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"Serious Riot" article regarding Irish Laborers reprinted in Franklin Democrat newspaper from the Hampshire Gazette newspaper

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In 1848, large numbers of Irish immigrants were employed working on the dam and canals in Holyoke, Massachusetts; here referred to as the "New City." The company in charge of the construction reduced the wages it was paying and the men refused to go to work. When some workers said they would work if they were protected, and the chief engineer, constable and a number of other men accompanied the workers. The men who had refused to work then attacked the protectors with clubs. Several men were hurt and windows were broken. One of the leaders was arrested and brought to the jail in Northampton. About twenty-five armed men accompanied the sheriff, but when they arrived at Holyoke, all was quiet and remained so.

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