This glass negative shows a grove of trees and railroad tracks. The Administration Building and Judd Gymnasia are just visible beyond the trees. On October 1, 1839, the Western Railroad opened its line from Springfield eastward to Boston. Fortunately, the town was on the east bank of the river. It would be several more years before it was bridged and the line extended westward to Albany. In December 1844, the Hartford & Springfield Railroad, united with the Hartford & New Haven Railroad of Connecticut, opened a line to Springfield from the south. Just a year later, the Connecticut River Railroad opened its line from Springfield northward to Northampton. By 1845, Springfield had rail connections from every direction.
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