Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886. Ill
to run a street parallel to the main street through the house-lots
(Water street) in order to bring the planters together ; but the
scheme was abandoned. Garrison soldiers were quartered in the
town at times for some years, and the skulking Indians in the forests
made every journey out to the commons for wood or over the river or
to the land above the Three-Corner brook, a little military campaign.
Disorderly appearance of the main street may be inferred from this
order of the selectmen as late as the winter of 1679 : —
That no persons henceforth without liberty fro y*^ Towne doe dig or cumber
y^ highway or streete fro y*^^ upper wharfe to y*^ bridge of Obadiah Cooleys w"^
firewood, clay, timber onto it before his building or fencing and that such as
have filled the streete or Lanes «"> clay, wood. Timber & remove not the same
by the middle of June next shall be Lyable to forfeit the same, as also that no
Persons dig holes or pits in the streets without leave upon the penalty of 5s.
About a dozen men received allotments of land in 1677, and in a
short time, it will be here remarked, the custom of taking money for
these apportionments sprang up.
The house of correction and jail, to supply the place of the one
burned in 1675, was located on Main street (corner of Bliss), and
was built under the direction of Major Pynchon.
The town voted in 1677 that " Goodm: Lamb, Sergeant Morgan,
Joseph Crowfoot, John Clarke senior, Charles Ferry with such others
as they shall take in with them" be given a license to fish " from y^
falls in Chicuppi River where the wadeiug place is, down to y^
mouth of that River, provided they enter not upon any man's Lands
or proprietyes." The scale of prices fixed for them was as follows :
Fresh salmon at the river, 6fZ., in village, 8d. ; fresh shad, half penny
at river, \d. in village ; salt fish, " to the Town twelve pence p""
Barrel for al that shal be transported."
The year 1677 did not pass without an attempt to come to an
understanding with the Indians, but after some negotiations at North-
ampton the hope of cordial relations was abandoned.