History of Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA

Journey back in time to Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA

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  "...On 19 May 1676 Capt. Turner led 50 garrison troops, supplemented by 100 untrained local volunteers, on a daring dawn attack on the main Indian camps at Peskeompsut. They killed Sancumachu, the Pocumtuck sachem, and about two hundred other Indians of all ages. They also destroyed food supplies and forges the Indians needed for repairing weapons.
  
  During a disorganized retreat Turner and thirty-six of his men were killed by the Indians..." findagrave.com
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• 1686 - Greenfield is settled
  
  Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
  
  
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• 1753 - The town of Greenfield is incorporated
  
  
  
• 1839 - Greenfield
  Greenfield, Massachusetts
  County town, Franklin county. This town lies on the W. side of Connecticut river, and is washed by Green river, an excellent mill stream, a branch of the Deerfield. The village is situated about 2 miles from Connecticut river, and is very beautiful and flourishing. There...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1845 - GREENFIELD. [Pop. 1,756. Inc. 1753]
  Greenfield was once a part of Deerfield, and is now the county town.
  
  It is situated on the western bank of the Connecticut, and is divided by Green River, a branch of the Deerfield.
  
  In 1676, Captain Turner, with about one hundred and sixty mounted men, returning from a successful...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1848 - Greenfield
  This town was formerly a part of Deerfield. It was incorporated as a town in 1753. Rev. Edward Billings, the first minister of the first Congregational church in this town, was a native of Sunderland; he settled here in 1754. He was succeeded by Rev. Roger Newton, D. D., in 1761. Rev. Gamaliel S....Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1853 - Congregationalist Dog
  There is a dog at Greenfield, Mass., who is strictly sectarian in his religious notions. His master is a Baptist, but the dog is a Congregationalist, and after accompanying his master to the Baptist church, he goes regularly to the Congregational church himself, and sleeps during the entire service.
  genealogybank.com
  Albany Evening Journal
  Albany, New York
  October 1, 1853
  
  
• 1854 - Greenfield
  Greenfield, a post-township in Franklin co., Mass., on the Connecticut river railroad, 100 miles W. by N. from Boston. The village contains several churches, 1 bank, and 3 news paper offices. Population, 2580.
  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.
  
  
• 1859
  GREENFIELD, the cap. of Franklin co., in Massachusetts, 92 m. W of Boston. Pop. 1,756.
  A Gazetteer of the World: Or, Dictionary of Geographical Knowledge, Publisher A. Fullarton, 1859
  
  
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  "Industrialist. A railroad surveyor and engineer, he help to start the Central Pacific Railroad and was one of the founders of the Transcontinental Railroad." findagrave.com
  
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•  1882 - Destructive Tornado in Franklin County, Mass.
  A destructive storm of wind and bail passed over a portion of Franklin county, Mass., last Sunday evening. At Greenfield huge trees were uprooted, and the air was filled with flying fences, shingles, rails, and timbers. Several barns and houses were unroofed, while other barns were completely...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1886 - FEARFUL RAILROAD ACCIDENT - An Express Train Plunges Down an Almost Perpendicular Precipice.
  The Coaches Take Fire and the Wounded Passengers are Burned to Death
  
  The Disaster Caused by the Sinking of the Track
  
  A Partial List of the Injured.
  
  GREENFIELD, Mass., April 7. - A terrible disaster occurred on the Fitchburg railroad to-night, midway between Bardwell's ferry and West...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• Greenfield Massachusetts, 1890
  GREENFIELD, the shire town of Franklin County, is one of the most charming towns in the Connecticut Valley. It lies nearly in the geographical centre of the county, on the Fitchburg Railroad and Connecticut River Railroad, 106 miles west by northwest of Boston, and 36 miles north of Springfield. It ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  High St. North from Main St.
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• 1895 - Greenfield
  Greenfield, a beautiful post-village, capital of Franklin co., Mass., in Greenfield township, near the W. bank of the Connecticut River, and 2 miles above the mouth of the Deerfield River, 106 miles W. by N. of Boston, and 36 miles N. of Springfield. It is on the Connecticut River Railroad where it ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1900 - Franklin County - Greenfield - Fatal Fall from a Piazza Roof
  Mrs. Luke M. Thornton met with an accident yesterday morning while shaking a rug from the roof of a piazza at her home on Chapman Street and died from the injuries at 6 o'clock last evening. The roof was icy which caused her to lose her footing and fall face down, to the frozen ground, a distance...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  East Main Street, Greenfield, Mass.
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  Greenfield Public Library
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  B. & M. R. R. Station
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  Main Street Looking West. Greenfield, Mass.
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  Mansion House. Greenfield, Mass.
  
  The Mansion House had been a beautiful brick building that dated back to 1825, when it was built by Isaac Newton Jr.
  
  The Mansion House was located on the corner of Main and Federal streets before the building burned down in 1959.
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  Franklin County Hospital. Greenfield, Mass.
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  County Court House, 1906
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  High School, 1906
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  The Common, 1907
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  The Weldon Garage, 1909
  
  The Weldon Garage in Greenfield, Massachusetts, was built originally to house the vehicles of the overnight guests to The Weldon Hotel. Constructed of concrete, like the hotel, it was the first of its type in New England. The garage still stands on Federal Street in Greenfield, although it is no longer used as a garage. americancenturies.mass.edu
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  All Souls Unitarian Church
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  Catholic Church
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  Common and Congregational Church
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  Main St. showing Franklin Savings Institute
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  Weldon Hotel
  
  The Weldon Hotel is a historic former hotel at 54 High Street in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Built in 1905 and enlarged several times, it was one of the first poured concrete buildings in the United States, and was one of Greenfield's grandest hotels of the early 20th century. It is said the name "Weldon" comes as a contraction of "Well Done". It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. wikipedia
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• 1916
  Greenfield, a post-village, capital of Franklin co., Mass., in Greenfield township (town), near the W. bank of the Connecticut River, 2 miles above the mouth of the Deerfield River, and 36 miles N. of Springfield, on the Boston and Maine R. It contains a court-house, high-school, and public...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Armory, 1917
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  Three Bridges over Green River (Railroad, Electric Railway and covered Bridge)
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  Poets Seat
  
  The scenic observation spot actually earned the name “Poet’s Seat” in the mid-1800s when local writer Frederick Goddard Tuckerman coined the phrase. As the highest point in the city, the spot commands some truly panoramic sights. To make even more of the incredible view, a wooden observation tower was built on the edge of the lookout in 1879. atlasobscura.com
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• 1957 - July 1 - WRLP TV channel 32 in Greenfield/Keene/Brat, MA (IND) 1st broadcast
  
  historyorb.com