USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Northampton > Northampton, the meadow city > Part 6
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THE MEADOW CITY.
and act as commissioners of lunacy, with power to investigate the question of the insanity and con- dition of any person, committed to any lunatic hospital. This board visit the hospital at any time they see fit. The statute provides that they may assign any of its powers and duties to agents appointed for that purpose. The Inspector of Institutions appointed by this Board makes fre- quent visits to the hospitals. The Governor and Council visit the hospital for inspection at least once a year. Committees of the Legislature also visit the hospital several times within the year.
Massachusetts has been very liberal in provid- ing hospitals for the insane, and liberal in supporting them.
The Northampton Lunatic Hospital was the third erected by the State and was the result of an investigation made by order of the Legislature in 1854, to ascertain the number and condition of the insane in the Commonwealth. A site was selected in Northampton and Dr. Luther V. Bell, Super- intendent of the McLean Asy- lum was appointed chairman of the Commissioners selected to contract for the buildings. The corner-stone was laid July 4, 1856. William H. Prince, M. D., of Salem was appointed superintendent, and assumed the duties of his office Oct. 1, 1857. The first patient was admitted July 1, 1858.
AUTUMN IN THE MEADOWS
The hospital is situated about one mile southwest of the centre of the city, on an eleva- tion two hundred feet above tide water, nearly in the centre of a tract of land comprising three hundred and THE PET fifty acres. This location is one of the most beautiful spots in the Connecticut valley. Well known hills and mountains are in full view on all sides. These are in number over fifty, more than one-half of them be- ing above one thou- sand feet in height. There is also a fine view of the Con- necticut river and adjoining meadows in Hadley and North- ampton, several miles in extent, also of Amherst and Had- ley villages. The grounds are diversi- fied, comprising hills and meadows, inter- spersed with groves and orchards. Many roads and walks through all parts of the grounds afford an excellent opportunity for the patients to take recreation and exercise in the open air. The buildings are constructed of brick, with slate roofs, and brown stone trimmings. They are of the old English style of architecture, and present a fine appearance. As orig- inally built, it was intended to accommodate two hundred and fifty patients. Recent changes have increased the number to five hun- dred and fifty. It is lighted with gas from the city. An electric plant is now nearly completed, and will soon be in operation. It is supplied with water from the city water works, the hospital paying for forty-five thousand gallons of water daily, at the established rates. The large ยท farm is very productive, and is a
REFLECTION
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NORTHAMPTON,
I think of thee, my hermit stream, Low singing in thy summer dream, Thine idle, sweet, old tranquil song .- Anna Boynton Averill.
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THE MEADOW CITY.
AN ELM STREET COTTAGE
great assistance in the support of the institution.
Pliny Earle, M. D., was appointed Superintendent in July 1864, and after a very successful administration re- signed in 1885. To him the hospital is largely indebted for its reputation, develop- ment and success.
Edward B. Nims, M. D., after a service of nearly seventeen years as assistant physician, was made Super- intendent, October 1885, and still remains in charge. The present executive staff, con- sists of the superintendent, three assistant physicians, clerk, engineer, and farmer. This hospital receives patients mainly from the
counties of Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin and Berkshire. According to law, all new commit- ments of insane persons from these counties must be made to this hospital, except in cases when the patients are supported by friends, or by their own property, and excepting those cases which desire treatment under the system of medicine known as Homeopathy, when these may be committed to the Westboro Hospital. They may also be com- mitted to the McLean Asylum, or any duly author- ized private asylum. It is farther provided by law that the Overseers of the Poor shall not commit or detain in any almshouse, private dwelling, or other place, without remedial treatment, any person whose insanity has continued less than one year.
ELM STREET
THE JEWETT HOMESTEAD, ELM STREET
RESIDENCE OF S. E BRIDGMAN, ELM STREET
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NORTHAMPTON,
Many of the patients admitted to the institution are in a debilitated condition. Medicine is there- fore required in a majority of cases. Enforced rest and quiet, exercise and sleep are also valua- ble aids for restoring the strength and allaying nervous excitement. This class of patients are vere susceptible to moral treatment. The re- straint of their surroundings, encouraging words from those who care for them, pleasant enter- tainments, such occupation as is suited to their condition, all are in one way or another, useful in restoring them to mental and physical health.
From this statement it may be seen that the State has carefully provided for the insane.
For about twenty years this institution continued in business, its only president being Hon. Joseph Lyman. Soon after the establishment of the present "Northampton Bank," it closed its doors, the stockholders having the privilege of taking stock in the new bank.
The NORTHAMPTON BANK, the oldest existing institution of its kind in town, was established in 1833, with a capital stock of $100,000, which it was found necessary to double in four years. Eliphalet Williams was its first president, which position he held for thirty-one years, though not continuously. Joseph D. Whitney was president for nine months in 1850, when he resigned and Mr. Williams was again elected. He declined further service in 1857, and Jonathan H. Butler was chosen to fill the vacancy. After ten years' service, Mr. Butler resigned and Mr. Williams again resumed his old posi- tion, holding it till his death in 1874, when Mr. Oscar Edwards was chosen, which place he still retains. Under the national currency act, the bank was re-organized as the "Northampton National Bank," and its capital increased to $400,000.
CITY HALL
MAIN STREET
BANKING INSTITUTIONS
In September, 1803, the "Northampton Bank," the first banking institution ever estab- lished here, went into operation. The amount of capital stock is not known. A half yearly dividend was declared in April, 1804. It con- tinued in operation ten or fifteen years, when its affairs were wound up soon after the establish- ment of a rival institution.
On the 15th of August, 1813, the " Hampshire Bank " was organized, with a capital stock of $100,000. Its banking house was on the site of the store now occupied by Merritt Clark & Co.
The great robbery of this bank, notable in the annals of banking in this country, occurred early in the morning of January 26, 1876. On the night previous, seven masked men entered the house of Cashier John Whittelsey, on Elm street, handcuffed, bound and gagged all the inmates, compelled the cashier, by personal vio- lence, to give up the combinations of the vault and the safe locks within it. The burglars entered the bank in the morning after the watch- man and policemen went off duty, and secured about $1,630,000. Of the sum stolen, $880,000 face value was in bonds, coupon and registered ; $500,000 in stock certificates ; $238,000 in bills receivable, and $12,000 in currency. The
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THE MEADOW CITY.
burglars succeeded in safely eluding pursuit. Owing to a disarrangement of the lock by the thieves, it was impossible to enter the vault till an expert from New York arrived, and it was not known till the evening of the following day how much plunder had been obtained. The matter was at once placed in the hands of the Pinkerton agency and in a short time negotiations were opened with a member of the gang. Wm. D. Edson, an employe of the Herring Safe Mfg. Co., who had been engaged in putting in the vault doors and adjusting the locks proved to have been the instigator of the robbery, and an accomplice of the burglars. Becoming dissat- isfied with his pals, he put himself in communication with the bank officials. From intimations thrown out by him, that the plunder had not been carried out of town, though he did not know where it was secreted, a most vigorous search was made for it, but in vain. Afterward it became known that the hiding place was in the Bridge street school-house. Edson afterward gave a detailed history of the robbery to the de- tectives and named the burglars : Robert Scott, James Dunlap, " Red" Leary, "Shang " Draper and Wm. Connors. The first two were arrested and tried in 1877, and sen- tenced to twenty years in the state prison. Scottdied in prison, and Dunlap was par- doned last year. Two years after their conviction, Draper was ar- rested and brought here, but no in- dictment was
found against him. Of the others, Leary fled and Connors escaped from Ludlow street jail. In 1881, Leary and Connors were both arrested and put in jail here. The Grand Jury failed to find a bill against them, and they were dis- charged. The plunder was restored in February and March, 1881, the entire amount returned being $1,500,000. From this raid the thieves seem to have realized about $130,000. The cost
FIRST CHURCH, NORTHAMPTON INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS,
COURT HOUSE
of'their"prosecution was about $49,000, of which $9,000 was paid by the county. The remainder, together with certain other expenses, was paid by the bank and the parties who recov- ered their prop- erty. To the bank the real loss did not much ex- ceed the $12,000 in currency stolen. Upon the holders of the negotiable securities, realized upon by the rob- bers, fell the heav- iest loss.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
MAIN STREET
The "FIRST NA- TIONAL BANK," originated in 1848. It was chartered under the name
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NORTHAMPTON,
of the " Holyoke Bank," with a capital of $100,000, which within two years was increased to $200,000. In 1864, it was re-organized as the " First National Bank," and within a few years its capital was increased to $500,000. Its banking house was erected in 1865, at the junction of Main and King streets. Its first president was John Clarke, who has been succeeded by Sam'l Williston, Joel Hayden, Wm. B. Hale, Henry F. Williams, and A. Lyman Williston, who is now at the head of the institution.
The " HAMPSHIRE COUNTY NATIONAL BANK" was char- tered in 1864, with a capital of $100,000, and within two years this was increased to $250,000. Its banking building was erected in 1872. Luther Bodman was its first president, and he remained at the head of the institution till his death in 1887, when Lewis Warner, its cashier, was made president.
The " NORTHAMPTON INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS" was incorporated in 1842, with C. P. Huntington, president. Its affairs have always been managed with great care and skill. It has now $2,885,370.31 of assets. Among those who have been at the head of this institution are Erastus Hopkins,
The "HAMPSHIRE SAVINGS BANK" was organized in 1869, with J. C. Arms for president. In 1873, Luther Bodman was chosen president, and upon his death, Josephus Crafts was made its presiding officer. It has assets of $1,321,688.11 and its busi- ness has always been transacted in
Joseph Lathrop, Winthrop Hillyer, Benj. Bar- rett, J. H. Butler, William Allen and H. G. Knight of Easthampton, the present incumbent. For the last twenty-eight years, Lafayette Maltby has occupied the position of treasurer of this institution, and to his financial ability is due in a large degree, the great success and present pros- perity of the bank.
connection with the Hampshire County Bank.
FLORENCE SAVINGS BANK .- A Savings Bank was organized in Florence in 1873. It has assets to the amount of $298,000. A. T. Lilly was its first president, and at his death, Samuel Porter was chosen.
A TURN OF THE ROAD
A turn of the road where you catch a glance Of the wayside brook at play : Where with sweet delight, 'mid its plashes of light, It prattles and laughs on its way.
The dash of a wing, as the warbler dips From the branches overhung, Just to clear his throat for the same sweet note With which ramble and woods late rung.
Where the school-boy stops a moment to catch The rush of the noisy stream :
And the wind in the trees is a loving breeze To tempt him to linger and dream.
And the sky o'erhead, an unbroken blue, And the sunshine wake in him
A wish that to-day life had nothing but play, Or a ramble in woodlands dim.
E. H. SHANNON.
LILY PONDS OF W. W. LEE, AT BAY STATE
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THE MEADOW CITY.
The rush of the noisy stream .- See Poem. Where the school-boy stops a moment to catch
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NORTHAMPTON,
TOWN HALL
During the earlier years of the town, all meet- ings for the municipal as well as religious pur- poses were held in the meeting-house. In 1737, the town and county united in the erection of a building to be used as a town and county house. Town meetings were held here for forty years, when a new court house was built. Though the town refused to pay more than its taxable pro- portion of the cost of the building, it was used for town purposes till 1814, when a Town Hall was erected. This was burned in 1817, and during the next seven years, town meetings were held sometimes in the Court House and some- times in the meeting-house. In 1823, a meeting was adjourned from the meeting- house to the pub- lic house of Oliver Warner. The same year another Town Hall was erected, partly on the site of the one burned. This one was built by Isaac Damon. For sev- eral years the town = paid him a yearly = rental of $175, but finally purchased the building. The present City Hall was erected in 1849, and occu- pied the following year. When the town became a city, the lower portion was completely remod- eled for the use of the several departments.
ELECTRIC RAILWAY
In 1866, the Northampton Street Railway was put in operation. For twenty-eight years it has accommodated the public with great satisfaction, between Northampton centre and the village of Florence. In 1893, the company was re-organ- ized, and electricity employed as a motive power. The line was extended to Bay State village and its capacity and usefulness greatly increased. During the present year the road has been carried through Leeds to Haydenville and Williamsburg.
In the near future the railway will be extended to Easthampton, and when the steam roads, grade crossings have been abolished, a line will be established to Amherst.
GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHTING
In 1856, the town first illuminated with gas. Since that time the works of the " Northampton Gas Light Co." have been increased as the de- mands of the public required, and now its gas mains traverse the highways in all directions. For many years the streets were lighted by gas, and it has only been superseded by the more brilliant illuminant, Electricity, within a few years.
BAPTIST CHURCH AND PARSONAGE
An electric light plant was erected here in 1885 by the Thompson Hous- ton Electric Co., and the next year the " Northamp- ton Electric Light Co." was organized and now its wires ex- tend throughout the city. The streets and pub- lic buildings are now lighted by electricity and it is rapidly coming into general use. A new plant was established in 1894 on the bank of Mill river, near the West street bridge.
SEWERAGE
With the advent of the water works came the necessity of better sewerage for the city. In 1888, a complete system for the entire city was adopted and the work of construction commenced. Since that date not less than eighteen miles of sewers have been built at an expense of $190,- 362.80. The work is still in progress, and in a few years the city will have a most complete and satisfactory system of sewerage.
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THE MEADOW CITY.
WISH-TON-WISH CLUB
The first organization in the interests of canoe- ing in this city was effected in April, 1886, under the name of Northampton Canoe Club, and as such prospered, in varying degrees, for several years. The membership varied from four to nine, but more enthusiastic canoeists it would have been hard to find. The first club- house was built at Hockanum village, in June, 1886, most of the work being done nights by the members. The high water in the spring of 1887 carried this down stream. It was towed back and put in place again and lasted through the summer. In March, 1888, a new house was built just above the ferry. In the summer of 1889, Elbridge Kingsley became a member of the club, and at his suggestion the name was changed from prosaic Northampton to more romantic Wish-ton-Wish. This name is singularly appro- priate, as in this same little. village many of the
BOAT-HOUSE OF WISH-TON-WISH CLUB
important events of Cooper's "Wept of the Wish-ton-Wish " took place. From the piazza of the club-house one can almost see the spot where the old Wish-ton-Wish Tavern stood, and as night comes on, the whip-poor-wills up on the side of Mt. Holyoke once more drop back into the old Indian dialect and softly call " Wish-ton- wish." Mr. Kingsley's artistic work is seen in the decorations on the outside of the house, including our Indian figure-head which keeps watch and ward over our river front.
The club was now growing, and on July 4th, gave a successful regatta. In 1890, the house was enlarged, and again in 1893. It now occupies a space 30 x 50 feet and is two and a half stories high.
In membership the club has grown rapidly, from the four or five venturesome beginners, to
over sixty. Our cruisers have covered the Con- necticut river from Lake Sunapee to the Sound many times, and also paddled on the waters of the Merrimac, Peconic Bay, Long Island Sound, and the Provinces.
ONE OF THE BOATS
WATER WORKS
Northampton has an abundant supply of pure water. The system of water works was estab- lished in 1871, when the first reservoir was built on the Roberts Meadow Brook, just beyond the village of Leeds. It has a capacity of 4,000,000 of gallons. For four and a half miles the water is conducted in sixteen-inch iron pipes to Flor- ence, and in twelve-inch from Florence to the centre. At Florence there is a head of ninety feet and at the Conn. River Railroad depot of two hundred and forty feet. The increasing use of water in a few years demonstrated the need of another reservoir, and in 1883, a new one was constructed with a storage capacity of 16,500,000 gallons. This was deemed sufficient for many years, but the long continued dry weather of last year proved that still another addition to the water supply was needed, and a new one is now in process of construction. It will have a storage capacity of 100,000,000 gallons and will be ready for use during the present year. The total cost of construction to Dec. 1, 1893, has been $305,- 345. 12, and the entire length of pipe laid is forty- five and three-fourths miles. The income from the works has been sufficient to pay much more than the interest on the cost, and in a few years the entire debt will be cancelled from this source alone. The unpaid balance of the water debt now amounts to $120,000, which it is anticipated will be paid in about six years.
NORTHAMPTON,
SOCIAL LIFE IN NORTHAMPTON PREVIOUS TO 1870
To one who has ever experienced the dignified repose of society in one of the larger Connecticut Valley towns, it were easy to give a fairly true impression of the atmosphere and tone of North- ampton society during the past century, but to rightly impress an entire stranger to this region is a difficult task.
remarked, " I never saw a place where the dis- tinction of wealth was so absolutely lacking." While Northampton citizens in the aggregate have been generously blessed with the things of this world, there have been few individuals among them, highly exalted among their fellow- men in this respect, and, in many instances, the families of the wealthiest have been the least pretentious in their style of living.
As a description of old times in Northampton,
SCENERY OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER
Northampton's reputation as an attractive social centre has never been rivaled in Western Massa- chusetts. It has been remarkable for a culture, simplicity, and freedom, which is compatible only with the refinement of true aristocracy. Even to the present time the power of money holds little sway in the social community, and through the whole history of the town its effect is noticeably absent. A Western gentleman of cosmopolitan education, residing in town during the seventies,
I quote a paragraph from Mrs. Susan I. Lesley's " Recollections of My Mother" (Mrs. Judge Lyman), describing the town in the second dec- ade of the century :
" There were no very rich people in Northampton ; but many people of elegant culture, refined and aristocratic manners, and possessing a moderate competence, lived there in much ease, envying no one, really believing themselves highly favored, as they were, and practicing a generous hospitality at all times. It was a county town, and so seemed a large place to the people on the outskirts ; but it really numbered only four thousand inhabi-
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THE MEADOW CITY.
THE JUDGE LYMAN HOMESTEAD, MAIN STREET
tants. If there were no rich people there was certainly an utter absence of poverty, and none of those sad sights to meet the eye reminding one of a destiny entirely different from one's own. Little or no business was done there ; but Shop Row contained about ten stores, all of them excellent,-dry goods and hardware stores, and an apothecary's,- which made a little cheerful bustle in the centre of the town,- especially on certain days of the week, when the country people would come in, in their old- fashioned wagons, to do their shopping.
There were two United States Senators residing there for life, three judges, many eminent lawyers and scholars, - retired people, who had no connection with the business world, who lived within their moderate incomes, and never dreamed of having more. The matchless beauty of the scenery attracted many visitors. The more wealthy families in Boston were fond of taking carriage journeys of two or three weeks, and would take Northampton in their way as they went into Berkshire. Many a family party came in this way to our two hotels in the summer and autumn, and would stop two or three days to ascend Mt. Holyoke or Tom ; to drive to Mt. Warner or Sugar Loaf ; to walk over Round Hill, or round and through the rural streets of our village, which were so lined with magnificent elms, that, from the mountain, it always looked as if built in a forest. Every morning the stage for Boston -the old-fashioned yellow stage- coach, with a driver who was the personal friend of the whole village -drew up in front of Warner's tavern, with a great flourish of whip- ping up the four horses ; and every evening the stage from Boston was known to be ap- proaching about sunset, by the musical notes of the stage bugle-horn in the distance. I think the driver always wound his horn just after he crossed the great bridge from Hadley."
The conservative sentiment was so strong in the aristocratic old town that the proposition to place the United States Armory, now in Springfield, within its borders, was strongly opposed on account of the " riff-raff " population which such an institution was believed to attract. A similar feeling against encouraging a floating element in the society caused an opposition to locating Amherst College in Northampton.
In the days of the famous Law School, the old social life of Northampton was at its height. The brilliant evening parties, and the informal tea companies, where the supper was " passed round," were widely celebrated.
The former were such gatherings as we now call full-dress receptions, that is, parties without dancing, and the latter were the most delightful, chatty, cozy entertainments ever in vogue. Some of us, not yet beyond middle life, well remember, as little children, being sent about to friends' houses, with the formula beginning, " Mamma sends her love to you, and wants to know " upon our stammering tongues, this being the unceremonious bidding for the adults of the family, and the stranger within its gates, "to come to tea at six o'clock."
Then when guests had assembled, in number anywhere from five to fifty, the tea was passed around the room on trays, and the guests sat down, two, three, or a half-dozen together, at small tables placed conveniently about, which had a comfortable way of quietly disappearing after the repast, leaving ample room for the genial conversational part of the entertainment.
Passed upon the trays, were fresh, not hot, raised biscuit, instead of the modern roll, sliced cold meats, and chicken salad, or at a later day, scalloped oysters, a variety of rich cake, and
THE SAMUEL F. LYMAN HOMESTEAD, PRESENT SITE OF SMITH COLLEGE
delicious sweetmeats, raspberry jam, or preserved quince or citron, far more tempting and indigest- ible than the canned fruits of the present day.
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