History of Erving, Massachusetts, USA

Erving, Massachusetts
Franklin county. This township remained unincorporated until April 17, 1838. Previously it had been known by the name of "Erving's Grant." It is bounded S. by Miller's and W. by Connecticut rivers. Erving contains some excellent land and a great water power. The year previous to its incorporation, the manufactures of the town, consisting of satinet, boots, shoes, palm-leaf hats, &c., amounted to $35,185. Population, 1837, 292. Erving lies 95 miles N.N.W. from Boston and 10 E. from Greenfield.

This little town, until lately, was known as Erving's Grant, and was probably named in honor of John Erving, a Boston merchant, to whom the tract was sold by the government.

The town lies on Miller's River and the Connecticut, where they unite.
Some woollen cloth, and boots and shoes are made here, but the main resource is agriculture.

Distance from Greenfield, 10 miles ; from Boston, 85.

The territory comprising this town was an unincorporated tract, called Erving’s Grant, lying on the north bank of Miller’s river, bounded north by Northfield and Warwick. It was incorporated as a town in 1838. A Congregational church was organized here five or six years since, but there never has been any minister settled in the place. At this time the inhabitants meet occasionally in a school-house for public worship. In the Statistical Tables published by the state, it is stated that in Erving’s Grant there was 1 woollen mill, which manufactured 25,600 yards of satinet, valued at $16,640; 12 hands, 6 male and 6 female, were employed; capital invested, $7,000. Two thousand and fifty pairs of boots and 744 pairs of shoes were manufactured, valued at $4,345. Population in 1837 was 292. There is a post office in the town. Distance, 10 miles east from Greenfield, and 85 miles from Boston.

Erving, a post-township of Franklin county, Massachusetts, on the E. side of Connecticut river, and on the Vt. and Mass. railroad, 70 miles W. N. W. from Boston. Pop., 449.

Erving is a long narrow town, of irregular form, lying along the north side of Miller's River, in the easterly part of Franklin County. It is 91 miles west of Boston on the Fitchburg Railroad. It is also reached by the Vermont and Massachusetts and the Vermont Central railroads, at its eastern and western extremities. Northfield bounds it on the north, Warwick and Orange on the east, Wendell and Montague on the south, and the latter and Gill on the west.

The Connecticut and Miller's rivers separate it from the western towns. In the eastern part of the town is Keyup Brook, flowing from a pond of 16 acres on the Northfield line, through fertile valleys, southerly into Miller's River. Scott's Brook is an affluent of the same river in the western part of the town. Miller's River is here a rapid stream, running circuitously through a narrow valley flanked by rocky and wooded eminences on either side. The otter still frequents its waters, and among the wild hills above it the wild cat...

Er'ving, a post-village of Franklin co., Mass., in Erving township, on Miller's River, 14 miles by rail E. of Greenfield. It has a church, and manufactures of chairs, sash, doors, pails, wooden boxes, piano-cases, and piano-legs. Pop. of the township, 972.