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Ware, Massachusetts, USA - Main St.

Ware, Hampshire, MA

Ware was first settled on Equivalent Lands in 1717 and was officially incorporated in 1775. It is named after the English town of Ware in Hertfordshire. wikipedia

Ware includes: Brimestone Hill and Gibbs Crossing.
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Ware Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards

Main St.
Ware, Massachusetts, USA

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Main St.
Hampshire House
Ware, Massachusetts, USA

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Hampshire House
Main Street
postmarked 1909
Ware, Massachusetts, USA

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Main Street
postmarked 1909
Mansion House
Ware, Massachusetts, USA

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Mansion House
Geo. H. Gilbert Mfg. Co.'s Office, Ware, Mass.
Ware, Massachusetts, USA

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Geo. H. Gilbert Mfg. Co.'s Office, Ware, Mass.

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Discover Ware: History, News, Travel, and Stories

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1839 - Ware
Ware, Massachusetts
Hampshire county. Ware possesses an admirable water power by Ware and Swift rivers. The surface of the town is rough and hilly, and the soil more fit for grazing than tillage. In 1837 there were 1,380 sheep in the town: value of wool, $1,667.

Ware is 66 miles W. by S. from Boston, 22 E. by S. from Northampton, and 23 N.E. from Springfield. Incorporated, 1761. Population, 1830, 2,045; 1837, 2,403.

Ware contains a beautiful village which commands an active and flourishing trade. There are two cotton and two woolen mills in the town, and manufactures of boots, shoes, leather, hats, tin ware, straw bonnets, palm-leaf hats, augers, sheet iron, starch, carriages, harnesses, and boxes: total value, the year ending April 1, 1837, $645,121.
The New England Gazetteer containing descriptions of all the states, counties and towns in New England: also descriptions of the principal mountains, rivers lakes, capes, bays, harbors, islands and fashionable resorts within that territory. By John Hayward, author of the Columbian Traveller, Religious Creeds, &c. &c. Boston: John Hayward. Boyd & White, Concord, N.H. 1839
1845 - WARE. [Pop. 1,890. Inc. 1761.]
This township was originally granted to a military company, for services in the Indian wars.

It is situated on Ware River, a powerful branch of the Chickopee.

The establishment of factories at what is called Ware village, has greatly increased the growth and activity of the town.

The chief manufactures are cotton and woollen goods, boots and shoes, straw bonnets and palm-leaf hats.

Distance from Northampton, 25 miles ; from Boston, 67.
An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845
1848 - GREAT FIRE IN WARE.
We learn from a correspondent of the Worcester Telegraph that the most destructive fire that has ever occurred in Ware Village, visited that place on Tuesday morning. Three blocks of stores situated in the central part of the village, were entirely destroyed, and several other stores were much injured, the fire was first discovered in the store of J. P. Gale, which rapidly communicated to the other buildings, and this between the hours of 1 and 3 o'clock, in the midst of torrents of rain which probably prevented a much greater destruction of property.
The principal sufferers are Warren Fay, J. P. Gale, Demon & Ruggles, W. S. Brakenridge, S. F. Pepper, Frink, Newbour & Co., D. Convers & Co., A. J. Jessup and J. Hartwell. Several stores kept by others were also burnt, and a large number of families rendered houseless. The amount of loss is yet unknown. The property was partly insured. The insurance offices in Worcester will feel this fire severely. The fire is supposed to be the work... Read MORE...

1854 - Ware
Ware, a flourishing post-village in Hampshire co., Massachusetts, 64 miles W. by S. from Boston, near Ware river and branches, which affords good water-power. It is delight fully situated in the midst of varied and picturesque scenery, and contains a bank, a newspaper office, and several stores. Population of the township in 1840, 1890 ; in 1850, 3785.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.
Ware Massachusetts, 1890
Ware forms the southeasterly extremity of Hampshire County, and is 75 miles from Boston by the Massachusetts Central Railroad. The Ware River Railroad also runs along the eastern side of the town, following the course of the river, which enters the town at the northeast and flows southwest through a charming valley to the Chicopee River in Palmer. The principal seat of business and population is Ware Village, beautifully situated at the falls on this river, in the southeasterly section of the town.

West Ware (or West Parish) is on Flat Brook, and near the geographical centre of the territory. This stream flows south to Ware River, having a pretty pond bordered by delightful natural groves just north of the Ware River Railroad. The forests of this town -- consisting chiefly of chestnut and maple -- occupy 4,127 of the 16,740 acres of assessed area. The town is bounded on the north by Enfield and Hardwick, on the east by the latter and Brookfield, on the south by Palmer, and on the... Read MORE...

1895 - Ware
Ware, a post-village in Ware township, Hampshire co., Mass., on a river of the same name, and on the Ware River Railroad, 27 miles E.N.E. of Springfield, and about 26 miles W. of Worcester. It contains several churches, a high school, a national bank with a capital of $400,000, a savings bank, gas- and electric-light companies, several cotton-factories and woollen-mills, and 2 newspaper offices. Pop. of the township in 1880, 4817; in 1890, 7329.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
1896 - LEG CUT OFF BY A CAR.
Ware - Patrick McAuly, 69, of Pine street, father of McAuly, the noted ball player for the Washington team, while returning from his barn to his house across the spur track last evening was run over by a car that was backing into the Otis company’s mill yard, and had his left leg torn off below the knee. Dr. W. W. Miner, assisted by Drs. Ryan and Blodgett, amputated the leg above the knee.
The Springfield Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts
September 5, 1896
1898 - TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. FIVE PERSONS WERE KILLED AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS WOUNDED, SOME FATALLY - ENGINE STRUCK A WAGON.
Ware, Mass., Aug. 27. - Five persons were killed this evening at Whiting's Crossing on the Boston and Maine Railroad by a collision between a train and a wagon containing a pleasure party of eleven persons.

The dead are:
GEORGE WHITING, aged 50;
MRS. WHITING;
JESSIE WHITING, their daughter, aged 18;
CADIE WHITING, another daughter, aged 20;
a boy who flagged the crossing, name unknown.

The pleasure party was made up of the WHITING family and some of their intimate friends of Bondville, and they were going from home in Bondville to Forest Lake in a covered wagon drawn by four horses. On one side of the crossing there is quite a steep hill running down to the tracks. As the wagon came over the crest of the hill and started down toward the railroad track the flag boy at the foot of the hill was seen to come out of his station to flag an approaching train. The momentum of the vehicle on the steep grade was so great that it went by the flag boy and out upon the tracks just as... Read MORE...

1900 - Two Miles of Flame at Ware.
A forest fire which started near the Charles Gould farm at the foot of Warren hill in Ware, about noon yesterday, spread in a few hours to such an extent that the entire hill south of the town was in flames. A high wind was blowing all the afternoon and drove the fire along through the brush on the side of the hill until it reached the wooded section of the summit, when it burned furiously. Fire Warden Elmer Barnes collected a squad of men early in the afternoon to prevent the spread of the blaze to the farm buildings in that vicinity, and in this he was successful. Early in the evening the fire on the hill-top had not abated, and about 7 o'clock the fire alarm was rung to call out the fire department and volunteer aid. The line of flame, which could not be seen in the afternoon owing to the heavy smoke, was lurid through the darkness and extended, with occasional breaks, for almost two miles. It is not possible as yet to estimate the damage done, but the destruction of the wood cut... Read MORE...

1906
Ware, a post-village in Ware township (town), Hampshire co., Mass., on a river of the same name and on the Boston and Albany and the Boston and Maine Rs., 27 miles ENE. of Springfield. The town has manufactures of cot tons and woollens, boots and shoes, hosiery, paper, etc. Pop. of the town in 1900, 8263.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906
1907 - WARE'S SUNDAY BLAZE CAUSES LOSS OF $30,000
Ware, Nov. 24. - A loss of over $30,000 was caused by a fire here late today which destroyed the two-story wooden block, at 118 and 120 Main street. The fire started from some unknown cause in the photographic studio of J. B. L. Monty on the second floor. The first floor was occupied by Charles M. Ganson, dry goods dealer. Adjoining property was also somewhat damaged by the spread of the flames.

The block was owned by the estate of Flora L.Trench of Somers, Conn.
The loss on the building was estimated at $5000; on the stock of Mr. Canson, $22,000, and on the stock of Mr. Monty, $1,000. Mr. Ganson carried $22,000 insurance and Mr. Monty $800.

The Barton Block owned by Mrs. Sarah Barton of Waltham, which adjoins, was twice afire, and damage estimated at $2,000 was done by water to the stock of C. H. Rood & Co., furniture dealers, who occupied the block.

The fire proved a stubborn one to fight, and it was four hours before the flames were subdued. The firemen fought the flames... Read MORE...

1908 - MAN DROWNED AT WARE.
Was Swimming in Snow’s Pond and Got Beyond His Depth.

John Szarek, 18, was drowned in Snow’s pond at Ware about 6 o’clock last evening, while swimming with two other Poles. He had ventured in above his depth, against the advice of his companions, who saw him sink without being able to render any assistance. The body was recovered in about half an hour, and after Medical Examiner W. W. Miner had viewed it, Undertaker J. T. Brosnahan took the body in charge and had it taken to the rooms of N. E. Jenks. Szarek leaves a father, mother and sixe younger brothers in Galicia, Austria, but no relatives in this country. He came to Ware in little over a year ago, and was employed in the trim shop of the Otis company.
The Springfield Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts
June 14, 1908
2023 - Whether you're a local resident or a visitor passing through, here's a list of places to see and things to do in Ware:
Quabbin Reservoir: One of Ware's main attractions is the Quabbin Reservoir, a massive body of water surrounded by pristine wilderness. You can take a scenic drive along the reservoir's shores, hike the nearby trails, or have a picnic in one of the designated areas. It's a peaceful spot to connect with nature.

Quabbin Visitor Center: Located on Route 9, the Quabbin Visitor Center is a great place to start your exploration of the area. Here, you can learn about the history of the Quabbin Reservoir, its role in providing drinking water to Boston, and the natural beauty of the region. The center often hosts educational programs and events.

Dine at Local Eateries: Ware has some cozy and delicious dining options. Whether you're in the mood for classic New England cuisine, hearty comfort food, or international flavors, you'll find something to satisfy your taste buds. Don't forget to try the local seafood and freshly baked pies.

Visit the Mary Lane Hospital Clock Tower: The clock... Read MORE...

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Updated: 10/7/2023 6:08:01 PM