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

348 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1SS6.
Marcus Marble's drug-store was opposite the court-house. In
1792 he moved to the present site of H. & J. Brewer. Over Marble's
store was a young ladies' school in 1793. As early as 1790 James
Byers & Co. sold iron hollow-ware, potash kettles, and bought old
cast-iron.
These rambling notes have been made in utter disregard of any
order of time or situation. We have gossipped as a stranger would
have done who dropped in at the old Dwight store, and was led by
curiosity to learn of the Adllage, and its ways and walks.
We now return to passing events. The selectmen of 1779 were
Ensign Phineas Chapin, Capt. Thomas Stebbins, Capt. Daniel Burt,
William P^mchon, Jr., and Thomas Williston. In 1782, when the
Ely riots occurred, Hancock was governor, and John Bliss one of the
Hampshire senators. The Fourth of July of that year was celebrated
in Springfield by the flying of the Union flag at the "Continental
works" on the hill. Thirteen guns were fired at noon, and fireworks
in the evening. These early patriotic celebrations were accompanied
by banquets and speeches. We are told " the gentlemen of the town
assembled, and partook of a cold collation at the Continental works
on the hill, when a number of patriotic toasts were drank." In Oc-
tober 18 of that year thirteen " beautiful rockets " were sent up in
memory of the capture of Cornwallis. There was a dinner, and many
toasts were drunk. The celebration on December 13, 1783, over the
treaty of peace was the occasion for a repetition of these features.
Gov. John Hancock and Mrs Hancock, with Madam Jefferson,
passed through the town in 1787, which must have challenged more
of the circumstance of place and distinction. In December, 1782, a
number of American prisoners passed through Springfield from
Canada, where the}' had been held for several years. There were
general felicitations and recounting of experiences.
We find a change in 1796, when Stephen Pynchon delivered the
Fourth of July address, which was followed by a dinner. A place
upon the hustings for the American eagle to spread was thus well