Shelburne

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2006 Population.......................1,870
2006 Registered voters................1,250
1999 Per capita income..............$20,329
20065 Average tax bill................$2,738
1999 Median family income...........$51,364
1999 Budget......................$2,376,934

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Town Hall.......(413)625-0300, 625-0303 fax
Town Clerk...................Beverly Neeley
Treasurer.....................Virginia Peck
Police Chief.................Steve Walker
Fire Chiefs...................Rick Bardwell &
Angus Dun
School Supt..............Michael Buoniconti
Selectboard...........(chair)Joseph Judd
Robert Manners
John Payne

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

Glacial Potholes, formerly known as Salmon falls, off Deerfield Avenue, below New England Power Co., dam on the Shelburne side. The waterfall has three cataracts with more than 50 potholes attesting to the thousands of years of erosion since the last ice age 14,000 years ago.

High Ledges, offers scenic views. Trails are through Audubon-protected woods on Mt. Massamet. From Route 2, High Ledges can be reached by turning onto Little Mohawk Road and following High Ledges signs.

Shelburne Historical Society Museum, Maple and Church streets. Operated by the Shelburne Historical Society in the former two-story Arms Academy building. Collection dates from the 1700's to the present. There is also a library with a number of New England genealogical volumes. The museum is open on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. During the summer it is open additionally on the 2nd Sundays (July to September) from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.. For appointment, call 413-625-6150.

Shelburne Grange Fair, is annually held on the last Saturday in August at Fellowship Hall on Little Mohawk Road in Shelburne. The agricultural fair features crafts, food exhibits, flea market and chicken barbecue.

Bridge of Flowers 10K Classic, The footrace is held the second Saturday in August.

Shelburne Falls Riverfest, is annually held the first Saturday in June as a celebration along the Deerfield River. It features educational programs, music crafts, rafting and the annual "Frog Parade". For further information call 413-625-2526.

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The land which is now Shelburne was incorporated in old Hampshire County as early as 1662. In 1712 on petition of Rev. John Williams, the famous "redeemed captive of Deerfield," the territory of Shelburne was annexed to Deerfield and commonly known as "Deerfield Pasture" and "Deerfield Northwest Pasture," or more briefly "the Northwest."

First settlements were made between 1752 and 1756 by Jonathan Catllin and James Ryder of Deerfield, but because of French and Indian wars, these settlements near Salmon Falls (now Shelburne Falls) were abandoned.

Town records state Samuel Wilson probably settled in Deerfield Northwest as early as 1759, also John Taylor. Robert Wilson, too, came that year or perhaps the year following.

All titles to land in Shelburne were derived from the Proprietors of Deerfield.

In Deerfield's town meeting of March 1768, the Northwest inhabitants petitioned to be set off from the mother town of Deerfield into a separate district. The petition passed in the negative. A second petition at the meeting of May 9, 1768 requesting "that they will set the Hool of the Northwest division except part of kang that is Sett off to Greenfield" was passed in the affirmative and the above inhabitants were "set off." Bounds were fixed to include land "ye South side of Mr. John Taylor's lot" - a rectangular block easterly to the Seven-mile Line; so, today the original Taylor lot stands out conspicuously on the map of Shelburne. The General Courts granted a charter June 21, 1768. The first district meeting was held October 31, 1768, in the home of Daniel Nims.

Thus Shelburne became an independent district. It was seven years later in 1775 when Shelburne was made a town by a general act under which districts became towns.

More information is available at the Town of Shelburne web site.