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

446 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1SS6.
In the- autumn of 1833 a new school building for the Centre Dis-
trict was completed. It was situated " neartlie foot of State street."
The old building was bouglit by Philip Wilcox and fitted up for a tin
factory. The Misses M. aud N. Holland were teaching a young-
ladies' seminary at tliis time, and Mrs. A. P. Curtis was principal of
the Springfield Female Academy. The school-house belonging to the
armory Avas burned in January, 1840.
The fire department was in a flourishing condition. In October,
1837, there was a grand muster with five engines, one hundred aud
sixty-two men, aud one thousand three hundred and seventy feet of
hose, not counting the Independent Fire Club. The engines were
tested on Liberty square, when they proceeded to Court square. By
the use of two engines hose was run to the balustrade at the foot of
the spire of Dr. Osgood's church and a stream of water thrown ten
feet above the old rooster. The annual festival of the Springfield
Fire Department toolv place Jan. 2, 1838, one hundred and seventy-
five sitting dowu at the Hampden Coffee-house table ; George
Colton presided, and Col. I. Goodman, E. Hitchcock, F. M. Carew,
and Samuel Bowles acted as vice-presidents.
In 1835 the Springfield Light Infantry organized as follows
Edward Rowland, Jr., captain ; William W. Orne, lieutenant ; George
Dwight, ensign; Nathaniel Lombard, orderly sergeant; R. T. Saf-
ord, S. B. Hodgett, and Dwight Smith, sergeants. The follow-
ing year Lieut. George Dwight was elected captain, Capt. E. Row-
land having been appointed division inspector. R. T. Safford was
elected first lieutenant and Edward D. Chapin ensign. A brigade
muster followed in this town a few weeks later, eleven companies
being present, under command of General West. The column
was reviewed on Walnut street by Major-General Moseley, and by
Governor Everett in the afternoon. The artillery and the light
infantry had auother gala day in September, 1837. They were out
one thousand strong. Artillery was represented by companies from
West Spriugfield, Monson, Westfield, and Belchertown, Colonel
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