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

556 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1794.
where passengers were exchanged. The fare from Boston
to Worcester was 9d. , from Worcester to Northampton 3d.
per mile, and 28 lbs. of baggage was allowed. These
stages stopped at Lyman's Inn on Pleasant Street. In December,
the firm extended their line to Albany. This was the
first line of stages from this town to Albany. Pomeroy,
Hunt & Co. advertised a line of stages from Northampton
to Albany in 1794, to make three trips per week in summer,
starting on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and two in
winter. The exchange of passengers was made at Pittsfield.
It seems probable that the other line had failed. In
May of the same year Pease, Hunt & Co. advertised a line
of stages between Boston & Albany, to run three times a
week. The fare was 3d. per mile. Northampton was
the point of meeting for the exchange of passengers, and
it was also one of the lodging places. Four days were
occupied in the transit from one end of the State to the
other.
stage Lines Bene- These Were the first lines of stages that
^^^^^- passed through this town, and they must
have given considerable impetus to the
business of the place. While these through lines were
running to the east and west, others of equal importance
were in operation to the north and south, and before the
advent of railroads it was no novelty to see as many as six
or eight coaches, drawn by four or six horses, loaded with
passengers, arrive and depart daily.
When the Post-office While there is nothing to show the exact
Commenced. fiate wheu the post-office was established
here, it is but reasonable to infer that
there was both a post-office and a postmaster in town when
the stage commenced running. Unfortunately Capt. Pease
omits to name the date when he proposed to open the route.
As his advertisement appeared in the paper of August 8*'',
it is probable that the stage was put on within a few daj^s,
and that the post-ofl&ce went into operation not far from
the middle of that month.