Rick Wilcox and Chris Marsden
Hose Company #2 did dissolve in the early 1920’s. Chris Marsden suggested the timing would have been close to the organizing of the American Legion Post just after WWI. “Also, the first motorized apparatus was placed in Elm Street station in 1914 ( a Buick chemical truck purchased from Sissons Central Auto, West Street, Pittsfield). With motorization I assume the need for two fire stations so close was not necessary. town reports from the early 1900’s list Hose 1 and 2 under the title “the Plain Fire Dept.” and Glendale and Interlaken separately. One story I had heard about Hose 2 was they frequently beat hose 1 to calls because of their forward- thinking policy of allowing young boys and housewives to assist with pulling the hose carriage when help was needed.”
“Given the state of firefighting equipment available in 1902 it is amazing that the fire department was able to save the shell of the1839 Town House when a kerosene lamp exploded on June 30, 1902. Highly trained in the use of the available firefighting equipment and under the leadership of Frederick S. Aymar, the first Chief Engineer of the Stockbridge Fire Department, the firemen saved the building. The insurance company settlement suggests the whole interior of the building was consumed by fire. Insurance paid out for the fire damage was $108.00 for the loss of building contents and $968.88 for damage to the structure based on a policy with a stated building value of $3,000. For those people hardy enough to crawl in the attic in that part of the current Town Hall one can still see charred beams and roof trusses from the 1902 fire. Town records were saved not by firemen but by town voters, who in 1884 approved the construction of a new fireproof brick town office building at what is now 34 Main Street. The September 17, 1902 Special Town Meeting, Article Two included a requirement that the 1839 Town House be incorporated into the new Town Hall.”
At the annual town meeting, April 3, 1848 it was “voted that 1839 Stockbridge Town House no meeting shall be held in the Town House which shall make it necessary to take seats out of doors.” Less than ten years after the Town House was built it was already too small for a growing community. During a Special Town Meeting held November 5, 1867 it was “Voted that the Selectmen be not allowed to rent the Town Hall for any other purpose than for religious or town purposes.” The April 3, 1874 Annual Town Meeting “Voted that the Selectmen reset, if necessary, all the old boundaries of the Town Square and see that the present boundaries are in the right place.”
Chris Marsden writes: “The “Pilling Brothers” were the carpenters. The brothers were George (my great-great grandfather), John (great grandfather to Barney and Izzie Pilling) and James. They were the sons of Benjamin Pilling and Hannah Rathbun, owner of the Red Lion Inn. The shop stood behind the Franz house, 7 Arts building etc. a portion of the concrete foundation is still there. I have only seen one photograph of the shop with a bunch of Pilling’s including my great grandfather as a small boy. The Pilling Bros. also constructed (from what I understand) the Williams Academy building, the Elm St. Firehouse, Hose Co. #2 house (Legion Hall) and the Glendale Firehouse. We have a large sled that is stenciled “Pilling Bros.” on the bottom and was used for hauling tools around town in the wintertime. George at least was in the Stockbridge Band, and was a founding member of Hose Co. No. 1.”
Chris: A couple years ago in the basement of Town Hall I found 1908 INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS from the Commonwealth. On the backside of it written in pencil, is
“this building built in (year crossed out) – 1903”
“J. L. Pilling”
“G. W. Pilling”
“Mch 24 – 1910”
The minutes of the November 16, 1898 Special Town Meeting state “voted that a committee be appointed by the chair to confer with the Committee of the Congregational Society in regard to an extension of the privilege of building to the south of the present Town Hall. Those minutes indicate the town had already decided to build a new Town Hall. However, the fire may have hastened the process. The September 17, 1902 Special Town Meeting, Article Two included a requirement that the 1839 Town House be incorporated into the new Town Hall. Given the fire damage to that building it suggests that the voters wanted it saved for historical reasons and not for its building value or to save money in the new building construction. For those people hardy enough to crawl in the attic in that part of the current Town Hall one can see charred beams and roof trusses from the 1902 fire.
At a meeting of the Congregational Society of Stockbridge, legally warned and held May 8, 1902, under Article one, George W. Cox was chosen Moderator and Paul S. Palmer was chosen Clerk Pro Tem. Under Article Two it was voted not to accept the offer of the Town for a perpetual lease of the land in the rear and to the west of the Town Hall for the sum of $2,000. It was voted under this Article to lease the land in the rear of the Town Hall, in addition to the lot now occupied by the Town for the purpose of a Town Hall, under the same conditions and restrictions under which the former lease was made, extending the West line as by the old lease, through to the rear lot. The price to be $2,000.00. It was voted that the Chair appoint a Committee of three to convey by lease the land above mentioned in the name of the Society and in accordance with the vote just passed. The Chair appointed Sidney P. Lincoln, Henry S. Dean and John B. Hull and the appointment was confirmed by the Society.
The lease recorded at the Middle District Registry of Deeds, 09-23-1902 said in part: Know all men by these presents that the Congregational Society of Stockbridge in consideration of the sum of Two Thousand dollars paid by the Town of Stockbridge, in its corporate capacity receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged does hereby demise and lease to the said Town the plot of land, where on the Town Hall now stands, being the Easterly portion of the Church green, with full right to enter upon the same and to pass and repass thereon to and from said Town Hall and bounded and described as follows: (The deed included a survey done by civil engineer, surveyor and selectman Charles A. Bidwell of Stockbridge gives metes and bounds that contain 621/1000 of an acre.) The Town shall have the right to remodel, enlarge or rebuild their Town Hall but on a line no further North than the Hall now stands, and the further right to make such use of said plot as is necessary for their Town Hall but not otherwise – In case this property shall cease to be used for a Town Hall it shall revert to said Society. In Witness whereof we the subscribers, a committee duly appointed and authorized hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty-fourth day of May A.D. 1902 Witness S.P. Lincoln, Henry S. Dean, John B. Hull
During a Special Town Meeting September 17, 1902 – Article 2: Your committee would report that the Congregational Society accepted the offer of $2,000 for a perpetual lease of the land now occupied by the Town together with the plot of land in the rear as authorized at the Special Town Meeting of said lease has been made, signed and accepted and is now in the hands of the Selectmen. Acting upon their convictions after the expression of opinion of those who examined the different plans, they have decided that the general features of the building proposed by Mr. H. E. Weeks of Pittsfield would best meet the needs of the Town and would recommend that he be employed to prepare the plans for a new Town Hall building. The proposed building to be of sufficient size to seat about 500 people on the ground floor or main auditorium. The present building to be utilized moving it to the rear facing to the east and preserving the present front.
The essential feature of the new building will be a stage, convenient for Town Meetings, school and election purposes. An auditorium large enough to comfortably seat the voters of the Town, and a room located over the vestibule and foyer that can be used as a gallery or separated from the main hall by movable partitions so to form a small hall that may be used independently for such occasions as may not require a large hall. From estimates received the committee feel assured that such a building can be built and equipped for $14,000. The necessary votes have been prepared and will be presented if it be the pleasure of the Town to provide funds for said building. Voted that the report be accepted and the committee continue.
Special Town Meeting – August 10, 1904 – Article 10: Your committee would report that the building has been completed in accordance with the plans that they selected, and which were approved by the Town. The delay in the completion of the building has been a matter of deep concern and regret to your committee, but we feel that the inconvenience and expense it has occasioned is fully repaid by the great excellence of the work done as well as the care and attention which Mr. Pilling has given to every detail of the construction.
It is hardly necessary to say anything in regard to the building, but your committee feel that they can rightly claim for Stockbridge the most convenient and attractive public hall in this part of the country. To make the hall complete in its equipment it is desirable that Window Shades be provided, plumbing installed, and Scenery purchased. It is also necessary to provide a fireproof curtain to conform to the State Laws. Committee: James H. Punderson, Frederick S. Aymar, William A. Nettleton. Voted that this report be accepted.
