Funeral Benefits, 160 00
Benefits to Widows, 81 25
66
" other Charitable purposes, 250 00
.. Lodge Expenses, 872 92
2687 59
Balance in Treasury, $997 82
The first Noble Grand was HI. S. Cobb, M. D. The present . Noble Grand is R. I.I. Jenkins.
SAVINGS BANK. The Lee Savings Bank was chartered March 5, 1852, and commenced business in June following. This is an Institution of a benevolent character. It is in- tended to encourage the young and the poor to save the sur- plus of their earnings. The depositors are the shareholders. The officers have mere nominal salaries. The Institution is able, therefore, to give credit to the depositors six per cent. interest semi-annually. It receives any amount from $1 to
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HISTORY OF LEE.
$1000. Up to the 1st of June, 1854, the whole number of depositors was 316, and the number then was 250, who had on deposit $40,000.
The Officers of the Lee Savings Bank are- Harrison Garfield, President. Thomas Sedgwick, Vice-President.
E. A. Bliss, Secretary & Treasurer.
Board of Trustees.
Wm. Taylor, Increase Sumner, Gt. Brng'ton,
Eli Bradley,
Kendall Baird, Becket,
S. A. Hulbert,
Charles Heebner,
T. P. Eldridge, II. H. Bidwell.
Wm. Williams, Stockbridge,
YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the young men of Lee was held Dec. 15, 1852, to form an Association for their moral and intellectual improvement. Such a Society was organized, to be known by the above name. By its order, a petition was presented to the Legislature of this State for a Charter, and the following was received, viz. :
An Act to Incorporate the Young Men's Association of Lec.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :
Sect. 1. Alexander Ilyde, Z. N. Lewis, Amory Gale, F. Sturgis, their associates and successors, are hereby made a Corporation, by the name of the Young Men's Association of Lee, in the County of Berkshire, for the purpose of improving. the moral and intellectual condition of the young men of said town, by means of a library, reading-room, and lectures, with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties, liabilities, and restrictions, set forth in the forty-fourth chapter of the Revised Statutes.
Sect. 2. Said Corporation may hold real and personal estate, to an amount not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars. [Approved by the Governor, March 24, 1853.]
The Association was re-organized under the Charter, Sept. 1st, 1853, and the following Constitution, as amended at several times, is that under which their business is trans- acted, viz. :
I. This Association shall be called the "Young Men's Association of Lee."
II. The officers of this Association shall be -- a President, two Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and Librarian, who shall together constitute an Executive Committee, and shall be elected annually by ballot. No officer of this Asso- ciation shall be eligible to election to the same office for two successive terms, except the Secretary and Librarian.
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HISTORY OF LEE.
III. The annual meeting of the Association for the choice of officers shall be holden on the first Wednesday of Sept., at which time the Executive Committee shall make a report of their doings.
IV. Any person may become a member of this Associa- tion by subscribing to this Constitution, and the annual pay- ment of one dollar, if over 21 years of age, or half a dollar if under that age. And any person may become a member for life by the payment of ten dollars at any one time. The money received for life-membership shall constitute a perma- nent fund for the Association.
V. It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to appropriate the funds, to make arrangements for an annual course of lectures and for debates, and such other means of improvement as shall seem to them expedient, subject to this Constitution and the By-Laws, and decisions of this Asso- ciation.
VI. This Constitution may be altered and By-Laws estab- lished at any regular meeting, provided notice of such altera- tion and By-Laws be given to the Association at least one week previous to such meeting.
The Association has four departments,-Public Lectures, Debates, Reading-Room, and Library.
During the winter months, a course of Lectures is sus- tained, of an instructive and entertaining character. In con- nection with the Lectures, Debates are maintained. These occur on the alternate weeks of the Lecture.
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The Reading-Room. open at all hours of the day, is an inviting place for every young man. It has 25 different periodicals ;- 4 of these are Dailies, 1 semi-Weekly, 8 are Weeklies, 8 are Monthlies, 4 are Quarterlies. The present - number of books in the Library is about 400. Many of them are valuable, and some of them are of recent pro- duction. There have been 150 different persons, mem- bers of that body, and the present number of members is 79; life-members, 1.
This Association, which I have the honor of addressing this evening, is certainly worthy of the patronage of all our citizens. We have no Society that can accomplish more for our young people than this.
The first President of this Society was Alexander HIyde, Esq. The present Board are --
Charles Ballard, President.
John Branning, Vice-Presidents.
Marshall Wilcox, J. T. Leonard, Secretary.
E. H. Saunders, Treasurer.
Benjamin Dean, Librarian.
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HISTORY OF LEE.
We have had other Societies for moral and intellectual purposes, such as Temperance Societies, Libraries, Reading Circles, &c., but whose existence has ceased with the demand of the particular exigences which called them forth. .
I have now accomplished my design. It has been my aim to present a sketch of our town "as it was and as it is."
I regret that I have not been able to gather more facts relative to former times. Those who have never been engaged in such an undertaking as this, are unprepared to appreciate the amount of time and labor required to gather and arrange what I have here presented. Most of what I have said of men and things in the early history of this town, has reached us in scraps of historic facts as they have been handed down from one generation to another.
I regret that, in the notices of the two Methodist churches, there were no records to which I could have access.
If there should be detected any mistakes in this Address, allow me to say that no time or labor have been spared to make it as perfect as possible. I have done what I could. If I have succeeded in presenting a fair description of Lec. my object is gained.
Lee, located territorially in the centre of Berkshire County, : possessing the most healthy climate, and presenting the most enchanting scenery, cannot fail of eliciting the admiration of' all. With our privileges, geographical, civil, educational, and religious, combined with our vast water power unimproved, there is no reason why we should not continue to extend our business and increase our population to an indefinite extent. If a general intelligence, high tone of morality, among a majority of our citizens, private enterprize, devotion to busi- ness, and a distribution of wealth, combined with a family pride, love of home and home scenes, and an unconquerable perseverance and industry will build up a place, then Lee, at no distant day, must take her place side by side with the lead- ing manufacturing cities of New England.
Let the stern integrity, unbending patriotism, the love of the good and the true of our fathers, be cherished,-let the principles of strict temperance and morality be observed .- let a generous public spirit become prevalent, and the recog- nition of political and religious rights and privileges be cheer- fully acknowledged, and the Giver of all good will continue to smile upon our town.
-----
-----
INDEX.
OKIGIN AND GENERAL HISTORY, -
p. 5
John Winegar and the Indian,
1
The first fourteen Families and their Location,
-
Nathan Foote and the Royal Oak,
Asahel Foote rode a Stringpiece, -
-
6
'THE FIVE GRANTS,
Hopland Grant,
-
-
1
-
Laraby's Grant, 1
1
Glassworks Grant,
1
11
Revolutionary War,
1
-
14
Mra. Perry's Victory,
-
14
Scouting Parties,
15 .
War of 1812, -
15
CIVIL HISTORY,
1€
Table of Clerks, Selectmen, Representatives, and Votet for Governor,
17
Senators from Lee, -
20
PROFESSIONAL MEN,
21
Ministers, Justices, and Lawyers,
91
Physicians,
2%
Post-Masters,
28
EDUCATION,
28
Origin of Hopland School Fund,
24
Hopland Charter,
26
College Graduates from Lee,
25
HEALTH, 1-
29
First Birth, Publishment, Marriage, and Death, MANUFACTURES,
29
Woolen Manufactures,
80
Paper Manufactures,
80
Lee Bank, -
,
Stores and Shops, - - -
Public-Houses,
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
CHARTER,
First Town Meeting, WARS,
1
11
Shay's War,
-
00
Watson's Grant,
Williams' Grant,
-
29
--
48
INDEX.
AGRICULTURE, -
-
-
p. 82
MINERAL RESOURCES,
-
-
-
88
ECCLESIASTICAL,
84
Early Religious History of the Town,
84
First Meeting-House,
85
Congregational Church,
86
Methodist Church at South Lee, -
39
Baptist Meeting at South Lee, -
39
Methodist Church in Lee Centre, -
41
Free-Will Baptist Church,
41
Baptist Church in Lee,
42
Roman Catholics,
42
ASSOCIATIONS,
48
.
Freemasons,
48
Odd Fellows,
1
40
Savings Bank,
48
Young Men's Association,
1
1
44
CONCLUSION,
1
46
-
-
ç
1
6052
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