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2007 Population.......................1,792
2007 Registered voters................1,236
1999 Per capita income..............$20,033
2007 Average tax bill................$2,761
1999 Median family income...........$45,833
2007 Budget......................$3,236,005
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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
School Supt..............Michael Buoniconti
Selectboard..............(chair)Stefan Racz
Kevin Fox
Robert Dean
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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 Sundays and holidays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 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
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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. |
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