History of Montague, Massachusetts, USA

Montague, Massachusetts
Franklin county. This town is on the E. bank of Connecticut river, opposite to Deerfield, and united to that town by a bridge. Turner's Falls, at the northerly part of the town, are more interesting than any in the state, and probably as much so as any in New England. The canal for passing these falls, 3 miles in length and 75 feet lockage, with an immense dam across the river, greatly facilitates the navigation on Connecticut river. This place has a great water power, and promises peculiar advantages to the manufacturing interest. The scenery around this place is romantic and beautiful, and to the lovers of antiquarian lore, full of interesting associations.

It lies 80 miles W. by N. from Boston and 7 S.E. from Greenfield. Incorporated, 1753. Population, in 1837, 1,260.

Before it was incorporated, the northern part of Montague belonged
to the State, and the southern part to Sunderland.

Saw-mill River, a small branch of the Connecticut, waters the south
part of the town. In the northwest is a caned, three miles long, by
which lumber and goods pass round Turner's Falls, which obstruct the Connecticut. Lumber and building-stone abound, but the manufactures are not extensive.

Distance from Greenfield, 7 miles ; from Boston, 80.

MONTAGUE was incorporated as a town in 1753. Before that time, the southern part belonged to the town of Sunderland, and the northern part belonged to the state. It is about 6 miles square. The general face of the town is uneven, the soil various; a range of highlands in the easterly part of the town, the parts of which are designated by different names, Harvey’s Hill, Chesnut Hill, Bald Hill, Pine Hill, Quarry Hill, &c. South westerly from the present center of the town there is a hill called Taylor Hill. The northerly part consists of pine plains; on the west of the town, bordering upon the Connecticut. there is quite an extensive tract of meadow land, of a good quality for cultivation. There is aJso upon the Saw mill river, which takes its rise from Lock’s Pond, Shuteshury, considerable meadow land. This river enters the town of Montague near the south east corner, and winds its way in a north-westerly direction, passing northerly of the center of the town, and empties itself into...

Montague, a post-township of Franklin co., Mass., on the Connecticut river, and on the Vermont and Massachusetts railroad, about 36 miles N. from Springfield. Pop., 1518.

Montague is a prosperous manufacturing and farming town lying on the east side of the Connecticut River near the centre of Franklin County. It is 97 miles northwest of Boston by the Fitchburg Railroad, which has stations at Miller's Falls, Montague (centre), Montague City and Turner's Falls. The New London and Northern Railroad runs through the town north and south, having stations at South Montague, Montague Centre and Miller's Falls. The post-offices are Lake Pleasant and the villages mentioned, except South Montague. Other villages are Grant's Corner and Lock's Village.

The town is bounded on the north by Gill and Erving, east by Wendell, south by Leverett and Sunderland, and west by Deerfield and Greenfield. The Connecticut River separates it from the two latter towns, and, by a bend, from Gill on the north. Miller's River divides it from Erving on the northeast, entering the larger river at its turn northward at the northeastern angle of Montague. The assessed area is 16,500...

James Conlon of Millers Falls was found dead yesterday sitting in a hole in a pile of lumber owned by the Millers Falls company. His body was frozen stiff when found by a boy named Donovan. Conlon was last seen alive Sunday afternoon but a few rods from his house. He had been hunting and was under the influence of liquor. He undoubtedly sat down where he was found, fell asleep and was frozen to death. He was 25 and unmarried.