Petition for a Town
By: Francesca
F. and Briana L.
Why did Stony Hill (Ludlow) want to become a town?
Who traveled to Boston with the petition to the Governor?
Sketch of Aaron Miller
The History of Ludlow, 1912
The Stony Hill section of Springfield wanted to become its own town in the 1770’s because they had many problems. For example, they needed to build roads, there was no bridge over the Chicopee River, and travel was difficult. In order to have all that they needed to make a town, they needed to have a lot of money. Aaron John Miller, a 23 year-old, traveled to Boston with the petition to become a town, and met with the governor. He went to Boston in December of 1773, which was right before the American Revolution. There is a legend that Miller even took part in the Boston Tea Party, which happened when he was in Boston. Governor Hutchison accepted the petition and Ludlow was given a charter on February 28, 1774.