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Hazen's Store, Belchertown, Mass.

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Belchertown was settled in 1731 and incorporated in 1761. It was named after Jonathan Belcher who was the Royal Governor of Massachusetts from 1730 to 1740. Belcher had been a large landowner in the district. It is in the eastern part of Hampshire County. When the Quabbin Reservoir flooded the towns of Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott, part of Enfield was merged with Belchertown and many Enfield residents moved there as well. Originally owned by Samuel and George Longley, D. D. Hazen purchased this general store in the mid 1880s. It is said that Hazen found a supply of snuff, tobacco, playing cards and jewelry left by the previous owner. Selling these items apparently ran counter to Hazen's beliefs, and even though they were worth money, he threw them out of the store and burned them.

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