MINING TOWN ANTIQUE HANDWRITTEN LEDGER Manuscript Account Book/Chester MA 1885

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MINING TOWN ANTIQUE HANDWRITTEN LEDGER Manuscript Account Book/Chester MA 1885:
$42.12

FANTASTIC, ORIGINAL 19TH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT ACCOUNT BOOK FROM CHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS. This important early volume was kept by a thriving general store in the historic mining town of Chester, Massachusetts, and dates from 1885. We believe store was owned by E. W. Ely. We located several names here residing in both Chester and the neighboring community of Middlefield during this period (see Gravestone Inscriptions for Chester, Massachusetts, 1761-1981, A History of the Town of Middlefield, Massachusetts, etc.).Impressive handwritten ledger contains about 475 pages of manuscript entries comprising hundreds of names, making for a treasure trove of local genealogy. Book is, in effect, a 19th century manuscript directory for the Chester area as numerous individuals, businesses, and organizations appear throughout. Also accounts here from nearby towns such as Blandford, Becket, Otis, etc. Among major accounts found here include the town of Chester itself, with whom the store did a considerable amount of business. Also accounts with local businesses such the Chester Granite Works, Valley Echo newspaper, representatives of the Boston and Albany Railroad, and the Hampden Emery Company which owned and operated mines in the town. Notably, Chester was the first place in America where emery was discovered and mined, giving birth to the entire grinding industry.The convenience of the Boston & Albany Railroad, which passed directly through Chester stopping in the town, helped the emery mining industry to flourish here. The railroad was also instrumental in serving the area\'s emery and granite mining industries. Vast number of entries over a relatively brief period of time suggest store was a principal source of goods for the community, with transactions here for apples, bananas, baskets, beans, boards, boots, bread, butter, buttons, candy, chalk, coffee, combs, corn, crackers, eggs, flannel, glasses, goblets, lamps, lamp chimneys, lanterns, molasses, nails, needles, oatmeal, oil, onions, oranges, paper, raisins, ribbon, rope, salt, soap, shoes, silk, snuff, sugar, tea, thread, Tobacco, umbrellas, wash cloths, wicks, etc.Chester is located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, situated in the western part of the state. The rural hill town includes the Chester Factory Village Historic District, and according to recent census figures Chester is home to a year-round population of about 1,337 residents. The area opened for settlement in the 1750s as Township No. 9, chartered as Murrayfield on October 31st, 1765. The town was incorporated as Chester on February 21st, 1783. The Western Railroad (later Boston & Albany Railroad) opened to Chester on May 24th, 1841. As a result, taverns, inns and stables were established. Local people provided feed for the horses and were able to send their wool and dairy products along the route for sale. Three country stores were established in the 1840‘s, in Chester Village. There was also wagon repair shop, blacksmith shop, stove, tin boot and a taylor shop in the village. Chester Village became a business hub for the surrounding towns as well. With the coming of the railroad, goods could easily be shipped in and out.Chester Factory Village became the center of activity in the town of Chester as more factories developed and the Boston & Albany Railroad went through. Chester Factories got its name from a glass factory. Dr. Henry Lucas came to Chester factories in 1844. In 1852 he received his first patent for decomposing serpentine rock and making from it, a green dye called Hampden Green. He help to found, and was the chief chemist at the Serpentine Paint & Fire Brick Co. This green dye was used to print money and was the ink for the first “greenbacks” printed. Later, Lucas discovered a large amount of what he thought was iron ore. A blast furnace and forge was set up to process the ore into iron. However, the ore was heat resistant and clogged the furnace. On closer examination, Boston geologist, Charles T. Jackson determined that the ore was actually emery which could be used as an abrasive. Chester was the first known place in the United States that had this grade of emery, typically found in Asia. The Chester Iron Company became the Chester Emery Company and began filling orders immediately.The granite industry in Chester began in 1879. Granite blocks cut from the quarry in Becket, were brought to Chester for cutting and polishing. Initially, the granite was carried on flat-bed wagons drawn be horses. Eventually, a small railroad from Becket to Chester was built in order to transport the Granite. Established in 1907, the Chester Granite & Polishing Works produced high grade granite. Some of this stone was used in New York City’s St. Patrick\'s Cathedral and buildings in Washington D.C. Mica was another mineral with an important industrial history in Chester. It was mined in what is now the Chester-Blandford State Forest and carried by cart to a mill on old Route 20. The mica was processed into heat resistant glass to be used in the windows of wood stoves, in addition to other items.Condition: Rare book remains in good overall condition (see pictures). Ledger bound in original three-quarter leather with gold bordering, raised spine bands and \"Journal J\" spine titling; moderate cover wear with spine separating from block, mild toning, a few pages excised and a few loose near the back, etc., generally clean internally. Folio contains about 475 pp. of manuscript entries plus alphabetical tabbed index of names in front; and measures approx 13.5\" tall x 8.5\" wide x 2\" thick. Quite a find and a very worthy acquisition indeed.Payment and Shipping: Please see our response and offer with confidence. Never a reserve and very low opening offer as always. For international shipping quote, please contact us. buyers with no established response must contact us before offerding. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax or include dealer tax resale number. Payment must be received within 5 days after close of sale. Thanks for your interest!
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