593 Elm Street, Florence

In 1822, Enoch Jewett bought land on both sides of Boughton Meadow Brook. Soon afterwards (before 1830) he built a dam across the brook and raised the pond which became "Holland's", and later, "Warner's" pond. The water power was used in a small shop to manufacture spools and bobbins for the area's woolen and silk mills. Mr. Jewett's house was also located on this property. The 80 acres of land with house, shop, dam and water privilege were sold to Joseph Conant, Earle Swift and Orwell Chaffee in November of 1842. These three men had recently withdrawn from the Northampton Association for Education and Industry, or "The Community" as it was known, and they immediately erected a silk mill on the Jewett property. They were succeeded by Joseph Warner, who is known to have owned the silk mill as early as 1859, and his son Luther. In the mid 1880's, John Leonard took over the property and operated the silk mill until it burned down in the mid 1890's.

The site was purchased by the Nonotuck Silk Co., but they never rebuilt. The pond was drained, and the property acquired by the city of Northampton early in the 20th century. Smith's Agricultural School was built on the northern part of the lot, fronting on Locust Street, in 1908. Oliver Smith, a wealthy citizen of Hatfield, left $30,000. in his will in 1844 for this project, with the proviso that the money not be used for sixty years. Mr. Smith also established Smith Charities, and through his niece Sophia Smith, Smith College and Smith Academy.

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