The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-22
From the Chicago Tribune of the 18th.

Mill River, q tributary entering the
Connecticut River at Northampton.
Massachusetts,, and the route of yester-
days disastrous food, is a small but rap
id stFeam having its rise in Goshen, about
twenty miles distant. and following
sharply defined course through the hill
country until it reaches the level of the
Northampton meadows. Its course lies
wholly within the territory of the towns
of Northampton, Williamsburg and
Goshen, and the valuable vater-power
it affords has built up the important
manufacturing villages of Florence and
Leeds in Northampton, and of Hayden
vile and SkinnerVille in Williamsburg.
In the center village of Williamsburg
the stream is made to operatesome small
establishments; and in the center of
Northampton ''fall of water" enough re-
mains for some trifing local use. As is
customary throughout New England,
and is notably known of the Lowell sys-
tenn of water supply, the resources of this
petty stream have been husbanded and
used to the utmost degree. Extensive
reservoirs, or artificial bonds, hold the
spring surplus against the time of mid
summer need; and one ofthese reservoirs
near the headwaters of Mill River,
breaking its bounds, has cent desolation
and death through all the prosperous
valley.
1t 1s now many years since the writer
lived in Northampton and was familiar
with the localities Wherein the terrible
scene is laid At that day, more than
twenty years ago, the village of Florence
about two miles distant from Northamp-
toms town hall, was the seat of silk
thread manufacture and so took its name
that its product might be called "Flor-
ence silk" Leeds Village, about two
miles further up stream, was the home
of the Musgraves, prosperous manufac-
turers of wooden goods, after the style of
Leeds in Old England, whence the Mus
graves had come. At another distant of
about two miles is Haydenvi1le, taking
its name from the Hon. Joel Hayden;
the founder of its industries, at that day
most conspicuous in the manufacture of
gold pens. The village of Skinnerville
is of more recent growth, and divides the
distance between Haydenville and Will
liamsburg; being about two miles from
either. In process of time each of these
manufacturing villages has assumed
larger importance, and Florence, which
took name for the sake of its silk thread
has; in turn, give its name to we'll
known sewing machine made there; while
Leeds and Haydenville have each intro
duced new industries, and Mill River
has been made to do duty at every avail
able step on its way, But however great
has been the material change, the topo-
graphical situation can have undergone
through deep cut between lines of hills |
"a valley hardly wider, at any place, |
han its own required course. The mill |
sites were cuttings of the side-hills; |
the homes of the operatives were located |
within the narrow limits of the valley, |
or on the hill-sides, wherever site could |
be found or made; the travelled highway |
ran along the hill-sides, crossing and |
recrossing the stream to find the most |
available path; and was, at best, diff
cult and expensive road to maintain.
Along such a confined course great VOL
ume of water, suddenly started on its
work of destruction, would have no other
but to destroy everything
within reach. Summer visitors to North
ampton and Mount Holyoke will recall
this stream, which winds to the south
west Of Round Hill, and enters upon the
sluggish end of its career.