Town History

Originally used primarily as a temporary summer hunting ground by local native Americans, the town was founded in 1762 when Colonel John Cuming led a group of proprietors (land investors) to purchase “Township Number Five”. Over the next seventeen years a group of pioneering families, mainly from the eastern Massachusetts towns of Abington and North Bridgewater,  tamed and settled this western Massachusetts wilderness, finally incorporating the town as Cummington in 1779. Over its two centuries, Cummington's story includes a fascinating history of industrial growth, agricultural innovation and adaptation, educational aspiration, as well as 19th century reform movements, and 20th century artistic idealism. 

To see a timeline, click here.

Massachusetts Historical Commission Reconnaissance Survey Town Report
     This report gives a great overview of Cummington history from precolumbian to 1950.