HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE HILLSIDE AGRICUL- 

 TURAL SOCIETY. 



WKITTEN BY WM. G. ATKINS. 



More than a quarter of a century ago, being isolated from the benefits 

 of the old agricultural societies, a feeling in favor of some local demon- 

 etration in the interests of agriculture -was held among the people of 

 Cummington and surrounding to-wns. As early as 1860 a cattle show 

 WHS held in the village street in Cummington, with a fair in the Baptist 

 church, followed by others there, also at Plainfield and "Worthington, 

 but no formal organization was made until May 5, 1869, when a few 

 public spirited citizens organized under the name ot the "Hillside Ag- 

 ricultural Society". J. W. Gurney claims to have suggested the name 

 "Hillside", which was accepted and has ever since been adopted. A 

 constitution was adopted, and a long list of members joined, the price 

 of membership being one dollar. Like many other new enterprises its 

 first efforts were weak and feeble, but rapidly gained in favor as a local 

 institution, and in a few years the annual exhibitipus were liberally pat- 

 ronized. While the people had the advantage of a free exhibition they 

 labored under the disadvantage of having no State bounty, and the pre- 

 miums awarded were only honorary. The annual expenses of the soci- 

 ety for printing, music, dinners, ground rent for the show of stock, &c. 

 were about $70, which was met by peddlers' rents and contributions. 

 Eleven directors constituted the executive force which manipulated 

 the reins of government. For the annual addresses these volunteer cat- 

 tle shows have been favored with Prof. Stockbridge, Richard Goodman, 

 D. W. Bond, H. S. Gere, L. F. Mellen, Dr. Josiah Trow, Hon. Amasa 

 Norcross, William Cullen Bryant. Dr. Geo. B. Loring, and others of 

 local reputation. 



In the winter of 1878-4 an unsuccessful attempt was made to secure 

 funds and obtain a charter, and after several adjourned meetings the 

 matter died out. Thus, for fourteen consecutive years the society sus- 

 tained annual fairs, the attendance of people on some occasions being 

 estimated at over 2000. 



At the fair in 1881 the address was given by H. S, Gere, in which he 

 showed the advantages of obtaining a charter and a permanent organiza- 

 tion. The matter was agitated in private circles during the fall, and at 

 the annual meeting held Jan. 14, 1882, a notice having been inserted in 

 the call for the meeting to that effect, it was voted to take measures to 

 incorporate the society. Several committees were chosen for the differ- 

 ent parts of the work, and in three weeks the soliciting committee repor- 

 ted nearly $1000 as pledged in subscriptions and memberships, and 



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