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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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192 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749.<br />

New Bridge over A iiew bridge WES built over Mill River<br />

the stream. " near Wa<strong>its</strong>till Strong's" <strong>in</strong> 1749, and tlie<br />

timber was ordered "to be gotten out " that<br />

w<strong>in</strong>ter. The next year the accounts for build<strong>in</strong>g this<br />

structure, which was on or near the site <strong>of</strong> the recent old<br />

bridge, were accepted and ordered to be paid. It was called<br />

the '• Great Bridge over Mill river," and cost £218.7.6, old<br />

tenor, which was equivalent to about $100. The old bridge<br />

and timber was sold for £4.7.6. A great flood, caused by<br />

heavy ra<strong>in</strong>s, occurred <strong>in</strong> December, 1748, and undoubtedly<br />

so <strong>in</strong>jured the bridge, as to require <strong>its</strong> rebuild<strong>in</strong>g. This<br />

bridge rema<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> use for more than twenty years, when<br />

it was carried <strong>of</strong>t' by a great freshet^ which occurred <strong>in</strong><br />

January, 1770, but it was immediately rebuilt.<br />

Pomeroy's Trad<strong>in</strong>g Elisha, SOU <strong>of</strong> Johu Pomeroy, who lived<br />

^'lop- on what was afterwards known as the<br />

" Judge Lyman place," was a blacksmith,<br />

but became a merchant, and <strong>in</strong> the year 1749, had permission<br />

to erect a "trad<strong>in</strong>g shop" between his blacksmith<br />

shop and the "house <strong>of</strong> correction." The latter was on<br />

the opposite side <strong>of</strong> the street near the present location <strong>of</strong><br />

Spooners Market. This must have placed his store well<br />

<strong>in</strong>to the highway. It was near this build<strong>in</strong>g that the committee<br />

decided to place the proposed new school-house.<br />

Town Pound. An important <strong>in</strong>stitution <strong>in</strong> every town was<br />

the "pound," a lockup for all stray stock,<br />

which could only be redeemed by the owner's pay<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

legal fees. It was usually placed near the entrance <strong>in</strong>to<br />

the meadows, though sometimes it was near the meet<strong>in</strong>g-<br />

house, and <strong>in</strong> some <strong>in</strong>stances there was one at each end <strong>of</strong><br />

the town. Northamjiton ordered one built with<strong>in</strong> a few<br />

years after <strong>settlement</strong>. It was situated at the lower end <strong>of</strong><br />

Pleasant Street near the meadow gate, and is still familiar<br />

to everyone, though it has now fallen <strong>in</strong>to disuse. Considerable<br />

litigation grew out <strong>of</strong> the practice <strong>of</strong> impound<strong>in</strong>g<br />

1 This flood is mentioned <strong>in</strong> the Day-Book <strong>of</strong> Dea. Ebenezer Hunt, as follows : —<br />

" 1770, Jan. 7. A great ra<strong>in</strong> with South w<strong>in</strong>d, the Mill River broke up, and the ice<br />

carried <strong>of</strong>f Liok<strong>in</strong>gwater bridge. It was one <strong>of</strong> the highest floods that any person<br />

remembers <strong>in</strong> Mill River, when the Great River did not set up. It was over the bank<br />

<strong>in</strong> my home lot."

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