Belchertown, Massachusetts
A beautiful town in Hampshire county, originally called "Cold Spring," 75 miles W. from Boston, 11 E. from Northampton, and 27 E. from Pittsfield. Population, 1837, 2,598. First settled, 1732. Incorporated, 1761. The soil of the town is of an excellent quality, and well improved. Large quantities of wool is grown in this town. It is separated from Ware by Swift river on the N. The principal manufacture is that of pleasure wagons, of which about 600 are annually made. Mr. A. Shumway, of this place, has driven the stage between Belchertown and Northampton 25 successive years. In that period he made 15,000 trips, traveled 218,400 miles, and carried at least 124,000 passengers; yet, although his hours of traveling were early in the morning and late in the evening, he never broke a limb, overturned his coach, or met with any serious accident whatever, during his whole career.
