xt79s46h4b13 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt79s46h4b13/data/mets.xml Historical Records Survey (Mass.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Community Service Programs. Massachusetts Historical Records Survey (Mass.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Community Service Programs. 1941 [iii], 74 p.: ill. 27 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Library Program libraries and the Federal Information Preservation Network. Call Number FW 4.14:M 382/3/no.7/v.1 books English Boston, Mass.: the Survey This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. Massachusetts Works Progress Administration Publications Agawam (Mass.: Town)--Archival resources Public records--Massachusetts--Agawam (Town) Agawam (Mass.: Town)--History--Sources Archival resources--Massachusetts--Bibliography Archives--Massachusetts--Bibliography Inventory of City and Town Archives of Massachusetts. No. 7, Hampden County, vol. 1, Agawam, 1941 text Inventory of City and Town Archives of Massachusetts. No. 7, Hampden County, vol. 1, Agawam, 1941 1941 1941 2020 true xt79s46h4b13 section xt79s46h4b13 nvenroay
or:
Town nno CITE! nacmves
on:
mnssncuuserrs

NO. 7 HAMPDEN COUNTY
VOL.I AGAWAM

PBGPHRGD 69
THE HISTOFIICFIL B€COBDS SUFIVG‘J ‘
DIVISION OF PHOF€$SIOI1FIL HUD SGI’IVICe PROJ€CTS
WOFIH PPIOJ€CTS QDmInISTBHTIOH

me Hlsromcm necoaos suavey
60510”, massncuusars
I941

IEVENTOEY OF CITY AND ““77 ARCHIVES

OF MASSACHUSETTS

No. 7. Hampden County

Vol. I. Agawam

PrepareR by
The Historical Recoris Survey
Division of Community Service Pro
Work Projects Administration

The Historical Records Survey
r
k

1941

frams

n-
u.

p..-

The Historical Records Survov Prejran

Marv Elizabeth Sanger,

Division of Comﬁunitf Service Pro

Florenc ,
. Phillips,

e
Y i .

Harold G. Dunnev,
r

h ‘ V‘I r‘
aeorgo Thr_ows,

- .
n Gert

7 RX PROJECTS ADIIIISTRATIOH

Howari 0. Hunter,
John J. McDonough,
Denis W. Delaney,

National Director

State Supervisor of Research and
Records Programs in Massachusetts

State Supervisor of the Historical
Records Survey in Massachusetts

Assistant Ceinissioner
Re; 1&1 D;pDerS r
Director

-.-‘
A.

Regional airector
tats Administrator

SPOISORS OF THE HISTORICAL BECOMES SURVEY P3053 T I: MASSACH"SETTS

Frederic W. Cook,

Secretary of the Conuonwealth

Pjr‘ LIF— CE

1.1.3,“- 1‘ -, 11:. .1.“
11113 -11veiiuC' ,
J.

volume in a
series oearin: the ‘

-11 érc11"es of
Iassachuse tts. t seri’s rill 1e

lis ste ed the records

o 0
this volume and of ever" publication
Records Survev are d' ‘ ' e5

centrally located liorari es of ””ssachuset.

to the lar3er and nor,

“.3

The puLiose of the project is to s'tne1r 1ceserve and renter no“

, ﬂ. e _ . essible
historical source mat rials of ell kinds The work e 01—
lowing main classifi 1cations: Publ c recoris, privat
records, early’Anerica1_imprints, histor“i col portrai
the development of this surve*3 certa n techniques “ax
cable, depending on the nattre of the 31: ject matter
of the inventory, the gride, the calehier, tee checr list, cr1 the i lex.

The actual work of gathering information concerning historical
materials at heir place 0? st '
ceded b7 the necess ry task of
dusting, refﬂ 1irg, ani treatine

rformed b“ its workers a:15.e“
regaried by fu.ture generations
survey. Scc.rc el less importa

v *1 p C
which all info rmation must be s;bjected befc:c pub ioation. As 1 res" t
of sec: editirg, raps, 311 inaieouacies are soottsﬂ lﬁCCRSlSﬁQIClGS “oc—
oncilei, and orler bro1 ht out of

In the fieli of puolic record. it has been found nocessarr not only
to sketch orieflv the histor7 of t county or town 335 its rovernment
but also to preface the inventory of each "v‘ordir sate office or instit 11 ticﬁ
with an outline of its ﬁe mrelopment base d upon its no rccorﬁs or rpon
statutory or other so1rces

In the inventories of clnu.01 recoris
the preparation of the historf of each churn“ con i W1 es 0 to

~1—
‘ \411 (« 1:443'. ».
arduous with that of locati‘; and listing its records. In HassaCA

two broader works have been undertaken. 11e gener al historical back:
statutorv origin and functioning of county, cit v, or tc n offices
been st" ied with a View to providing satis factory accounts of tie
ment of CO“ﬁ 7 an municipal 3 .errment generallr. These latter 1nﬂ.e
takings are now h:opily nearir r completion.

‘:)

The inventory of the town archives of Agawan is the first in the
series of nch inventories cc"erinr the towns of Hhmpden Countv. .The
Survey is indebted to th e town of;:icials of Agawam for their cooperation
and to the Secretarv of the Commonwealth, Freder‘ ”

11 10 u. Cook, withont Whose
sponsorship this project woulﬂ

not 11e poss 'ble.

Herr Elizabeth Sanger
Strm e Supervisor
Hist rical Records Survey

._—1

I41

FOREWORD

The Inventory 23 the Town and City Archives 2g Massachusetts is one
of a number of bibliographies of historical materials prepared throughout
the United States by workers on the Historical Records SurVey of the Iork
Projects Administration. The publication herewith presented. an inventory
of the Archives of AgaWam in Hampden County, is volune I of number 7 of
the Massachusetts series.

The Historical Records Survey Was undertaken in the winter of 1935-36
for the purpose of providing useful employment to needy unemployed histo-
rians. lawyers. teachers. and research and clerical workers. In carrying
out this objective. the project was organized to compile inventories of
historical materials, particularly the unpublished government documents
and repords which are basic in the administration of local government. and
which provide invaluable data for students of political, economic. and
social history. The archival guide herewith presented is intended to meet
the requirements of day-to-day administration by town officials. and also
the needs of lawyers. business men and other citizens who require facts
from the public records for the proper conduct of their affairs. The vol-
ume is so designed that it can be used by the historian in his research
in unprinted sources in the same way he uses the library card catalogue
for printed sources.

The inVentories produced by the Historical Records Survey attempt to
do more than give merely a list of records-~they attempt further to sketch
in the historical background of the county or other unit of government. and
to describe precisely and in detail the organization and functions of the
government agencies whose records they list. The county. town. and city
inventories for the entire country will. when completed. constitute an en-
cyclopedia of local government as Well as bibliography of local archives.

The successful conclusion of the work of the Historical Records Surveyv
eVen in a single town. would not be possible without the support of public
officials. historical and legal specialists. and many other groups in ﬁw
community. Their cooperation is gratefully acknowledged.

The Survey directed by Luther H. Evans from its inception in January
1936 to March 1. l9h0 When he was succeeded by Sargent B. Child formerly
National Field Supervisor. It operates as a nationawide project in the
Division of Professional and Service Projects, of which Mrs. Florence
Kerr. Assistant Commissioner. is in charge.

HOWard 0. Hunter
Acting Commissioner of cork
Projects Administration

-ABLE OF COITEYT

. .
. 1
PreIace...................................................-

_OIeo-A111

torical SKetch.........................................r
45 Town Government...............................l?
ttel Or :a ization arﬁ Reco.is S"sten.............lﬁ
9, Care, and Abca~c13.] . of the Re cord s..........l7
ev1ations, Stnbols, and apranatch Zotes............?l

Part 3. Tow: Offices and T 71? Recoris

I. Selectmen and Boari o: Heal h............................¢K
II. To:n Clerk 316 Treasurer................................. '
"1mutes and Reports t l S
if P‘mo’M‘L" Recorés; IC‘ 1
Vi III. Boari of Re}: istrﬁrs......................................?9
‘ IV. Board 0: Assessors.......................................”Q
‘L IaILBUIVHJ, A; laments; IT nsfer of Progertv;

Kotor Vehicle Excise
ax Collector............................................~

1‘3

" (‘7':
€83.1Ir.................................................,»

wﬁ Accountant.........................................ﬁ

4
I

\l
1
H
H H e—x

c
O

H H H ‘1
.

EL: H

1—. __,.
4-. .L' ............................ ..J‘-
'r r-. Tn "5:
.‘L. i J.‘.':lo........-.........-....-..-'u
X7 s
-L. ......-......-.................”m

.ils‘ Rectrﬂs;
“llaneous

. Jul 1‘8. ’

‘
H

...............................'3-

H r
LU '
O

XII

....u.....-...-..-.......-..u--*

' Oli Are Assistance

Gez‘_era] Gas

+ Iurses

XP.7.
XV.
XVI.
XVII. .;
.{VI II. Bur
XIX. Fo-
XX. 7a a
XXI. Tree Va
XXII. vasy'ﬂo n SupeTint m.ie:1t...;............ ................
XXIII. Survefor of Lumber...............
XXPI. Eeasm“ers of Vood........
XXV. Paolic Wei¢1eTs..........

a...oon....o-uo.o..u.....-.-..-c.-.u.c.--u

“or of Animals....................................

c
ctor of heats.......................................ér
F;

L)
I1)
| <1

0 H H U
I . b‘

1..

(l)
R
.0
d“ (I)

.173 r;‘ 2.13
1 (fl E‘J‘l

-
o
u
u
.
u
u
u
I
a
u
u
o
I
a
o
u
n
a
a
n
I
.
a
n
I
"3
Cir

Contents

TKXI.
XKXII.
XXXIII.
XXXIV.

T
v .

‘XXKVI.
XXXVII.
XXXVIII.
XXX-X.
XL.
XLI.
XLII.

h?! C) O H FIJ

bxbiw

.4
;-v.

’YJ

H
A.

‘,
,V

O O i—‘r
L5
-7

I )

('J
p;

,v‘

ae;_na “
eulé“ r

or C" .
on‘nr -2

io‘atov

.
4.
u

Oe.........

-unv-oacutauuavuo

ence V10wers............

Drivers and Pcunikeepers.

w. Council...................

,taalcs.....................
f of Police................
3 V'neer..................
van Unit; Agawan Cen'
ills Unit

0.21:. L‘.EC‘LS‘C.I“3S 0

Part C. Defunct

ythingmen...............
Sealer of Leather........
Surveyors of Highuwys....
Road
F iS-ﬂ

Park

. St

L
I
L

i
n
i

Connissl

Y1“"

.. .sq

512

d :.
st 0

b5.

OTICI'S. ..n- .-

V 7 «3
aha Game Waluen.....

Commissioner........

ripts..............

st of Sou:ces..........

Cloniu-o-‘n-uosnnn

Publications.....

OO'II'

too-t.

unuu-n

.45
.4€
.47
.47
.48
.50
.51
.51
E“)
.L‘
.5?

-
)1 U1 ()1 ()1

yft-J\}I>DPCI~7WW

‘o
\

('51 U1 U1

:1]
UI

Con

1"!-

"n“ .unn

nnuun-uun. .-m--uu--..u- . .mmuun

llllnnnuu. .", .

MASSACHUSETTS
HAMPDEN cou TY ,3

1941
LEQEM) ‘v

__--— TOWN BOUNDARY §
. STATE BOUNDARY
5:§:?::::;:g:§:§a TchK LY POPULATED

WV "”3: ELEVATlON

REFERENCE

MASS. GEODETIC SURVEY 1938
RICHARDS MAP caﬂLAs 191?.
SPRleFIELD, Ass.
U,s.GEOLIcAL SURVEY Ru.\3|7

—-_

1 "/9:
, , ”7/!

I
/
/ ﬁE/I'MAV.’
HA1": F"; L' r:
L__.,. C91) N I

WEST SPRINGFIELD

55 TF/El-D
’W 3-5:»;

s ';
~1‘
cur\

CON/56077

Jmuul ‘—.‘ _‘ ‘ A‘l

c
. mumw'rmmmrmw‘m‘w) 5f?hemlﬂmlnggﬁgyfﬁ... lulllnuuu u... u“.

PART A. AGAWAM AND ITS RECORDS SYSTEM

Historical Sketch

Within the present corporate limits of Agawam once stood the first
dwelling house erected by Englishmen in the upper Connecticut valley,
yet two centuries passed after its erection before Agawam became a town
separate from Springfield.

Sc little knowledge existed concerning the interior of the new
continent that tradition. handed down from the days of Captain John
Smith and given a hazy verisimilitude by Indians and explorers, pictured
a number of immense lakes surrounded by swamps. from which issued the
Connecticut, Potomac. and St. Lawrence. Within this vast region had
been secured, it was believed, the majority of pelts brought by Indians

to Quebec, Virginia, and the lower Connecticut. The idea so persisted
that an expedition Was dispatched to find and open a route hetWXan its
riches and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In this futile scheme, soon
shattered by the realities of Men England geography, Jilliam Pynchon
had no faith. A more practical scheme Was apparently forming in his
mind.

The Indians had told .illiam Pynchon of their village on the west
bank of the "auinnecticott", but a few miles ahove the limit of naviga—
tion for deep sea vessels and at the intersection of the main trail
from the Bay to the berkshires. A settlement established there. he saw
at once. would cut off the Dutch at the site of what is now Hartford
from their source of supply of beaver.

Once on the ground of his new venture. Pynchon entered into final
negotations with the AgaWam tribe. The resulting document, dated at
"Agaam. alias Agawam, this fifteenth day of July 1636" embodied and
agreement between certain "ancient Indians . . . . to and with Jilliam
Pynchon. Henry Smith & Jehu Burr, tdeir heirs & associates for ever. to
trucke & sel al that ground and muckc of quittas or modow accomsick"
for eighteen fathoms of wampum, eighteen coats, eighteen hocs, eighteen
hatchets. and eighteen kniVes. The purchase took in some twenty-five
square miles of land on both sides of the Connecticut. That the exten-
sive meadowlands along the river bottom on the west side were considered
particularly valuable may be inferred from the division of the purchase
price. Ten fathoms of uampum. ten hatchets. ten coats, ten hoes, and
ten knives Here paid for "al the ground and much of the quittas on the
side of Agaam, except Cottinackeesh, or ground that is now planted.“3

1. Arthur H. Buffington, in PUbIEPEKEEEE of the Colonial Society
gf Massaghusgtjg. XVIII. 161. 162.

2. Ibid.. p. 166.

3. Hampden County, Transcribed Property Records, in Springfield
registry of deeds. liber A—b, folio 19.

” Towd

OF,
‘TA 1 ‘-

PWZES?" .S/QRVMVG/WZZLLD

['1

Fhﬁt entry p. 23 Historical Sketch

To this deed,entered on July 8. 1679 in the records of Hampshire
candy and confirmed by eye-witnesses to the transaction, Was added the
fdJowing notation;

"Memoranda - Agaam or AgaWam. It is the medow on the
Soutu of Agawam River. where ye English did first build a
house. WOh mpw We cp,.pm.u cal. ye house medow, That piece

of ground it is it we1 ye Indians do cal Agawam & where ye
English kept ye residents who first came to settle and plant
at Springfield now so called . . . Quana is that middle medow,
adjoining to Agawam or house medow.“

A closer examination of Agauam. which had originally been selected
asthe site for houselots. disclosed great dange‘ of inundation during the
wasons of high water. This fact, confirmed by the natives, and the grow-
ﬁg sentiment that the place was "so incombered with Indiana" that the

wttlers would "loose half the benefits", decided Pynchon to "plant on the
ommsite side to avoid trespassing." Thus, the homelots were laid out on
lﬂgher ground. east of the Connecticut, and Agawam became part of the

tmnwhip of Springfield.2

N0 minister or church had been granted to th; westside inhabitants
an. in 1674, they petitioned the town of Sgringfield "that by reason of
Umir great trouble in getting over the river to attend Publick worship

and other meetings, a hoat might be provided at the charge of the town for
ﬂwir accommodation."3 There is no evidence, howevUr, that this ferry was
established until after 1683. when the drowning of three Agawam inhahitants
brought the matter forcibly to the attention of the Springfield fathers.
Even then the trip seemed arduous and full of d:-.ng;er.LL

The building of a church west of the Connecticut had made it necessary
for the settlers of Agawam to cross only one river when they attended public
worship. The growth of population encouraged them to petition the Second
krish that for at least four months of the year they be alloWed a minister
M‘their own. Repeated opposition fanned the flames of discontent, which
culminated in a demand for a separate church and parish, finally convincing
dissenters that a schism could not be long postponed. In 1756. the Society
“Voted if Agawam be set off as a separate parish, that proportion of money
to minister shall he regaidh In 1757 the "land lying within bounds . . .
from Agawam River on the northerly side to Suffield bounds . . . . on the

.1, “...—WM...“ .Mha-«M...» .1 A .A.

41ml; may» ._-.n..

Lissa." ...i... .-L..__l..‘.-_......._Li__«~v ‘ > — -.

1. Ibid.
2. EZEE) Hist. Soc. Proc.. XLVIII. 38. Transcription of fragment of

letter written by Pynchon.

. pringfield Town Records. III. 8Q.

. Igig.. p. 118-19.

. Nest Springfield Parish Records, meeting of Dec. 1, 1731.

Iﬁid., meeting of July 15, 1756.

O‘LRJTLO

Historical Sketch First entry p. 23

south . . . from the Great River on the east to nestfield Bounds on
the nest" became the Sixth Parish of Springfield.

It may have been a coincidence that his action placatinm the
southern section of these lands over the river, so promptly followed
a more radical request on the part of the Second Parish as a whole.
In 1756 it had been "to chuse a Committee to prefer a Petition
to the Great and General Court. . . that they would set off All the
Inhabitants and the lands of the west side of the Great River in
Springfield. to he a distinct town"; but that had been denied.L
Five years later the mother-parish tried again. this time delaying
action until Agawam was consulted and her COOperation assured.)

Not until 177A. hOWeVer. did success crown the efforts of both
areas. Then the "West Side of the Great River" was incorporated as
the town of iest Springfield, the Second and Sixth Parishes of Spring-
field becoming the First and Second Parishes respectively of the new
town. In the first year of the next century the Second Parish was
itself divided and the portion known as Feeding Hills established as
the Fourth Parish of nest Springfield.5

That residents in the Second Parish played a recognized part in
the government of Jest Springfield may be deduced from the records.
In l78h it Was decided "That the Town Meetings in future be held a
Proportionable Part of the time (during the,Bridge remaining unbuilt
across Agawam River...) in the 2nd Parish".b This bridge was to be
financed by a public lottery. the town voting in 1783 to ask the
manager "to speedily form the Scheme for the same. Publish the tick—
ets and offer them for sale. . .“

From tme parochial standpoint, independence had been attained by
the two precincts scuth of the AgaWam; but the inhabitants Were not
long satisfied. A quiet and persistent movement for full rights of
self—government first attracted public notice on April 1h, 1807, when
a meeting Was held to consider combining the Second and Fourth Parishes
and asking incorporation as a town. As the 3e:rs went by the pressure
for autonomy became increasingly hard to deny.“ On March 13. 1855
members of the First Parish met alone, Holyokc, ,ha "Irish Parish". had
been seyered from fest Springfield five years before. It was "Voted
that the town (asst Springfield) will remonstrate against the petition

l. -cps and BEEBAEEE 2i Eh; Prpyince of Massachusetts aEEI XVI.
Resolves of 1757—8. ch. Eli.
2. Jest Springfield Parish Records, meeting of July 15; 1756-
3. Ihio.. meeting of Feb. 23. 1761.
h. Acts and Resolves 2f Province of Massachu
1773-4. ch. 26.
5- laws a211- REEBJIEE' 1798-99» ch. 55-
6. West Springfield Town Records. 1, meeting of Jan. 20. 17845
7. gy;g.. I. meeting of Nov. 13, 1783.
8. Agawam Parish Records. meeting of April In. 1807.

First entry p. 23 Historical. Sketch

of General Flower and others for the division of the town by a unanimous
vote (with one exceptions)" .1 Remonstrance proved of no avail; on the

my 17 following, the Governor of Massachusetts signed an act declaring
“All that part of the Town of West Springfield which lies southerly of

the line commenc ing~ at the north mOuth of Agawam river, so-called, and run—
ning Westerly by the course and center of said riVer to the Town of west-
field is hereby incorporated into a separate town, by the name of Agawam."

The first warrant for a town meeting was dated the 11th of June 1855,
and signed by "Samuel FlOWer. Justice of the Peace. within and for the
County of Hampden." It directed that an election be called for Wedresday,
June 20th, in the Methodist Episcopal Church.? At the meeting held accoid—
ingly, a moderator Was elected and it was voted to adjourn to June 27th;
thus, the second meeting marks the true beginning of town government. After
the first officers were chosen, it was decided “that the Selectmen of the
Town of Agawam be a Committee to Settle with he Towu of {Jest Springfield
In regard to a Division of Property. funds, Debts, Town Paupers, State. I
Town 8c County Taxes . . . .“5 Unlike the long drawn-out controversy over
monetary matters which Occurred after the seVerance of Springfield and.

'ﬁ'est Springfield, the new town disposed of financial. problems very promptly.
Under date of February 7, 1857. the clerk copied into the records the
following acknowledgment; “ Received of the Town of Agawam the sum of Eight
Hundred and fourteen 39/100 (dollars) in full of all demands that the Town
of west Springfield has against said Town of Agawam.“ The valuation as of
May 1. 1856. used in arriving at the settlement, Was $602,627.06; the first
annual assassment of taXes was $h, 327.63; and the number of polls. 390.

For several years the inhabitants of West Springfield had sought with-
out success to obtain the abrogation of that section of the act incorporat-
ing their town which read: "For any Rates, Duties, or Charges Ja’hatever, all
Lots, Lands. and Estates .«hatever. lying within the Said Great and General
Field. the owner and Proprietor thereof. shall, for the time being. and at
any Time hereafter, be an Inhabitant of the Town of Springfield, shall stand
chargeable and TaXa‘ol=. and shall be charged. Taxed. and Assessed for all
Province. County, Town, and Parish Taxes. Rates, Charges, and Duties.,on1y
in and by the Said Town of Springfield . . . at all Times hereafter" .3

1- West Springfield Town Records. VI. 309.
2. Acts and Resolves, 1854-55, ch. 365.
Records - Town of AgaﬁnirI. LL. _s_e_§_ entry 8.
A" . pa 5.
h . p. 70
Ibid.. following meeting of Feb. 7. 1857.
Ibid., following militia roll of June 19. 1856.
Acts and Besolves of. the Province _o_§ Massachusetts Bay, V, Acts
" F-li, ch. 26.

Historical Sketch First entry p. 23

As the new town of Agawam embraced a large part of the "Said Great
and General Field" a large revenue from taxation was lost. Not until
1866 was there secured legislation to provide that "All lands and estates
lying in the Town of Agawam. which haVe heretofore been taxed in the City
of Sprinsfield. shall hereafter be taxed in the Town of Agawam . 9 ﬂ

Lying in a triangle formed by the Connecticut and Agawam Rivers and
the Connecticut state line. bounded on the north by Nest Springfield. on
the south by Suffield in Connecticut. on the east by Springfield and
Longmeadow. from which it is separated by the “great river". and on the
west by Southwick and ﬂestfield, the 1h.OBO acres enclosed within the
town lines of Agawam consist largely of a fertile plain which rises
westward into a rugged range of trap—rock. The bottom lands are still
subject to verflow although dykes have been erected to control the
high water.

From the first. agriculture has been the grinciyal industry. A
saw mill to convert into building material the heavy growth of pine
which originally covered most of the land; a cotton mill and one for
wool, both of which furnished thread for the hind—looms of the pioneer
women; a wall paper plant; a factory for high grade linen and ledger
papers; and a distillery which in turn produced pepgormint. potato
whiskey. cider, and the Well—known “Agawam Rye Gin“ - all contributed
to the development of the town at various stages. Those that remain can
hardly be classified as major industries, most of the commodities being
distributed loc a11y.3

Transportation by rail is no longer available. The single line mul-
road with a station in Feeding Hills offered facilities from 1901 to 193&
When it was discontinued by authority of the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion. The ferry which was established in 1683 to connect the West side
with Springfield was in service until the completion of the South End
bridge in 1879. The proposal to construct this bridge did not arouse
enthusiam in Agawam, the town directing the selcctmen when it Was first
projected "to employ all honorable means within their pOWer to saVG the
town from the impending burden, which would be imposed upon the tax
payers of our Toxn by tge Construction and Maintenance of a bridge at or
near the Agawam Ferry".

The town provides the site for the Hampden County Training School.
an institution educating boys convicted in the juvenile court for minor
misisnenmri. This was mOVed from Springfield to Feeding Hills in 1916.
Even more widely known. however. was the Aaawam horse racing truck,
located in a picturesque Sp<ﬁt on what was formerly the Bowles airport-

l. Acts and Resolves 2; 1866, ch. 173.

2. Johnson. Clifton, EBEHQEE ggnhty, léﬁﬁ’léiﬁ) III, 783. K
3. :3 £13331 3; _H_a_m[.)den gym. Alfred Minot Copeland, od., III. 531' ,
a. Springfield Union. May 27. 1938.. 5’
5. Records - Town of Agawam. I. 5—7, Soc entry 8.
6. Johnson, 22. 213,. II. 779. M‘—

Hi storic a1 Sketch

Although in operation only a few years. the race track, which is said not
to have been a great success financially. will have to be discontinued as
the result of a referendum vote of the voters of Hampden County in the
1938 election rejecting; the pari-mutuel system of betting on licensed
horse races.

In 1855. the year of incorporation, the population was 1,543.2 In
1875 the inhabitants numbered 2.251;.3‘1noreasing, during the next twenty-
five years to 2,352 .11‘ Since 1900 the population has more than trebled,
for in 1935 the state census listed 7,206 personsrs On December 31, 1937
the total valuation of real estate. both improved and uzimproved. amounted
to $8.116,885, that of personal property to $1,220,700. A total tax of
$19,286 .30 Was levied for the year, #383.h57.62 of which balanced. town
appropriations .7 Contrary to trends in most agricultural communities,
grONth has been steady and consistent throughout the years; proximity to
Springfield and the attractiveness of this quiet residential suburb have
contributed largely to its deVelopment.

Mass. Secretary of State, Election Statistics, 1938, p. 409.
Census of Massachusetts for $10.1, I, 808.

Ibid.’ 1875' 1. 114.90

11 .5. Census for __9_OO, II. 645.

Decennial Census of 1935. p. 5.

Annual Report. 1937. pp. 70-71, se___e_ entry 2.
Ibidl

11 First entry p. 23

TONN OF AGAWAM

gregates of Polls. Property. and Texas as Assessed May lst

Rate of No. of .4
Value of Value of Total Value Total Tax PersonsAm
No. of Personal - Real Real and Per- per $1000 sessed m
Date Polls Estate Estate sonal Estate Valuation Property '

we: 1% 81wnmh$ wwwﬁ $6n2uﬁ 88m
1870 503 259.423ﬁ 675.4594 934.8824 13.00
18803 575 225.215 969.0154 1.194.230 15.50
18903 585 186,254“ 1,036,965“ 1,223,2194 13.20
19003 713 188.6724 1,201,510L-L 1,390,182“ 15.60
19103 949 302.0655 1,666.6155 1,968.6805 16.00
19203 1.287 919.7305 4.077.2355 4.998.9855 21.50
19303 2.017 1.208.3215 8,233,7255 9,442,0465 28.30
19373 2.186 1,220,7006 8,116,8856 9.337.5856 33.00

ommpmd-crHI-aw

Total

State No. of Acres of No. of
County Dwelling Land No. of No. of Neat
Town Tax Date Houses Taxed Horses Cows Cattle

$ 4.917 1861 30a 13.316 265 692

13.159 1870 360 13.305 331 826

19. 661 1880 1151 13.539 1105 965
17.3167 1890 456 13.848 521 1.360 282 177
23.1137 1900 585 13.877 642 1.204 361 151
33.3967 1910 706 13.995 578 1.161 325 158
128.8617 1920 1.059 14,181 497 838 259 550
275.9617 1930 1.578 13.939 289 531 162 471
312.5127 1937 1.597 13.056 212 468 173 276

1. Figures taken from "Aggregates of Polls. Property. Taxes.
etc." Public Doaument No. 42. in Public Documents 9; Massachusetts.

2 Figures taken from "Aggregates of 1011s. Property. Taxes.
etc." Public Document No. 36. in Public Documents 2; Massachusetts.

3. Figures taken from "Aggregates of Polls. Property. Taxes.
etc." Public Document No. 19. in Public Documents 2; Massachusetts.

4. Valuation at May lst.

5. Valuation at April lst.

6. Valuation at Jan. 1st.

7. Includes overlayings.

FIN CE LIBRAR WATER BOARD OF 1. '
AN TRUSTEES COMICVI‘EBSSION A35(IEBS)SOR$ I

TAX
CO LLECTOR AUDITOR 00M(IIEI’I)TTEE TOWN CLERK bJREASURER
LI III I864- I-Yr I889 SEXSIIYI IeIa er I855/\|Yr \855 333W: I65“,

3222553; _I.QO_ 135.2% Yr '903l

l I 1/ I I
CEMETERY soII L BOARD OF FE REE TRUSTEES OF
COMMISSION (GI , PUBLI?3 WELFARE SELEg'gMEN VI I52 ARDEN I WIIT IT IND ST. FUND
3
III. [855 N: I900 IZJIEIIII I85I

I’s'IIIIII I934 Iw IBES/JYT.
_ﬁ
_-____ [WV ﬂ,

gFIFEéSNBEIEI/ms I I a I 7 \ngilf OF _T .
MODERATOR (2) EFERS Egéggéﬁs Town INSPECTOROF INSPECTOR\ (cIIIIsLCFVIce ""JNt’I‘éP‘ES
) I I
(3) ACCOUNTANT
WV- )355 IYT I855 [YT I885 LYI 1927

ANIMALS 0F MEAT s v. I855
III. I89 III “392) ’23 ' r
I I "
ZONING F0 EM F
< HIEH A150 D
M. I9a7 IYr. I865 Ix: I89
KEY

Psv Mo smz 0R. MEAs REE
<5UPERINTENDE21> <01: LyEEER 855) OF ($00
I I , I
PU LIC
(APPMN‘HVé < WEIE ERS ) ( ng‘ﬁgEL) I < ILI-OIIV‘cJI-I-IILEI‘) (ENG‘ﬁﬁiER ELECTIVE
LYr. (4 I870 IYr. I925 / In I”) 1955 I537

IYr. [YrI I655
[y’hh‘ISI‘f/KCER OI" \I x.
WW““WI“‘M‘WI DIIITHIOTNUR!) * AGAWAM COMMUNITY IIEALIII AII ()(LIATION
‘IIII. “I II ‘ 4 AND DUBEIIDIZED ISYIowN

K EV”

x ARM, __ «I

2. GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZAllON AND HEClﬁDS SYSLH'.

Governmental Organization

From the first settlement to 1696. inhabitants of the area which
is now Agawam enjoyed no rights of local self-government. although
freemen among them might. of course. take as active a part in the civil
a part in the civic affairs of Springfield as the two rivers seVering
their homes from the town would permit. From 1696 until 1757 Agawam
constituted part of the Second Parish of Springfield which later became
the town of'uest Springfield; from 1757 to 1800 it formed a separate
parish; and from 1800 to 1855 the parishes of Agawam and Feeding
Hills divided the territory.

In 1783 the general Fourt confirmed provincial regulations con-
cerning the organization of parishes and precincts. at the same time
recognizing those in existence. and granting inhabitants therein who
paid a tax. exclusive of polls. equal to two-third.s of a single poll
the right to assemble annually in March or April for the election of Hm
following officers: a clerk under oath to record all votes passed. a
treasurer. two or more aSSessors, and other “usual officers" . It was
the duty of the constable to warn meetings as well as to collect the
parish tax. and unless the man chosen had served in some official ca-
pacity within the preceding seVnn years. was physicxlly unable to perfmm
the necessary functions. or did not belong to the same denomination as
the majority of his fellow~ ~inhabitant:, refusal to accept this post
entailed a three-pound line. There is evidence that residents of the
Second Parish of est Springfield gathered together shortly after incorpm-
ation in 1757. but the trariscrilt of thc iirst minister's notes. which
are the only records of this period still axtant. fuil to provide
sufficient data to permit the listinlg of eurlr officers.2 The fc-n.a~
tion of a parish did not debar inha-iitanis irom participating in town
affairs and the town-meeting records of east Springfield testify to a
lively interest on the part of residents of both the soutliern parishes
in all matters pertaininO to their sovernmcnt.3

The town of AgaWam modeled its organization upon the municipalities
from which it Sprango and the open town-meeting. so characteristic of
early New England. is firmly entrenched today. Such changes as have
taken place served to adapt the administrative functions of officers or
the manner of their election to the needs of a growing population and
the demands of a more complicated society.

1. Perpetual Laws 2; Massachusejaﬁp 1780-89. Adams and Nourse.
Boston. 1789. Part I. pp. 8-10.

2. Agawam Parish Records.