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

SPR IIVG FIELD, 1636-JS86. 523
nishing extra clothing ; and, after the solemn farewells, this service
of the home groups made \e\-y touching pictures.
The destruction of the Harper's P'erry armory left the Springfield
arsenal the main resource of the government for a time. Superin-
tendent Dwight was turning out three thousand five hundred muskets
per month, some of the depai-tments running the full twenty-four
hours. The large arsenal, emptied of arms, was fitted up for a work-
shop. The new fence about the armory grounds was completed in
the autumn. The material was secured from condemned cannon.
Superintendent Dwight was superseded by Capt. A. B. Dyer,
U.S.A., in August, 18G1, in accordance with a vote of Congress for
military men as superintendents. Captain Dyer held his position
until 1864.
About one hundred and fift}' small dwelling-houses were put up in
Springfield in 1862. D. W. Barnes built the Main-street block bear-
ing his name. Day & Jobson added a block above the depot.
Wilkinson & Cumminos built near the corner of ]Main and Tavlor
streets. Private residences were erected by William Gunn, Gurden
Bill, Dr. Holland, T. M. Walters, Dr. Brooks, and many others.
The present court-house was built in 1874. The appearance of the
river has been much changed since the building of the iron railroad
bridge in 1873, the north end bridge in 1877, and the south end
bridge in 1878. With the opening of the latter the career of the
ferr^'-boat "Agawam " came to an end.
The Springfield banks suspended specie payment in January, 1862,
in accordance with a general movement. The}'^ were doing a good
business, however.
In the fall of 1862 Henry Alexander, Jr., was elected mayor over
Willis Phelps, democrat. A. T. Folsom did not get the republican
nomination for city clerk, but the democrats accepted him, and he
was elected. Mr. Folsom has proved by long and faithful service
one of Springfield's best clerks. He overhauled and filed the docu-
ments and loose papers of that olllce, and after months of dreary