Editing Pittsfield, Massachusetts (section)

====Background and historical overview====
Flowing through a historically rural area,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://savethehousatonic.org/?page_id=106 |title=Early History of the River |publisher=Save The Housatonic |access-date=February 6, 2009 |archive-date=April 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403091643/http://savethehousatonic.org/?page_id=106 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[Housatonic River]] attracted increased industrialization in the late 19th century. [[William Stanley Jr.]], founded the Stanley Electric Manufacturing Company in 1890 at Pittsfield. The company manufactured small transformers, electrical motors and appliances. In 1903, GE acquired Stanley Electric and subsequently operated three major manufacturing operations in Pittsfield: [[transformer]], [[ammunition|ordnance]], and [[plastic]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.williamstanleybusinesspark.com/history_property.asp |title=Overview of William Stanley Business Park of the Berkshires |publisher=Pittsfield Economic Development Authority |access-date=February 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704173531/http://www.williamstanleybusinesspark.com/history_property.asp |archive-date=July 4, 2008}}</ref>