The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-13

The little hamlet of New Guinea has iong been a blot on the may of Befk- shire. It Is located an the southeastern part of the Berkshire regions, under Johnnys mountain a mile and a quarter from Sheffield village. For more than one hundred years the negro has lived there in primitive fashion. The occupation of New Guinea by the negro dates back to 1799. When the early Dutcl. settled along the Hudson river vaney they bought and worked slaves on their large plantations The State of New York freed the ne- groes in l799, and tradition has it that a number of freed blacks, some from the old Livingston plantation on the Hudson, tTekkcd" across Eastern New York and over the Taconic range of hills and squatted just under the mountain near Sheffield. There is no record of their having purchased land on which they set tied. Few living there to-day have true titles to the land they occupy. One or more of the best of the race have obtain ed title to their holdings, but a grealo- part of the inhabitants are "squatters, as were their forefathers. The books O. assessors of Sheffield show that only $143 was collected in taxes this yes from the New Guinea negroes, and this amount in cluded $4S in polls.
 How New Guinea Lives.
 The hamlet consisted of about a dozen houses and a church. In some of the houses three families live. One or two of the buildings are in fairly good repai", but most of the structures are weather beaten shanties, old and tumbling down. Tar paper Is used to make the buildings lmpervious to the weather, and bankings of earth and leaves serve as protection from the wind and cold Green wood Is cut when needed for fires. and smoke has blackened the interiors, which are in most part devoid of wall paper The hamlet is a bit of Virginia planted in Massachusetts soil.
 The first appearance of cold weather sends the men of New Guinea indoors. and there they remain throughout the winter, issuing forth now and then for a days work, the returns of which they invest in cornmeal and tobacco. Some times the man of New Guinea varies his bill of fare by a rabbit stew. Rabbits are found fin the swamps around New Guinea, and this gastronomic delicacy fills him with the highest satisfaction. When he can get 1t he has a stock of hard cider on hand, although whiskey is not barred.
 Tn many of the shanties an old violin hangs on the wall. and in harvest time. when the "New Guineaite" can feast and frolic. there Is often the shanty dance, which, like his Southern brother, he de- lights in. Cloting Is obtained mostly from philanthropic persons or Is begged at places where the negro works. There are no dudes in the hamlet, and one suit of clothes suffices until another can be procured.
 The colored women are the breadwin- ners. They go into the village in all sea sons to do washing and cleaning Like the men, they will work until they have a little money ahead. but that obtained they fall to return to employment until 1t is gone.
 One who has lived in Sheffield a num- Der of years and has studied the negro said: There seems to be no town records of any organization or community. and 1t would require the skill and patience of an experienced historian