History of Sheffield, Massachusetts, USA

Sheffield, Massachusetts
Berkshire county. This is a very pleasant town, on both sides of the Housatonick. The river meanders circuitously and slowly through the town, and forms large tracts of rich alluvial meadow. In large freshets the river overflows its banks to a great extent, and forms the appearance of a large lake. The village is neat; situated in a beautiful valley, surrounded by hills, one of which is 3,000 feet in height, and presents a great variety of delightful scenery. There are manufactures in the town of leather, hats, ploughs, and spirits, but the principal business of the people is agricultural. In 1837, there were 6,892 sheep sheared in the town: the value of the wool amounted to $11,372. Marble and iron ore are abundant.

Sheffield is the oldest town in the county: it was incorporated in 1733. It lies 140 miles S.W. from Boston, 20 S. from Lenox, and 28 E. from Hudson, N.Y. Population, 1837, 2,308.

Sheffield was originally the lowest of certain tracts called the Housatonic townships, and originally included the southern part of Great Barrington. For many years it was claimed by New York.

The Housatonic divides the town from north to south, and often widely overflowing its banks, enriches the soil, and makes the town essentially agricultural.

Sheffield is mountainous, and Bald Peak Mountain on the western border, is very elevated. Iron oie and an excellent white marble are found here.

Distance from Lenox, 20 miles; from Boston, 125.

Sheffield, a post-village in Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, on the Housatonic river and railroad, about 120 miles S. W. by W. from Boston. Population of the township, 2769.

The town of Sheffield was visited on Sunday afternoon with a terrific hail storm, commencing about 3 o'clock and raging with great fury for nearly three-quarters of an hour, breaking windows, leveling fences and uprooting trees. From 100 to 150 panes of glass were broken in several houses, and hail-stones fell measuring 2 1-2 inches in circumference. It passed from west to east over the north and central parts of the town and in width about 3 1-2 miles. In the south part of the town, but little rain and not hail fell. Serious damage was done to fields of grain and gardens, and some fine orchards were severely injured; trees six inches through were twisted off and others torn up by the roots. The lightning struck in several different places, and altogether it was the most terrific storm of thunder, lightning, wind, hail and rain within the memory of the oldest inhabitant.

Sheffield is a large and beautiful town in the southwest part of Berkshire County, 182 miles from Boston. It contains 453 dwelling-houses and 2,033 inhabitants. Great Barrington bounds it on the north, New Marlborough on the east, Mount Washington and Egremont on the west, and Salisbury and North Canaan, in Conn., on the south. The assessed area is 27,000 acres, which is 2,000 or more short of the actual extent. About 10,000 acres are in forest.

The scenery in the easterly and westerly parts of the town is grand and picturesque; in the middle, through which the Housatonic River pursues a slow and serpentine course southward, it is very beautiful. The view of Mount Everett, rising to the height of 2,624 feet on the western border of the town, flanked by others nearly as large, is truly magnificent; while Alum Hill, and others northward, form a broken wall on the east. The geological formation is the Lower Potsdam and Levis limestone; and specimens of asbestos, pyrites, native alum,...

Sheffield, a post-village in Sheffield township, Berk shire co, Mass., on the Housatonic River and the Housatonic Railroad, 31 miles S. of Pittsfield, and about 45 miles W. of Springfield. It has 2 or 3 churches, an academy, and several mills. The township is noted for its beautiful mountain-scenery and its quarries of white marble. The columns of Girard College, Philadelphia, are formed of Sheffield marble. Pop. of the township, 2233.