USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Pittsfield > History of the town of Pittsfield, in Berkshire County, Mass., with a map of the county > Part 2
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In 1790, there was no appearance of a village in the cen- tre ; nor were there any considerable clusters of dwellings along the streams. With the exception of a few mechan- ics, the most needful to a farming population, nearly every man throughout the township supported himself and fami- ly by the cultivation of the soil. The vast amount of water power was hardly thought of for any other purpose than the turning of a few mills of the most common description, un- til within a period comparatively recent, excepting some forges on the Pontoosuc and the outlet of the West Pond. Now this power is turned to great account, and may be to greater hereafter. Hundreds of mechanics dwell here, and it is practically shown that farmers and mechanics may greatly contribute to each other's prosperity and happiness.
WATER-PRIVILEGES USED, ABANDONED, UNOCCUPIED; MILLS, PAST AND PRESENT ; FACTORIES.
The eastern branch of the Housatonic affords important water privileges before it enters this town, in Dalton and Hinsdale, on which several factories are already erected. On this, soon after it enters the town, a saw-mill was built about 1777, which has been kept up until the present time, and saws a great amount of lumber. On this, as it approach-
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es the village, Root's Factory was built in 1809 or '10. It was first used in the manufacture of woolen and then of cotton, but has ceased to be. The great difficulty about it was, that the water fall could not be made more than four feet, without injuring the important meadows back. It was believed by some, that machinery might have been turned without injury, by the introduction of a water-wheel of the right construction.
Immediately upon the settlement of the town, Dea. Ste- phen Crofoot contemplated the erection of a grist-mill and a saw-mill on this stream, near where " White's Mills" re- cently were. The privilege lay within the limits of the school lot. Accordingly, at the first meeting of the propri- etors, after their incorporation, in Sept. 1753, a part of the business was, " To choose some person or persons to make exchange of a part of the school-lot, for some part of Dea- Crofoot's lot, so as to accommodate his mills ; and to see what the proprietors would give to Dea. Crofoot for setting up the mills." It was at this time, a great object with the proprietors to secure the erection of the mills, especially of the grist mill ; for there was no place where they could get their grain floured nearer than " Great Barrington Bridge," twenty miles distant, and for a great part of the way, through a wilderness. A small grist-mill, indeed, existed on Sepoos, or Barnum's brook, in Stockbridge ; but it was insufficient to do the grinding for that town. What agreement was entered into at first, the writer is not now able to state, nor how soon precisely the mills were built. Their erection may have been delayed by the prospect and occurrence of the "Second French War." Eventually, however, the town granted to Dea. Crofoot the use of the mill privilege for a given number of years, and he placed himself under bonds to keep the grist-mill in a state of re- pair for the accommodation of the inhabitants. The mills were built, and in connection with them a fulling mill, be- longing to Jacob Ensign. In 1778, the term of the lease to Crofoot having expired, the town sold the "mill privi- lege" to Ebenezer White, in whose hands, and in those of
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his son, Enoch White, the privilege remained until 1842, when it was purchased by Thomas F. Plunkett, the present owner of Pittsfield Cotton Mills, (so called) about forty rods below, that he might have the entire control of the water. The mills are removed, though the owner has permitted a saw-mill to be built on the site of the gristmill, on certain conditions, one of which is, that the mill shall be run only when and so far as it may be run without injury to his own establishment, he himself being judge. The Cotton Mills were erected in 1832. The factory is a large brick build- ing, eighty feet by forty, with a wheel-house attached. The average number of hands is seventy, who are employ- ed in making light sheetings, the only style of goods here manufactured. Three hundred and forty-six bales, or 164,- 500 pounds of cotton are annually used. They are ma- king sheetings this year, at the rate of 630,000 yards, hav- ing more and some improved machinery.
The west branch of the Housatonic, or Pontoosuc river, as it is more commonly named, after it passes from the North or Lanesborough Pond, to its junction with the east branch, a distance of three or four miles, is a very important mill stream. The North Pond itself, Shoonkemoonkeek in the Indian language, (Shoonkemoonke, as the English pro- nounce it,) covering an area of 1400 acres, and in some places of great depth, is a vast reservoir of water, and being supplied by subjacent springs, as well as by the streams which flow into it from New Ashford and Lanesborough, af- fords an outlet, capable of turning a much greater quantity of machinery than is now placed upon it, extensively as it is already improved. It is not affected by drought, as streams generally are. The armory, the oldest establish- ment now existing upon it, has never been stopped a day for the want of water, nor by such a rise in the stream, as to cause the waters to flow back. The fall from the surface of the pond to the Woolen Factory, southwest of the vil- lage, two and a half miles perhaps, is not less than one hun- dred and twenty or thirty feet. From the first one and a quarter or one and a half miles, to Goodrich's factory, this
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is so great, that the entire stream may be used many times over, while farther on, where the fall is less, the stream is increased by the outlet of West Pond, a pond said to cover a greater area than the North Pond, though it does not send forth as much water, having no considerable brooks running into it. The proportion is about as two to three.
In Sept. 1762, Joseph Keeler, of Ridgefield, Ct. purchased two tracts of land, containing together about two hundred acres on the south-west and south-east shore of the North pond, extending down the outlet some forty rods ; on which, in the course of that or the succeeding year, he erected a grist-mill and a saw-mill ; the former of which was kept up until within a very few years. The site of the latter, some years since, was occupied by a scythe shop. Both are now gone.
Where the Pontoosuc factory is, a saw-mill was early erected; and where Pomeroy's gun factory is, a forge was built probably not long after 1770, which was improved as a forge by different individuals or companies, and sometimes to a very considerable extent, until 1805 or 6. Ore for this was procured mostly from Cone's bed in Richmond, some was obtained from a bed in the west part of Lanesboro', while some was picked up on the farms of the inhabitants in the neighborhood.
Where Goodrich's mill dam now is, there was a fulling- mill, belonging to Dea. Matthew Barber, and also a saw- mill as early as 1776.
Below the junction of West pond brook with the Pontoo- suc, a little north of the west road from the village, Rufus Allen built a forge about 1775; but as the dam flowed the marshes back, and produced fever and ague among the inhabitants, he was obliged to abandon it. A little south, but still north of the road, sometime afterward, a nail fac- tory, chair factory, &c. were built, which are not now in operation.
To the south of the west road, in 1766 or 7, where Luce's mill a few years since stood, Ezra Strong and others erected a grist-mill; opposite to which, on the same dam, a saw-
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mill was built soon after, succeeded by an oil-mill. The Luce mills are gone, and two satinet mills erected on their site, one in 1832 or 3, and the other in 1843. These mills belong to L. Pomeroy and Sons.
The Pontoosuc Company purchased the lands and priv- ileges about the outlet of the North pond, in 1824, to the distance of not far from one hundred rods south from the upper dam, one hundred and fifty perhaps in all from the pond, and built their factory the two following years. The principal building, of brick, is 148 feet by 48, four stories with a story in the roof ; the largest factory building, it is understood, in the county. The dye house and wool house, also of brick, on a line with this; the fulling-mill and ma- chine shop are of corresponding size. The water is con- veyed in a canal, seventy rods from the upper dam, to the rear of the factory, where it is thrown upon a wheel eight- een feet in diameter, with buckets of eighteen feet length, five feet below the low water mark of the pond. This turns all the machinery of the building, with which it is well furnished. Here eighty hands, on an average, are em- ployed, and 140,000 pounds of wool annually made into broadcloths.
On the site of the " old forge," Jason Mills, from Spring- field, established in 1806 a small gun shop for the manufac- ture of fowling pieces, &c. for people in the vicinity. In 1808, Lemuel Pomeroy purchased the place of the repre- sentatives of Mills, and on the same foundation commenced the manufacture of arms for particular States ; where, since 1816, he has manufactured them on contract for the U. S. About 2000 stands were annually made prior to 1816, when the amount became about 2200, though 2000 was the number sold to the government. Thus it continued until 1839, since which it is 1500-a more expensive musket being made. Connected with this there is a trip hammer shop a little below, and a finishing shop in the village. The princi- pal building of brick, 50 feet by 40, was erected in 1823, and the present trip hammer shop in 1828. By the site of the shop there has been a saw-mill near forty years. Thirty gun- smiths are employed in the business of this establishment.
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Between the trip hammer shop and Bissell's factory, Mr. Pomeroy owns a valuable water privilege, which is unoc- cupied, having twenty-two feet and ten inches fall.
Bissell's factory, built in 1832, eighty feet by forty, brick, four stories, and of the same construction with the Pontoo- suc factory, has never gone into operation. The fall of water is six feet.
Goodrich's factory, erected in 1816, is a wooden building, forty feet by thirty. Lead pipe, buttons, machinery, &c. were formerly manufactured here. It is now a plane and planing factory. Ten hands on an average are employed.
All the water privileges below belong to Lemuel Pome- roy and Sons. Their woollen factory to the south-west of the village, was built in 1814, eighty feet by forty, three stories, and their finishing shop opposite, in 1823, fifty feet by thirty, also three stories : both of brick. Around the factory are the needed out-buildings. In this factory and their satinet mills, seventy hands are employed and 150,000 pounds of wool annually wrought into broadcloths and satinets.
On the outlet of the West pond there were formerly three forges. The first was built by Rufus Allen, after abandon- ing the site on the Pontoosuc. On the same dam was a saw-mill. These stood not far from the chair factory, recently burnt down, a little west of Goodrich's factory. The second forge, on the dam of which was also a saw-mill, was where Goodrich's saw-mill now stands. The third was placed on an intermediate site, occupied by Marble's scythe factory. This factory is now gone. The chair fac- tory before it was burnt, was converted into a batting factory, employing about five hands ; and on the same site a factory is now building, for the manufacture of the same article.
In addition to the two branches of the Housatonic, Shaker brook is a valuable mill stream. It originates in Richmond pond, (partly in Richmond and partly in this town,) about one mile long and half a mile wide, and in several brooks in Richmond and Hancock, in the neighborhood of the Sha- ker settlement in the latter town. The general course of
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this stream is first north-east and then east, to its union with the west branch of the Housatonic, below the woollen fac- tory of L. Pomeroy & Sons. In Feb. 1770, Valentine Rathbun, from Stonington, Ct. purchased a small tract of land of Aaron Baker, on square No. 68, about half a mile from the pond in a direct line, though much more as the outlet runs, together with the right of flowing as much more land as should be necessary to raise a fund of water sufficient for a fulling mill then built, and a saw mill to be built. From circumstances, it is probable the fulling mill had been in existence two or three years, and it has been kept up until the present time ; though it is said a saw-mill was never built on the premises. Daniel Stearns, of Killingly, Ct. had possession of the place from 1804 until 1831. Having made some addition to the works, he commenced here about 1814, the manufacture of woollen cloth upon a small scale ; and then manufactured satinet. This establishment some- time afterwards, was known by the name of Stearns' Old Factory, to distinguish it from a brick factory which he built in 1826, three-fourths of a mile down the stream. The fac- tory is now Barker's factory, having been purchased by Barker &. Brothers in 1831, and since used by them in the manufacture of satinet. Their average number of hands is sixteen, and the wool wrought into this fabric annually, is 30,000 pounds. Having recently fitted up a small mill con- nected with the Shaker grist-mill, (which will be noticed presently,) they will now increase their operations.
Stearns' Factory, (the new factory) is seventy feet by forty, four stories. The average number of hands is fifty in the mill and about it, and the amount of wool manufac- tured the last year, into broadcloth and satinet, was 104,000 pounds : probably 100,000 pounds will be the average. The factory property now belongs to D. & H. Stearns. The little settlement about this is called Stearnsville, in which a post office was established some ten years since.
The Shaker grist-mill, just referred to, sixty rods back, was built in 1825, where a saw-mill called Baker's mill was erected as early as 1773. It has three run of stones, and is a valuable mill.
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A mile and a quarter from Stearnsville, eastward, where the stream is increased by two brooks, one from the west and one from the south-west, there is a water privilege, and a dam built, where it is said the first saw-mill in this town stood.
There are some other streams, as Lord's brook, &c. suffi- cient for saw-mills, or sufficient a portion of the year.
Besides the factories and mills on streams, there are in the village various shops for the pursuit of different branches of mechanical business ; as well as merchant stores and offices, such as are usually found in large villages, to which refer- ence will be had in a subsequent page. According to the State valuation, made in 1831, there were in the whole town 419 dwelling houses. The year preceding the num- ber of families was 563, probably more at that time. The number of houses and families now is greater; much greater in the village. There were then fourteen shops within, or adjoining dwelling houses, and seventy-one other shops, and four tan-houses.
'The factories, mills and shops, give employment to some hundred hands, and support and comfort to many families, while they greatly increase the business and wealth of the town.
This place is probably destined to sustain a very large population. It has already many more inhabitants than any other equal portion of the County. Existing establish- ments lay a broad foundation for increase, and as just shown several water privileges are entirely unoccupied. The lands now devoted to tillage, mowing and pasturage, skillful as some of the farmers confessedly are, might be rendered still more productive. Besides, according to the valuation above mentioned, there were in 1831, 3667 acres of unim- proved land.
PITTSFIELD VILLAGE.
The village of Pittsfield is beautifully situated in the centre of the town. Though it has no limits assigned by
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law, it extends, in popular estimation, along the principal northern and southern road through the County, the dis- tance of about three-fourths of a mile from the Pittsfield Young Ladies Institute, to the liouse of the late Major Henry C. Brown, and on the great western and eastern road, (as the road was regarded before the making of the Railroad,) to the East Branch, the bridge on the road turning towards Washington, and Hatter's Pond, (so called,) on the road to Dalton, with the streets and lanes north and south, as far each way as the points first named. In the centre, where these roads cross each other at right angles, there is a public square; part of which was given by the Rev. Thomas Allen, and part by the Hon. John Chandler
Williams. Though rather small for the present, and especially for the probable future size of the village, this is still a fine opening. Here is the stately elm, 126 feet in height, ninety to the limbs, which never fails to at- tract the attention of travellers; around which, at a suit- able distance, (in the form of an ellipse,) trees have been planted, enclosed with railing, which at no distant day will add greatly to the delights of the village. Many of the buildings are on this square, and on the roads already men- tioned, denominated from their direction, North and South, East and West streets. North and South streets are nearly level the whole distance : the East street descends towards the east branch of the Housatonic, while the West passes a hollow, along which the railroad is built, in its way to the West branch. These streets are seven rods wide, and lined extensively with trees. It is to be regretted that some streets, recently laid out, on which there are now some buildings, and which may be thickly settled hereafter, are not of greater width. In large villages, wide streets, giving ample space for side walks, shade trees, the circulation of air, and the passing and turning of carriages and teams, are of immense importance, whether we regard beauty, health, or convenience.
Within the village limits, where, forty years since, there were only a single church, fourteen or fifteen dwelling
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houses, and perhaps two or three shops, there are now four churches, Congregational, Baptist, Methodist, and Episco- pal, the buildings pertaining to the Medical Institution, the Young Ladies Institute, a Bank (incorporated in 1828, with permission to hold stock to the amount of $100,000, extended in 1836 to 150,000,) a Town House, the buildings pertain- ing to the Railroad Depot, the passenger house, car house, freight house, &c., about 200 dwelling houses, inhabited by about 230 families, (sixty more houses and eighty more families than there were here ten years ago :) ten dry goods stores, three merchant tailors' shops, four groceries, two druggist stores, two shoe stores, one hardware store, one large carriage factory, three cabinet shops, five milliners' shops, four taverns, seven or eight law offices, four printing presses, two bookstores, &c. &c. The Congregational Church is of wood, the Baptist and Methodist Churches are of brick, and the Episcopal Church of stone. Some of the other public buildings, some dwelling houses and stores, are of brick; but most of the buildings are of wood, and two stories : a few of three, more of one.
While this village is the natural centre of business for the town, and in some measure for several towns in the vicinity, other things have contributed to its growth. The literary institutions within its limits have contributed much. The great western railroad has already increased its population and business, and there is good reason to believe will in- crease them hereafter. Lessening the expenses of travelling and transportation for the inhabitants, it furnishes facilities to all who wish to visit here for pleasure, health and litera- ture. Possessing the relation this village does to important towns northward, it is the most convenient place of deposit for their produce, fabrics and merchandize.
From the belfry of the Congregational Church, there is a charming view of the village and town, and of the surround- ing scenery.
Pittsfield was considered as easy of access before the Rail- road was made. Much was done to improve the roads and to accommodate travellers from different quarters. The
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town however was not easy of access from the east, and hardly any town was in Berkshire county. The passage of the Green Mountain Range was a dreaded part of their journey to all who had to travel over it. It was the grand obstacle in all the contemplated routes for the rail- road. But the obstacle has been surmounted, and this place is brought within a few hours travel of all the places through which the road passes, or other railroads with which this is connected.
It may be well to advert a moment to the more important roads which pass this town, and to the accommodations for public travel.
The north and south road from Lanesboro', was opened as far south as Stockbridge, and probably Sheffield, as early as 1764. The eastern and western road was opened as early as this through the town, but how much further it was then extended, it may be difficult now to ascertain. About forty years since, a stage line from Boston to Northampton was carried westward through this town to Albany ; not long after which the route was improved by turnpikes. Not far from that time a line was established from Bennington, Vt. through this place, Lenox, &c., through the northwest part of Connecticut, and onward to the city of New York, which was afterwards abandoned. The present line from this place through Lenox, Lee, &c. to Hartford, Ct. was estab- lished in the summer of 1824. It started for a time from Lebanon Springs, N. Y. The Hartford stage passes back and forth three times a week. The line still running from Bennington, through this place to Lenox, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, &c. to Hudson, N. Y. was commenced April 1, 1826. Though much less used than before the establish- ment of the rail road, it is daily in the warm season of the year from this place, while the steamboats ply the Hudson river, and for the rest of the year it passes down one day and back the next. From Bennington to this place it is a half line the year round.
During the entire year there is a daily line, (Sunday ex- cepted,) from Albany through to Boston, passing hence
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hence one day through Hinsdale, Peru, &c. and the other through Windsor, Plainfield, &c.
The Pontoosuc Turnpike from this village, through parts of Dalton, Hinsdale, Washington, &c. to Chester, near which the railroad runs, is of course given up as a turnpike, and the road is very little used. It was formerly very much travelled. The term Pontoosuc, improperly applied to the turnpike, unless as being mainly owned by the inhabitants of Pontoosuc or Pittsfield, is more improperly applied to the north branch of Westfield river .. The south-west road from the village, passing by branches of the Housatonic into Stearnsville, the Hancock and New-Lebanon Shaker settle- ments, &c .; into Richmond, West Stockbridge, New-Ca- naan, &c. to the market towns on the Hudson, is important since the railroad was built.
On these roads, by stages and other conveyances, and especially by the railroad, the great thoroughfare, this town has continual intercourse with different parts of the country.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS-HIGHER INSTITUTIONS-THE MEDICAL COLLEGE.
Primary Schools .- In the grant of this township, it was provided that a house-lot should be laid out at the com- mencement of the settlement, for the support of schools, which should draw a sixty-third part of the township in subsequent divisions. In conformity to this provision, a school lot, containing one hundred acres, was laid out near the centre of the town, along the east branch of the Housa- tonic ; and another, (a square,) containing 2622 acres, esti- mated as belonging to the third quality of lands, was after- wards laid out, being No. 43, the easternmost lot but one on the northern line of the town. The location of the first lot was remarkably favorable, though its future value was not at first at all anticipated. It remained wholly unproductive for a considerable time, and then for years afforded only a trifling income. This lot at length was sold in parts, and
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the square was disposed of also. Some of the avails have been lost by the depreciation of currency or other means ; though the town has now a school fund derived from these lands amounting to $2600, money at interest.
How soon a school was opened, it may be impracticable at this time to determine. In addition to the difficulties common to first settlers, the people were embarrassed by the dangers growing out of the second French war. In May, 1761, however, the subject was agitated of building a school- house in each end of the town. There may have been a school-house in the centre earlier, or a school may have been kept in a dwelling-house. The next year a vote was passed to build three school-houses, called the East, Middle, and West school-houses ; and the year after it was voted that the houses should be built, one twenty-two feet square, and the other two seventeen, with four windows of twelve panes of glass : thirty-six pounds were voted for building them. In 1768, forty pounds were appropriated for school- ing, ten for each of the three schools, and ten to be used at the discretion of the selectmen. In 1769 mention is made of a North-east and South-west school : other schools were probably soon established. In 1773, one hundred pounds were granted for schools; the school lot yielding six pounds and the Rev. Mr. Allen offered this year to give six pounds, for four years, for the same object.
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