USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, pt 2 > Part 5
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SILK CULTURE.
the rapid acquirement of wealth. All classes in the community become interested, and for many months mulberry trees and silk culture were the absorbing topics of conversation. In 1835, Nathan Adams of Leverett began to raise at West Hartford, Conn., a new variety of mulberry tree, very rapid in growth, called the morus multicaulis. Oliver M. Clapp of East Amherst became interested in the business, and on the death of Mr. Adams he purchased for $450 some 1300 trees and brought them from West Hartford to Amherst.
In 1836, the Second parish being badly in need of a new church building, it was decided by some of the more influential of the church- members that the necessary funds could be most readily secured if the parish should go into the business of raising mulberry trees. Mr. Clapp sold his trees to the parish, land was hired and a committee of three, con- sisting of O. M. Clapp, Judge Ithamar Conkey and Major Ebenezer Mattoon, was appointed to manage the business for the parish. From these trees cuttings were sold, consisting of twigs three inches long, on each of which were two buds, the price being two cents a twig or one cent a bud. The prospect of securing funds for the new church seemed so bright that one good old deacon remarked at a weekly prayer-meeting that the Lord had seen their great need of a church and had kindly prepared a way for them to get it. In 1837, the firm of Clapp & Rust was formed, for the raising of mulberry trees, the propagation of silk-worms and the production of raw silk. Silk-worm eggs were in great demand, the price being from ten to twelve cents per hundred, while mulberry seed sold for $15 per ounce. Much worthless seed was sold to the farmers, who neg- lected their regular farm crops that they might devote their time to silk culture. There was profit in the business for some who engaged in it. It is recorded that a quarter of an acre of land, near the house where Noah Dickinson now lives, was set with cuttings in the spring, and in the fall the owner sold about one-half the trees raised for $1070, while the pur- chaser, a Northampton man, resold the trees at once and doubled his money. In those days a man could start out in the morning with a little bundle of cuttings under his arm and return to his home in time for dinner with $100 to $200 in cash in his pocket as the result of his sales. Clapp & Rust produced a considerable quantity of raw silk, which was pro- nounced as good as the imported article and was sold to manufacturers in Northampton. Two kinds of worms were reared, the "four weeks " and the " six weeks," these names being given to signify the time required for the worms to come to maturity and spin their cocoons after hatching.
From the files of the Hampshire Gasette are gathered the following statistics concerning the silk culture in Amherst. The Hampshire, Frank- lin and Hampden Agricultural society in 1834 awarded to Theodore
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
Lyman of Amherst a premium of $4 for the greatest length of white mulberry hedge set for a division fence. Timothy Smith presented the following application for premiums on exhibits at the agricultural fair held in Northampton in the fall of 1838 :
" The undersigned offers for premium and examination the following, viz.
1-156 lbs. of cocoons reeled the past season.
2-16,000 mulberry trees raised on Id acres of land, from foliage of which was fed about 60,000 worms.
3-S,ooo Canton and Manilla Multicaulis trees from roots, cuttings and layers. which afforded 550 pounds of foliage sufficient for 15,000 worms and from which was raised 3S pounds of cocoons.
4-30,000 mulberry trees from seed, had of Dr. Stebbins, which is supposed to have grown on the highlands of China. These trees, I think, will exceed the Morus or Manilla Multicaulis in resisting the cold, and equal it in weight of foliage.
TIMOTHY SMITH."
The Gazette, having printed this application, adds the following com- ment : " Mr. Smith has ascertained that raw silk can be produced at from $1.50 to $2.50 per pound, while manufacturers have paid from $5 to $6 per pound for raw silk. Mr. Smith has received a bounty from the state of $45.60 for 156 pounds of cocoons, 23 pounds of reeled and 37 pounds of thrown silk." The Amherst Silk association was incorporated in 1839. Concerning this organization the Gazette says : "The friends of the silk culture in Amherst have formed themselves into a society, with a view of collecting and diffusing information upon the whole subject of the silk culture. Timothy Smith, one of the best practical silk culturists in the state, is president, Nelson Rust vice-president, William P. Thornton sec- retary, William Barnard treasurer, Matthew Porter, Levi Lincoln, Merrick Houghton, Oliver M. Clapp and Jacob Stetson executive committee." At the cattle show of the Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden agricultural society held in 1840, Timothy Smith received premiums as follows : $5 on the largest number of mulberry trees of any kind, 401, 150; $5 for the greatest number of Canton trees, 394,000 ; $2, fourth prize, on greatest number of Asiatic trees: $3 on case of silk. At the annual meeting of the society in March, 1841, Mr. Smith claimed and received premiums as follows : On 14 pounds raw silk grown and reeled in 1840, on 6 pounds silk manufactured into sewings, and 533 yards of broad gros de nap and vestings, light color.
In the latter part of the '3os the tide of speculation reached its turn- ing point and began to recede. The difficulties and risks attendant upon silk culture in New England became more thoroughly understood, and those who had been most eager to engage in the enterprise lost no time in abandoning it. There was a heavy fall in the prices of mulberry seed, cut- tings and silk-worm eggs, and although some who had faith in the future of the
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MINING INVESTMENTS.
business retained their stock in hope of better times it was soon apparent that the silk industry, sofar as Amherst was concerned, was a thing of the past. The Second parish raised some trees and sold them, but the funds for their new church had to be raised by old time methods. When the crash came Clapp & Rust had over $13,000 worth of trees on hand, at the ruling prices, but these assets proved of little value. To-day all that remains to remind one of the silk craze in Amherst is an occasional mul- berry tree, here and there about the town, its berries furnishing food to the robins and its foliage a prey to other worms than those which commanded so high a price sixty years ago.
Some forty years after the " mulberry era," Amherst people began to invest money liberally in the stocks of gold and silver mines located in the far West. In the fall of 18So, the stock of the Starr-Grove silver mining company was placed on sale in Amherst, the price being fixed at $2 per share. The mine was situated in Nevada and was said to be very rich in mineral. Soon after the first shares were disposed of the company began paying monthly dividends of ten cents per share, the same being con- tinued for a period of eight months. The prospects of a dividend of $1.20 per annum on shares of stock purchased for $2 naturally caused the latter to be in great demand. The price was soon advanced and there was a great rush of investors who were determined to have the stock at any price. The affairs of the Starr-Grove company were managed by a firm of New York brokers, one of the partners being Col. W. S. Clark, a former president of the Agricultural College and highly esteemed in this town where he had resided for many years. This firm also controlled the stocks in many other gold and silver mines, and shares of the latter were offered for sale in Amherst and found ready purchasers. Among the favorite stocks for investment were those of the Stormont and the Hite mining companies. The mining craze, like the mulberry craze, affected all classes in the community. Business men, professional men, farmers, mechanics, laborers, all found money to invest in mining stocks, some of them borrowing the funds and mortgaging lands and buildings that they might buy tickets in the lottery for wealth. It has been estimated that as much as a quarter of a million dollars was, in less than one year, invested in mining stocks by residents of Amherst. In June, 1881, the Starr-Grove company ceased to pay dividends, the reason offered being that a new stamp mill was to be erected and a railway built to carry ore from the mines to the mill. This stoppage of dividends caused a sharp decline in the selling price of mining stocks in Amherst, and investors hastened to dispose of their certificates at the best price they could secure, many of them finding their shares unsalable at any price.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
It was not until the spring of 1887 that the craze for endowment or assessment insurance made itself felt in Amherst. It had existed in neigh- boring communities, notably in Florence, for some years previous, but it was some time before the promoters of the schemes to manifold wealth by extraordinary methods discovered how gullible the public is. and how ready it is to welcome the most extravagant schemes for gaining riches at the expense of others. The time has not yet come for writing the history of assessment insurance in Massachusetts. Its victims are too many, and they hold as yet too lively a recollection of their own folly and the duplic- ity of the promoters of these enterprises to consider them in an impartial manner. Amherst suffered less from this craze than did many of the neighboring communities, but large sums, how large it is difficult to estimate, were invested in the " certificates " of the all but numberless associations that sprang up like mushrooms in all parts of the state. A branch of the " Iron Hall " was instituted in Amherst, May 3, 1887. This order or association issued certificates to its members, agreeing to pay them at the end of seven years $600, $800 or $1000, as the certificate might read. In the event of sickness during this term they were entitled to a weekly pay- ment of "sick benefits" up to a certain amount, and in case of death a proportionate sum would be paid to the heirs, or the latter could continue the payments on certificates up to the time of their maturity and receive the full amount. An initiation fee was charged and quarterly dues. In addition to these fixed expenses, certificate-holders were liable to assess- ments of certain sums, graduated in amount by the amount of their cer- tificates, and payable at such times as might be decided on by the " supreme " officials of the order. On certificates for $1,000 each assess- ment was for $2.50, and they were called once or twice in each month. The promoters of the order estimated that each certificate-holder would pay in during the term of seven years not more than one-third the amount of his certificate. The order had been in operation in Massachusetts for a number of years and its business had been conducted in such a satisfac- tory manner that men of all classes became interested in it. The Amherst branch of the order gained rapidly in membership, both in this and sur- rounding towns. Considerable sums were paid to members from time to time in the way of "sick benefits." Persons belonging to the order possessed the utmost faith in the financial theories it embodied, and when in 1891 other organizations founded on the system of assessment insurance became insolvent there was but a slight falling off in membership. The order continued to do business until the summer of 1892, when legal proceedings were instituted against the supreme officers and it was forced to suspend. In course of time a receiver was appointed, and the certificate- holders who continued their payments up to the time that an injunction
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PHOENIX ROW-1840.
PHOENIX ROW BEFORE ISSO.
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OLD BUSINESS FIRMS.
against the order was issued by the courts, received about 35 per cent. of the amount they had paid in.
A branch of the " Mutual One Year Benefit " order was organized in Amherst, Oct. 24, 1890. It had a large membership at the first but in company with many other of the mushroom "orders" it was forced to retire from business in 1891 and few of the certificate-holders received any return for the money they had paid in. Nov. 12, 1890, a conclave of the "Commercial Endowment " association was organized in Amherst. The headquarters of this order were at Northampton, and as prominent business men were connected with it, it readily gained the confidence of the more conservative people who had refused to have anything to do with the earlier organizations. That this confidence was not misplaced is proven by the fact that the association, although forced to give up business in the fall of 1892, returned to its certificate-holders nearly dollar for dollar of the amounts they had paid in. These were the only assessment insurance companies to organize branches in Amherst, but many residents of the town took out certificates in from one to a dozen of the almost numberless "fraternal " and " benevolent" and " protective " swindles which flourished . for a time and then went into bankruptcy, with no available assets. Other forms of permanent investment have appealed to Amherst residents from time to time, the most recent being the lottery of mortgage loans on Western real estate, which has resulted in the acquirement by Amherst parties of several more or less valuable tracts of land in the Middle- Western states.
OLD BUSINESS FIRMS.
On page 140 of this volume reference is made to some of the firms and individuals who were engaged in business in Amherst in 1815. It would be interesting, did space permit, to trace from the beginning the development of different lines of mercantile business in the town, but a brief review must suffice. The first business directory of Amherst was published in 1869 ; for any record of business enterprises established before that date dependence must be placed upon the memory of the older residents of the town and advertisements printed in the publications of the time. Cotton Smith & Co. were in business as early as 1810, near the meeting-house at East Amherst. They kept a general store, dealing in crockery, glassware, groceries, liquors, dye-stuffs, etc. The firm was dis- solved in June, 1811, and was succeeded by Smith & Porter ; in May, 1812, the latter firm was dissolved, Cotton Smith continuing the business at the old stand. C. & J. U. Hamilton were in business in IS10. In the Hampshire Gasette, under date of July 25, 1810, appears the following notice : "Solomon Dewey, one of the firm of Hamilton, Dewey . & Co.,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
having absconded-the firm therefore is this day dissolved-this is to forbid all persons paying anything to anyone except-CALVIN U. HAMILTON." · Rufus Cowls was also in business in 1810. His store, a small wooden building, fronted on Pleasant street at the corner of Cowles lane. He dealt in hardware, groceries, liquors, drugs and medicines.
Leonard Dwight and H. Wright Strong conducted a general store in Amherst prior to 1812; in April of that year, the partnership was dissolved and a new one formed by Strong and Elijah Dwight. H. Wright Strong was in business in 1815 ; his store stood on the site now occupied by Adams' drug-store. In 1824, Luke Sweetser, who had been for three years in Mr. Strong's employ, bought out the business, continuing it under his own name until March, 1830, when his brother, J. A. Sweetser, became associated with him under the firm name of L. & J. A. Sweetser. A few years later, J. A. Sweetser severed his connection with the firm and William Cutler and Luke Sweetser formed a partnership under the firm name of Sweetser & Cutler. In 1848, George Cutler became a member of the concern, the name being changed to Sweetser, Cutler & Co. Mr. Sweetser retired from the business in 1857, and the Cutler brothers continued it under the firm name of W. & G. Cutler. The firm of Geo. Cutler & Co. was formed in 1870 and continued in business until 1884, when it was succeeded by the present firm of Jackson & Cutler.
Nathaniel Jacobs and Samuel Perrin were in business in Amherst in 1814, the firm being dissolved in November of that year and Samuel Perrin continuing the business at the old stand. In March, 1815, Thomas Dyer, better known as " Capt." Dyer, formed a partnership with Timothy S. Goodman, the firm doing business at East Amherst. Joseph and Asahel Thayer were in business in 1816, the partnership being dissolved in Feb- ruary of that year, the business being continued by Joseph Thayer. In 1820, Azell Dunbar was a manufacturer of and dealer in looking-glasses at East Amherst.
In 1826, the leading store-keepers in Amherst were Luke Sweetser and Graves & Field. They dealt in cloths, dry goods of all kinds, crockery and glass, groceries, wines, spirits, etc. Asahel Thayer conducted a general store, probably at the center, while Philip L. Goss & Co. kept a general store at South Amherst. The Amherst book-store was conducted by Mark H. Newman. Jacob Edson'was a dealer in cabinet furniture at the center and Caleb W. Newell & Co. manufactured and sold furniture at East Amherst. Lucius Boltwood. was agent for the Springfield fire insu- rance company, and Edward Dickinson agent of the zEtna insurance company. Harvey Worthington and Ebenezer Fisk conducted a hat-store at the Center. Lewis Hills kept a meat-market in the basement of Bolt- wood's tavern. Lyman Knowles manufactured coaches and wagons at
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OLD BUSINESS FIRMS.
South Amherst near the meeting-house. Ebenezer Eames, Jr., conducted a blacksmith shop.
In 1828, the firm of Graves & Field was succeeded by that of Field & Dickinson, the latter continuing in business only about a year when it was dissolved. Leander Merrick was a draper and tailor, continuing in business until after 1850. E. W. Storrs conducted a general store for many years, starting business in 182S. C. Stratton was a "surgeon dentist " in Amherst for a great many years. In 1835, M. G. Forgate and Jonas Houghton conducted the Amherst furniture warerooms, the firm being dissolved in October of that year and a new partnership formed under the name of Jones & Houghton. Solomon Pitkin conducted the " brick store," selling a general assortment of goods; he was succeeded by Pitkin & Kellogg.
The Amherst cabinet warerooms were conducted in May, 1835, by William F. Bangs. During the year the firm name became Mckinney & Bangs. This business was purchased by Hiram Fox in 1843, and two years later was sold to Merrick M. Marsh. . In 1860, the firm name was changed to Marsh & Young, in 1867 to Marsh & Son, in 1875 to E. D. Marsh & Young, and in 1883 the business was purchased by E. D. Marsh who now conducts it. When J. S. & C. Adams engaged in the business of printing and publishing in 1824, they established a book-store in con- nection with their business, which has been carried on up to the present time; it is at present conducted by Edwin Nelson, who bought it from Charles Adams in 1871.
In 1844, D. Mack, Jr. & Son conducted a general store at Amherst center. L. M. Hills owned a dry-goods and grocery store at East Amherst and William Dickinson & Co. a general store at South Amherst. Abel A. Butler and C. Kellogg were dealers in boots and shoes. S. Har- rington dealt in watches, clocks and jewelry. Willam Kellogg, Jr. con- ducted the Amherst furnishing store. J. & S. Colton were tailors, S. D. Learned a book-binder and Newton Fitch a druggist. John Slattery cleaned and colored clothes. Seneca Holland sold dry-goods, paints and oils as early as 1832; about 1859 he took his son Henry in partnership with him under the firm name of S. Holland & Son. Henry Holland carried on the business from ISS3 until his death in ISSS, when he was succeeded by the present firm of Holland & Gallond. In IS40, Joseph Blynn con- ducted a stove-store and tin-shop at Amherst center ; he was succeeded by a Mr. Montague and he by Charles E. Morse, the latter selling out in 1855 to W. W. Hunt, who still carries on the business.
Mirick N. Spear has conducted a news and stationery store at Amherst center since 1850. E. G. Shumway opened a photographer's establish-
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
ment in Amherst in 1850, and in 1856 sold out to J. L. Lovell who has since carried on the business. C. E. Hutchinson opened a harness and trunk store in Amherst in 1853, and has continued the business up to the present time, occupying his present business quarters in the American house block since 1856. In 1850, E. S. & F. A. Pierce were extensive dealers in groceries and general merchandise, and Strickland & Dickinson were manufacturers of and dealers in furniture. In 1855, R. Chauncey Russell conducted a merchants' tailoring business. Field & Strickland had succeeded Strickland & Dickinson in the furniture business. Henry C. Kellogg was a dealer in boots and shoes. George Graves was engaged in the business of sign and ornamental painting. D. J. Bartlett was a dealer in millinery goods. In 1860, Parks Bros., W. Barrows & Co. and M. A. & B. W. Allen were leading merchants at the center. The above is. of course, a very incomplete list of the persons doing business in Amherst during the present century. It will serve, however, to pleasantly recall to many of the readers of this volume the names and personalities of many who have been prominently connected with the business interests of the town.
CHAPTER LII.
OLD HOUSES .- TOWN POLITICS .- AMUSEMENTS AND CELEBRATIONS .- AMHERST'S CENTENNIAL .---- WEATHER PHENOMENA .-- STORM AND FLOOD .- THE " BLIZZARD."
· Much of interest might be recorded concerning the old houses in the town, but the subject is too broad to admit of comprehensive treatment in such a work as this. Reference has been made to some of the older dwellings at the center, the Strong, the Boltwood, the Dickinson and the Merrill houses. There is a very old house on the Bay road at South Amherst, now occupied by F. S. Jewett. It was an old house, known as the " Smith place," when bought in 1803 by Jonathan Thayer, grandfather of Dwight Thayer. The house on the West street at South Amherst now occupied by Walter Hayward is one of the oldest in that neighborhood, and with its projecting second story belongs to one of the oldest types of architecture in New England. The houses at Mill Valley occupied by Flavel Gaylord and F. W. Clark, built in 1782, are in excellent preservation, affording
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TOWN POLITICS.
good types of the capacious gambrel-roofed dwellings that were in such high favor with an earlier generation. There are many ancient dwellings at East Amherst and North Amherst, some of them " houses with a history " which there is not space here to record. The house at the center now occupied by the Misses Cowles was standing in 1821, when it was occupied by Dr. Rufus Cowles. The house now occupied by the Psi Upsi- lon fraternity was the "president's house " of Amherst College. The Amherst house " Annex," known for many years as "Gunn's hotel," is one of the older buildings at the center. The house now occupied by Rev. . Nelson Scott was for many years used as a tavern. The old Henderson house, which stood on the site now occupied by the Botanic Museum of the Agricultural College, was torn down in October, 1865. The " Bee Hive," formerly a part of the Mt. Pleasant Institute buildings, was torn down in July, 1865. Other old houses standing at the center are those now occupied by John C. White, by Prof. G. F. Mills, by the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and built by Dr. Sellon, and the old Montague house on Main street. Sweetser's hall, also known as "Concert " hall, was in the upper part of the block occupied by Sweetser's store on Merchants' Row. Phoenix hall was in the upper part of the Phoenix block, which occupied the site where Cook's block now stands. These, with the exception of " Agricultural hall," were the only public halls at the center until Palmer's block was erected in 1868.
TOWN POLITICS.
Since the earlier days the residents of Amherst have taken an active and intelligent interest in politics and elections. Up to the year 1872, the claims of party fealty were held in high esteem by Amherst voters, but since that day there has frequently been shown an independence in politi- cal action that is well worthy of record. When the Federalists controlled the state, Amherst gave that party loyal support. When the struggle came between the Whigs and Democracy, Amherst was found ranged with the Whigs. Since the birth of the Republican party, Amherst has given strong support to its candidates, with one or two exceptions. Amherst recorded its desire for a state constitution in 1778 and again in 1779. The first election was held under this constitution Sept. 4, 17So, when Amherst gave John Hancock 43 votes for governor and eight to James Bowdoin. In 1788, Amherst sent Daniel Cooley as its representative to the state convention which passed upon the question of adopting the con- stitution of the United States. Mr. Cooley represented the wishes of his constituents, and general public sentiment in this part of the state, by voting against the constitution. There is no record of Amherst's vote for presidential electors in 1789, but in 1792 votes were cast for sixteen persons for electors, the number of ballots for each varying from one to 24. In
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