History of Middlefield, Massachusetts, USA

Middlefield, Massachusetts
Hampshire county. This is an elevated agricultural township, watered by a branch of Westfield river. It lies 110 miles W. from Boston, 24 W. from Northampton, and 17 S.E. from Pittsfield. Incorporated, 1783. Population, 1837, 710. There are 2 woolen mills in the town and 2 tanneries. Annual value of goods manufactured, about $75,000.—Among the productions of the soil, there were, in 1837, 9,724 fleeces of saxony wool, which weighed 26,741 pounds; value, $17,382.

Middlefield was composed of portions of the five towns that surround it, viz., Chester, Becket, Washington, Peru and Worthington.

Middlefield is situated on the declivity of the Hoosaek or Green Mountain range, and lies between two branches of Westfield river.

The town has a fine breed of sheep, and manufactures woollen cloth to a considerable amount.

Distance from Northampton, 24 miles; from Boston, 110.

Middlefield, a post-township of Hampshire co., Massachusetts, on the Western railroad, about 30 miles N. W. from Springfield. Population, 737.

From the Springfield (Mass.) Union. Jan. 25.
A most disastrous accident occurred on the Boston and Albany Railroad last evening, a short distance beyond Middlefield. The first of the afternoon freights from Pittsfield, which was several hours late, was passing over the second bridge west of Middlefield station when a brake-beam broke, and falling down, threw three cars of the train off the track upon the bridge, breaking the rods and smashing the girders of the bridge, and of course greatly weakening the structure. Almost at the same instant, the second freight west from this city, drawn by the locomotive New York, and pushed up the grade (as has been the custom lately) by another engine from behind, came upon the bridge.

The additional weight of this train, and its collision with the cars of the other train, which had been thrown off the track, caused the bridge to crumble like so much paper, and the New York dropped instantly a distance of twenty-five feet into the stream...

Middlefield is a mountainous town forming the southwest corner of Hampshire County. Middlefield station, in the southern extremity of the town, on the Boston and Albany Railroad, is 131 miles from Boston. The town is bounded on the north by Peru and Worthington, on the east by the latter, on the southeast by Chester and Becket, and on the west by the latter and Washington. The assessed area is 14,165 acres, which is some 2,000 acres less than the actual extent. Included in these figures are 4,239 acres of woodland.

The land is broken, and the scenery bold and picturesque. The hills, though not lofty, are extensive, their long ridges having a northwest and southeast trend. The highest point in town is a broad plateau on which are situated the Highland Agricultural Grounds. It is 1,200 feet above the level of the sea; and the grand and beautiful views spread out on every side are an inspiration to the crowds which attend the annual exhibitions. The geological formation is calcareous...

Middlefield, a post-township of Hampshire co., Mass., on the Boston & Albany Railroad. Middlefield Station is 33 miles W.N.W. of Springfield. The township has some manufactures of broadcloth, and 2 churches. Pop. 603.