North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA - Genealogy

North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA

Where is North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA? 

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Fatal Accident.   "EDWARD McCRAW, foreman of a gang in the Little Tunnel at North Adams, Mass., was crushed to death on Thursday night while shackling corn." The New Hampshire Patriot, Concord, NH 24 Nov 1875

1878   North Adams, founded in 1878, its parent town was Adams http://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Berkshire/index.shtml

Chinamen in a Riot - Scene in a North Adams Shoe Shop - Fighting with American Workmen.   NORTH ADAMS, Mass., July 3. - About 10 o'clock this morning, Elmer Hewett, a pegger in the Chinese work-room, at Sampson's shoe shop, was struck on the back with a shoe-last by a Chinaman. Retaliating, he struck the Chinaman in the face with his fist, knocking him to the floor, senseless, and afterward he was dragged off by his sympathetic countrymen. Immediately, about 40 Chinese operatives seized their shoe-hammers, knives, and lasts, and in a body rushed upon the obnoxious American. Henry Clark, a fellow-workman of Hewett, stepped forward to his assistance, but received a terrible blow on the head with a last thrown by a Chinaman. The blow dazed him for a moment, but recovering, Clark attacked the Chinamen, knocking them around like ten-pins. Meanwhile, the air was full of flying missiles, threatening everybody in a radius of 30 feet. Men who have worked in the shop for years say that never, in there experience, has such a riot occurred, and they have no desire to pass through another. The trouble lasted only about eight minutes, but during that time several Chinamen were rendered partially unconscious, and two or three whites were more or less injured. During the fight the overseers stepped forward to quiet the hostilities, but were unable to restore order, the Chinamen refusing to resume work, and in a body rushed to their quarters, armed themselves with revolvers and anything else handy, but were finally prevailed up on to cast aside their weapons and resume work. Now, to all appearances, everything is passing along in the usual order, but the feeling among the American workmen is bitter toward the Chinese, and further trouble is feared, but should it occur it will probably be in the streets at some time after working hours. The New York Times New York, New York July 4, 1879

DEATH ON THE RAIL. RAILROAD WORKMEN KILLED AND INJURED IN MASSACHUSETTS.   "North Adams, Mass., Oct. 21. - A terrible accident to a caboose containing working men belonging to the North Adams freight yard occurred this morning in which 27 men were injured, several of them fatally. About 6:30 o'clock this morning Engineer CHARLES WELLS and Fireman JOSEPH BOSLEY left the North Adams depot on the engine Deerfield, of the State Road, pushing a caboose loaded with 25 men, who were going to work at different places near Zoar and Charlemont. The parties in the car included the section gang, JOHN FLYNN, foreman; the gang of masons, JOHN C. MADDEN, foreman; the stone-crushers, PETER BARRY, foreman; the track-layers, THOMAS QUINN, foreman, and the carpenters, J. J. PEEKHAM, foreman. The engine and caboose, with its human freight, started for the tunnel, and had gone about half way when the caboose, which was in front, collided with a Troy and Boston engine, smashing the head-light of the engine of the Deerfield and driving the 15-foot flues straight through the furnace door. The caboose was raised from its trucks anc carried to the cow-catcher of the engine Deerfield. The front of the engine was torn into and steam and hot water flew into the caboose, and the men who were not hurt in the collision were burned badly, and few escaped without injury. None would have been seriously hurt but for the explosion of the Deerfield's boiler. Three doctors arrived on the scene and made an examination of the men injured, who are CHARLES WELLS, engineer of the Deerfield, hurt badly and burned, condition precarious; JOSEPH BOSLEY, fireman on the Deerfield, fatally scalded and bruised badly; C.H. VAN HOSEN, telegraph operator, scalded, swallowed hot water and steam, will die; DANIEL CONNELL, laborer, arms and legs scalded; CHARLES PATTERSON, JOHN FLYNN, foreman, and JOHN C. MADDEN, mason, all scalded and cut; JOHN MADDEN, scalded and bruised; THOMAS QUINN, side, back, and arms scalded; JAMES WALL, THOMAS DEMPSEY, and JOHN YOUNG, carpenters; AMASA CAMPBELL, JAMES CRAFTS, flagmen in the tunnel, all burned, some seriously; Conductor HEYWOOD, scalded about the head; JAMES ENWOOD, THOMAS FLAVIN, scalded; JOHN WELSH, legs broken and scalded; JAMES BOLGER, scalp wound and face cut and scalded; JAMES HALL, PATRICK MURRAY, THOMAS DRISCOLL, JOSEPH BARRELOW, M. KIELY, CORNELIUS SHAY, all injured, not seriously." "As JOHN HOGAN was crossing the railroad track, to see the scene of the accident, he was struck by the Pittsfield and North Adams train, and will not recover." "LATER. - It is now certain that eight of the men injured in the accident will not live. PETER BARRY, foreman of the gang of laborers, is suffering terrible agony from internal scalds, and his head is badly cut. He probably will die. C. B." "VAN HOUSEN, of Valatie, N.Y., a telegraph operator, is also internally scalded and cannot live. He sat in the engine, Operator HAYWOOD, sitting with him, escaped by jumping from the engine. CHARLES HOLLAHAN, THOMAS FLAVIUS, PATRICK MURRAY, and THOMAS DRISCOLL and under the influence of morphine. The skin on the front of FLAVIN'S body came off with his clothes. PATRICK MURRAY had his head cut severely and scalded so that he will not recover." "DRISCOLL and HOLLAHAN are young men. Both are severely hurt and will probably not recover. JOHN MALLOY, aged 45, had his shoulder broken and his head hurt, and his body was burned. His recovery is doubtful. JOSEPH BOSTLEY lost both of his eyes and cannot recover. The doctors have nearly completed the examination of the injured men, and find that 33 received injuries. All were scalded, and many suffered cuts, bruises and broken bones. JOSEPH BOSTLEY, fireman of the engine Deerfield, who had his eyes burned out and his face, arms, and body scalded, died tonight in terrible agony. He leaves a wife and three small children." "The explosion of the engine was caused by the drawbar of the caboose bursting in the plate of the flue sheet of the engine Deerfield. The steam blew open the door of the caboose and filled the car, in which there were 35 men crowded closely together. Many of them were unable to reach the doors, and in the stampede many bones were broken. The boiling water and steam burning off the men's clothes in a moment, they were fearfully scalded. All the injured were carried to houses. All day long the doctors' offices have been crowded with anxious friends beseeching them to attend their injured first. As nearly as can be learned the dead and injured are as follows:" "DIED: JOSEPH BOSTLEY, fireman. INJURED: CHARLES WELLS, engineer of the Deerfield, slightly burned, will recover; JOHN FLYNN, foreman of the gan of laborers, burned about the limbs and cut in several places, will probably recover; JOHN C. MADDEN, aged 22, burned on the back and sides, dangerous; JOHN MADDEN, severely scalded and thought to have internal injuries, may recover; PETER BARRY, aged 45, another foreman, badly cut about the face and head in the collision, and fearfully scalded, his face is not recognizable -- will probably die, he has a wife and 10 children; THOMAS QUINN; scalded about the face, arms, and neck, and has a scalp wound -- will live; J.J. PEEKHAM, master bridge builder, not seriously hurt, but badly scalded about the shoulders and face; C. L. VAN HOUSEN, aged 22, telegraph operator, of Valatie, N.Y., skin on whole body badly burned, and flesh on limbs burned off, will die; DANIEL CORNELL, scalp wound and face and neck burned, not dangerously injured; CHARLES S. PATTERSON, burned about limbs and breast, will probably recover; JOHN MALLOY badly burned about the head and abdomen; THOMAS DEMPSEY, not dangerously injured; JOHN YOUNG, scalded and otherwise injured, he was carried home and kept under the influence of opiates, condition doubtful; AMASA CAMPBELL, JAMES ENWOOD, JOHN WELSH, JAMES DOLGER, JAMES WALL, CORNELIUS SHEA, JACOB BASELLON, EDMUND BASELLON, THOMAS CONNOR, JOHN PITT, THEODORE PITT, WILLIAM McDONALD, HUGH CONNELL, and TIMOTHY COWLEY are all burned to about the same extent, none of them seriously. THOMAS FLAVIUS, PATRIC MURRAY, JAMES HOULIHAN, and THOMAS DRISCOLL, young men who were employed on the road as repairmen, are badly hurt and are huddled together in a small boarding house here. They have been attended by several physicians and some say FLAVIUS will die. He is badly burned and, it is feared, internally scalded. Other physicians say these four men will die. Telegraph Operator HEYWOOD, who sat in the engine cab, was thrown through the window, but escaped injury. Manager Locke states that the accident was caused by engine No. 20 becoming uncoupled from its cars and coming back into the yard by the eastern main track, which it should not have done. It was very foggy, and the engineers were unable to see each other's locomotives. The locomotive was pushing the caboose to the switch to get the cars behind the engine, and the collision, which was very light, hemmed the caboose in between the two engines. The drawbar of the caboose, as previously stated, jammed a hole through the front plate of the cylinder. The railroad's instructions are, that when an employee backs a car into the yard, he must go around by the west track and flag himself property. A Troy and Boston engineer has no right to bring his engine round by the east track. Hence, in this case it was done in direct violation of the rules. This act of Engineer WATTSON, of the Troy and Boston Railroad, is primarily the cause of the accident. It is not known that an engine was ever taken round that way before." New York Times New York 1882-10-22

North Adams Massachusetts, 1890  A Gazetteer of the State of Massachusetts, with Numerous Illustrations written by Rev. Elias Nason, M.A.; revised and enlarged by George J. Varney. Boston: B.B. Russell. 1890, 724 pages   North Adams is a flourishing manufacturing town on the Hoosac River, in the northern part of Berkshire County. The junction of the Housatonic Railroad, running south through the county, with the Fitchburg Railroad at North Adams is 143 miles (by the latter road) northwest of Boston. The other stations on this road are Greylock and Blackinton. The post-office is North Adams; and the villages are the places already mentioned and Beaver, Braytonville, Houghtonville and Kempville. The town is bounded on the north by Clarksburg, east by Florida, south by Adams, and west by Williamstown. The assessed area is 9,670 acres. There are 3,866 acres of forest, consisting in part of maple, beech, birch and cherry. The scenery of the town is wild and picturesque. At the southwest is Saddle Mountain, with Greylock farther south. At the southeast corner is Spruce Hill; 5,288 feet high. This forms the southern point of Hoosac Mountain, which is pierced from east to west by the Hoosac Tunnel, on the Fitchburg Railroad. The western end of the tunnel is a little southeast of the geographical centre of the town. A full account of this work is given under the head of "Florida," in which town the eastern end is situated. The principal streams are the Hoosac and its northern and southern branches, which unite at the chief village — North Adams, thence flowing in a general northwest course to Blackinton village, at the northwest angle of the town, thence through Williamstown, and across the southwestern angle of Vermont, to the Hudson in New York. On Hudson Brook, which enters the North Branch of the Hoosac, just below the northern line, there is a very curious natural bridge of limestone. The water, for a space of some 30 feet, has cut a channel in the white marble about 15 feet wide, through walls from 30 to 60 feet high, which at one place form an arch of solid rock over the stream. In Notch Brook, from which North Adams village is supplied with an abundance of pure water, there is a very beautiful cascade, where, in a deeply wooded glen, the water plunges down a precipice about 30 feet. The basal rock of .the town is Lauzon schist, Potsdam and Levis limestone. Both limestone and marble are quarried. The valleys are quite free from wood, and have a rich loamy soil, while the highlands are sandy or gravelly. There are many fruit trees. The aggregate product of the 96 farms in 1885 amounted to $121,467. There were six boot and shoe factories, employing some 650 persons, and making goods to the value of $1,178,492; four cotton mills with dyeworks, employing 870 persons; one woollen mill employing 233; and printworks employing 652 persons. The aggregate value of the textiles made was $4,531,885. Other manufactures were zylonite goods (employing 59 persons), leather, carriages, wrought stone, metallic goods, boxes, bricks, furniture, brooms, clothing, soap, tobacco and liquors. The aggregate value of goods made was $6,469,479. The capital stock of the two national banks was $700,000; and the two savings banks at the close of last year held deposits to the amount of $1,859,772. The valuation in 1888 was $5,610,833, with a tax-rate of $17 on $1,000. The taxed dwelling-houses were 1,763 in number. The population in 1880 was 10,191; in 1885, 12,540. At the latter date there were 2,543 legal voters, The town has graded schools. There is a high school, bearing the name of Drury Academy, conducted on a finely developed system. The value of the school buildings and appurtenances in 1885 was $126,300. The public library contained 5,777 volumes. The local papers are the "Berkshire Leader," the "Hoosac Valley News," the "Adams Transcript" and the " Sunday Express," all weeklies. The churches are one each of the Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Universalists, and two of the Roman Catholics. This place long bore the name of East Hoosac. Many of the first comers were from Connecticut, but most of these sold their holdings to a more numerous influx from Rhode Island, who were largely Friends. The nucleus of the settlement was a saw mill and a grist mill at North Adams. The Rev. Samuel Todd, settled in 1780, was the first minister. The Friends organized a society in 1781; meeting at first in a log-house, but erecting a better building a few years later. Fort Massachusetts, one of a cordon of defences for protection against the French and Indians, was constructed by Col. Williams about 1744. It stood on the north side of Saddle Mountain. On August 26, 1746, it was gallantly defended by Col. Hanks against an attack of 900 French and Indians; but, after destroying 45 of the assailants, he was obliged by lack of ammunition to surrender. The fort was again bravely defended by Col. Williams, on August 2, 1748, against 300 French and Indians. The town was set off from Adams and incorporated under its present name on April 16, 1878. Chinese laborers to the number of 40 or 50 were employed with profit in one of the shoe factories here about 1810; but nearly all have departed from the town. One or two have become citizens.

MILK DEALER KILLED. Charles Davis Thrown From His Wagon and His Skull Fractured.   "North Adams, Mass., Aug. 30 - Charles Davis, aged 41, a milk dealer, was thrown from his wagon, when his horse ran away today, and died three hours later from a fractured skull. He leaves a widow and three children." Boston Journal, Boston, MA 31 Aug 1898

VACATION AT AN END. The President and Party Leave Adams, Mass., for the Nation's Capitol.   NORTH ADAMS, Mass., June 26. - The President [McKinley] was met at 2:30 o'clock on Church street, by Sanford Post G. A. R. and a band, and was taken to a reviewing stand in Monument square, and from which he saw a pretty parade of 2000 school children and citizens of the city. After the parade had passed by, Mayor H. Torrey Cady made an address of welcome to the President. At the close of the mayor's remarks, there was great cheering. The President stepped forward and expressed his feelings for the most generous welcome that the people of North Adams have extended to the President of the United States. After he had finished speaking the President's carriage was in waiting for his drive about the city. A number of streets were driven through and then he returned to Adams. Lewiston Evening Journal Lewiston, Maine Jun 24, 1899

PANIC IN THEATER AUDIENCE - EXPLOSION AT NORTH ADAMS.   Many Rush for the Doors at Empire Theater When Picture Machine Takes Fire--One Woman Trampled on and Others Hysterical--Fire Quickly Put Out. "The moving picture machine in the balcony of the Empire theater at North Adams exploded shortly after 9 o'clock last night, while an audience of some 400 was witnessing the moving picture entertainment then in progress. There was considerable confusion, several women screaming and others making hasty rushes for the exits. Charles Daas, a fireman, who happened to be in the theater, attempted to quiet the audience, but was only partly successful. He then left and had an alarm sounded from box 6, at the corner of Main and Holden streets. By the time the fire apparatus reached the building the greater part of the audience was leaving by the main entrance in an orderly manner, although several women were more or less hysterical. George Roberts, electrician of the Empire theater, who was in charge of the machine, had extinguished the fire with hand chemicals by the time the first fireman reached the balcony. The damage was entirely confined to the picture machine apparatus." "During the first rush in the theater, a Mrs. Frazier of Briggsville was knocked down and trampled upon, receiving quite severe injuries to her chest. A little girl who was with her became separated from her, but a man picked the child up and brought her out. Mrs. Frazier, with four other women who had fainted, were carried into the Wilson House drug store, where they were revived, Dr. N. M. Crofts being called to attend Mrs. Frazier." Springfield Republican, Springfield, MA 23 Jun 1907

Ancestors Who Were Born in North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA

Alderman
Mabel Alderman (20 Sep 1905,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-10 Oct 1993,Williamstown, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)
Briggs
Walter A Briggs (abt. 1869,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-aft. 1910,)
Depelteau
Dorothy Gertrude Depelteau (27 Nov 1908,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-Jul 1992,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)
Feige
George Crosley Feige (27 Jul 1882,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-9 Feb 1964,Nashua, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, USA)	Margaret Elizabeth Feige (12 Apr 1906,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-31 Oct 1995,Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA)
Gutterson
Alburn Morton Gutterson (05 Jan 1901,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-02 Jul 1971,Great Neck, Nassau, New York, USA)
Kelly
Margaret E Kelly (Feb 1876,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-30 Jun 1965,)
Little
Rose Maude Little (1880,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-8 Feb 1935,Millis, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA)
Slade
Charles Henry Slade (25 Apr 1872,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-28 Nov 1962,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)	Charles Stafford Slade (15 Nov 1906,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-29 Aug 1988,Clarksburg, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)	Clayton Jerome Slade (29 Jul 1900,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-15 Dec 1990,Falmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA)
James William Slade (5 Jul 1904,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-9 Oct 1972,Albany, Albany, New York, USA)	James William Slade (1933,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-30 Jan 2002,The Villages, Florida)
Stein
Gertrude Stein (14 Nov 1903,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-12 Jun 1986,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)
Tatro
Elizabeth Alice Tatro (abt. 1930,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-5 Nov 2007,Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA)
Theinert
Minna Ernestine "Minnie Alice" Theinert (6 Oct 1861,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-28 Mar 1903,Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA)

Ancestors Who Died in North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA

Bagard

Grace Frances Bagard (1 May 1853,Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-23 Dec 1906,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)

Barnes

John M Barnes (2 Nov 1860,Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-24 Sept 1905,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)

Chavarry

Mary Ellen Chavarry (14 Apr 1937,Gardiner, Kennebec, Maine, USA-4 Jan 2004,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)

Depelteau

Dorothy Gertrude Depelteau (27 Nov 1908,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-Jul 1992,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)

Feige

Carl "Charles" Feige (22 Mar 1849,Marklissa, Silesia (Schlesien), Prussia (Preußen), Germany-12 Jan 1888,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)

Horn

Paige Campbell Horn (1 Nov 1911,Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-Oct 1993,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)

Slade

Charles Henry Slade (25 Apr 1872,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-28 Nov 1962,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)

Stein

Gertrude Stein (14 Nov 1903,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA-12 Jun 1986,North Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA)

Cemeteries

Southview Cemetery

Reference Sources

 

 Magazines/Periodicals

 JURY LIST, CITY OF NORTH ADAMS - 1901 - Berkshire Genealogist, Volume 28, Number 4 - Fall 2007


 

 Newspapers

 The North Adams Evening Transcript, North Adams, MA

 The North Adams Daily Transcript, North Adams, MA


 

 City Directories

 Adams and North Adams, Massachusetts Directories, 1887, 1889-90, 1890-93

 North Adams, Massachusetts City Directory, 1904

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My Grandparents, William & Christine Sharron lived in North Adams on Eagle street. We lived in California but visited N. Adams 2 or 3 times in my youth in the olate 50's Very good memories of that area. 3/5/2011 7:24:50 PM

Posted on 08-21-2011 Tinney-Whiteley-Grundy-Card and Abbot Families My relatives from the 1800's to 1930's from N. Adams. My great grandfather (from my dads mom) is Hiram W. Tinney (worked at Arnold Print as night watchman) married Nellie Grundy (children are Harry W.(married Vera May Vallencourt), Nelson(never married), Ruth(married Joseph D. Whiteley),and Edith (married John R. Eastwood ex-serviceman and owner of confectionary store on main st.). (from my dads dad) is James Whiteley he married Ellen Ives, (children were Joseph D. Whiteley(married Ruth Tinney above) and brother James E.)I have marriage and obits newspaper clippings from 1918-195?. They were all buried in Southview Cemetary. If you would like to share info, Please email me at hogans2011@hotmail.com Hope to hear from someone whether they are looking or telling. Thank You Cindy hogans2011@hotmail.com 8/21/2011 10:30:25 AM

My great grandfather, Jerome Miller, was born in N Adams in 1832. I am trying to find his parents or any other information about him. I am guessing that his father may have been Samuel Miller. Any information appreciated. Thank you. mamalorella@yahoo.com 5/13/2012 7:02:15 PM

Our great grandfather came to North Adams at age 17 from Ottawa Canada in 1872 Alfred Lefebvre He fathered five daughters and three sons. Our father born,raised,lived and died in North Adams. WWII Veteran, (Alfred E.(Pat)Lefebvre) 14 March 1920 - 11 March 1971 He was a Steamfitter at Spraque Electric He married Winifred T. Franceski Lefebvre She resided in North Adams 25 September 1946 until death 9 June 2009. Most of his family are buried in Southview with one sister in Blackington All where members of Notre Dame Church,North Adams They had three sons. Donald Alfred Lefebvre David Eugene Lefebvre Dennis Joseph Lefebvre frenchylefebvre@yahoo.com 11/16/2012 6:54:31 AM

I am looking for any information on my great grandmother Lillian F Labombard who lived on State Street and married Joseph J Connell who lived on State Street in 1900. I found the marriage information but Lillian's parents are listed as Amos and Matilda Signor. Lillian was born in Redford, New York and her parents and the family moved to North Adams I don't know when. Any information is greatly appreciated! dicoletta1@comcast.net 2/28/2013 1:04:18 PM

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