Feb. 15, 1851, William Dickinson was elected captain of the company, in place of I. F. Conkey, discharged at his own request; William Dickinson served as captain until May, 1851, when he was discharged that he might accept an appointment as quartermaster on the staff of Col. Hawks. of the 3d regiment of artillery; Marquis F. Dickinson was elected captain of the company, May 21. April 24, 1852, the company, on invitation of the Northampton artillery company, assisted the latter in escorting Louis Kossuth, "the illustrious Hungarian chief," from the depot in Northampton to the house of Erastus Hopkins, and thence to the old church, where he delivered an address. Owing to a freshet which covered the Hadley meadows for 100 yards east of the bridge, the members of the Amherst company were compelled to cross the Connecticut river in boats. The company organization was continued until some time in 1854, but the last entry in the record-book concerning meetings is given under date of Aug. 21, 1852. The regimental encampment in 1852 was held at "Camp Mattoon," on land of Thomas Jones near the place now occupied by Dr. C. A. Goessmann. The encampment in 1854 was held at "Camp Amherst" near Mount Doma, Sept. 5, 6, and 7. Of those who served as the first officers of the company, James W. Boyden was afterwards promoted to be colonel, and I. F. Conkey lieutenant-colonel of the 3d regiment. A meeting was held Aug. 7, 1869, at the hall occupied by E. M. Stanton Grand Army post, in the interest of raising a militia company in Amherst; 40 persons present signified their desire to join such an organization. The company was duly organized, was known as Company C, and was attached to the 2d regiment of the 3d brigade. The following officers, duly elected, received commissions dated Aug. 14, 1869: Edmund Boltwood, captain; James A. Baker, 1st lieutenant; Wyett M. Bassett, 2d lieutenant. The non-commissioned officers were as follows: 1st sergeant, Lorenzo Draper; 2d sergeant, W. S. Cook; 3d sergeant, B. R. Franklin; 4th sergeant, George H. Bell; 5th sergeant, W. F. Johnson ; corporals, George H. Walker, George W. Hunt, F. Kentfield, H. Snow, Charles Clapp, J. D. Parsons, Charles Dadmun, E. B. Sears. The Record announced under date of Aug. 19, 1869, that the selectmen had secured the "Velocipede Rink" as temporary quarters for the militia company, but that Agricultural hall was being fitted up as an armory and would be ready for use in a few weeks. Dec. 13, 1871, James A. Baker was commissioned captain of the company, Lorenzo Draper 1st lieutenant, Charles L. Goodale 2d lieutenant. Feb. 7, 1873, Lorenzo Draper was commissioned captain and Frank E. Dickinson 1st lieutenant. The company was disbanded about Sept. 1, 1874. In June, 1887, a petition headed by the name of H. E. Messinger, and signed by prominent citizens of Amherst, including the selectmen. was forwarded to the governor, requesting the appointment of a company in Amherst to be attached to the state militia. The petition was granted in November, the adjutant-general's order specifying that it should be known as Co. K, and be attached to the 2d regiment, 1st brigade of state militia. The company was organized Nov. 19, with 49 members, H. E. Messinger was elected captain, E. G. Thayer 1st lieutenant, and W. G. Towne 2d lieutenant. Capt. Messinger soon resigned his office, being succeeded by Willis G. Towne, whose commission as captain bears date April 10, 1888. On the resignation of Captain Towne, E. G. Thayer was elected captain, his commission bearing date May 22, 1889. In accordance with state law, towns in which military companies are established are obliged to furnish suitable armories for their accommodation, the rental of which is paid by the state. Co. K's first armory was established in Kellogg's block, and was removed in 1888 to Hunt's block. At the annual town-meeting in 1890, the town voted to instruct the selectmen to build a drill-hall on the rear of the town hall lot, appropriating $2,000 to defray the expense. The hall was built during the ensuing summer and fall, and was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies, Dec. 16. In 1894, the policy of the state to concentrate its militia forces in the cities and larger towns caused the company to be disbanded. CHAPTER XLIV. TAVERNS AND STAGE ROUTES.-BOLTWOOD'S TAVERN. THE MANSION EAST AND SOUTH AMHERST.-EARLY STAGE ROUTEs.—Stage The taverns or inns of old New England have furnished to the romance-writer abundant material for fancy to work upon; to the historian they furnish facts more valuable, if, perchance, less interesting. The centers of social life and activity at home, they were, as well, the gateways to the outer world. They welcomed to their cosy bar-rooms, their bountiful tables and their spacious chambers travelers from all parts of their own and foreign lands. Patterned after their prototypes in England, they became as democratic as the people among whom they flourished. The clergy did not disdain their hospitality; the politicians gathered within their walls for caucuses and conventions; society assembled at them for balls and receptions. The complete history of the taverns and hotels of Amherst, could it be written, would contain matter of greater interest than anything which finds a place in these pages, but it remains, and ever must, unwritten history. But a few plain facts are here presented. Some of the Amherst taverns were but small houses, of little more than local repute; others were known to most of the inhabitants in towns up and down the valley, and to all who traveled over the old stage routes from Boston to Albany. To the latter class belonged the Boltwood tavern at the center village, Baggs tavern at East Amherst and the Cook tavern on the old Bay road. The Clapp tavern, of earlier date, has already been mentioned in connection with the Shays rebellion. Mention has also been made of Warner's and Nash's tavern, and others of the well-known hostelries that flourished in the ante-revolutionary period. The Warner tavern stood on or near the site now occupied by the Amherst house. It was erected about the year 1757, since which time a tavern or hotel has ever been located there. The property was owned by Rev. David Parsons, being a part of the land given him by the Third Precinct for his settlement. When he died, in 1781, he willed to his son Gideon "the tavern-house." Gideon Parsons was a licensed innkeeper in 1777, ། and for many years thereafter. He was succeeded by Joel Dickinson, who conducted the tavern a few years; he was, in turn, succeeded, in 1804, by Solomon Boltwood, and the latter, in 1806, by Elijah Boltwood. For more than thirty years the Boltwood tavern ranked among the best-known inns in Western Massachusetts. Its genial landlord, its excellent attendance, its well-stocked bar, commended it strongly to the traveling public. Many a wayfarer whose route lay through Amherst timed his arrival so that he might enjoy for the night the hospitality of this country inn. old registers bore the names of many men of national and some of international fame, while in front of the bar-room fire at night sat doctors of divinity, learned lawyers, members of the General Court and of Congress. And yet, in hospitality it was thoroughly democratic; within its walls the professional man and statesman met on equal terms the man who labored with his hands for a scant subsistence. There is no picture in existence of the original tavern; it is doubtful if one was ever made. In the days of Gideon Parsons, it was a small, one-story, wooden building with gambrel roof, painted white in accordance with the fashion of the times. When Elijah Boltwood first took possession it was a two-story structure, but whether a new building, or the old one remodeled, it is impossible to state with certainty. The ground on which it stood was some twelve to fifteen feet higher than the present street line and the building stood some distance back from the highway. The tavern was painted yellow, and from a stout post in front was suspended the old sign of which an excellent likeness is presented on the opposite page. The bar-room was at the front, as became the most important room in an old-time tavern. On the second floor was a ball-room, arched overhead and extending to the roof. Here were held the old-time assemblies and dances, with dinners served on state occasions. About 1821, when Amherst College was established, the wooden building was torn down and a large, substantial three-story building of brick erected in its stead. In the rear was a kitchen, built of wood, one story in height. He was a having no Elijah Boltwood, son of Samuel, was born Feb. 19, 1780. kind-hearted man and universal favorite. A married man, but children, he was known to nearly everyone as "Uncle Elijah." He dearly loved a joke, possessing also the rare quality of appreciation when the joke was at his expense. Generous almost to a fault, he sought abundance, ease and comfort rather than profit. As one, still living, who knew him, has happily expressed it, he in some way bridged the gap between the different classes. Honored and esteemed by his fellow townsmen, he served them as representative to the General Court in 1829, 1834 and 1835. He devoted much of his spare time to gardening and floriculture; much of the shrubbery in the old West cemetery was planted by him. When, in 1838, he sold the Boltwood tavern to Harvey Rockwood, he retired to his farm at the foot of the hill on Amity street, afterwards owned by the late Charles S. Smith, where he occupied himself in the culture of fruits and early vegetables until his death, which occurred Feb. 13, 1855. When Harvey Rockwood bought the tavern he enlarged it by erecting a two-story addition in the rear, along the street line, and by lengthening the kitchen and building a hall over it. The ground surrounding the building was cut away and the cellar made over into a basement which was occupied by the billiard-room, bar-room and saloons. He also changed the name to the Amherst house. Mr. Rockwood sold out in 1845 to Albin P. Howe, and subsequently kept the United States hotel in Hartford, Conn. He was a quiet, gentlemanly man, highly esteemed by all who knew him. Albin P. Howe was born in Marlboro in 1806; previous to engaging in the hotel business he had owned a market in Amherst. He conducted the Amherst house successfully for many years, selling out, in 1867, to Francis Kingman, at that time proprietor of the Mansion house at Northampton. Mr. Kingman retained possession about five years, when he sold the property to I. F. Conkey and E. F. Cook, who owned it in partnership until about 1878, when it passed into Mr. Conkey's possession. Mr. Kingman was succeeded as landlord by George L. Parker, who remained in charge about five years, being succeeded by N. S. Beebe, who |