History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1655-1657.] COMMENCING THE SETTLEMENT. 21
Circuitous Course
of Connecticut
FroiiL the , boHndary line between Nortliamp-
toii and Eastliampton, at the northerly end
^'^^'of
Mt. Tom, to the Connecticut River at
the upper end of Hadley front street, the distance in a
straight line is four and one-half miles. To reach the
same points, by following the course of the river, as it ran
at that time, a little less than eleven miles must have been
traversed. Within these curves of the stream lie the rich alluvial
lands of Northampton and Hadley. The most abrupt
of them is at the southern line of the Northampton meadows.
It was formerly known as the " Ox Bow," but is now
generally called the "Old Bed." Through this bend the
river flowed for three and one-half miles, adding but ten or
twelve rods to its course towards the sea. It encircled
about 300 acres of land which was then a part of Hadley,
called Hockanum meadow. In 1840 the waters cut out a
new channel across the narrow neck of land on the Hadley
side, greatly straightening the course of the river. Afterwards
that portion of the meadow was set off to Northampton.
Names applied to The first settlers divided the meadows into
the Divisions of many scctions, giving to each an approthe
Meadows. .. tti-ji n n i • ^
priate name. iLither the conformation or
the land, the course of the river, some local tradition, or
an Indian name, seem to have determined these appellations.
As the names appear in the earliest deeds, they must
have been adopted when the land was apportioned.
The names of twelve separate divisions of the meadows
are to be found upon the oldest book of real estate records.
In the bend above "Shepherd's Island," along the river
bank is "Old Rainbow," and adjoining it on the west,
"Young Rainbow," named without doubt from the original
shape of the land caused by the curve in the river;
"Walnut Trees" division was laid out along the southern
half of "Young Rainbow;" " Venturer s Field " extended
from "Walnut Trees" to Pomeroy Terrace ; there is a tradition
that one or more families veiitux££l to spend the win- ^
ter of 1653, in a cave in the bluff at this point, hence the
name; above "Venturer's Field" up to the present bridge
across the river, extended the "Last Division ;" on the river