Hyde School is a historic Romanesque Revival school at 130 High Street in Lee, Massachusetts . The school was built in 1894 from locally quarried marble. It is named for Alexander Hyde, who established the town's first school in his house on West Park Street, and was built on the site of the town's first public school.
92-686: The town of Lee, Massachusetts was incorporated in 1777, and quickly became known as a center of the papermaking industry. Marble quarried in the area achieved a reputation for strength and quality in the 19th century, seeing use in a number of high-profile buildings, including the United States Capitol and the Massachusetts State House . The town's first secondary school was established by Alexander Hyde, son of its first minister, in his house on West Park Street. Townspeople not long thereafter banded together to form
184-438: A boat ramp close by, which serves as the only public access point. In recent years, Goose Pond has been the site of several notable incidents. In July 2021, a woman drove her car into the pond after taking a wrong turn while following her GPS. The woman escaped unharmed, and the car was later towed from the water. In another incident, a fugitive from Maine was found hiding in the hikers' shelter near Goose Pond after fleeing from
276-665: A car accident on Route 90. The man was apprehended without incident after a multi-agency search. Laurel Lake is a 170-acre body of water that straddles the border between Lee and Lenox. The lake is a popular destination for boating, fishing, and swimming. It is stocked annually with trout by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Laurel Lake has been facing challenges with invasive species, particularly Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels. Efforts to manage and control these invasive species have been ongoing. The Laurel Lake Association, in partnership with
368-485: A letter dated October 31, 1786, to Henry Lee , "You talk, my good sir, of employing influence to appease the present tumults in Massachusetts. I know not where that influence is to be found, or, if attainable, that it would be a proper remedy for the disorders. Influence is not government. Let us have a government by which our lives, liberties, and properties will be secured, or let us know the worst at once." At
460-405: A merchant speculator and Massachusetts delegate from Essex County, thought that a federal response to the rebellion would have been even worse than that of the state. He was one of the few convention delegates who refused to sign the new constitution, although his reasons for doing so did not stem from the rebellion. When the constitution had been drafted, Massachusetts was viewed by Federalists as
552-464: A new legal distinction that rebellion in a republic should be punished by death . The legislature also moved to make some concessions on matters that upset farmers, saying that certain old taxes could now be paid in goods instead of hard currency. These measures were followed by one prohibiting speech critical of the government and offering pardons to protestors willing to take an oath of allegiance. These legislative actions were unsuccessful in quelling
644-486: A popular tourist destination, noted both for its New England charm and its bed and breakfast establishments. It is known as the "Gateway to The Berkshires " because it provides one of only two exits on the Massachusetts Turnpike that serve the county, and the only one going eastbound. Arlo Guthrie 's court appearance before the blind judge and his seeing-eye dog for dumping garbage as described in
736-823: A post office. The town's library is a member of the regional library networks. On the state level, Lee is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by the Fourth Berkshire district, which covers southern Berkshire County, as well as the westernmost towns in Hampden County. In the Massachusetts Senate , the town is represented by the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin district, which includes all of Berkshire County and western Hampshire and Franklin counties. The town
828-483: A privately funded militia army. Former Continental Army General Benjamin Lincoln solicited funds and raised more than £6,000 from more than 125 merchants by the end of January. The 3,000 militiamen who were recruited into this army were almost entirely from the eastern counties of Massachusetts, and they marched to Worcester on January 19. While the government forces assembled, Shays and Day and other rebel leaders in
920-547: A reference to the Regulator movement of North Carolina, which sought to reform corrupt practices in the late 1760s. Governor Bowdoin issued a proclamation on September 2 denouncing such mob action, but he took no military measures beyond planning a militia response to future actions. The court was then shut down in Worcester, Massachusetts by similar action on September 5, but the county militia refused to turn out, as it
1012-469: A response to several high-profile fires in the town, at a cost of $ 30,000. It served as the town's high school until 1916, when Rice High School was built. It then served as an elementary school until 2003, when it was taken out of academic service. The building was enlarged by an addition in 1936 that added a library and gymnasium, and again in 1977 when the Rice School was demolished. The building
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#17327909767651104-548: A role in the discussion of the number of chief executives the United States would have going forward. While mindful of tyranny, delegates of the Constitutional Convention thought that the single executive would be more effective in responding to national disturbances. Federalists cited the rebellion as an example of the confederation government's weaknesses, while opponents such as Elbridge Gerry ,
1196-408: A state that might not ratify it, because of widespread anti-Federalist sentiment in the rural parts of the state. Massachusetts Federalists, including Henry Knox, were active in courting swing votes in the debates leading up to the state's ratifying convention in 1788. When the vote was taken on February 6, 1788, representatives of rural communities involved in the rebellion voted against ratification by
1288-403: A two-story addition was added to the southeast corner of the building. This addition, built with a steel frame, housed classrooms on both levels, and a gymnasium/auditorium complex. This construction was faced with Lee marble and trimmed with Indiana limestone in a style sympathetic to that of the main building. A corridor connecting the two sections was added in 1976, when fire code necessitated
1380-639: A valley along the Housatonic River . It is west of October Mountain State Forest , with two sections of the forest in Lee. In the southwestern corner of town lies a portion of Beartown State Forest , where Burgoyne Pass crosses the northern end of the mountain. Hop Brook, a marshy brook which flows from Tyringham, flows into the Housatonic in the south; other bodies of water include Laurel Lake to
1472-400: A wide margin, but the day was carried by a coalition of merchants, urban elites, and market town leaders. The state ratified the constitution by a vote of 187 to 168. Historians are divided on the impact the rebellion had on the ratification debates. Robert Feer notes that major Federalist pamphleteers rarely mentioned it and that some anti-Federalists used the fact that Massachusetts survived
1564-764: A wing of the Capitol in Washington , 250 sculptures adorning Philadelphia City Hall , as well as the General Grant National Memorial , and St. Patrick's Cathedral (both in New York City). The town's 19th-century prosperity is still evident in its architecture, including its town hall, library, several churches and private homes. South Lee includes a historic district listed on the National Register . Lee has become
1656-413: Is a 263-acre enlarged Great Pond. It is a glacially formed body of water that is long and narrow, stretching over two miles in length but only a quarter-mile at its widest point. The pond is known for its clear, clean water and is home to various species of fish. The pond's ability to carry trout from year to year has led to its designation as special brown trout water. The pond is divided into two parts:
1748-457: Is a former mill town . In the autumn of 1786 during Shays' Rebellion , about 250 followers of Daniel Shays encountered state troops commanded by General John Paterson near East Lee. The Shaysites paraded a fake cannon crafted from a yarn beam, and the troops fled. Early industries included agriculture, lumbering, and lime making. Abundant streams and rivers provided water power for mills that produced textiles and wire. Papermaking became
1840-528: Is also a popular option. Lee experiences a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. As of the census of 2000, there were 5,985 people, 2,442 households, and 1,606 families residing in the town. By population, Lee ranks seventh out of the 32 cities and towns in Berkshire County, and 227th out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. The population density was 226.7 inhabitants per square mile (87.5/km ), which ranks sixth in
1932-632: Is home to the First Station of Barracks "B" of the Massachusetts State Police . On the national level, Lee is part of Massachusetts's 1st congressional district , represented by Richard Neal of Springfield, Massachusetts . Massachusetts is represented in the United States Senate by senior Senator Elizabeth Warren and junior Senator Ed Markey . Lee operates its own school department, which also serves
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#17327909767652024-549: Is now known as Crossway Village, and includes a senior housing complex and senior center. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The school sits on an irregular parcel of land on a rise above Main Street in Lee. The original 1895 building is sited at the end of Academy Street, and the 20th-century additions, located to its south and east, do not intrude on the view. The three-story building
2116-717: Is now known as the Whiskey Rebellion . The events and people of the uprising are commemorated in the towns where they lived and those where events took place. Sheffield erected a memorial (pictured above) marking the site of the "last battle" on the Sheffield- Egremont Road in Sheffield , across the road from the Appalachian Trail trailhead. Pelham memorialized Daniel Shays by naming the portion of US Route 202 that runs through Pelham
2208-512: Is part of the Berkshires resort area . Lee occupies land that was originally territory of Mahican Indians . The first non-native settlement in the area was known as Dodgetown as early as 1760. Dodgetown was named after its founding settler, Asahel Dodge, who immigrated to the area from Cape Cod . Lee was incorporated in 1777 from parts of Great Barrington and Washington . It is named after Revolutionary War General Charles Lee . Lee
2300-1013: Is still the area's primary rail link to New York City 's metropolitan area, Boston, and Albany . As of 2013 negotiations are underway to restore rail commuter service between the Berkshires and New York City along this route. The town is covered by the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) bus line, which runs between Pittsfield and Great Barrington. Regional bus services make regular daily stops, and maintain year-round schedules through Lee. Peter Pan and Bonanza Bus Lines each make scheduled stops at Town Hall. Regional air service can be reached at Pittsfield Municipal Airport . The nearest national and international air services can be reached at Albany International Airport in Albany, New York, about 55 miles (89 km) away. Bradley International Airport , near Hartford, Connecticut , approximately 70 miles (110 km) from Lee,
2392-563: Is the South County Center of Berkshire Community College in Great Barrington, and the nearest state university is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts . The nearest private college is Bard College at Simon's Rock . Goose Pond and Laurel Lake are two significant bodies of water located in Lee, Massachusetts. Both are popular recreational areas, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. Goose Pond
2484-569: Is time for us to rise and put a stop to it, and have no more courts, nor sheriffs, nor collectors nor lawyers. Veterans had received little pay during the war and faced added difficulty collecting payments owed to them from the State or the Congress of the Confederation . Some soldiers began to organize protests against these oppressive economic conditions. In 1780, Daniel Shays resigned from
2576-418: Is water. Lee is bordered by Lenox to the northwest, Washington to the northeast, Becket to the east, Tyringham in the southeast, Great Barrington to the southwest, and Stockbridge to the west. Lee is 10 miles (16 km) south of Pittsfield , 42 miles (68 km) west-northwest of Springfield , and 125 miles (201 km) west of Boston . Lee is in the southern section of the Berkshires , in
2668-628: The United States Constitution , although most scholars agree that it played some role, at least temporarily drawing some anti-Federalists to the strong government side. By early 1785, many influential merchants and political leaders were already agreed that a stronger central government was needed. Shortly after Shays's Rebellion broke out, delegates from five states met in Annapolis, Maryland from September 11–14, 1786, and they concluded that vigorous steps were needed to reform
2760-644: The "old Mass Pike", which was the main route to New York until the interstate. A small section of U.S. Route 7 crosses through the northwestern corner of town before meeting Route 20 in Lenox. Massachusetts Route 102 's eastern terminus is at Route 20, at the Exit 2 toll plaza. Lee lies along the Housatonic Railroad line, which travels from Pittsfield to Great Barrington and Sheffield , terminating near at New Milford, Connecticut , near Danbury . The line
2852-431: The 1870s was the country's largest producer of paper. The mills previously owned by Smith Paper Company were closed in 2008. Today, Lee has only a single papermaking facility. The town's marble is famous for its quality. The first quarry was established in 1852. In 1867, almost 500,000 cubic feet (14,000 m ) of marble was excavated and shipped on the Housatonic Railroad . Buildings constructed of Lee marble include
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2944-422: The 26th. Day's message was intercepted by Shepard's men. As such, the militias of Shays and Parsons approached the armory on the 25th not knowing that they would have no support from the west. Instead, they found Shepard's militia waiting for them. Shepard first ordered warning shots fired over the heads of Shays's men. He then ordered two cannons to fire grapeshot . Four Shaysites were killed and 20 wounded. There
3036-674: The 28th without hearing any cases. Shepard withdrew his force (which had grown to around 800 men) to the Springfield Armory , which was rumored to be the target of the protestors. Protests were also successful in shutting down courts in Great Barrington , Concord , and Taunton, Massachusetts , in September and October. James Warren wrote to John Adams on October 22, "We are now in a state of Anarchy and Confusion bordering on Civil War." Courts were able to meet in
3128-556: The Articles of Confederation were untenable and needed amending, with the events of the rebellion serving as further evidence for the later Constitutional Convention . There is continuing debate among scholars as to what extent the rebellion influenced the later drafting and ratification of the Constitution . Prior to the 19th century, the economy of rural New England largely consisted of subsistence agriculture, particularly in
3220-632: The Daniel Shays Highway. A statue of General Shepard was erected in his hometown of Westfield . In the town of Petersham, Massachusetts , a memorial was erected in 1927 by the New England Society of Brooklyn, New York, in commemoration of General Benjamin Lincoln's rout of the Shaysite forces there on the morning of February 4. The lengthy inscription is typical of the traditional, pro-government interpretation, ending with
3312-623: The Disqualification Act to prevent a legislative response by rebel sympathizers. This bill forbade any acknowledged rebels from holding a variety of elected and appointed offices. Most of Lincoln's army melted away in late February as enlistments expired, and he commanded only 30 men at a base in Pittsfield by the end of the month. In the meantime, around 120 rebels had regrouped in New Lebanon, New York , and they crossed
3404-546: The Massachusetts Government were led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays . By the early 2020s, scholarship has suggested that Shays's role in the protests was significantly and strategically exaggerated by Massachusetts elites, who had a political interest in shifting blame for bad economic conditions away from themselves. In 1787, the protesters marched on the federal Springfield Armory in an unsuccessful attempt to seize its weaponry and overthrow
3496-759: The Northampton action and began to take a more active role in the uprising in November, though he firmly denied that he was one of its leaders. The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts indicted 11 leaders of the rebellion as "disorderly, riotous, and seditious persons". The court was scheduled to meet next in Springfield, Massachusetts , on September 26, and Shays organized an attempt to shut it down in Northampton, while Luke Day organized an attempt in Springfield. They were anticipated by William Shepard ,
3588-474: The Rhode Island border on February 3, 1783, when a mob seized property that had been confiscated by a constable and returned it to its owners. Governor Hancock ordered the sheriff to suppress these actions. Most rural communities attempted to use the legislative process to gain relief. Petitions and proposals were repeatedly submitted to the state legislature to issue paper currency, which would depreciate
3680-449: The Town of Lee, has been actively involved in the prevention and management of these invasive species. These efforts include the use of benthic barriers to smother the milfoil and prevent its growth, as well as public education, boat inspections, and boat washing, to prevent the spread of zebra mussels. Shays%27 Rebellion [REDACTED] United States Shays's Rebellion
3772-579: The Vermont woods. He was vilified by the Boston press, who painted him as an archetypal anarchist opposed to the government. He later moved to the Conesus, New York area, where he died poor and obscure in 1825. The crushing of the rebellion and the harsh terms of reconciliation imposed by the Disqualification Act all worked against Governor Bowdoin politically. He received few votes from the rural parts of
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3864-422: The age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91. In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.1% under
3956-462: The age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males. The median income for a household in the town was $ 41,556, and the median income for a family was $ 49,630. Males had a median income of $ 35,565 versus $ 26,232 for females. The per capita income for
4048-559: The armory simultaneously. Shays had one group east of Springfield near Palmer . Luke Day had a second force across the Connecticut River in West Springfield . A third force under Eli Parsons was situated to the north at Chicopee . The rebels originally had planned their assault for January 25. At the last moment, Day changed this date and sent a message to Shays indicating that he would not be ready to attack until
4140-512: The army unpaid and went home to find himself in court for non-payment of debts. He soon realized that he was not alone in his inability to pay his debts and began organizing for debt relief. One early protest against the government was led by Job Shattuck of Groton, Massachusetts , in 1782, who organized residents to physically prevent tax collectors from doing their work. A second, larger-scale protest took place in Uxbridge, Massachusetts on
4232-437: The border on February 27, marching first on Stockbridge, Massachusetts , a major market town in the southwestern corner of the state. They raided the shops of merchants and the homes of merchants and local professionals, establishing an operational headquarters at Bingham's Tavern . This came to the attention of Brigadier John Ashley, who mustered a force of around 80 men and caught up with the rebels in nearby Sheffield late in
4324-541: The county and 241st in the Commonwealth. There were 2,927 housing units at an average density of 110.9 per square mile (42.8/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 96.93% White , 0.62% Black or African American , 0.15% Native American , 0.95% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.74% from other races , and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population. There were 2,492 households, out of which 28.6% had children under
4416-430: The currency and make it possible to pay a high-value debt with lower-valued paper. The merchants, including James Bowdoin , were opposed to the idea since they stood to lose from such measures, and the proposals were repeatedly rejected. Governor Hancock resigned in early 1785 citing health reasons, though some suggested that he was anticipating trouble. Bowdoin had repeatedly lost to Hancock in earlier elections, but he
4508-454: The day for the bloodiest encounter of the rebellion: 30 rebels were wounded (one mortally), at least one government soldier was killed, and many were wounded. Ashley was further reinforced after the encounter, and he reported taking 150 prisoners. Four thousand people signed confessions acknowledging participation in the events of the rebellion in exchange for amnesty. Several hundred participants were eventually indicted on charges relating to
4600-420: The demands of merchants and the civil authorities, and some began to lose their land and other possessions when they were unable to fulfill their debt and tax obligations. This led to strong resentments against tax collectors and the courts, where creditors obtained judgments against debtors, and where tax collectors obtained judgments authorizing property seizures. A farmer identified as "Plough Jogger" summarized
4692-407: The discontented from neighboring states, and he introduced legislation that broke the impasse between New York and Vermont. Vermonters responded favorably to the overture, publicly pushing Eli Parsons and Luke Day out of the state (but quietly continuing to support others). Vermont became the fourteenth state after negotiations with New York and the passage of the new constitution. Thomas Jefferson
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#17327909767654784-567: The eastern parts of the state angered those in the west, and they began to organize an overthrow of the state government. "The seeds of war are now sown", wrote one correspondent in Shrewsbury , and by mid-January rebel leaders spoke of smashing the "tyrannical government of Massachusetts". The federal government had been unable to recruit soldiers for the army because of a lack of funding, so Massachusetts leaders decided to act independently. On January 4, 1787, Governor Bowdoin proposed creating
4876-590: The end of large-scale organized resistance. Ringleaders who eluded capture fled to neighboring states, and pockets of local resistance continued. Some rebel leaders sought assistance from Lord Dorchester , the British governor of the Province of Quebec who reportedly promised assistance in the form of Mohawk warriors led by Joseph Brant . Dorchester's proposal was vetoed in London, however, and no assistance came to
4968-421: The exterior marble had never required maintenance. Inside the main building, each floor had six classrooms, and the layout remains fairly intact. The classrooms retained their blackboards and much of the original woodwork. The original floors were covered by vinyl tiling. In the front entry, one of the two stairs was removed to comply with modern fire codes, but the other retains its original woodwork. In 1936
5060-597: The federal government, but they disbanded because of a lack of full representation and authority, calling for a convention of all the states to be held in Philadelphia in May 1787. Historian Robert Feer notes that several prominent figures had hoped that the convention would fail, requiring a larger-scale convention, and French diplomat Louis-Guillaume Otto thought that the convention was intentionally broken off early to achieve this end. In early 1787, John Jay wrote that
5152-592: The fertile Connecticut River Valley , driven by the activities of wholesale merchants dealing with Europe and the West Indies. The state government was dominated by this merchant class. When the Revolutionary War ended in 1783, Massachusetts merchants' European business partners refused to extend lines of credit to them and insisted that they pay for goods with hard currency , despite the country-wide shortage of such currency. Merchants began to demand
5244-558: The government. The federal government, severely limited in its prerogatives under the Articles of Confederation , found itself unable to finance troops to put down the rebellion; it was consequently put down by the Massachusetts State Militia under William Shepard , alongside a privately funded local militia led by former Continental Army officer Benjamin Lincoln . The widely-held view had already developed that
5336-428: The hill towns of central and western Massachusetts. Some residents in these areas had few assets beyond their land, and they bartered with one another for goods and services. In lean times, farmers might obtain goods on credit from suppliers in local market towns who would be paid when times were better. In contrast, there was a market economy in the more economically developed coastal areas of Massachusetts Bay and in
5428-478: The larger towns and cities, but they required protection of the militia which Bowdoin called out for the purpose. Governor Bowdoin commanded the legislature to "vindicate the insulted dignity of government". Samuel Adams claimed that foreigners ("British emissaries") were instigating treason among citizens. Adams helped draw up a Riot Act and a resolution suspending habeas corpus so the authorities could legally keep people in jail without trial. Adams proposed
5520-470: The local militia commander, who began gathering militiamen the Saturday before the court was to sit, and he had 300 men protecting the Springfield courthouse by opening time. Shays and Day were able to recruit a similar number but chose only to demonstrate, exercising their troops outside of Shepard's lines rather than attempting to seize the building. The judges first postponed hearings and then adjourned on
5612-608: The lower larger pond, surrounded by summer homes, and the upper pond, which maintains a more wilderness-like atmosphere. The upper pond lies in the 112-acre Goose Pond Reservation, where it intersects the Appalachian Trail and an Appalachian Mountain Club shelter for hikers is situated on its shore. Goose Pond Reservation is managed by the Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations. The town of Tyringham maintains
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#17327909767655704-533: The north and Goose Pond to the southeast. The Appalachian Trail skirts the eastern part of town, passing through Tyringham, Becket and Washington. Lee is on Interstate 90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike ), and is home to Exit 10, the westernmost full exit on the turnpike (Exit 1, in West Stockbridge , is only a turnaround exit) as well as the first service area along the Pike. Lee is also on U.S. Route 20 ,
5796-472: The people could not be trusted (as exemplified by Shays's Rebellion), the members of the federal House of Representatives should be chosen by state legislatures, not by popular vote. The example of Shays's Rebellion may also have been influential in the addition of language to the constitution concerning the ability of states to manage domestic violence, and their ability to demand the return of individuals from other states for trial. The rebellion also played
5888-539: The powers granted in the constitution and its lack of a Bill of Rights . The military powers enshrined in the constitution were soon put to use by President George Washington. After the passage by the United States Congress of the Whiskey Act , protest against the taxes it imposed began in western Pennsylvania . The protests escalated and Washington led federal and state militia to put down what
5980-520: The principal industry in 1806 with the construction of the Willow Mill by Samuel Church in South Lee. The Columbia Mill in central Lee was established in 1827, and eventually became the first to supply 100% groundwood newsprint to The New York Times . By 1857, there were 25 paper mills in Lee. The Smith Paper Company discovered how to manufacture paper solely from wood pulp in 1867, and through
6072-468: The private Lee Academy on a parcel of land above the town center. Lee Academy was gradually transferred to town ownership, and became its public grammar school. It was destroyed by fire in February 1894. The town had the new Hyde School constructed on the original site of Lee Academy in 1895; it was dedicated to Alexander Hyde. It was designed by James Bryning and constructed of locally quarried marble,
6164-431: The proposed gathering at Philadelphia must take place". Some states delayed choosing delegates to the proposed convention, including Massachusetts, in part because it resembled the "extra-legal" conventions organized by the protestors before the rebellion became violent. The convention that met in Philadelphia then was dominated by strong-government advocates. Delegate Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut argued that because
6256-419: The protests, and the suspension of habeas corpus alarmed many. Warrants were issued for the arrest of several of the protest ringleaders, and a posse of around 300 men rode to Groton on November 28 to arrest Job Shattuck and other rebel leaders in the area. Shattuck was chased down and arrested on the 30th and was wounded by a sword slash in the process. This action and the arrest of other protest leaders in
6348-530: The rebellion as evidence that a new constitution was unnecessary. Leonard Richards counters that publications like the Pennsylvania Gazette explicitly tied anti-Federalist opinion to the rebel cause, calling opponents of the new constitution "Shaysites" and the Federalists "Washingtonians". David Szatmary argues that debate in some states was affected, particularly in Massachusetts, where
6440-403: The rebellion had a polarizing effect. Richards records Henry Jackson's observation that opposition to ratification in Massachusetts was motivated by "that cursed spirit of insurgency", but that broader opposition in other states originated in other constitutional concerns expressed by Elbridge Gerry, who published a widely distributed pamphlet outlining his concerns about the vagueness of some of
6532-464: The rebellion, but most of these were pardoned under a general amnesty that excluded only a few ringleaders. Eighteen men were convicted and sentenced to death, but most of these had their sentences commuted or overturned on appeal or were pardoned. John Bly and Charles Rose, however, were hanged on December 6, 1787. They were also accused of a common-law crime, as both were looters. Shays was pardoned in 1788 and he returned to Massachusetts from hiding in
6624-424: The rebels scattered "without time to call in their out parties or even their guards". Lincoln claimed to capture 150 men but none of them were officers, and historian Leonard Richards has questioned the veracity of the report. Most of the leadership escaped north into New Hampshire and Vermont, where they were sheltered despite repeated demands that they be returned to Massachusetts for trial. Lincoln's march marked
6716-412: The rebels. The same day that Lincoln arrived at Petersham, the state legislature passed bills authorizing a state of martial law and giving the governor broad powers to act against the rebels. The bills also authorized state payments to reimburse Lincoln and the merchants who had funded the army and authorized the recruitment of additional militia. On February 16, 1787, the Massachusetts legislature passed
6808-482: The removal of some wooden stairs from the main building. A modern 1977 classroom addition further extended the 1936 addition. Lee, Massachusetts Lee is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts , United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts , metropolitan statistical area . The population was 5,788 at the 2020 census . Lee, which includes the villages of South and East Lee,
6900-483: The rural disturbances and the inability of the central government to fund troops in response made "the inefficiency of the Federal government more and more manifest". Henry Knox observed that the uprising in Massachusetts clearly influenced local leaders who had previously opposed a strong federal government. Historian David Szatmary writes that the timing of the rebellion "convinced the elites of sovereign states that
6992-401: The same from their local business partners, including those operating in the market towns in the state's interior. Many of these merchants passed on this demand to their customers, although Governor John Hancock did not impose hard currency demands on poorer borrowers and refused to actively prosecute the collection of delinquent taxes. The rural farming population was generally unable to meet
7084-400: The shops of local merchants for supplies along the way and took some of the merchants hostage. Lincoln pursued them and reached Pelham, Massachusetts on February 2, around 20 miles (32 km) from Petersham. He led his militia on a forced march to Petersham through a bitter snowstorm on the night of February 3–4, arriving early in the morning. They surprised the rebel camp so thoroughly that
7176-432: The situation at a meeting convened by aggrieved commoners: I have been greatly abused, have been obliged to do more than my part in the war, been loaded with class rates, town rates, province rates, Continental rates, and all rates ... been pulled and hauled by sheriffs, constables, and collectors, and had my cattle sold for less than they were worth ... The great men are going to get all we have and I think it
7268-542: The song "Alice's Restaurant" took place in the courtroom at the Lee Town Hall. Lee was a filming location for Before and After (1996) and The Cider House Rules (1999). According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 27.0 square miles (70.0 km ), of which 26.1 sq mi (67.7 km ) is land and 0.89 sq mi (2.3 km ), or 3.22%,
7360-512: The state and was trounced by John Hancock in the gubernatorial election of 1787. The military victory was tempered by tax changes in subsequent years. The legislature cut taxes and placed a moratorium on debts and also refocused state spending away from interest payments, resulting in a 30-percent decline in the value of Massachusetts securities as those payments fell in arrears. Vermont was an unrecognized independent republic that had been seeking independent statehood from New York's claims to
7452-515: The state legislature adjourned without considering the many petitions that had been sent to Boston. On August 29, a well-organized force of protestors formed in Northampton, Massachusetts and successfully prevented the county court from sitting. The leaders of this force proclaimed that they were seeking relief from the burdensome judicial processes that were depriving the people of their land and possessions. They called themselves Regulators ,
7544-403: The territory. It became an unexpected beneficiary of the rebellion by sheltering the rebel ringleaders. Alexander Hamilton broke from other New Yorkers, including major landowners with claims on Vermont territory, calling for the state to recognize and support Vermont's bid for admission to the union. He cited Vermont's de facto independence and its ability to cause trouble by providing support to
7636-437: The time of the rebellion, the weaknesses of the federal government as constituted under the Articles of Confederation were apparent to many. A vigorous debate was going on throughout the states on the need for a stronger central government, with Federalists arguing for the idea, and Anti-Federalists opposing them. Historical opinion is divided on what sort of role the rebellion played in the formation and later ratification of
7728-682: The town of Tyringham, and has an option to serve Otis and Sandisfield . Lee Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grades, and the Lee Middle and High School serves students from seventh through twelfth grades. Lee's athletics teams are nicknamed the Wildcats, and their colors are black and orange. Additionally, Lee is home to Saint Mary's School, a parochial school which serves students through eighth grade. Other private schools can be found in Great Barrington and other surrounding towns. The nearest community college
7820-474: The town was $ 19,799. About 2.5% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over. Lee is the least populous municipality in Massachusetts not to use the open town meeting form of government; instead, it uses the representative town meeting , and is led by a board of selectmen and a town administrator . Lee has its own police, fire and public works departments, as well as
7912-573: The west organized their forces establishing regional regimental organizations that were run by democratically elected committees. Their first major target was the federal armory in Springfield. General Shepard had taken possession of the armory under orders from Governor Bowdoin, and he used its arsenal to arm a militia force of 1,200. He had done this even though the armory was federal property, not state, and he did not have permission from Secretary of War Henry Knox . The insurgents were organized into three major groups and intended to surround and attack
8004-535: Was an armed uprising in Western Massachusetts and Worcester in response to a debt crisis among the citizenry and in opposition to the state government's increased efforts to collect taxes on both individuals and their trades. The fighting took place in the areas around Springfield during 1786 and 1787. Historically, scholars have argued that the four thousand rebels, called Shaysites , who protested against economic and civil rights injustices by
8096-405: Was built in a cross-shaped plan, with a seven-bay core section, and wings three bays wide. A four-story tower rises above the center of the front facade. The exterior wall and trim work is all of local marble. The original slate roof was replaced in 1994 with asphalt shingles, at which time the building was also equipped with gutters and downspouts. At the time of its National Register nomination,
8188-582: Was composed mainly of men sympathetic to the protestors. Governors of the neighboring states acted decisively, calling out the militia to hunt down the ringleaders in their own states after the first such protests. Matters were resolved without violence in Rhode Island because the "country party" gained control of the legislature in 1786 and enacted measures forcing its merchants to trade debt instruments for devalued currency. Boston's merchants were concerned by this, especially Bowdoin who held more than £3,000 in Massachusetts notes. Daniel Shays had participated in
8280-587: Was elected governor that year—and matters became more severe. He stepped up civil actions to collect back taxes, and the legislature exacerbated the situation by levying an additional property tax to raise funds for the state's portion of foreign debt payments. Even comparatively conservative commentators such as John Adams observed that these levies were "heavier than the People could bear". Protests in rural Massachusetts turned into direct action in August 1786 after
8372-430: Was no musket fire from either side. The rebel advance collapsed with most of the rebel forces fleeing north. Both Shays's men and Day's men eventually regrouped at Amherst, Massachusetts . General Lincoln immediately began marching west from Worcester with the 3,000 men that had been mustered. The rebels moved generally north and east to avoid him, eventually establishing a camp at Petersham, Massachusetts . They raided
8464-520: Was serving as ambassador to France at the time and refused to be alarmed by Shays's Rebellion. He argued in a letter to James Madison on January 30, 1787, that occasional rebellion serves to preserve freedoms. In a letter to William Stephens Smith on November 13, 1787, Jefferson wrote, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure." In contrast, George Washington had been calling for constitutional reform for many years, and he wrote in
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