View of Chester, Hampden County, M.A., 1885 / drawn & published by L. R. Burleigh.
This bird’s-eye view print of Chester, Massachusetts was drawn by Lucien R. Burleigh and published by Beck & Pauli, Lith. in 1885. Chester was settled in the 1750's along a branch of the Westfield River as Murrayfield. The mostly agricultural community was incorporated as Chester in 1783.
In the 1840's, the Western Railroad maintained facilities at Chester, as it was located at the base of the railways climb up the Berkshire Hills.
Emery industrial abrasive began to be mined along the Westfield and its tributary waters in the 1860's. In the 1880's, granite began to be quarried aggressively at Chester. The black mica speckled stone gave off a bluish hue, and was determined to be of fine quality. It was predominately used in the monument industry of the era. Other industries of 1880's Chester included leather and furniture making, carriage building, a grist mill and a grinding wheel manufacturer. A quartz mill along Walker Brook, operated by the James Keefe family produced quartz that was used in the making of porcelain.
Chester’s population was 1,318 in 1885.
The map shows waterways, buildings, labeled streets and railroad route. Featured are inset illustrations of Hampden Upper Mill and Hampden Lower Mill.
Features references to the following locations:
Congregational Church.
Methodist Church.
Town Hall.
Public Schools.
White’s Hotel. W. R. White.
Chester House. W. H. Day.
Hampden Emery Co.
Grant Corundum Wheel Co.
Chester Granite Works.
James Keefe’s Quartz Mill.
Chester Tannery.
Chester Grist Mill.
McGeoch & Co. Bedstead Factory.
Smith’s Carriage and Sleigh Manufactory.
T. Keefe’s Bedstead Factory.
B. & A. Roundhouse.
B. & A. R. R. Station.
Post Office.
