The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-08-01
FATHER OF HoosAc TUNNEL
Story of George MiiIard's Part In
Great Undertaking.

ten the following for the Sunday
Springfield Republican:
1t was owing to the indomitabe
courage and persistent determination
of two business men, both natural
leaders of the people, that the con
struction of the old Troy and Green
field railroad became possible as
well as the now famous Hoosac tun-
mel opening up a second line of rail
way from Boston to the West. These
men were George Willard of North
Adams on the west side and Alvah
Croker of Fitchburg on the east
side of the formidable Hoosac tunnel
mountain range. 1t was owing to
their persistent personal, financial
and political struggles in the Legis-
latures in which they were both
members after triumphant elections
and their untiring abors with the
public in all parts of the state of
Massachusetts. Both had no other
end in view but the prosperity of
their commonwealth and their nation
and NEITHER ever received any pecun-
larry recompense for their arduous
and patriotic labors, which were uti.
mately crowned with success. Now
that the Hooosac tunnel has been in
operation for SO years the memory
of these two earliest and pioneer To-
cal promoters has become dim in the
public mind
canal through the Hoosac noun
tain was first talked of as far back
as 1919, and a tunnel was first men
toned in 1925, but both were Men
looked upon as geing impracticable
The citizens of North Adams still
had faith that tunnel could be
built and paid $500 for a first survey
in 1S45. George Willard, the enthu-
siastic leader keeping in close touch
with Alyah Croker of Fitchburg. his
firm friend and a masterful states
man and strong financial champion
OF the tunnel route, backed by his
followers in North Adams. secured a
charter from the state for the build
ing of the Troy and Greenfield rail
road in lS4S, and the first work on
the road and tunnel was begun in
1851 by this organized railway com.
pany. Through the hercuean worn
OF these two leaders and their adher-
ents up to 1854, the first state loan
OF $2,OOO,OOO was granted In secur-
Ing this George Willard, a member
OF the Legislature, by his eloquent
and soulful pleas in describing the
benefits which would accrue from the
building of this line to Boston. TO the
Deertield valley and the whole tier of
northern Massachusetts towns. was
most important factor and was so
recognized far and wide all through
the early history of the tunnel up to
the time of its completion in 1875.
1t was on January s, 1851, that
about 100 friends of the Hoosac tun.
mel enterprise gathered on bleak
hillside between the west shaft and
the western portal of the tunnel TO
hrst break ground on this great
work. In this assemblage were Her
man ID. Haupt of PENNSYLVANIA. Al.
yah Croker of F'itchburg, George
Willard, Harvey Arnold Sylvander
Johnson, William f. Brayton. DR.
Robert Crawford. Rodman II Wells
Sanford Blackinton, John F. Arnold
Samuel Gaylord. Il. T. Hawkes., II. p.
Phillips Thomas r. Brayton. James
Q. Robinson, Edward r. Tinker and
William II. Phillips of North Adams
and William c. Plunkett of Adams
After a fervent prayer by Rev. Or
Robert Crawford, George Willard.
then in his prime. in consideration of
his signal service and untiring activi.
ty in promoting this gigantic work.
was handed n bright and cleaning
shovel with which he turned a sod
and broke first ground for the tunnel
on the west side of the mountain.
His act was hailed with round after
round of applause. 1t was in 1852.
the following year. that a large party
assembled on the east side of the
mountain, when Alvah Croker there
first broke ground for the tunnel.
supported by Col A. Leavitt of Char.
lemont and Daniel Gore of Monroe,
enthusiastic early promoters of the
enterprise From this time forward
George Willard rendered the greatest
service in raising money to prosecute
the work and in obtaining the origi
nal 100000 loan from the state in
1854, and in bonding the towns be
tween Greenfield and the New York
state line in sum exceeding $685.
GOO. and also in obtaining other con
siderable concessions from the com
monwealth.
1t was on July 4. 1885, that the
first rail was laid on the Troy and
Greenfield railroad at North Adams.
. inst southeast of the State-strcet
bridge, over the Hoosac river, a great
crowd being present The section
between North Adams and Hoosac
Junction was the first to be complet-
cd To George Willard. on account
of his distinguished services to the
enterprise and his success in secur-
ing the first loan from the state OF
81 600. 600 was accorded the honor
of driving the first spike, followed
by l3 other prominent citizens of
Adams. This event was also greeted
by round after round of applause and
the firing OF cannon. Soon after
George Willard was presented with a
goldheaded ebony camel now in pos
session OF his great grandson, George
Willard Of independence. Mo, and in
an excellent state OF preservation.
Finely engraved upon this cane is
the following inscription; "To Hon.
George Willard, this cane is present
ed by the citizens OF North Adams.
Massachusetts. as a token OF respect
for the efficient services rendered by
him in procuring the passage OF the
Hcosac tunnel loan bill in the Legis-
| fafura of 1894 That the dfSffueuish