The "Agawam"

The "Dexter", another Connecticut River steamboat

The frequently shallow waters of the Enfield Falls challenged boats traveling on the Connecticut River. Moderately-sized vessels could not reliably ascend the rapids and William Pynchon and early Springfield settlers found it easier to transport goods by trail or small flat-bottomed boat to a storage facility south of Enfield (known then and now as “Warehouse Point”) where they could be loaded on a larger ship. But, the Enfield Falls is also one of the reasons that George Washington chose Springfield as the location for the federal armory; since the Enfield Falls could not be navigated by ocean-going vessels, Springfield was safe from naval attack.

Windsor Locks Canal showing rapids to the left

The Windsor Locks Canal, which opened in 1829, enabled boats to move up and down the river in sufficient water, bypassing the Enfield rapids. Barring a frozen river or a hurricane, daily ferry service between Hartford and Springfield was possible. If the water was high, river traffic sometimes skipped the canal and rode over the falls instead. In 1837, Frink, Chapin & Co. of Springfield launched a new steamboat (the “Agawam”) to ferry persons over the Enfield Falls between Hartford and Springfield. The “Massachusetts”, which had come online around 1833, was too large for practical service through the Windsor Locks Canal and the smaller “Agawam” was designed for service when the water was too low for the “Massachusetts”. Erastus Reed, a mechanic who lived in Longmeadow, built the hull of the “Agawam”. The “Agawam” had a flat bottom and was very shallow – drawing a mere 13” of water – and it had a promenade which extended the full length of the boat. The center-fired boiler was similar to that which was used in a locomotive. There were two cabins on either side of the boiler – the aft cabin was for ladies and the forward cabin was for gentlemen. Both were neatly finished with panel-work. Unfortunately, we do not have an image of the “Agawam”; the image above is another Connecticut River steamboat, the “Dexter”.

The trial run of the “Agawam” down the river from Springfield occurred on July 20, 1837. Captain Peck steered the boat and “old Pilot Allen” navigated. It traveled 14 miles to Windsor Locks with 48 persons on board and it ran the falls at Enfield easily so that no polemen were needed to get it off of the rocks – a great achievement! The “Agawam” returned to Springfield before dark.

Charles Dickens

In 1842, Charles Dickens traveled throughout the United States, visiting the eastern seaboard, Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia. One of the most popular authors of the century, Mr. Dickens received the full celebrity treatment. He was feted and feasted wherever he went, and his every move was chronicled in newspapers throughout the country.

Springfield Republican February 5, 1842

On February 7, Mr. Dickens traveled from Springfield to Hartford on a Connecticut River steamer and he wrote about his journey in his book American Notes. Dickens does not identify the name of the ship but, according to W. DeLoss Love, Dickens traveled on the “Agawam”.

Springfield Republican February 5, 1842

Traveling by water in the winter was an adventure! This is what Charles Dickens wrote about his excursion down the Connecticut River: “Fortunately, however, the winter having been unusually mild, the Connecticut River was ‘open,’ or, in other words, not frozen. The captain of a small steamboat was going to make his first trip for the season that day (the second February trip, I believe, within the memory of man), and only waited for us to go on board. Accordingly, we went on board, with as little delay as might be. He was as good as his word, and started directly. It certainly was not called a small steamboat without reason. I omitted to ask the question, but I should think it must have been of about half a pony power. Mr. Paap, the celebrated Dwarf, might have lived and died happily in the cabin, which was fitted with common sash-windows like an ordinary dwelling-house. These windows had bright-red curtains, too, hung on slack strings across the lower panes; so that it looked like the parlour of a Lilliputian public-house, which had got afloat in a flood or some other water accident, and was drifting nobody knew where. But even in this chamber there was a rocking-chair. It would be impossible to get on anywhere, in America, without a rocking-chair. I am afraid to tell how many feet short this vessel was, or how many feet narrow: to apply the words length and width to such measurement would be a contradiction in terms. But I may state that we all kept the middle of the deck, lest the boat should unexpectedly tip over; and that the machinery, by some surprising process of condensation, worked between it and the keel: the whole forming a warm sandwich, about three feet thick. It rained all day as I once thought it never did rain anywhere, but in the Highlands of Scotland. The river was full of floating blocks of ice, which were constantly crunching and cracking under us; and the depth of water, in the course we took to avoid the larger masses, carried down the middle of the river by the current, did not exceed a few inches. Nevertheless, we moved onward, dexterously; and being well wrapped up, bade defiance to the weather, and enjoyed the journey. The Connecticut River is a fine stream; and the banks in summer-time are, I have no doubt, beautiful; at all events, I was told so by a young lady in the cabin; and she should be a judge of beauty, if the possession of a quality include the appreciation of it, for a more beautiful creature I never looked upon. After two hours and a half of this odd travelling (including a stoppage at a small town, where we were saluted by a gun considerably bigger than our own chimney), we reached Hartford.” While Charles Dickens enjoyed his journey down the Connecticut River, he was not complimentary about many parts of the United States. He was appalled by both the rampant materialism and greed that he found in the north and the institution of slavery that he found in the south. To learn more about Charles Dickens’s visit to America, you might want to listen to this podcast. The towpath of the Windsor Locks Canal connects Suffield and Windsor Locks. It is now the Windsor Locks State Park Canal Trail and you can hike the 4.5 mile path while enjoying scenic vistas of the Connecticut River. The canal, which is privately owned, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information about the park, read this article. Sources 1865 Massachusetts Census Springfield Republican: July 22, 1837; Feb. 5, 1842 Agawam Weekly Messenger, Aug. 3, 1937 W. DeLoss Love, The Navigation of the Connecticut River Charles Dickens, American Notes National Register of Historic Places Karen Carlson, image of The Dexter

Contributed by Elizabeth Hoff, Longmeadow Historical Society Board Member

Originally published October 22. 2020

Red Sandstone in Longmeadow

We live in a geologically very interesting area in western Massachusetts. The Connecticut River Valley is a rift valley, which means it was formed when two parts of the continental crust pulled apart. (see information below about our joint program with Storrs Library on Wednesday, October 28th). Longmeadow sandstone was formed from sediment carried from mountains to our east and washed into our valley at the time of the dinosaurs. The Connecticut Valley is a rich source of red sandstone, with distinctive colors and mineral makeup particular to different areas. Longmeadow was lucky to have some of the best quality stone. It's a relatively soft stone to work.

Many of you have seen the brownstone row houses in cities like Boston and New York. Did you know that much of the brownstone (red sandstone) came from Longmeadow? Locally, the stone was mostly used for foundations, lintels, steps, trim and gravestones. Two nearby exceptions are the East Longmeadow Town Hall, built in 1882, and the Clapp Memorial Library in Belchertown.

Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, VT built 1890 from Longmeadow stone

It is estimated that at one time there were as many as 55 active quarries in town! Many of them were small outcroppings for local use.

Portion of 1870 Map of Longmeadow

Many workers employed in the quarries were Swedish, Italian, Irish, and French immigrants. It could be a dangerous business, as a Springfield Republican newspaper notice attested in 1889 "John Driscoll, who was badly injured at the Longmeadow quarries a few days ago, is dead."

Taylor Quarry, site of the current East Longmeadow DPW (George Patrick and Ox cart) Photo courtesy of East Longmeadow Historical Commission

Gravestones were usually made from stone near at hand--it was not easy to move heavy stone any great distances before railways were established. We had several very skilled gravestone carvers, or, as they often referred to themselves, sculptors. Most of the red sandstone gravestones in this area came from East Longmeadow quarries.

Hermon Newell 1774-1833

Abigail Williams, 1766

Stone working tools, Author's collection

Stone working tools, Author's collection

Contributed by Betsy McKee, Board Member, Longmeadow Historical Society

Originally published October 22, 2020

Grace Trowbridge Smith's Scrapbook

This History Note shares a page or two from a scrapbook in our collection once belonging to Miss Grace Trowbridge Smith. It sheds light on the election process of 1920.

Grace Trowbridge Smith's Scrapbook

Several scrapbooks reside in the archives of the Storrs House Museum, home of the Longmeadow Historical Society. Many are collections of newspaper clippings that the keeper thought worthy of collecting during their lifetime. One of particular interest these days belonged to Miss Grace Trowbridge Smith (1880-1969) who lived all of her life in Longmeadow.

Of keen relevance right now is a clipping about the November 1920 presidential election where the Warren G. Harding/ Calvin Coolidge ticket won against the opposing James M. Cox/ Franklin D. Roosevelt ticket. This election was the first presidential election in which the women of Massachusetts could vote. Grace T. Smith’s scrapbook contains a clipping advising would-be voters to hit the polls early as the turnout was expected to be much larger than usual. The clip states: “So great is the number of ballots expected on account of the enfranchisement of women that there is fear that not all who may want to vote can do so on account of the jam. The way to avoid losing your vote is to VOTE EARLY."

Scrapbook Clipping: November 1, 1920

In 1920, Grace T. Smith would have been 40 years old. She was a 1902 graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, a schoolteacher, and unmarried. Her family was deeply involved in civic life in Longmeadow. Her brother Frank at various times had served as town clerk, town treasurer, and tax collector. Her mother, Lucy Griswold Smith, was the very first woman elected to serve on the town’s School Committee. It is easy to imagine that the experience of voting in this election would have been very meaningful to Grace.

Annual Town Reports show that 1916’s presidential election drew 392 total votes as compared to the 1920s which saw an enormous increase to 1020 total votes cast.

1916 Election Results: Longmeadow

1920 Election Results: Longmeadow

Contributed by Melissa M. Cybulski, Board Member, Longmeadow Historical Society

Originally published October 15, 2020