Orchard, which find an outlet into Chicopee River; and Mill River, with its branches, drains the central parts of the city, and furnishes important motive-power. Springfield is the grand railroad and commercial céntre for the western section of the State, and is admirably situated for the transaction of mercantile or industrial business. The Boston and Albany, the Hartford, New Haven and Springfield, and the Connecticut River railroads, come together here, and give the city immediate and direct communication with every other city in the country. An immense amount of freight and travel passes through or terminates at this central point. The principal avenue, and seat of business, is Main Street, which extends along the river to the distance of about three miles. It is a broad and beautiful avenue, shaded with trees, and flanked with handsome buildings, generally of brick. In the centre of the city there is a beautiful square for promenade, adorned with shadetrees, and with winding walks and alleys. Among the conspicuous buildings are the new court house (of granite), the city hall, the city library (a handsome structure, built of brick, with yellow-stone trimmings, and containing about 40,000 volumes), the Unitarian and Memorial churches, the various about half a mile east of Main Street, is enclosed in a square of about 20 acres. The buildings are substantially constructed of brick, and contain vast stores of fire-arms, arranged in perfect order, and ready for immediate use. From the tower of one of the buildings, a magnificent view of the city and the suburbs may be had. The workshops, comprising about 20 waterwheels and 30 forges, are on Miller's River, in the southern part of the city. Springfield has an excellent system of public schools, now under the superintendence of Mr. A. P. Stone. The city has seven banks for discount, two for savings, various civic and benevolent institutions, and two very ably conducted public journals"The Republican" and "The Union." The churches, more than 20 in number, are generally well constructed and commodious. Among the eminent men, not previously mentioned, who have originated in Springfield, are Enos Hitchcock, D. D. (1744-1803), an able divine and author; Calvin Chapin, D. D. (17631851), an eloquent and earnest preacher; William Harris, D. D. (17651829), president of Columbia College for eighteen years; Rev. Francis Warriner (1805-1866,) an able writer; Worthington Hooker, M. D. (1806-1867), an author; David A. Wells (1828), an editor and author; and the late Hon. Benjamin F. Wade, a distinguished United States senator. PUBLIC LIBRARY, SPRINGFIELD. school-houses, the Massasoit House, and the Haynes House, together with the solid brick structures of the Armory. The industries of the place are remarkably varied, almost every trade and mechanic art being represented. Among the manufactures may be mentioned cotton and woollen goods (to a limited extent), mechanics' tools, hollow-ware, hand-cards, steam-engines and boilers, railroad-coaches, locks, buttons, paper collars, jewelry, military goods, photographic albums, pistols and other fire-arms, cartridges, bricks in large quantities, boxes, sashes and blinds, India-rubber goods, and numerous other articles. The Smith & Wesson Pistol Company, and the N. E. Card and Paper Company, are very large establishments. The United States Arsenal and Armory, situated on Arsenal Hill, HOLYOKE is a new, enterprising, and rapidly-increasing city, lying on the right bank of the Connecticut River, in the extreme north-central part of Hampden County, and contains a population of 16,260 inhabitants. It was formerly the northern section of West Springfield, and was incorporated as a town March 14, 1850; and as a city May 29, 1873. The remarkable growth and prosperity of this city are due almost wholly to the great hydraulic power derived from the Connecticut River. It is only within a few years that this power has been workshops great quantities of cotton and woollen cloths, paper, thread, and other textile goods, are annually sent forth. The number of mills is five cotton, fifteen paper, three woollen, and two thread, affording steady employment to a large number of male and female operatives. A writer says, "The city, celebrated for the fine paper controlled, and made subservient to the will of man. Until 1847, the fall of the Connecticut at South Hadley, which is about sixty feet, was neglected. At that time a party of capitalists from Boston obtained the incorpoporation of the Hadley Falls Company, the purpose of which was to construct a dam across the river, and one or more locks and canals, by means of which a water-made there, has fourteen paper mills, with a nominal power might be created for the use of this company in the manufacture of articles from cotton, wool, iron, wood, and other materials, and for the purposes of navigation. Four million dollars was the capital stock of this corporation, divided into shares of $500 each. It also had authority to hold real estate not exceeding in value $500,000. This company bought the entire property and franchise of the Proprietors of the Locks and Canals on the Connecticut River, and purchased the fishing-rights above, and 1,100 acres of land where now stands the city of Holyoke. The dam was constructed in 1848, but in such an unsubstantial manner, that, in a few hours after the gates were shut, it was swept away. The next year, the company, nothing daunted, constructed the present dam, which is a grand triumph of skill and art in the control of a magnificent natural power. The length of this structure is 1,017 feet, or about one-fifth of a mile. The abutments at either end are of solid masonry, both together measuring 13,000 square rods. Four million feet of timber are contained in the structure; all of which, being under water, is protected from decay. During the construction of the dam, the water was allowed to flow through gates in it, 16 by 18 feet, of which there were 46 in all. When the work was finished, at twenty-two minutes before one o'clock in the afternoon of Oct. 22, 1849, the engineer gave the signal, and half the gates were closed. Another signal immediately fol- | lowed, and the alternate gates were also closed. The river ceased its flow, until its waters, gradually collecting, rose upon the face of the dam, and finally fell in a broad sheet over its crest. Since the construction of this dam in 1849, the town and city of Holyoke have come into existence; and the city is now one of our most important inland manufacturing centres, containing some of the largest, most costly, and well-arranged modern mills, with the latest improved machinery, to be found in the country. From these busy By the last statistical report on the industry of the State, this town had seven cotton-mills, with 114,208 spindles, employing 1,218 persons; one woollen-mill, with one set of machinery, and 23 persons; one fur- | nace, employing 40 persons; two brass-foundries, employing 400 persons; one establishment for making military equipments, mail-bags, &c., carried on by 250 hands; one also for small-arms, giving employment to 250 persons; one lock manufactory, to 41 persons; and four tin-ware capital of $1,500,000, which give employment to 2,000 operatives. Three large cotton factories, whose aggregate capital is $1,930,000, employ 1,900 hands; and two thread-mills, with $950,000 capital, employ 800 operatives. Three woollen mills, employ 450 men; and the Holyoke Machine Works give work to 250 men. The Holyoke Water-power Company also gives employment to many persons. The Holyoke Lumber Company is also in successful operation, its first drive of 15,000,000 logs having been brought down in July, 1872." The city has two national and two savings banks. The Hadley Falls National Bank and the Holyoke National Bank have each an aggregate capital of $400,000. There are nine religious societies having churches, many of them commodious and tasteful structures. The city has a new and elegant city hall, one high school and thirty-two graded schools, a public library of 5,000 volumes, a lyceum, a farmers' club, and two newspapers. The Ingleside House, on the margin of the river, is a quiet retreat, which commands a view of some very charming scenery. The railroad lines passing through the city are the Connecticut River, and the Holyoke and Westfield. The water-supply is pure and abundant. CHICOPEE, one of the most important manufacturing towns of Hampden County, contains 10,335 inhabitants. The land is generally level, and the soil productive. The Chicopee River, which here unites with the Connecticut, affords a very superior hydraulic power, to which the town is mainly indebted for its prosperity and wealth. The manufacturing interests of this place are very important, and multitudes of people, among whom there is a strong foreign element, find employment in the extensive industrial establishments whose varied machinery is driven by the motive-power of the Chicopee River.* The town has three postal centres,-Chicopee, Chicoestablishments, in which 11 hands were laboring; together with establishments for making power-loom harnesses, boots and shoes, clothing, brooms, hair-pins, soap, and other articles. The Dwight Manufacturing Company have now seven large cotton-mills; the Ames Manufacturing Company make bronze statues of excellent quality; and the Chicopee Manufacturing Company make cotton-flannels and other textile goods, which stand high in the market. pee Falls, and Willimansett, a thriving village opposite banking-houses, a good town hall, a public library, the city of Holyoke,-and is accommodated by the Con- and two well-edited public journals. The educational necticut River Railroad, which runs along its western advantages of the place are excellent. The town is border, crossing the Connecticut at Willimansett; and divided into twenty school districts, and sustains an also by a branch railroad which extends from Chicopee efficient high school. One of the State normal schools is along the left bank of Chicopee River to Chicopee Falls. established at this place. The town has five handsome The view of this village from the high bluffs on the right church buildings. Many of the public and private edibank of the river is remarkably beautiful. A recently- fices are of beautiful architectural design. The streets erected cotton-mill is the largest in the western part of are ornamented with ancient trees, and the sidewalks the State. The structure is 425 feet long, 195 feet deep, paved with concrete. The water supply is excellent. and has a capacity of about 600 horse-power. The A monument has been erected to the soldiers who lost Belcher & Taylor Company, at the Falls, manufacture their lives in the service of the country during the late a remarkable variety of agricultural implements. The town has twenty-five public schools, of which two are high schools; a bank of discount (with a capital of $150,000), a bank for savings, an efficient fire department, an elegant town hall, and nine churches. The first minister, Rev. John McKinstry, ordained in 1752, sustained the relation of pastor 61 years. WESTFIELD is a large and flourishing town, of 8,431 inhabitants, on Westfield River, in the westerly part of Hampshire County, 10 miles from Springfield. The Boston and Albany and the New Haven and Northampton railroads intersect each other at the war. Edward Bancroft, a writer of considerable ability, was born in this place Jan. 9, 1744, and died in England, Sept. 8, 1820. Thomas Bangs Thorpe, a painter and author of some celebrity, was born here March 1, 1815. HOME OF PHOEBE HINSDALE BROWN, MONSON. WEST SPRINGFIELD extends along the right bank of the Connecticut River, embracing a rich alluvial valley, flanked by wild and wooded eminences on the west. A bridge over the Connecticut River connects the town with Springfield on the east. Black Brook, an outlet of Ashley's Pond in Holyoke, and on which there is a paper-mill, drains the westerly section of the town. garden vegetables for market, and of tobacco, engrosses The Centre. The most prominent elevation is Pochassic Hill, | The number of inhabitants is 3,739. The culture of a beautiful and sightly eminence north-west of the Centre. The Westfield River, a clear and rapid stream, flows through the central section, giving valuable hydraulic power. The scenic aspect of the place is very beautiful. The Centre occupies a valley, or basin, encircled by wooded hills and bluffs, and is supposed to have been, in former times, the bed of a lake, whose waters broke through the Mount Tom range of highlands, and discharged themselves into the Connecticut River. The abrupt declivity, the forest-crowned heights, the river, and the glen, conspire to form a landscape of unusual beauty. There are seven saw-mills, which have prepared as many as 895,000 feet of timber and 475,000 shingles for market in a year. The manufactures consist of whips, organs, parts of piano-fortes, writing and wrapping papers, trunks, coaches, clothing, powder, brick, cigar-boxes, and many other articles. There are in this flourishing town two banks of discount and two MONSON is a very large and beautiful town, of 3,733 inhabitants, situated in the south-easterly part of Hampden County. It is accommodated by the New London Northern Railroad, which passes through its centre. The Boston and Albany Railroad runs through its northern section. Large quantities of gneiss, known as granite," are quarried here, and used for building purposes. The scenic aspect of the town is very fine. Moon Mountain, in the south-west, is a handsome eminence, and Peaked Mountain, in the same quarter, rising to the 66 translator of the Bible into the Japanese language. height of 1,239 feet, commands a prospect of great and other hymns. A son is a missionary to Japan, and a extent and beauty. A narrow valley, abounding in rich meadows and streamlets, extends from north to south entirely through the township. A pleasant streamlet flows northerly, draining the central part of the town, and affording good mill privileges. The Chicopee River, which washes the whole northern border, is here a swift and valuable stream. In addition to agricultural, lumbering, and quarrying interests, Monson has six woollen mills, having two sets of machinery. each, and a very large hat and bonnet manufactory. It has a national bank, three churches, a farmers' club, eleven public schools, and a first WILBRAHAM lies in the south-eastern part of Hampden County, on the Boston and Albany Railroad. The local scenery is remarkably beautiful; the land spreading out into winding glades and valleys, or rising into picturesque eminences, from or near which small streamlets flow in various directions through the territory. The Chicopee River washes the entire northern border. Rattlesnake Hill, which has an altitude of 1,077 feet, rises grandly on the Connecticut line. A range of hills extends from this point northerly and centrally nearly through the town. The number of inhabitants is 2,576. The principal business of the people is agriculture. There is a large paper-mill ACADEMY BUILDINGS, WILBRAHAM. * class institution, known as "Monson Academy." The State Primary School, formerly the State Almshouse, is located in this pleasant town. Monson was a favorite resort of the Indians, and at Collins Depot. The Wesleyan Academy, a flourish and died in Amherst, June 18, 1866. This town was | north-west extremity of Hampden County, and containthe residence of the late Chief Justice Reuben A. Chap-ing 4,572 inhabitants. Its form is quite irregular, and man, who died, greatly lamented, in 1873. Monson is noted as having been long the residence of Mrs. Phoebe Hinsdale Brown, author of the well-known sacred lyric, "I love to steal awhile away," *This institution was long in charge of that eminent instructor, the late Rev. Charles Hammond, A. M. Mr. Hammond was born in Union, Conn., June 15, 1813; was graduated from Yale in 1839, and at once took charge of Monson Academy, where, excepting a few years from this circumstance it originally bore the name of "The Elbows." The New London and Northern, the Ware River, the Belchertown and Amherst, and the Boston and Albany railroads, meet at Palmer Depot, in passed at Andover in theological study, and eleven years devoted to the cause of education as the principal of the Lawrence Academy at Groton, he continued successfully to labor until his death, which took place Nov. 7, 1878. and A. R. R. The land in the eastern part is level or the southerly part, and afford unusual facilities for travel Palmer has a public high school, and fifteen schools of a lower grade, a bank for savings, and a well-conducted newspaper. The Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, D. D., first president of Amherst College, was born here Nov. 20, 1770, and died at Amherst, June 30, 1823. AGAWAM, a very beautiful town of 2,248 inhabitants, lies in the southern part of Hampden County, on the B. part of the town. The other towns in the county are mainly agricultural, Ludlow has important manufacturing establishments Among the eminent persons, natives of the abovenamed towns, are Col. Timothy Danielson, a Revolutionary officer (Brimfield, 1733-91); Hon. Eli P. Ashmun, U. S. senator (Blandford, 1770-1819); Rufus P. Ranney (1813); and Gamaliel S. Olds, a scholar and divine (Granville, 1777-1848). HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. BY MRS. S. F. WHITE. HAMPSHIRE COUNTY, named from Hampshire, Eng., | knife of State authority was applied to old Hampshire, when first organized, in 1662, included the whole of and Hampden County was formed from its southern Western Massachusetts, embracing the Connecticut Val- section. In 1812 Hampshire was divided yet a fourth ley-the Eden of New England- and the beautiful time, and the northern portion was made Franklin mountains which gird the western portion of the State. County. For many years its boundaries were very indefinite. In Hampshire is thus the honored mother of Worcester, 1731 Worcester County was formed, taking a portion of Berkshire, Hampden, and Franklin. The hills which lie Hampshire County on the east, and thenceforth giving it thickly scattered over the western half of the county a definite eastern boundary. In May, 1761, the western seem like detached and broken links from the main part of Hampshire County was set off, and became Green Mountain chain, and, if less grand, are not infeBerkshire County. Again, in 1811, the dissecting- rior in rugged beauty to their more elevated northern |