Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-05-17
BO.sTE.vG O.v TIL CO.V.vRCTICUT
FORTY I'B.sRS .fGO.
REcoLLEcTIoNs oFAN OLD RIVER CAPTAIN.

The "Connectcut River Valley steam
boat company" was in full operation in
1888, when l first became acquainted with
the freightlng business on this river. They
owned line of boats called 'luggers,"
running from Hartford to the head of navi-
cation at Wells River, VT, and also sew
eral stern-wheel steamboats, used for tow
ing the same. As the steamers were too
large 10 pass through the locks and canals,
the first steamer would take them, some
times four and even six at time, as far as
Willimansett. They were then drawn
over "Willimausett' Il use the river par
lance) by strong team of oxen led by
span Of horses, operated through the South
Hadley locks and canal, and were taken by
the next steamer above TO Montague canal;
then by the next from Miller's river to the
foot of Swift Water at Hinsdale, n. H.,
and, believe, in good pitch of water, as
ia as Bellows Falls, and so on. Other
boating companies were engaged at the
same time, and carrying large amounts of
goods of almost every description used in
country stores from Hartford to all the
principal towns in the valley, freighting
down with wood, brooms, hops, slaves,
shingles, wooden-ware and sometimes fine
lumber. These companies used more con-
venient and serviceable boats, we'll rugged,
with main aud topsails, running boards
and cabin, with rudder and helm instead
of the steering-oar.
Commencing at the lower section, there
was the "John Cooley company" consis-
ting of Edmund Palmer, Roderck Ashley,
Sylvester Day, J. B. NJ. and "Kit" Steb-
bins; and the ''Parker Douglass company"
of Stoddard Parker, George Douglass q
Brother, Albert Gowdy and Horace Har-
mon. These two companies did the
freighting for the merchants of Harhp den
county, each owning and running steamer
for towing their boats and sometimes the
boats of other companies, and having their
headquarters at Springfield. Next above
was Bardwell, Ely Co., consisting of Jo-
siah Bardwell, Hiram Smith, Peletiah and
Joseph Ely, Broughton Alvord, Whiting
Street and David Strong; they carried for
South Hadley, Northampton and adion-
ing towns. Capt Nash, who ran one boat
only, for the business of Hadiey and Am
herst, was a veteran in the business when
! commenced, and continued until boats
and boating were superseded by the rail-
car. On the Greenfield reach were Stock
bridge, Culver d Co.-Dayid Stock bridge,
David Culver, J. d. Crawford and r. NJ.
Dewey. This company struck hands with
the "Greenfeld boating company in 1887,
and took the name of Stockbridge, Allen,
Root q Co., Messrs Allen and Root taking
the place of Gen Culver. They owned the
steamer "Ariel Cooley" which took their
boats from the head of South Hadley canal
and winding around the smiling Hockan-
UNI and Old Hadley bends, and through
the sinuosities of School Meadow flats,
landed them at the foot of Montague canal.
This run 40 miles, was generally made in
twelve hours with four boats In tow, and
through the night as well as day time, I'M
less 1t was very cloudy. This steamer was
''strean- wheeler" 80 feet long and IS feet
wide, with two high-pressure engines of
20 horse power each. She was overhauled
in 1899, her name changed TO "Greenfeld,"
aud In the spring of 1910, just above
Smith's Ferry. she burst her boiler, killing
Capt Crawford, Mr. Lancy of this city, the
maker of her machinery, and Mr. Wood,
the engineer.
Above Turner's Falls, after The collapse
OF the Connecticut River Valley steamboat
company, all steamboating was given up,
tho freight boats, smaller than those at
the lower sections of the river, relying on
the south wind and the "white ash breeze"
J. @. Capron and Alexander ran one or
two boats In connection with their store at
III a Il. -
Brattleboro ran two or more and supplied
the merchants of that place and vicinity,
and Wentworth & Bingham those Of Bel
lows Falls. Other individuals and compa-
MES, whose names 1 cannot recall, were
engaged In this enterprise, and the merry
boatmen's song was heard far up the val
lev. Some of the ups and downs, inciden-
tai to this laborlous work, may interest the
reader.
No department Of the business Of this
country offered so wide scope of incident,
and called into action so great number
Of Jolly, Woodworking, determined and
unselfish men as that OF Connecticut river
boating In It's palmiest days. They were
the stoutest, heartiest and merrest of all
the valley, and there were few towns from
Hartford, Ct, to Northumberland, N. H.,
unrepresented. II there arose any dis
turbance in city or town 1t was common
thing TO send for few Connecticut river
boatmen, and II was soon quelled. was
engaged TO teach a common district school
of 10 scholars In one Of the river towns in
the winter Of 1884, where the previous win
ter the "big boys" had turned out four
teaohers-some out of the door and some
out Of the window and ~ soon a. It was