The Colonel represented the heirs of these colonial soldiers. Because of the town's connection to the French and Indian Wars, it was particularly appropriate that the head of the Indian warrior chief, King Philip, was displayed in the Leonard house in Savoy after the famous fighter was slain in battle. The first settlement of the town was made in 1777 by a Mr. Robinett and by the end of the Revolutionary War, 35 families lived in Savoy. The town was formally incorporated in 1797 and given its name, historians conjecture, because of its resemblance to the mountainous country of Savoy in Europe.

The town is mountainous with soil better adapted to grazing than raising grains and is well watered. By the 19th century, Savoy was showing a remarkable diversity of industry with new-fangled steam sawmills, box manufacturers, tanneries, printing shops and a large lumber mill along with three hotels. Equally diverse was the town's religious thought with Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists, Adventists and Shakers all worshiping in Savoy.

Savoy Massachusetts is located in Northwestern Massachusetts, bordered by Florida on the north, Hawley on the east, Windsor on the south, and Cheshire and Adams on the west. Savoy is 24 miles northeast of Pittsfield and 125 miles northwest of Boston.