April 16, 1878, the old town of Adams was divided, the southern half retaining the old name and the northern half taking the name of North Adams. Up to this time the two villages had been as twin sisters, sharing their prosperity and adversity alike. But the south part was growing so rapidly that the fathers of the town and, In fact, nearly all the inhabitants of both villages were unanimous in the belief that the division was a very advisable thing. Since the division both towns have been prospered, even beyond the hopes of the most sanguine, and to-day are called the smartest towns in the western part of the state, and, in fact, stand very near if not at the head of the whole state as thrifty, energetic and prosperous settlements.

For the past few years the town has enjoyed the benefit of a brisk railroad competition from the roads centering here. This superiority of North Adams as a shipping point has effected a marked change in the method of disposing of the production of the mills. This change includes the storage of goods here under the low insurance of the Mill Owners’ Association, selling the goods to the trade direct, thus keeping accounts but once. This method contrasts most favorably with the old method, by which goods were sent to a commission house as soon as made, and insured against fire at high rates, with the possibility of total loss in case of great fires, as at Chicago and Boston; the old method, also, having the disadvantage that the commission house might sell at a sacrifice to get funds. The Arnold Print Works and the Freeman Manufacturing Company have sold their goods for some time direct to customers, and in some instances have shipped goods to St. Louis a dollar on a hundred pounds’ weight cheaper than they could be shipped to the same point from New York.

During the past twenty years the growth of North Adams has been rapid and permanent. In that period it has more than quadrupled in manufacturing and commercial importance. One illustration of its remarkable growth is afforded by the fact that where only one or two mongrel or mixed trains did all the business of the day a few years ago, there are now many full-fledged passenger, express and other trains to do the work.

In the summer of 1884 the town of North Adams received a great impetus in the way of building. Large brick business houses were built, as well as private tenements. On Main street was built the new North Adams Savings Bank building, with its handsome granite front; on Bank street was built the Reardon and Wright brick blocks, with pressed brick and marble fronts; on State street was erected the H. W. Clark block, for a wholesale grocery store, and on Ashland street the shoe factory of Whitman, Canedy & Co. During the year there were 170 new dwellings erected.

Following is the population of the town as per each census since 1790 to l880, inclusive, showing the loss and gain for each year:

In 1885 the population of the north village alone is 12,540 inhabitants.

For nearly half a century after the war of 1812 peace brooded over the green bills and fertile valleys of the town. Youths had grown to manhood and old age, and now, as gray-haired grandsires, they trotted the children on their knees and rehearsed to them the tales they loved best to hear — tales of the battles fought and won. Each morn the sun shone on a prosperous, happy, contented people. But, alas! as its rays wreathed with a glad smile the mountain summits on the morn of April 12, 1861, it awakened no answering smile in the hearts of the people. The first shot on Sumpter had frightened away the angel Peace, and grim war usurped her place. The first call for men found the town up and ready and doing. Side by side with her sister towns, she sent, the very flower of her young blood to endure the weary marches and