In 1734, the General Court in Boston granted a six-mile square township in Western Massachusetts to the residents of Salem, in Essex County in Eastern Massachusetts, land that would become New Salem. The town was incorporated in 1753, and by 1820, New Salem was the largest town in Franklin County with 2,145 inhabitants. At that time, the town’s industry consisted mainly of the production of palm leaf hats as well as logging, tanning leather, and agriculture. The New Salem Academy was incorporated on February 25, 1795, “for the purpose of promoting piety, religion, and morality, and for the instruction of the youth in such languages and in such of the liberal arts and sciences as the trustees shall direct.” This scene of the town common shows one of the  academy buildings and people watching a baseball game.