The New Student's Reference Work/Springfield, Mass.

Springfield, Mass., a city on Connecticut River, 25 miles north of Hartford. It is a well-built city, parts of it elevated, with a fine park. It is noted for its excellent public school system and fine churches, including a cathedral. The United States armory, employing 3,000 men during the Civil War and from 500 to 700 ordinarily, and the arsenal, in which 500,000 stand of arms can be stored, are located here. The manufactures of the city are numerous and important, including the Smith and Wesson arms-factory, the great car-factory at Brightwood, a suburb, the Knox Automobile Company and others, making gold chains, goldleaf, filters, envelopes, hardware, spectacles, thimbles, needles, buttons etc. Springfield was settled in 1635 by emigrants from Roxbury and called Agawam, from the Indian name of a neighboring river. The city was burnt in 1675 during King Philip's war. It is served by six railroads, including branches, and splendid civic spirit prevails. Population 88,926.