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| The Greylock Coach, showing the typical conveyance
to the summit from North Adams or Williamstown, around 1908.
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In the early 1800s Americans were eager to explore the natural
wonders of their young country. The proximity of Mount Greylock
to both Boston and New York made the mountain a popular destination.
Completion of the Pittsfield and Albany Railroad in 1844,
and the Hoosac
Tunnel in 1876 which created a direct link to
Boston, brought great numbers of visitors to the northern
Berkshire region. Literary figures Herman
Melville, Nathaniel
Hawthorne and Henry
David Thoreau were among the many who espoused
the power and beauty of the majestic mountain. Greylock summit
also began to attract those with scientific interests. The
high elevation and unique climate made the summit an excellent
source for meteorological information, and in 1830-31 students
from nearby Williams College constructed the first observatory
tower on the summit.
Though farming began to decline after the mid-1800s, industry
was expanding rapidly. The forested mountain slopes were a
source for timber and charcoal to
power the growing local industries of iron smelting, glassmaking
and textiles. Denuded slopes were often subject to landslides
and forest fires, resulting in public outcry at the desecration
of the mountain, prompting its first major protection effort.
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| Postcard view of the summit house and iron tower,
around 1915.
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Determined to save Mt. Greylock, a group of concerned Berkshire
County citizens formed the Greylock Park Association in 1885
and purchased 400 acres around the summit. With 42 shareholders
and an 11-member Board of Directors, the Association was one
of the first private land conservation organizations in Massachusetts.
Focused on protecting the summit from further encroachment
and promoting recreation, the Association built a new road
from the notch in North Adams to the summit. In 1889 a new
iron tower replaced the second wooden scientific observation
tower built in 1841 by Williams College. A road toll and admission
fee to the tower financed the Association's efforts, but the
costs of maintaining the facility eventually surpassed their
means. Without adequate funding, the Association turned to
the Commonwealth for assistance.
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