The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-14
Another Massachusetts Flood.

in Hampshire county say u was caused ny
the giving way of a reservoir Of the facto-
nv Mt the village Of Middleliell. The res
ervoir was situated on Mid1elieid brook,
which empticd into the west branch Of the
Weslfcd river at Middleicld switch. 1t
covered nearly one hundred acres, and was
built about thirty years ago by Uriah
Church, father Of the present owners, who
started the Business now carried on by his
four sons. The reservoir was made by
raising the main road from Mddlcllcld
Center to North Beckett bills on either side
the stream, forming the sides Of tho rcscr-
vor road The dam was raised about
twenty feet for a distance of thirty to forty
rods. The dam gave way once before it
was finished, but since It's completion has
been regarded as safe, and for the purpose
of furnishing additional water for the
large new mill now being erected, it was
the intention to raise the dam two
feet during the present season. The
reservoir was used for the storage of
water for Church brothers, running two
broadcloth mills; for VIM. Blushs felloe,
thill and stave factory, and for the mill
owned by Oliver Blush, and formerly used
as a wooden mill, but lately az a grist mill.
These were all mills situated on Middle
field branch. Below the reservoir, be-
tween Mddlefeld switch and Chester,
there is upon the west branch Of Westfield
river, into which the Middofcd stream
enters. Vests wooden MILL formerly used
as a shoddy mill, and at Chester the
Hampton emery mill. From Middlcfield
switch the flood poured down towards
Chester where ii did very serious damage.
The water swept over farms and gardens
and roads, and several houses were moved
some distance. The heaviest loser at Chcs-
ter is Dr. H. Lucas, who estimates his loss
at $4,000 by the partial sweeping away of
the emery mill. The water went through
the lower story of the mill, carrying off
$4,000 worth of emery, and also die consid-
cradle damage to DR.. Lucas AK manufac-
turing company. carried on in the adjOin-
ing building under the name of the Han
nun edge tool company. The water power
of this company is entirely destroyed. Or.
Lucas farm of fifty acres is badly damaged,
also the large farm of Newton Cowles.
Nearly all the valley residents in the Yicin-
ity of Chester suffered more or less by dam
age to farms and gardens. Bradford Palm
cr's barn and Samuel Otis's shoe shop were
moved some distance, and VIM. Fay &
Sons furniture warehouse was badly flood
ed out. The building was undermined
and turned partly around High
water continued at Chester for about
an hour Had it continued longer the dam
age would have been much more severe.
LATER.
At Blush Hollow in Middleford, a small
factory village just below the broken res
ervoirs, large house owned by Mr.. Church
and occupied by Joseph Key, was the first
one struck, the water passing clear through
the building, tearing out the floors and
windows, and the furniture was dragged
into the cellar.
Nearly opposite was large house occu-
pied by Alfred OBilen. The flood struck
this building on one corner, cutting out the
first story from the main house entirely,
while the floor of the second story dragged
down at one end, and but for pile Of de-
bris which lodged near it the whole struc-
ture undoubtedly would have gone off. On
the east side of the street was an old barn,
one house and building formerly occu-
pied rs a boarding house, but recently used
for storage, were swept away, moth
ing remaining but few boards.
just below this is what remains of Oliver
Blacks house. One half of the large l.
was torn off and destroyed, the upright
portion of it was turned round at a right
angle withthe line of the street and about
opposite Church's store, which is still
standing although badly soaked with wa
ter. \ large building used Gol storing
wool and containing many hundred pounds
and a horse shed attached were swept out
of sight.
South of the store stands remnants of
Oliver Blush's barn packed full of hay, the
weight (which served as an anchor to the
building but did not prevent it from being
completely split up and broken.
This mill had not been running for
some time, but it contained ten sets of
old style wooden machines, and part OF
the building was used as a grist mill.
Opposite, on the left side Of the street,
Blush's new barn received the full force
of the current which had branched toward
the east and south. 1t was substantial
structure, and withstood the test well,
only the large wing used as Il carriage
house, and containing several carriages,
being carried off.
A few steps further down the stream
was VIM. Blush's carriage feloe and shaft
mandatory, 7Ox40 feet, with an L two
stories high. This contained circular
saw mill and large quantity of other val
liable machinery. The water fairly swept
this mill open at the bottom Of the dam by
the side of it, going down in the grand
ruin.