USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Florence > The history of Florence, Massachusetts : including a complete account of the Northampton Association of Education and Industry > Part 16
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Soon, however, when the country rallied from the shock of secession and settled down to the conviction of a long war, business again resumed its natural channels, improved even, and new patients from North, East.
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and West fully made up for those from the South who stayed away, and the old prosperity of the establishment returned and continued until it was destroyed by fire on the night of November seventh, 1865. Feeling exhausted by fifteen years of work, and having reached the age of sixty, my father decided not to rebuild, and we all returned to Europe in April, 1866, my father, mother, and sister not to return.
Only those who knew our place when my father first took it can appreciate the hard and incessant labor, and the great expense which it cost to make out of a comparatively barren wilderness a beautiful park, with large trees, shady walks, and fragrant flower beds. When I revisited the old place in 1872, on my return from abroad, I hardly knew it. The old wilderness had returned, one building only was standing of the horseshoe structure which easily accommodated one hundred and fifty patients. The woods in which I had played and hunted the partridges were cut down, and blackened stumps occupied their place.
The popularity of my father's establishment was mainly due to his successful treatment of his patients. Many chronic, intractable ailments, which had resisted the usual remedies employed by the medical profession, yielded to the regular hours, carefully regulated diet, exercise, bathing, sweating, rubbing, drenching, etc., which formed the routine of life in the cure. Many prominent physicians visited the establishment with patients, or in order to see the methods there employed. I will but mention the late Dr. J. Marion Sims, the father of modern gynecology.
Although at first practiced empirically and with the reckless hardi- hood peculiar to new methods ; although in imminent danger of becom- ing obsolete through the fanaticism of "cranks," who would make the world believe that water was a " cure-all," in course of time hydropathy assumed a more scientific aspect, and was gradually recognized by the regular profession as a potent aid in their practice. In the popular mind hydropathy formerly meant the treatment of all kinds of diseases with PINE STREET BRIDGE IN 1863. From a letter head of Dr. Munde's. cold water. This was an error. The treatment was really with water, cold, hot, warm, and tepid, as the case should indicate, applied in many different ways in accordance with well understood scientific rules and practice. Diet, rest, early hours, freedom from care and excitement, fresh country air,-all these were, of course, natural ad-
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juncts to the hydropathic treatment. No doubt many a patient has succumbed to the misjudged zeal of his (hydropathically) ignorant med- ical attendant.
Our life at Florence was a happy one, but, on the whole, uneventful. My father's large establishment, with its grounds of over one hundred acres, kept him so occupied, that in the busy season (spring and sum- mer), he had little time to attend to other matters. But he was always warmly interested in the welfare and progress of the village, which was slowly and steadily increasing in size and importance. He never forgot to his dying day (he died in Goez, Austria, in February, 1887, at the age of eighty-two) the beautiful spot where he had spent so many happy years, met so many warm friends, and last, but not least, amassed a competence which enabled him to spend the last sixteen years of his life in comfort and independence. My father always gloried in his American citizenship, and in his association with Florence. Pictures of our old home there hung in his house at Goez in prominent positions when I last visited him there in 1886.
FLORENCE IN THE MILL RIVER FLOOD.
BY CLAYTON E. DAVIS.
THIS work would not be complete without a brief sketch of the Mill River flood. The whole valley, from Williamsburg to Northampton, shook from stem to stern on that now memorable morning, May sixteenth. 1874, and when the enemy had passed beyond, it was discovered that it had wrecked four villages, destroyed thousands upon thon- sands of dollars worth of property. and had sent into the unknown land one hundred and thirty-six human beings.
The defective reservoir, which was the cause of this terrible cat- astrophe, was situated about three FLOOD WOOD ON WARNER'S MEADOW. miles above Williamsburg, in the northeastern part of the town. In the month of May, 1874, there was stand- ing all along this valley a costly array of mills, factories, shops, offices, and banks. Nearly all were in operation. The stream was low, and, upon the evening of the fifteenth, the families retired to rest with no thought of the impending danger ; mill owners, bankers, capitalists, were
13
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WRECK OF BOARDING HOUSE AT HAYDENVILLE.
RUINS OF STONE BRIDGE AT LEEDS.
engrossed in their schemes for the future ; all was peace, prosperity, comfort, and do- mestic happiness. The morning of the sixteenth dawned - the fatal day had arrived.
The reservoir was in charge of George Cheney, and he inspected the dam, as usual, at six o'clock on the eventful morning, and found everything satisfac- tory. But very soon his father from the house dis- covered the break, and Cheney, grasping at once the situation, sprang on his horse, and started for Williamsburg. The rides of Cheney to Williamsburg, of Collins Graves and Jerome Hillman to Haydenville, and Myron Day from Hayden- ville through Leeds to Flor- ence, have passed into his- tory. This article must be brief, and it is sufficient to say that by their heroic work hundreds of lives were saved.
Hardly had Cheney started when the dam began to crumble more and more. The wall fell away faster and faster, and soon with a sud- den roar the great mass was carried out at once. The imprisoned waters, pouring through with indescribable fury, began their terrible work of destruction. The flood had commenced.
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Pages could be filled with an account of this mad rush of the waters from the time the flood burst upon Williamsburg until it had passed Florence.
The water dashed out from its heretofore strong house, and, seeming to mock the dam that previously had held it in check, flew into the val- ley below. The waters first struck the village of Williamsburg, and houses, mills, bridges, and fifty-seven persons were grasped within its arms. The same story can be told of Skinnerville, where four lives were lost, in Haydenville, where forty-one buildings and twenty-four per- sons were carried onward, and in Leeds, where fifty-one of its inhabitants swelled the list of the dead to one hundred and thirty-six. Out of thirty buildings along the main street in Leeds, but three defied the flood.
The village of Florence awoke, as usual, that morning, and its people hurried through the rain to their different places of daily toil. Soon after eight o'clock, Myron Day drove into the lower part of the village. and alarmed the employers of the shops and mills. The alarm quickly spread, and the mill employ- ees fled to places of safety, there to watch the mad rush of the waters. The warn- ing flew throughout the vil- lage, but before many could get to the river the flood had passed, and the angry waters had added another chapter to the disasters of this country.
The first rush of the ad- vancing flood was formid- able as a tidal wave, sweep- ing everything before it. It rolled onward in a billow from six to ten feet in height, as it entered Flor- ence, laden with a mass of flood wood, comprised of dismantled houses, bridges, SEARCHING FOR DEAD ON FLORENCE MEADOWS factory buildings, fences, uprooted trees, dead animals, and, fearful to relate, human bodies-men, women, and little children, rent, bruised. stripped of their clothing, and battered almost beyond recognition. While people were yet wondering, dazed, and confounded at this terrible rush
* Seventeen bodies were found here.
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of waters, the Meadow street bridge gave way with a crash, and was hurled onward toward the iron bridge at the brush shop. In a twink- ling, this second bridge was torn from its supports, and a minute later both bridges went over the dam. At about the same moment the wooden bridge just below the Nonotuck Silk Company yielded to the force, and that, too, passed onward. In ten minutes the water had risen to six feet above the highest watermark, and the scene for the next hour was absolutely appalling. Scores of dwellings on every hand in the lower part of the vil- lage stood like so many islands in a wilderness of angry waters, and people were running in every direc- tion,alarmed and bewildered by the catastrophe which had come so suddenly upon them. Lower floors had to be abandoned, and the fam- ilies crouched in terror in the upper stories expecting every moment to have their DÉBRIS ON JOHN WARNER'S MEADOW. homes swept down the stream.
But little property was lost in Florence. The Nonotuck Silk Com- pany lost an addition to their dye house which was in process of com- pletion, a blacksmith shop and storehouse were carried away, also a shed forty feet long, containing five hundred dollars worth of flour, a lot of lumber owned by Amos Eldridge, and one hundred cords of wood belonging to the Nonotuck Silk Company. The Florence Manufactur- ing Company estimated their loss at $3000, and the remaining damage done in Florence was in the meadows, which were then owned by Austin Ross, Samuel Bottum, Solomon Phelps, Bela Gardner, John and Joseph Warner. John F. Warner sold at one dollar each, six hundred wagon loads of flood wood from his meadow. This gives an idea of the vast amount of debris strewn over the lowlands.
As soon as the water began to recede, the bodies were found and a place was provided for them, until they could be identified, in a small wooden building used by William J. Warner as a carpenter shop and
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situated above his residence on North Main street, where the bodies were brought in all day Saturday and Sunday. They were laid in two rows and each made as presentable as possible. There were men. women, and children, some with features convulsed in agony, others quiet and peaceful as if in sleep. As soon as a body was recognized. it was removed, and many were the heartrending scenes as the bereaved ones recognized companions, friends, or relatives in that silent company.
The news of the disaster spread over the country like wildfire, creating the greatest excitement. Before noon Saturday, though it was raining, people began to arrive. On Sunday the weather being pleasant, people came by the thousand ; lumber wagons, buggies, carriages, and express wagons crowded the entire route of the disaster. Springfield, Holyoke. and other places sent large delegations. The railroad made hourly trips to accommodate the vast throng. Main street of this village was crowded with teams all day Sunday, and here and there was seen a casket that was to hold the remains of some victim. By actual count, four hundred and seventy teams passed the residence of the late Moses Warner in one hour on Sunday and all going in one direction. The work of finding the dead bodies was pushed as soon as the waters would permit, and, by Sunday morning, forty-two had been found on the Florence meadows.
FLORENCE AND THE WAR.
BY JOSEPH B. WHITEHOUSE.
AFTER the lapse of one third of a century it is somewhat difficult to recall the names of those who participated in the stirring scenes which connected Florence with the great civil war. To learn its cause, the stu- dent of history must turn its pages far back, tracing its dark annals through many Congressional fights and bitter discussions over slavery. our national sin. Then came secession, an attempt to destroy our glo- rious Union, at which every patriotic son of the republic revolted, and when the first call to arms rung out like a death knell, from the chief of our nation, the response was quickly made. We now look back with loyal pride to Company C, roth Massachusetts Infantry, as the first company in Hampshire County to respond to the call.
Meetings were frequently held in the town hall, where eager crowds listened to speeches filled with patriotic eloquence from such able speak ers as Delano, Maltby, Hopkins, Littlefield, and many others. I well remember what emotions thrilled the large audience when the first man arose in the body of the house and said that he was going " to the front,"
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as soon as he could get there. He was cheered again and again, and when order was restored Mr. Maltby arose to inquire the name of this first volunteer, saying, " My friend, you will find five hundred dollars placed to your credit in the old Northampton bank." In one evening about forty names were added to the roll. Meetings were held in vari- ous places nearly every night, at which the events of the day were eagerly discussed by anxious citizens.
It will seem strange to relate that there were those among us whose sympathy was strongly with the South. Among these may be mentioned several Southern gentlemen, guests at Dr. Munde's water cure, who manifested not a little uneasiness lest their views might cause them some trouble. Mr. A. T. Lilly assured them that they need fear no violence, as they would be treated respectfully. I may here re- mark that the infamous Wirz, of rebel prison fame, resided in Florence for a few years previous to the war, being employed at the water cure.
Perhaps there was nothing more BOY'S HEAD- BY C. C. BURLEIGH, JR. realistic in this section than Company C's marching through the village to Williamsburg, where the boys camped for the night. The next day they returned and were met in Florence by leading citizens, including Messrs. Lilly, Littlefield, Parsons, Phelps, and Flood, and escorted by the Florence brass band to the open space near the Congregational church, where a bountiful collation had been provided for them by the ladies. D. G. Littlefield made the speech of welcome, and after the boys had responded with three cheers, he pre- sented them with a box of choice cigars. Dr. Munde's water cure was also visited, where flags were flying, the Doctor having been a colonel in the Hungarian army. At the house of Julius Phelps the company halted and gave three cheers, well knowing the patriotic spirit of its inmates. On the return to Northampton each member of the company was pre- sented with a Testament or Bible, by Dr. Eddy, the gift of the Sunday- schools of Northampton. Thus it was that the men went forth with a divine trust, knowing that the " God of battles " would be with them.
Pulpit and press were thoroughly awake to the great question then filling the popular mind, and a deep. Christian spirit prevailed over all. Men who had long since passed the meridian of useful labor cheered on their fellow comrades. At that time I was superintendent at Littlefield,
HISTORIC REMINISCENCES.
Parsons & Company's factory. Once I had occasion to leave town for a few hours. Everything was running smoothly at the shop when I went away-each man was at his place. Imagine my surprise, on returning, to meet several of my employees at the railroad station. " What does this mean ?" I asked, as those were not times of labor unions and of strikes. "We are going to enlist to-night," they replied. "All right, boys, go ahead !" I answered. The war waged on to the end, and when the re- maining members of the com- pany were expected home, many of the town's people gathered at the station to meet them. Loud cheers of welcome greeted the soldier boys as they raised their tattered flags, and with uniforms ragged and worn, marched up Main street, Northampton. But what a wel- come home !
PINE STREET (BRUSH SHOP) IRON BRIDGE ..*
These are but a few outlines of those soul-stirring times. Ah, who can tell the price of peace! But let these lines remind our surviving comrades that their service is not forgotten, and as time goes on our nation will ever commemorate their noble deeds and prompt action in her hour of peril.
The following list of the Florence men who went to the war has been compiled from the "History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts. - [ EDITOR.
SECOND REGIMENT : Three years .- John Cahill, Jr., Company D ; mus- tered in, May 25, 1861 ; discharged for disability, January 27, 1863.
TENTH REGIMENT : Three years. - Thomas Cahill, Company E : mustered in, June 21, 1861 ; discharged, June 28, 1864. Constant E. Ban- erat, Company C ; mustered in, June 21, 1861 ; killed in action, May 3. 1863. Charles Hickey, Company E ; mustered in, June 21, 1861 ; re-en- listed Company K, Thirty-seventh. Henry L. Nichols, Company E; mustered in, June 21, 1861 ; discharged, July 1. 1864. Edwin S. Pease. Company C ; mustered in, October 18, 1861 ; died February 4, 1863
TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT : Three years .- Thomas Gilmartin, Company
* This bridge was twisted up by the flood, and lodged in the rear of the Greenville cotton factory, now the braid mill.
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G ; discharged for disability, November 18, 1862. Thomas Stephens, Company B ; mustered in, August 19, 1861 ; re-enlisted, January 1, 1864 ; missing, June 17, 1864.
TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT : Three years .- Andrew Cahill, Company A ; mustered in, September 27, 1861 ; died, September 15, 1862. John F. Hannum, Company G ; mustered in, October 15, 1861 ; re-enlisted ; dis- charged, June 26, 1865. J. Freeman Nutting, Company G ; mustered in, October 19, 1861 : re-enlisted ; discharged, June 26, 1865. Charles H. Otto, Company A ; mustered in, September 20, 1861 ; discharged for disability, January 1, 1863. Edward W. Pease, Company G ; mustered in, October 14, 1861 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, August 14, 1863.
THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT : Three years .- Daniel Franzen, Company B ; mustered in, November 26, 1861 ; re-enlisted.
THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT : Three years .- Austin J. Allis, Company G ; mustered in, August 6, 1862 ; discharged, June 21, 1865. Edmund M. Bartlett, Company G ; mustered in, August 30, 1862 ; sick in hospital when the regiment was mustered out. David Congden, Company G ; mustered in, August 30, 1862 ; discharged, July 10, 1865. James Cramp- ton, Company K ; mustered in, August 9, 1862 ; killed at Gettysburgh. July 13, 1863. Leander F. Dawes, Company G ; mustered in, August 30, 1862 ; discharged, July 21, 1865. Thomas Dumfree, Company G ; mustered in, August 30, 1862 ; discharged, June 21, 1865. Francis A. Gouch, Company G ; mustered in, August 30, 1862 ; discharged for disability, November 17, 1863. Edward P. Nichols, Company H : mus- tered in, August 15, 1862 ; discharged for disability, June 5, 1864. S. E. Nichols, Company G ; mustered in, August 30, 1862 ; discharged, June 21, 1865. Oscar C. Powell, Company G ; mustered in, August 30, 1862 ; sick in hospital when regiment was mustered out. Austin H. Stockwell, Company G ; mustered in, August 30, 1862 ; discharged for disability, February 25, 1863. Ira Todd, Company G ; mustered in, August 30, 1862 ; sick when regiment was mustered out.
FIFTY-SECOND REGIMENT : Nine Months .- Edward L. Abercrombie, Company C ; mustered in, October 2, 1862 ; discharged, August 14, 1863. Jona. Bailey, Company C ; mustered in, October 2, 1862 ; discharged. August 14, 1863. Edward E. Graves, Company C ; mustered in, October 11, 1862 ; discharged, August 14. 1863. Henry W. Gladden, Company C; mustered in, October 11, 1862 ; died, August 6, 1863. John Hannah, Company C : mustered in, October 2, 1862 ; discharged, August 14, 1863. Orin Q. Moore, Company C ; mustered in, October 2, 1862 ; discharged, August 14, 1863. Luther A. Martin, Company C ; mustered in, October 2, 1862 ; discharged August 14. 1863. Edward Martin, Company C ;
HISTORIC REMINISCENCES.
mustered in, October 2, 1862 ; discharged, August 14. 1863. Sidney C. Smith, Company C; mustered in, October 2, 1862 ; died at Brazier City, La., May 29, 1863.
FIRST CAVALRY : Three Years .- William C. Pelton, Company M ; mustered in, January 14, 1864.
WHAT FLORENCE NEEDS.
BY WILLIAM H. RILEY.
DURING the past twenty-five years Florence has been looked upon very properly as a model New England village. Business depression, and the death and removal of many of those who assisted in founding and building up the place, however, have changed the country village some what, and Florence of 1894 has not the air of thrift and prosperity which was so patent in the Florence of twenty years ago. There is more of the "down at the heel " and slipshod feeling in the very atmosphere than there used to be in the days when Messrs. Hill, Lilly, Burleigh, Williston, Clark, Burr, Otis, Parsons, Bond, Bottum, Edwards, O'Donnell. and many others of notable worth, were with and of us. These were the founders and builders of our village, and they have left us a goodly inheritance. There can be no question that we can, and should, build well on the broad foundations which they so faithfully laid. In attempt- ing to answer the question put to me by the editor, " What does Flor- ence need ?" I shall not assume the role of the preacher or moralist and assert, what is no doubt true, that, were we all to live more temperate and upright lives, our village would have a sweeter and more inviting air about it, nor am I going to say what men with philanthropic dispo- sitions and a plethoric pocketbook could do for the place. I speak rather in a plain, frank manner, to an open-hearted and sensible people. with malice toward none, and only a sincere desire for our mutual good.
Perhaps, first of all, Florence needs to-day, as it has for many years, an active and wide-awake business men's association or board of trade. Books, illustrative of our growth and prosperity, can be utilized as excellent adjuncts in calling attention to whatever meritorious features there may be to the place, but men of brains, push, and capital are essential to the success of a business men's association. The men of such an organization would be like sentinels on the watchtowers look- ing for anything and everything that would add to our material pros- perity. Such a steering committee has been needed on several occa- sions. A business men's association could have saved the tack shop.
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In this case, as in others, it was not capital, but a little tact that was needed. A number of important industries could have been saved to the place, and others brought in, had an energetic board of trade been on the alert. Then, too, a permanent association of this character would be beneficial in other directions. There is a natural tendency in small places to formulate religious, political, and social cliques, which, while they are looked upon, perhaps, as beneficial to individuals, have a dis- integrating tendency upon the place at large. Our village improvement society has done a good work in the past, and its members are deserving of much praise for their commendable efforts. But the society's field might well be enlarged so as to embrace the village sidewalks. This lack of substantial walks is especially severe upon pedestrians in the winter season. Our people are generous and willing to pay their share of the cost, and what is needed is that some strong, effective organization should stand back of this movement for better sidewalks. Now that we have ample water and sewer facilities, with our fine schools and strong churches, there is no reason why Florence should not become a popular residential portion of the city of Northampton.
As patriotic citizens, we need, too, more enthusiasm for our schools. Few places have had greater blessings in this direction, and they should be well cherished and preserved. There is a movement on foot, however, to have our High school removed to the Center. This should be stopped at once. Some people are running wild on this centralization hobby. The same arguments which are brought to bear for the purpose of hav- ing our High school removed to Northampton, would apply equally as well to every hamlet in the county. To take this school away means that many of our boys and girls will be deprived of essential educational advantages, as their parents will not be able to pay the requisite addi- tional expenses. Samuel L. Hill, of honored memory, gave to the village a substantial schoolhouse that we might have an advanced course, and now let every true citizen of Florence see to it that our edu- cational advantages are not diminished or abridged.
THE VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.
BY W. I. WILCOX.
It is very interesting in the make-up of a town or village to note what Has contributed to its growth, and the Village Improvement Society is largely responsible for the neatness of the lawns and well kept hedges, and the streets and walks. There is no one individual who started the
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