Edited sentence: In 1638, Mason and Hartford won the lawsuit over Pynchon and Springfield; however, the decision was to have long-lasting effects on the Connecticut River Valley.In 1638, Mason filed a lawsuit against Springfield, Massachusetts' founder, William Pynchon, charging Pynchon - and the settlers of Springfield - with dominating various trades with the Indians, to the detriment of Hartford and the Connecticut Colony.In 1640, Pynchon - still angered by Mason's lawsuit - decided to ally with the Boston-based Massachusetts Bay Colony based rather than with the more geographically and ideologically compatible Connecticut Colony.In 2000, leaders of both cities decided to ally as the Hartford-Springfield Knowledge Corridor Region.Mason's particular concerns included Springfield's attempted monopolization of the corn and beaver pelt trades.Springfield lies only 23.9 miles upstream of Hartford.Ultimately, both Hartford and Springfield became prosperous, major cities; however the close neighbors remained autonomous and in competition until 2000