This bird’s-eye view print of North Adams, Massachusetts was drawn and published by H. H. Rowley & Co. in 1881. Adams and North Adams were settled in the 1700's in the valleys surrounding the Hoosick River and its tributaries. Adams was named in honor of American statesman Samuel Adams and prospered as a farming community in its early years. Textile and paper mills began to appear in Adams in the early 1800's utilizing the river’s power.
The decades long building of the 4.75 mile-long Hoosac Tunnel near North Adams spurred much growth in the area. The train tunnel, known as the Great Bore, through the Hoosac Mountain Range was completed in 1875. North Adams split from Adams in 1878, leaving the separate towns to prosper independently. North Adams’ economy was centered on its textile mills and shoe manufactories in the 1880's.
The colorful illustration includes labeled roads, buildings, waterways and railroad routes. There are detailed illustrations of the following:
• Arnold Print Works.
• D. J. Barber’s Tannery.
• Wilson House. F. E. Swift, Proprietor.
• Drury Academy.
• The Hoosac Tunnel West End.
• Glen Woolen Mills.
Features references to the following locations:
Universalist Church.
Episcopal Church.
Congregational Church.
Baptist Church.
Methodist Church.
Roman Catholic Church.
French Roman Catholic Church.
Drury Academy.
Post Office & Blackington Block.
Union Depot.
Adams National Bank.
North Adams Savings Bank.
Berkshire National Bank.
Wilson House.
Richmond House.
Ballou House.
Freeman Manufacturing Co.
Arnold Print Works.
Eclipse Mills to Arnold Print Works.
Glen Woolen Co.
Beaver Mill, Gallup & Houghton.
Johnson Manufacturing Co.
Warp Mill (Satinet) A. H. Jones.
James Hunter & Son, Foundry & Machine Shop.
Phoenix Flouring Mill, M. D. & A. W. Hodge.
C. T. Sampson & Co’s Shoe Manufactory.
H. T. Cady’s Shoe Manufactory.
Whitman & Millard Shoe Manufactory.
A. Miller Blacksmithing & Carriage Manufactory.
D. J. Barber’s Leather Manufactory.
Geo. M. Mowbray’s Nitro Glycerin Works.
S. B. Dibble’s Planing Mill & Lumberyard. Office, 63 State St.
Richardson & Flagg, Coal & Wood Dealers. Office, 59 State St.
T. W. Richmond & Co., Coal Dealers. 31 State St.
A. W. Wright, Lumber Yard. Chestnut & Morris
Mrs. W, B. Walden, Job Printer & Proprietress of Holder’s Blotter.
J. M. Barber’s Carriage Manufactory.
A. McDougal, Blacksmithing & Carriage Manufactory.
Tower & Porter, Stove Warehouse.
Wheeler & Wilson, Sewing Machine Office.
Geo. C. Millard, Western Mass. Telephone Co.
F. A. Leonhard, Tea Store.
A. B. Darling, Paper Hanging. 103 Main St.
L. S. Legate, Paper Hanging & House Painting. 40 State St.
L. M. Barnes & Co., Jewelers. Wilson Block.
S. M. White, Watchmaker.
E. A. Clark, Watchmaker & Engraver. Main St.
E. D. Tyler, Insurance. Office, Bank Block.
C. F. Whitaker, Insurance. Office, Burlingame Block.
Geo. F. Miller, Insurance. Office, Burlingame Block.
A. J. Witherell, Real Estate Broker. Burlingame Block.
A. S. Alford, Insurance. Office, Wilson Block.
E. A. Stroud, General Stores. Union & Beaver Sts.
J. H. Flagg, Livery, Sale & Boarding Stable.
M. L. Manchester, Paper Hanging, Paints, etc. Blackington Block.