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History of North Adams.



years, total of 1,483 men: 110 killed in action, 138 died of wounds and disease:

Jones A. Champney, age 32, First Lieutenant, Aug. 27, ’62; Captain May 15, ’64, expiration of service June 21, ’65, as Brevet Major.

William H. Cousins, age 27, Lieutenant, May 22, ’64; discharged Nov. 26, ’64.

John C. Robinson, age 25, First Lieutenant, Aug. 27, ’62; Captain Dec. 24. ’63; discharged May 15, ’65, as Brevet Major.

Forty-ninth Regiment Infantry— Mustered in for nine months total of 966 men; 21 killed in service, 84 died of wounds or disease. This regiment was raised entirely in the county, there being only three of its members from other counties. Adams contributed 74 men to this regiment. The old Forty-ninth. upheld well the credit of Berkshire county and the old Bay State on many a sanguinary field, among which is mentioned, with commendable pride, that of May 27, 1863, when, with her 233 men who volunteered to end the forlorn hope and storm the outposts of Port Hudson, in less than three-quarters of an hour 80 fell, killed or wounded.

Sanford E. Gleason, age 23, Second Lieutenant, Company K., April 15, ’63; discharged at expiration of service.

Henry M. Lyons, age 23, Second Lieutenant, Company G., Sept. 21, ’62; discharged at expiration of service.

Francis W. Parker, age 27. Captain, Company G., Sept. 21, ’62; discharged at expiration of service.

Sixty-first Regiment Infantry — Mustered in for one year; total of 1,013 men; 5 killed in action, 17 died of wounds or disease:

Simeon N. Eldridge., age 26 Captain. Sept. 2, ’64; expiration of service June 4, ’65.

William W. Montgomery, age 21, private, Sept. 14, ’64; Second Lieutenant March 15, ’65; expiration of service June 4., ’65.


NORTH ADAMS FIRE DISTRICT.

The work in this department began in the spring of 1867, and was so far fininshed as to let the water into the street pipes in the fall of that year.

For some time previous to this date the matter had been under consideration, the fathers of the town urging it at town meetings and in private conversation with voters. They saw that the town must ultimately have works of the kind, and that the town was in as good shape to stand the expense then as it would ever be. A contract was made with the North Adams Water Company, which was formed merely for construction work, to build the Water Works, the town agreeing to pay the Water Company the entire cost of constructing the same.

The company employed Edwin Thayer to superintend the building of reservoirs and laying the pipes. Mr. Thayer furnished the first money to the concern, taking in return for same $500 in town bonds at par.

Shepard Thayer was made treasurer of the Water Company, and, finding the treasury empty, immediately went to work raising funds for the immediate necessities. That he found his office no bed of roses is assured from the fact that his account as treasurer, amounted to $140,000, including his loan and rolling account.

According to the books and vouchers of the Water Company, it paid $87,073.37 for construction up to the time the works were accepted by the Fire District, which occurred on the 1st of April, 1869, John F. Arnold, A. P. Butler and A. W. Preston being a committee to audit their books and report to the district.

The first financial report of the Fire District, made April 28, 1869, showed the following:


Total expenses to date
$96,399.24
Total available assets
2,398.78
Balance of indebtedness
$94,000.46

The water is taken from a spring brook flowing from the side of Greylock mountain, at a distance of two and one-half miles from the village, giving a fall of 650 feet from the dam in the Notch to Main street. This fall is divided into three parts -- from the dam to the upper reservoir, from the upper to the lower reservoir, and from there into and through the streets.

The lower reservoir, located on the hillside at an altitude of 230 feet above Main street, at a distance of one-half mile therefrom., gives a force of pressure on the pipes of 115 pounds to the square inch at the Berkshire House on Main street.

The upper reservoir, situated on a plateau of land some sixty rods above the lower reservoir, gives a fall of 240 feet into the lower reservoir.

The fall from the dam to the upper reservoir is 180 feet in a distance of 600.

0. Wells & Son brought a suit against the district for diverting the water of the Notch brook from their several mill sites. The district paid them $2,170.97, which, with the costs, amounted to $2,581.97.





Edited and adapted from the original by Laurel O’Donnell
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