History of Shelburne, Massachusetts, USA

Shelburne, Massachusetts
Franklin county. This town lies on the N. side of Deerfield river opposite to Conway. It is 100 miles W. by N. from Boston and 5 W. from Greenfield. Population, 1837, 1,018. Incorporated, 1768. Deerfield river falls in this town a distance of 20 feet, and produces a valuable water power.

The manufactures of the town consist of woolen goods, leather, boots, shoes, scythes, palm-leaf hats, &c.: annual value about $40,000. The soil of the town is generally of a good quality; considerable wool is grown, and some cattle and products of the dairy are sent to market. More than common attention is paid to mental culture. This is a pleasant and flourishing town: the scenery about the falls is very handsome.

Shelburne was originally a part of Deerfield, and was named after Lord Shelburne, a British statesman.

This town is pleasantly situated on Deerfield River, the falls of which afford abundance of water-power.

Woollen cloth and scythes are the chief manufactures.

Distance from Greenfield, 9 miles: from Boston, 100.

This town was originally a part of Deerfield, called Deerfield North West. It received its present name from Lord Shelburne, of England. It was incorporated a distinct town in 1768. The first settlement was made in the eastern part of the town; the first meeting house, which was built of logs and plastered, stood about half a mile north of the present Congregational church in the center of the town. The first Congregational minister was Rev. Robert Hubbard, who was settled in 1773; he died in Middletown, Ct. in 1788, aged 45. His successor was Rev. Jesse Townsend, who was settled in 1792, and resigned in 1797: the next pastor was Rev. Theophilus Packard, D. D., who was settled in 1799; he was succeeded by his son of the same name in 1828. The Shakers came into this town in 1782; they continued here about three years, when they removed to New Lebanon: a Mr. Wood was their elder or leader. The oldest house now standing in Shelburne Falls village was built by thcse people. The first...

Shelbubne, a post-township in Franklin co., Massachusetts, on Deerfield river, 95 miles W. by N. from Boston. Pop., 1239.

Shelburne Falls, a flourishing manufacturing post-village in the above township, on the N. side of Deerfield river, about 90 miles N. W. by W. from Boston. It contains 1 or 2 churches, an academy, and 1 large scythe manufactory. Population, about 1000.

The Cars Take Fire and a Passenger is Roasted Alive Without the Chance of Succor.

Probably a Hundred Passengers on Board, and only Three Found Uninjured

The Rails Spread.

A Dozen Dead Bodies Recovered and the Work Not Yet Finished

Many Killed While Falling.

GREENFIELD, Mass., April 8. - A terrible disaster occurred on the Fitchburg railroad last night midway between Bardwell's ferry and West Deerfield Station, the east-bound passenger train, due at Greenfield at 6:05 p. m., going over an embankment 200 feet high. Six bodies have already been taken out of the ruins, and it is not known how many others were killed. The train was the Eastern express, and consisted of a baggage-car, a smoker, a sleeping-car, mail-car and two ordinary passenger-cars. The train was in charge of Conductor Foster, with Herbert Littlejohn as engineer. The point where the accident occurred is the most dangerous on the road. The train runs on the edge of an embankment two hundred feet above...

Shelburne occupies a central position in Franklin County, 113 miles northwest of Boston by the Fitchburg Railroad, which, follows the Deerfield River, marking the southwestern, side of the town almost from northwest to southeast. At the first point the Deerfield receives the North River, which separates Shelburne from Charlemont at their narrow border. Colrain is the boundary on the north, Greenfield and Deerfield on the east; and Conway and Buckland on the southwest.

The assessed area is 13,888 acres; and there are about 3,000 acres of forest. The geological structure is calciferous mica-schist and calcareous gneiss. The land is rugged and mountainous, rising into the bold eminences of Shingle Hill at the south, Bald Mountain at the west, Greenfield. Mountain on the east, and East Hill north of Shelburne centre. Hudson, Allen's and. Smead's brooks flow from the highlands eastward to Green River, while Dragon and Sluice brooks flow southerly into the Deerfield River. At Shelburne...