Historic Springfield & Pioneer Valley

04/28/2022

From Bruce Moseley

Our is a natural (and national) treasure

A fresh perspective of the waterway that made the College.

04/12/2022

Even before the pandemic, I am not sure Longmeadow Historical Society had a regular schedule of when they were open - even if just Sat or Sun afternoons May to Oct - which is too bad because it is one of the great local museums in the Pioneer Valley.

So put this on your calendar and have a look. You won't be disappointed.

The East Longmeadow Historical Society will hold an open house at the town museum, 87 Maple Street, on April 16 from 1 to 3 pm. Admission is free.

03/29/2022

What a mess? Seems crazy. There must be a way to get developers to comply without screeing the tenets. This is a beautiful site / seems like a real plus for Chicopee

Businesses were originally given 30 days to move out.

02/05/2022

Working on an upcoming presentation for - stumbled on this quote by FLW from the 1860s

"old agricultural neighborhoods, such as fifty years ago were the glory of New England…..The meeting-house closed, the church dilapidated; the famous old taverns, stores, shops, mills, and offices dropping to pieces and vacant"

These are what I call . New England is filled with them - in various states of repair. The best are almost breathtaking.

Alas - Colrain MA was one but so much there trashed, demolished or nearly so. Two empty churches; an old tavern demolished a couple years ago.

The B & W photo here taken ca 1920 by Hadley photographer and author Clifton Johnson (click here for video about this remarkable Pioneer valley artist and writer) and a picture I took from the same location recently.

Sat April 23rd in Hartford - big weekend for Frederick Law Olmsted's 200th

https://youtu.be/7bwstdEADUI

01/04/2022

I hope more folks will watch this. It’s a big local story with many useful implications

This is a shortened version of the zoom webinar hosted by Porter Phelps Huntington Museum in Hadley Mass on July 28, 2021. The program titled "Clifton Johnso...

12/25/2021

Hope you’re having a lovely Christmas. Bright Nights at Forest Park is in its 27th year & the best ever last night. I love all the references to local things

12/22/2021

Should I try to organize a tour of Springfield Cemetery & Crematory in 2022? Wonder if Springfield Preservation Trust, Springfield Museums or some such org would like to collaborate in promoting. The hardest part about great public programming is getting the word out and drumming up an audience. I love

12/01/2021

Here, from the Longmeadow burying ground, is a treasure. From about 1850-1875 families bought decorative cast iron fences to enclose their plots for family burials. This was bought by Gad O Bliss (1807-1872) in 1860. Many of those that were not melted down for scrap during WWI or otherwise neglected are in poor shape. Some are trashed beyond repair. A few have been beautifully cleaned and restored. I'd say < 1 in 30 have their original gates and nameplates. I am sure that many of these highly ornate gates were stolen and sold as antiques before most people knew what they are. You will NEVER find one for sale that was not, at some point, stolen.

Here is an opportunity for Longmeadow Cemetery & friends.

Despite the rust, this is in very good condition and even retains the gate. This would not be a costly restoration and would glow if brought back. Below is an impeccably restored iron fence in Sugar Hill NH Community to give you an idea what a good restoration looks like

11/30/2021

- Please consider a contribution to Hatfield Historical Museum. I am a great believer in supporting High Value / High Need organizations and this is one of the best examples.

A huge amount of goes into it - and much love.
Public support makes it all more sustainable.

I just donated and hope you will.

Like, comment and SHARE to get us more impact and remember - Hatfield is a .

Bill Hosley

Click here to donate:

https://hatfieldhistory.weebly.com/donations.html

10/25/2021

Preservation Massachusetts is looking to hire a "program and advocacy manager" - potentially as good as it gets for work in . In my view programming is the heart of advocacy. Engaging the public. Inspiring people to care. Nudging politicians to do the right things - educate educate educate.

No one is born caring about preservation. It has to be learned

https://www.preservationmass.org/single-post/pm-job-opportunity-program-advocacy-manager