TIMELINE (in progress)

1500-1760 
              Prior to European settlement, the area of Cummington was most likely a resource for Native Americans from the
              Connecticut River valley, the Norwottucks who most likely fished in the Westfield and Swift rivers, raised crops along 
              their banks and hunted in the surrounding hills.  As European settlement grew in the Connecticut River valley, it is 
              probable that Native American seasonal settlement increased in Cummington.

 1762     Plantation No.5 is auctioned off by the British-owned Massachusetts Bay Colony to help pay for the French and Indian 
              War. It is purchased by a group of 26 proprietors (land developers) led by Col. John Cumings of Concord,      
              Massachusetts. They in turn sold land to potential settlers.  Each settler received similarly sized tracts by lot of
              approximately 100 acres.

             First proprietor's meeting held in Concord, Massachusetts in December.

1764     The first mill is established by Charles Prescott on Kearney Brook southeast of junction with Honey Hill Road.     


1765     Eight families had settled in Cummington.  Virtually all of the Colonial period settlement occurred in Cummington's 
             uplands due to concerns about flooding and disease along marshlands of Westfield River.


1770     First tavern established by Joseph Farr slightly west of Honey Hill Road.

1771     First proprietor's meeting that was held in Cummington/ 
   
            Cummington's first pastor, Reverend James Briggs, a Yale graduate, began to preach in Cummington.

1774     William Mitchell established a tavern at the intersection of Stage and Plainfield Roads.

1779     Cummington is officially incorporated as a town by the Massachusetts Legislature. It is named for its main proprietor, 
             Colonel John Cumings though Cumings never visited the town. At that point the governing body changed from the 
             Proprieter to the town meeting system. 

1782     First meeting house established. 

1783     Cummington population is 851.

1794     William Cullen Bryant born on November 3 on Potash Hill Road.

1821     Baptist Society founded. its meeting house was erected in 1823.

1826     Cummington Academy established. Building erected in 1828. 

1830     Cummington reaches peak population of 1261.

1838    Village Church built on Main St. in Cummington.

1839    West Cummington church built.

1869     Hillside Agricultural Society held its first Cattle Show. This would later become the Cummington Fair. 

1872     The Bryant Free Library established as a gift from William Cullen Bryant along with a home for the librarian. 

1874     The Cummington Grange was organized on May 25.

1923     The Cummington Community House was given to the town by Cummington native Worcester Warner.

1933     Greenwood Music Camp established by  Dorothy (Bunny) Fay Little , Dwight Little and Ruth Hill McGregor.

1939     Cummington Press established by Harry Alvin Duncan.