Colrain, Massachusetts

In 1735 the Massachusetts General Court granted the town of Boston three townships, each six miles square, as a form of tax relief. What is now the town of Colrain along the state's northwest border started as Boston Township No. 2. Many of the first Europeans to settle there were Scotch-Irish. Along with settlement came building, both for economic development and protection, as the land lay in the northwest frontier of Massachusetts during what were turbulent times. In 1742 the first grist mill was built on the North River. During King George's War in the 1740s Fort Morrison, Fort Lucas, and South Fort were erected to protect the frontier from attack. The town became incorporated in 1761 and is believed to have been named for Lord Coleraine, an Irish nobleman. Many early references to the town spell it Coleraine. After the American Revolution (1775-1783), Colrain's residents overwhelmingly supported Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787). During the first half of the 19th century Colrain experienced industry and population growth. By 1840 it boasted the largest population in Franklin County. Between 1800 and 1830 it supported a furniture factory, cotton mill, distillery, iron foundry, potash works, sash and blinds works, tanneries, and numerous saw and grist mills. With the abundant waterpower that the North River provided, additional mills were built. Raising sheep was also an important source of livelihood, as the town's hilly terrain made other forms of agriculture difficult. During the second half of the 1800s the town suffered economic hardships. The collapse of the Merino sheep market had severe consequences for many Colrain farmers. In 1869 a devastating flood destroyed numerous mills, bridges, and homes, disrupting the town's economy for nearly a decade. Today, Colrain is a small hill town with a population of under 2,000.