In 1852, the community that began as Broughtons Meadow officially became the Village of Florence. This small, New England community prospered with the rise of the silk industry and its businesses, such as the Northampton Silk Company, the Nonotuck Silk Company, and Corticelli Silk Mills. Local mills and factories manufactured goods that were shipped around the world while local shops and storefronts continued to grow and change the face of the village. The population expanded due to the success of companies like the Florence Casket Company and Florence Savings, which created more jobs. By the...