home

Buckland

demo

 2009 Population.......................1,865
2009 Registered voters................1,266
1999 Per capita income..............$20,033
2009 Average tax bill................$2,975
1999 Median family income...........$45,833
2007 Budget......................$3,236,005

cont

Town Hall......(413) 625-6330, 625-6775 fax
Town Clerk..............Janice D. Purington
Town Administrator........Andrea Llamas
Treasurer.....................Linda Marcott
Police Chief....................James Hicks
Fire Chief-Buckland Fire District..Russell Scott
Fire Chief-Shelburne Falls District.Richard Bardwell
School Supt..............Michael Buoniconti
Selectboard..............(chair)Stefan Racz
Kevin Fox
Robert Dean

 

attr

Bridge of Flowers, between Buckland and Shelburne in the downtown area. The former trolley bridge, connecting the two sections of the downtown area, was converted into a pathway of flowers in 1929.

Buckland Historical Society Museum, former schoolhouse on Upper Street in Buckland Center. Displays include early kitchen furniture, tools and photographs of local school groups. First and third Sundays of July and August, first Sunday in September, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Also by appointment. Call 413-625-6619 or 413-625-9763 for further information.

Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum, at 14 Depot Street. Open Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from Memorial Day to the end of October, 11am to 5pm, and Mondays 1pm to 5pm in July and August. For more information call 413-625-9443.

Wilder House, on Route 112, old saltbox house, filled with memorabilia. Barn on premises, housing weaving studio and displaying old farm implements. Also a cobbler's shop. Operated by Buckland Historical Society, same hours as museum or by appointment. Call 413-625-6619 or 413-625-9763 for further information.

Joseph Griswold House, in Upper Buckland, where Mount Holyoke College founder Mary Lyon taught school. By appointment only. Call 413-625-2031.

Chadwick Memorial Field, off Bridge Street, lighted field for softball and lighted courts for horseshoes. Site of leagues and tournaments in both sports from spring until fall.

Buckland Recreation Area, 21 acres off Route 112. Basketball, softball, cross-country skiing, fishing, pool swimming, picnicking and nature observing. Season or day passes available. Reservations for large parties. 413-625-6330

Lamson & Goodnow Factory Outlet, established in 1937, Lamosn is the oldest cutlery manufacturer in the United States. Outlet and factory are located on Conway Street. 413-625-0201

 

hist

Buckland, like the rest of western Massachusetts, was originally incorporated as Hampshire County in 1662, while it was still inhabited by Indians.

Buckland was originally part of the towns of Charlemont and Ashfield. Its settlers had no established name for their town, and thus called it "No Town". Settlers arrived as early as 1742. Among the first settlers were the Taylor, Ward, Brooks, Carter, and Griswold families. Lt. William Putnam, Gardner Wilder, Lt. James Butler, Josiah Johnson, Col. John Ames, Enos Pomeroy and Daniel Trowbridge.

Othniel Taylor bought a large tract of land in the southeast section in 1742. With the help of Asaph White, he built and operated three sawmills on Clesson's River, the first of which was completed in 1769. Lumber from the original mill was used to build what may be the first house in Buckland, constructed in 1770, which was occupied by Taylor's son, Samuel, and Samuel's wife Esther (White). The house was located on a farm given to Samuel Taylor by his father in what is now Buckland center.

In 1779, residents of what is now Buckland found it inconvenient and sometimes hazardous to cross the Deerfield River to attend church, school and town functions in Charlemont, and therefore petitioned the General Court for incorporation as a separate township. The petition read in part, "Inhabitants of No Town being a Non incorporated State are in Consequence thereof Destitute of Gospel Ministry and Schooling and the means of providing and making Roads and all Other Town Privileges and Labour under the Inconvenance of being Taxed to Sundry Towns, and those of Charlemont being at the Extreme part of the Town some of which are about Six miles from Charlemont Meeting House, and all Separated from the main body of Deerfield River which is very Difficult to pass the greater part of the year and are therefore Destitute of Preaching and Schooling and other Town Advantages..."

The town of Buckland was incorporated April 14, 1779.