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and apple, heal-all, cornell, sweet-flag, elder, spikenard, wild sunflower, the red berries of the black alder, the golden-rods, and asters, and
CAMPING - PARADISE
whole banks and beds of various ferns, or even though his whisper should name the most secret treasures of the place-sweet- brier, maiden- hair, the trailing arbutus and cardi- nal flower.
Of trees and perennial shrubs and vines alone, I have counted in " Paradise " more than seventy spe- cies. At two or three points the white pines gather into groves, that give small room to other trees of full stature ; but elsewhere maples and elms, red and white
PARADISE LAKE FROM RESIDENCE OF DR. W. H. JONES
"TARRYAWHILE," RESIDENCE OF GEO. W. CABLE
94
NORTHAMPTON,
ON THE RIVER PATH
oaks, planes, and white-heart and shell-bark hickories, abound ; not to mention alders and willows, gray birches, hornbeams and sumacs, or to name again those favorites of the children, the butternut and chestnut. Here and there, the more prized for being few, are added to these the beech, the white ash, the mountain ash, the canoe birch, the yellow birch, the aspen, the linden and the tupelo. There are residents in " Paradise " who know scores of these trees not by family name or likeness alone, but personally, famil- iarly, and are vain, or at least glad, of the acquaintance. One of the accompanying illustrations shows two trees that stood until lately at the edge of Paradise Woods, near a short street known as Dryads' Green, and which might themselves be fancied the homes of dryads if any trees in so western a land and so modern a day might.
They were a white and scarlet oak. Through some undiscernible influ- ence the pair, instead of leaning away from each other, as trees com- monly would, locked in so close an embrace that they seemed to have grafted one upon the other, and to any but the most observant eye appeared to be one tree, separating
about nine feet from the ground into two nearly equal trunks. Many years ago the older tree was struck by lightning and killed on its outer side along its entire length. In time the ground's moisture caused it to decay at its base, and, to save the other tree, it was felled. But it was down scarcely more than a few weeks before the white oak unaccountably began to die, and it, too, had to be cut down. The stump of it has, by its chief mourner, as one may say, been chiseled out into a high-backed oaken seat facing the lofty pines of the woods that half surround it, and in this venerable chair on the crest of
TWIN OAKS ON GEO. W. CABLE'S GROUNDS
95
THE MEADOW CITY.
the shady slope, many a page besides the present one has been written for the printer. Hard by it stands a young ash planted by that master of kindly satire,
PARADISE RESIDENCES
A GLIMPSE INTO PARADISE
narrowed accuracy, and an enthusiastic lover of the place may forget to allow due weight to blemishes that offend a critical eye ; but to catch the perfume and murmur of its pines, to see the sunset through them, to hear the matin hymn of its robins, orioles, grosbeaks, tanagers, or
Max O'Rell. Almost as near it on another side stands a second whose planter was Edward Atkinson, the Franklin of present day economic debate. A few yards further stands a sapling elm set elsewhere in " Paradise " by Henry Ward Beecher in the last year of his life and transplanted a sec- ond, third and fourth time by one who could not consent to part with it. Yet another ash and a beech are the planting of two men less famous but not everywhere less loved.
RESIDENCES DF CHARLES F. WARNER, W. H. CLAPP AND REV. CYRUS PICKETT
EARLY SPRING IN PARADISE
So much for " Paradise " with only pen, ink and camera wherewith to make it known. The camera may have the camera's faults of
the even-song of its thrushes, would make its spells understood as they cannot be by any magic to be squeezed from the leaves of books. GEORGE W. CABLE.
EDWARDS CHURCH PARSONAGE
96
NORTHAMPTON,
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
We are in the habit, in popular parlance, of speaking of some of our busy communities as manufacturing towns or cities. With the in- creased energy which is being continually expended in booming promising localities, and the development of the plan of importing or trans- planting industries and industrial colonies, it has seemed to me that there would be even more appropriateness in the designation of manufact-
-
THE TURNER COTTAGE
ured cities and towns. Some places are built, and as they increase are built on to. They are merely aggregations of people. They make a great crowd but there is no community. It is perhaps fair to say that all through America our increase has been too much of this character. But on the other hand a community is, like a human being, a development. It is a misnomer to speak of a place as growing simply because people are crowding into it. They must work and suffer together before they gain a common life. Proper development will give community in character and sentiment and aim.
Northampton has been a place of slow but continued growth. Each decade has shown an increase in the number of inhabitants, and yet it is hard to find any single fact or influi- ence which has occasioned their coming, nor has there been at any time any great and sudden influx of people. The result has been that the town has kept to a remarkable degree the stamp of its original
character. It was founded by substantial people of old English stock. To " learn to labor and to wait," was the point in their education which above all others suffered no neglect. They were God-fearing and industrious, pious and persistent. They came here, not from sudden enthusiasm, nor because they anticipated an easy life, but because mature consideration convinced them that with energy and patience they could here hope for a promising future, but their pictures of success they painted in colors rather quiet than glittering, more sombre than golden. Their thought was upon doing their duty without much emotion either of enthusiasm or fear. They attended church and worked their fields and fought the savages all alike with an harmo- nious sentiment of conscientiousness.
The place has always remained a quiet conserv- ative community of simple tastes and unambitious manner of life. The people have turned their faces more to the country breezes than to the city airs. It has been a typical New England town, a school of sturdy independence in thought and action, developing strong individuality among its children. All the life, social, political and religious has been marked by a spirit of carefulness rather than of zeal. Cautiousness, not to say conscientiousness, has been more prominent than aggressive energy. The people have been of marked intelligence, and oftentimes of superior culture, but trained to calm, matter- of-fact life until they often seemed incapable of enthusiasm. They would be naturally reserved
WEST STREET
THE MEADOW CITY.
97
7
ELM STREET
HENSHAW HOUSE
98
NORTHAMPTON,
and undemonstrative and hard to move to new things. Such characters are quite sure to be complained of in times of change as unprogressive and behind the age. It is difficult to unite them upon practical meas- ures of enterprise which in younger communities are undertaken with a readiness which gives no time for dissent. Naturally then Northamp- ton is regarded as unenterprising in instituting and sustaining move- ments of public interest. At three different times Young Men's Christ- ian Associations have been organized here, and twice the work has come to an end because of a lack of public encouragement. It was a part of an experience with which conservative New England towns are too familiar. Business lags at home, the opportunities of the native place fail to satisfy the aspirations of the ambitious boys, and they slip away to seek their fortunes elsewhere. Gradually it comes to be the general opinion that it is a place of little opportunity or promise. It has become a sort of proverbial statement that young men in Northampton are very scarce. Of course it has not been a place where fortunes have been rapidly accumulated. And yet in those former days the work was for a time sustained with good interest and success. As might be expected in such a com- munity of inherited conscientiousness and fidelity
of Christian purpose, the people, though of very moderate means, can be counted on to contribute both money and effort where they feel that there is work which ought to be done. An appeal to sustain the institutions of religion is sure of a ready response. Even if the community was considered peculiarly lacking in young men, it was proved that the young life was vigorous. The chapels which are still stand- ing were built on Hospital Hill and at Bay State village, and for years services were maintained in them with good regu- larity. But gradually the interest waned, it was felt that too much of the burden was thrown upon the few, and with the ebbing of enthusiasm throughout the country for the distinctive methods formerly pursued by the Young Men's Christian Associations the local organization became discour- aged and gave up the task.
It is often found that it is easier to till a broad field than a narrow one. A large work is often easier than a small one. Our age has come to the conviction that efforts for young men, in fact, for human life, must enlarge their scope in order to dimin- ish their difficulties. The Associations as
now organized recognize that they must work for the complete manhood, body, intellect and
spirit, and are not afraid even of allowing to the physical energy of youth something of the promi- nence which nature ac- cords to it. On this basis the present organ- ization took place in 1891. Not only were rooms provided and
VIEWS IN WILDWOOD
99
THE MEADOW CITY.
furnished for headquarters, but a gymnasium was secured, and physical training was given a prominent place in the work of the association. In connection with the gymnasium, suitable direction has been provided and regular classes have been sustained.
The Association has at present a membership of about three hundred. It cannot be expected to be a self-sustaining institution, but is obliged to appeal to the public for something like two- thirds of its annual ex- penditures. Nor on the other hand are its benefits by any means confined to the members. It fur- nishes attractive rooms where strangers are al- ways welcome. It helps greatly to create a moral and religious atmosphere, and is an institution of public benefit in a multi- tude of ways. It has rendered great assistance in obtaining employment for those who are in need. It has proved a potent instrumentality for for- warding various movements of good in this community. Its General Secretary, thoroughly in sympathy with young men, can be depended on to show continued and unabated interest in all measures spiritual, intellectual and physical which would be helpful to manly life.
The Association has been untiring in its efforts to encourage out-of door sports which shall stimulate the best energies of the young, and yet to have them in all cases associ- ated with the most ennobling influ- ences, and to use them in the best way in subordination to the grand purpose of building up Christian manliness. It counts in its member- ship, a band of young men who show a splendid spirit of zeal and even self-sacrifice, giving without stint of their time and thought to advance the high purposes to which the organization is devoted. The work is as yet but in its begin- nings. One of the first great needs of Northampton is a building for
RESIDENCE OF MRS. H. F. WILLIAMS
the Young Men's Christian Association, and we hope and trust that from some source such provision will be made for our need. And always it is essential that the people of the com- munity who are in sympathy with that which is best, and who appreciate the value of right influences for young men, should feel that this work is theirs, and that all must join in making it efficient. The young men of to-day are the strength of the future, and the Association which helps to train them to good is one of the chief supports of the national life.
There is something inspiring in the thought of the possibilities of such a society. It brings men together at the one time when friendships are
formed, when aspiration is at the highest, when discouragements have little effect, when all anticipations seem to come within reach. It is the period of life for which society loves to make lavish provision, the time of education, of forming character, of bringing out that which is best in man. It is a work which we. cannot think of leaving undone. It is a pity if its opportunities cannot be improved even to the utmost.
H. M. TYLER.
AT END OF POMEROY TERRAÇE
RESIDENCE OF W. W. LEE
NORTHAMPTON,
THE HOME-CULTURE CLUBS
Public well-being in its various forms has always been generously looked after by the people of Northampton, who have met the usual perplexity of getting the more and less fortunate helpfully together. In the course of their efforts,
CRESCENT STRFET, LOOKING NORTH
Mr. George W. Cable, shortly after making the town his home, recognizing the inadequacy of mere legislation on the one side or commercial prosperity on the other to solve some of the gravest questions of public morals, proposed to a group of selected friends a plan for engaging certain of the di- verse social elements of the place in profitable, unlabo- rious activities which would create favorable conditions for the growth of acquaint- ance and friendship between them.
During the following winter several fireside clubs were formed to carry out the idea, and within two years, Mr. Cable. writing in the Century Magazine, (August, 1888) reported twenty such clubs in operation, two of which were in other states. In this paper he developed at
length the principles on which the movement was founded, and which were much less familiar to the general mind than they now are.
He said that here in America, of all places in the world, it is both inconsiderate and futile to try to better the unfortunate by either mass or class or cause treatment, because, rightly, it is not mass or class or cause one should hope to elevate, but the individual. The first need is to learn him, or at least four things about him : his capabilities, his needs, his desires and his sur- roundings; an equal requisite is to give his a real, personal friendship, thereby gaining his confidence ; and the one practi- cable expedient for effecting this is to exchange with him at the same time both profit and pleasure. Elements of true elevation and enlargement to be got by earning and yet with- out paying for them are mani- festly the various sorts of education and culture-whether of hand, head or heart. His plan was to go into the private home, where he could best study the individual, and to bring the individual into his own home, where he could best prove his friendship for him, and in each
HENSHAW AVENUE
RESIDENCE OF C. H. PIERCE
IOI
THE MEADOW CITY.
place, for a space of time mutually agreed upon to pursue with him - or them (say to the number of four, six, or even ten persons) - some amus- ing work, some profitable amusement, for the success of which friendly co-operation is obviously needed. Emphasis was laid upon the fact that this was not to be mere socia- bility, but work and profit for all concerned.
Thus evolved the Home- Culture Clubs when the College Settlement and kindred plans were hardly yet in operation. Count- ing upon the enthusiasm to be sustained by a larger organization than these small circles of half-a-dozen members, each working singly and apart, Mr. Cable projected a combined general management of the Home-Culture Clubs. This employs a General Secretary, who is in communication with each club and who collects
from them weekly a report of the work accom- plished, tabulating and publishing it each month in "The Home-Culture Club Letter." The support of the secretary and the journal does not necessarily fall upon the clubs, so that there is no compulsory expense involved in the organiza- tion and maintenance of any single club ; it may operate for a short or a long period, and the plan, being good for a few as well as for thousands, is a success and flourishing, wherever and as long as two or three people meet together for the purposes of mutual help and friend- ship across the lines and distances, whether true or false, which separate sets and classes. Already Mr. Cable reported a total membership of one hundred and forty-four, reading weekly an
VIEWS ON E. H. R. LYMAN'S GROUNDS
IO2
NORTHAMPTON,
average of 18,000 pages of good literature, much of which had been studied and debated, and this
only a single item of their various employments.
Here for a time the movement was left to its own im- pulses ; but it con-
tinued to grow, and at the end of its fourth year required the whole time of its
secretary. This office has been filled since 1889, by Miss Adelene Moffat of Tennessee, formerly
a student in the Art League of New York. She entered
it from becoming itself a class treatment, against which its first premise is made ; and it was the plain duty of the organizer to canvass neighbor- hoods dead to social impulses and hostile to their pre-concep- tions of the Home- Culture Clubs. Moreover, Home- Culture was hypen- ated to indicate as its ultimate mission the elevation of the home, and new rec- ognition was given to the fact that the individual in the home, not the indi- vidual apart from the home, is the true
A CROSS-ROAD NEAR THE CITY
. into the work with social-economic unit. The clubs have for their motto: " The Private Home is the Public Hope." the zeal of natural aptitude and inclination, and vigorously prosecuted the making of new clubs, both by personal work in Northampton and At the close of the seventh year of its life
" Foaming over the rocky ledges."-Elaine Goodale.
adjoining towns, and by correspondence. As the scope increased, new problems were con- fronted. It was necessary to keep the movement alive in all classes of society in order to preserve
(June, 1894), the secretary reports fifty-four clubs in operation, with a total membership of about five hundred, total readings of 697,000 pages, and a constituency of the following proportions :
103
THÉ MEADOW CITY.
farmers five per cent., day laborers five per cent., professions nine per cent., college students seven- teen per cent., ladies at home eighteen per cent., and employes of offices, stores, mills and factories, forty-six per cent. Twenty-seven per cent. of the membership are men. There are ten clubs in Mas- sachusetts outside of Northampton, nine in other states, numbering two hundred fifteen members.
Liberal financial support has been given the movement by the citizens of Northampton. From the first there have been public headquarters the expenses of which were met entirely by subscription until in recent years the clubs, particularly by means of public entertainments of the dramatic and musical clubs, have materially assisted. The rooms were mainly for the ac- commodation of the homeless, and in the beginning were given over to the occupancy of young men who came far short of understand- ing the principles and aims of their hosts. To this class the secretary di- rected at once her most resolute en- deavors, and having succeeded after
a long and tactful skir- mish, in winning their confidence and esteem, organized them into clubs for which she found ready and efficient leaders among the students of Smith College. It has become a college tradition that this work is the especial charge of the Junior Class, and from year to year an increasing enthit- siasm and devotion has been handed down so effectually, that the importance and usefulness of these homeless clubs have sometimes threat- ened to overshadow the clubs that meet else- where. At the same time college students, after
a year's experience in the work, carry its mission- ary spirit home with them to all parts of the country.
One domicile after another was found inade- quate for the growing needs of their activity, which soon numbered classes of both sexes and all ages, and embraced numerous forms of education, from gymnastics to the fine arts. In the fall of 1892, by the generosity of Mr. E. H. R. Lyman, the building on Center street, formerly occupied by the Methodist Church, became the head- quarters of the clubs, and in the winter of 1893-'94, other prom- inent citizens advan- cing goodly aid, it was remodeled to include a large audi- torium and stage, separate reading and class rooms for boys, men, girls and women, a secretary's room, a kitchen, a bath, and living rooms for a resident janitor and family, while a roomy base- ment, secured by raising the building, is destined for a gymnasium and swimming baths. The exterior is being changed to present a worthy example of the pure colonial in public architecture.
" With many a curve my banks I fret."-Tennyson.
Mr. Cable remains the prime leader in the movement, his plans executed with energy, faithfulness and sympathy by the General Secretary, Miss Moffat : but the Home-Culture Clubs are no longer an affair of individual leadership. They are a thoroughly organized corporation, with a board of control of leading citizens, both standing and special committees, zealous workers from the town and college, and the hearty financial and moral support of the community.
MARKS WHITE HANDLY.
104
NORTHAMPTON,
" I babb'e into eddying bays."-Tennyson.
THE WINDING ROAD
I like a winding country road With bushes growing thick around, Stiried by the wind, that interweaves Its tuneful murmurings and leaves The silence born of sound.
A narrow, winding, country road With up and down and height and hollow. With sudden turn that hides from view What next may come and beckon you, And bids the spirit follow.
A lonely, winding, country road With trees and spaces interspersed, With forests here and meadows there, And gloomy shades and sunlight fair Amid dark branches nursed.
And such an one there was, a road That had a stream to guide it. It flowed 'mid grasses, under fern's, A tiny rill with sudden turns; And flowers grew beside it.
A little bird had built a nest Crotched in a wayside apple tree.
It sang and sang until its throat Swelled with the passion of its note, And I looked up to see.
There were some four-leaved clovers, too, (That bird flew down and sung it), And all along the way I trod Flowed torrents of glad goldenrod And asters bloomed among it.
On wound the road until it sought The cool green shadows of the wood, Amid whose cloistered ways there dwelt A music, all unheard but felt, Born of the solitude.
In joyous awe I walked, until The spirit throbbed with dreams divine. Forgetful of the time and age I passed as in a pilgrimage To worship at a shrine.
And can you chain in human words The sense of sunlight in the trees, Or pencil down in black and white The thrill, the tremor, the delight, That follow on the breeze ?
Leave to the winds the winding road, The forests dark and meadows wide, Leave to the ferns the silvery gleam And sparkle of the little stream, The flowers by its side.
But when the Winter nights are drcar And weary thoughts the spirit load, Those Summer rambles all come back And lured on by its varying track We trace the winding road.
ANNA H. BRANCH.
"And such an one there was, a road that had a stream to guide it."-See Poem.
105
THE MEADOW CITY.
FLORENCE
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
" progress toward a better state of society, and the development of a true social and moral life." In its most flourishing condition it owned five hundred acres of land, a silk factory, saw and grist mills, and a number of houses. The present name " Florence " was adopted in 1852, when a post-office was estab- lished there. Previously it had been known as " The Community," " Bensonville," and "Greenville."
At present the principal articles of manufacture are silk, in which the Nonotuck Silk Company is engaged ; toilet and other brushes made by the Florence Manufacturing Company ;
FLORENCE
The thriving village of Florence, situated about three miles west from the centre, is the principal manu- facturing district of Northampton. Its first industry was a saw mill, established in the latter part of the eighteenth century by Wm. Hulbert. Silk manufacturing was one of the first enterprises started in Florence, and has become one of the most successful. It was commenced by the late Samuel Whitmarsh, in 1835. From 1841 to 1846, an association called the " community," flourished here, which gave considerable noto- riety to the village. Its object was
HIGH SCHOOL
LILLY LIBRARY
COSMIAN HALL
and oilgas stoves and sewing ma- chines, the product of the Central Oilgas Stove Company.
The village contains four churches : the Congregational, the Methodist, the Free Congregational and the Catholic. In 1863, a fine High School building was erected through the munificence of S. L. Hill, a prominent citizen of the place. Within a few years A. T. Lilly erected a library building, which bears his name. The village con- tains a number of fine private resi- dences and has many attractions.
106
NORTHAMPTON,
LEEDS
Four and one-half miles west of the business centre of the town, in a narrow gorge, on the banks of Mill river, lies the village of Leeds. Its first inhabitant located there one hundred and one years ago. Attracted by the abundant water power, early in the present century, manufact- urers established themselves there and it soon became the busiest section of the town. The first mill erected here was built by Joseph Bur-
VILLAGE OF LEEDS
nell, for sawing lumber in 1800. Eight years after a cotton mill was built on the same site, and in 1812, a woolen mill was started by Col. James Shepherd, who in a few years converted the cotton mill to the same use. The business was managed by James, Thomas and Charles Shepherd, and the place was then known as "Shepherd's Hollow " or "Shepherd's Factory." The company failed in 1857. Other parties purchased the property, a portion by the Nono- tuck Silk Co., and another part by the Ivory Button Co. When a post office was established there in 1849, the name of the place was changed to that of Leeds. It has always been a lively place of business and its citizens have always ranked among the most influential of the town. The Mill river flood in 1874, nearly destroyed the hamlet. All the dams were broken, all the bridges swept away, many dwelling houses annihilated and 51 persons lost their lives. But through the energy of its citizens it has risen from its ruins, and is now in a most prosperous and thriving condition.
MILL RIVER DISASTER
No sketch of the town is complete that fails to note the terrible disaster which befell the valley of Mill river, on a Saturday morning in the month of May, just twenty years ago. It was caused by the breaking of the reservoir dam at Williamsburg. This reservoir contained a reserve supply of water for all the manufacturing establishments on the river below. Situated about three miles from Williamsburg, at the head of a narrow gorge, 300 feet above the level of that town, it con- tained about 1,000,000,000 gallons of water, covered 124 acres with an average depth of twenty-four feet. On the first indication of serious trouble early in the morning, a messenger started down the stream to give warning. But the flood, a wall of water, twenty feet high, fol- lowed fast, and the destruction to life and property was enormous. Within the space of eight miles from Williamsburg to Northampton 136 lives were lost, 100 houses and factories demolished, 20 iron and wooden bridges swept away, and many miles of highway obliterated. In Williamsburg, 57 persons were killed, one factory, one grist mill, two saw mills and 32 houses and barns destroyed and others damaged. Within a short distance of Williamsburg, was the small manufacturing village of Skinnerville. Here four persons were drowned and one large factory and 20 houses demolished. At Hayden ville 25 people lost their lives, and 41 buildings
RESIDENCE OF L. DIMOCK, LEEDS
107
THE MEADOW CITY.
were carried off or badly injured. The village of Leeds was almost swept from existence. Here 5 1 persons were killed, and one large factory and 16 houses destroyed. Florence suffered less than any of the other villages. No lives were lost and no buildings badly injured. Several bridges were carried away and the factories somewhat damaged. The flood had spent most of its force before it reached Northampton centre, and the greatest damage was to roads and bridges. The
old wooden bridge at South street was the only bridge left standing in the track of the flood.
This sudden and sweeping disaster caused great destruction. Many persons lost every thing but life. Urgent appeals were made at once for help. Relief committees were organ- ized in the several towns, and provisions, money and clothing were freely contributed. A perma- nent relief committee was appointed with head- quarters at the town hall, and for many weeks the work of supplying the needs of the sufferers went forward. The city of Boston presented $5,000 worth of new clothing and bedding. The Legislature of Connecticut voted $10,000 to be applied to the relief of the destitute, and other contributions were received from the principal towns and cities throughout the country. The Legislature of Massachusetts voted $100,000 to rebuild the roads and bridges in Williamsburg. Clothing and bedding to the amount of $7,000,
cooked provisions worth $1, 500, and cash amount- ing to $75,000 were contributed.
Property to the amount of $1,500,000 or more was destroyed. In this town the loss of private property was estimated at $325,000, and $50,000 more were required to reconstruct roads and bridges. The loss in Williamsburg was not far from $1,200,000 : - at the centre, $350,000; at Skinnerville, $300,000; and at Haydenville, $500,000.
Within a few weeks a coroner's inquest was held on the body of John Atkinson of Williams- burg, at the Court House in this town. After a session of several weeks a verdict of general condemnation was rendered. All who had any- thing to do with planning, constructing, and approving for use, the reservoir dam, were censured, not excepting the Legislature which chartered the company that built the structure. Not only were the contractors condemned for faulty work in construction, but the County Commissioners, who approved the work, were declared delinquent in having superficially discharged their duty.
OUR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In preparing such a work as the one we now offer to the public, we have sought to interest the best talent to be obtained to contribute to its pages, and have spared no expense to secure it, and we congratulate ourselves and all who may read these lines, upon the quality of the text found here, which from the beginning to the end of the book speaks truly of the dignity, cult- ure, refinement, and religious and moral standing of our people and of the surpassing beauty of our scenery, and we wish here to return our thanks to all who have contributed so well to our work, whether their names appear on its pages or not. We feel indebted to the heads of the various institutions of the city for their interest in, and their valuable contributions to this work.
We are especially indebted to Elbridge Kings- ley, the artist and engraver of more than national reputation, to whom no scenery is quite equal to that of Western Massachusetts, for valuable work in the line of engraving.
Our thanks are due to Mr. J. R. Trumbull, Dr. T. W. Meekins, Mr. Waldo Whitcomb and others for information, old photographs, and material which add much to the value of the work,
INDEX TO THE TEXT
Page
Page
Academy of Music,
53
Mill River Disaster,
106
A City Charter, .
28
Mills, Elijah Hunt
21
Ashmun, Eli Porter
20
Monday Afternoon Club,
82
Amherst College,
59 Monday Evening Club,
82
Amherst Agricultural College,
59
Mt. Holyoke College,
59
A Turn in the Road, (Poem),
66
Northampton, (Poem),
6
Banking Institutions,
64
Northampton as an Educational Centre,
57
Bates, Isaac Chapman
23
Northampton Club,
82
Burnham School, The Mary A. .
56
Northampton Lunatic Hospital,
60
Characteristics of Connecticut River Valley Scenery,
35
Odds and Ends Club,
81
Church, The Old
27
Paradise Woods,
91
City Charter, A
28
Pioneers and Prominent Men,
11
Clarke Institution,
39
Railroads, .
27
Clubs,
81 Rebellion in Hampshire County,
25
College, Smith
44
Religious Societies,
37
Commons, The
14
Revolution, The .
17
Connecticut River Bridge,
28
Senators, United States
19
Dickinson Hospital,
55 Sewerage, .
68
Early Sketch,
7
Shakespeare Club,
Edwards, Jonathan
29
Smith Charities,
38
Electric Lighting,
68
Smith College,
44 70
Electric Railway,
68
Social Life in Northampton Previous to 1870, Streets of Northampton, The
81
Fortnightly Club,
82
Strong, Gov. Caleb
19
Free Public Libraries,
52
The Mary A. Burnham School,
56
Gas and Electric Lighting,
68
The Old Church, .
27
Gifts to Northampton,
38
The Revolution,
17
Hawley, Maj. Joseph
18
The Streets of Northampton,
84
Historical Sketch,
7
The War of 1812-15,
26
Home-Culture,
100
The War of the Rebellion,
27
Home for Aged and Invalid Women in Northampton,
55
The Winding Road, (Poem),
104
Hospital, Dickinson
55
Town Hall,
68 19
Introduction,
5 Wars, Indian
11
Indian Wars,
11
War of the Rebellion,
27
Jonathan Edwards,
29 War of 1812-15,
26
Kingsley, George .
82 Water Works,
69
Leeds,
106
Whiting Street Poor Fund,
55
Libraries, Frec Public
52 Wish-ton-Wish Club,
69
Literary and Social Club,
81
Young Men's Christian Association,
96
Meeting-House Hill,
10
Florence, .
105
Hospital, Northampton Lunatic
60 United States Senators,
-
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