Pelham has been an inspiration for birders and naturalists, both in the past and present. Hampshire Bird Club expert David Spector together with several members of the Pelham Historical Society will introduce us to several of those birders and naturalists as well as bird-related objects from our Collection.
Learn about baskets made in Pelham and those who made them. Sharyn Wentworth, who grew up in Pelham where she learned these skills, will demonstrate how they were made and explain their uses. She is willing to lead a class in the future for those interested in making a basket of their own (time and place TBD); if interested in making one, please sign up in the library
Celebrate the Holiday with a social hour, sit-down potluck dinner and later feel free to sing along with oldies performed by David Boyden on guitar. For reservations (or you can just show up) and to provide information on your contribution (appetizer, main dish, vegetable, salad, bread or dessert…or pot luck), please contact Cynthia Weigel at 413-256-4606 or cjweigel55@gmail.com
Oral histories by Pelham residents and local news clippings provide vivid accounts of past rural life, including misfortunes. Hear an account of a Pelham school fire in the firsthand words of its accidental perpetrator; learn of a tragic family dispute; and find out about several weather-related aftermaths in Pelham.
These events help us to understand how our forebears dealt with tragedies and difficulties.
A discussion will follow in which you are encouraged to share stories about hardships in Pelham.
Annual Meeting at 6:30 p.m.,
Presentation at 7 p.m.
The sudden collapse of a dam on the Mill River in Williamsburg, Massachusetts in 1874 killed 139 people, left 740 homeless and destroyed factories all along the river. The disaster made international news and led to new regulations on dam construction around the country.
Author Elizabeth M. Sharpe will give a presentation on her book about the disaster at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 8th in the Ramsdell Room of the Pelham Public Library.
The Swift River Valley holds many stories of strength and hope in which women are at the heart.
Join DCR Quabbin staff member Nancy Huntington as she introduces us to some of these great and often surprising ladies whose lives have left an indelible mark on the Valley, and in some cases, the nation.
Savor a New England boiled dinner prepared by our excellent caterer David Jean. After an apple crisp dessert, Stan Rosenberg, who has entertained us with his talent and humor for over 30 years, will auction our homemade pies.
Meet at the Swift River Valley Historical Society’s complex, 40 Elm Street, in New Salem, MA for a tour of their complex
(https://swiftrivermuseum.org/visit/).
Learn about the lost towns of Quabbin.
There is still space for more people, but please let us know ahead of time if you plan to attend: info@pelhamhistory.org or here .
Surrounding Mount Lincoln is the University of Massachusetts’ 1200-acre Cadwell Memorial Forest.
Come explore its history, including old cellar holes, stone walls, and a Civil War Era (and Small Pox) Cemetery.
We will meet at the parking area on Packardville Road (Enfield Road) by the Tower Road gate.
This will be an accessible adventure with limited vehicle access for participants unable to walk the trail.
Memorial service to be held on
Monday, 3P.M. June 6th, 2023
Douglass Funeral Home
87 North Pleasant Street
Amherst MA 01002
413-253-3407
Meet at the Quabbin Park Cemetery to commemorate individuals removed from their original resting places for the building of the Quabbin Reservoir.
Refreshments beginning at 10 a.m. will be followed by a parade and service at 11 a.m.
Revisit Pelham’s Fenway Park and the ballplayers who captivated and entertained the Town on a sandlot located on Jones Road.
Join us at the end of the program for a visit to the Sandlot.
Join Elena Palladino as she discusses her recently published book, Lost Towns of the Swift River Valley: Drowned by the Quabbin.
Book signing will follow the presentation.
Annual Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Calling all Members, new and old! Join us for the Pelham Historical Society’s Annual Meeting, 2022. We need everyone to help us elect our Officers and Board, review the last year, and hear what plans we have for the future!
It’s Almost Thanksgiving and it’s for the Birds! at 7:00 p.m.
As we approach our Thanksgiving tables, learn about Pelham poultry farmers of the last century, who carved out a living without the aid of 21st Century machinery and technology. Featured will be the Adriance and Hall chicken and egg farms and the nationally-known Shaw turkey farm.
Richard and Laura Hall, Sharyn Wentworth, and Linda Campbell Hanscom will share memories and histories of these farms.
Annual Meeting at 6:30 p.m., Presentation at 7:00 p.m
2:00 p.m. (Tour of Pelham’s Old Town Complex)
11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Hampshire County History Day)
Enjoy a tour of Pelham’s old Town Complex at 2:00 p.m. led by Pelham’s local historian Joseph Larson. Learn about our small town with its big history.
Participate as well in Eastern Hampshire History Day.
The Pioneer Valley History Network (PVHN) has partnered with the Pelham Historical Society and six additional historical societies and museums in Hampshire County (east of the river) for a fun day of local history.
On Saturday, October 1, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the following seven locations will be open for visitors, free of charge, with donations accepted. Plan now to visit some or all of the sites, particularly ones you may not have seen recently.
For an electronic map of these locations, email pioneervalleyhistory@gmail.com
Participating Locations:
Amherst Historical Society & Museum, Amherst
Hadley Farm Museum, Hadley
Hadley Historical Society, Hadley
Pelham Historical Society, Pelham
Porter-Phelps-Huntington House, Hadley
Stone House Museum, Belchertown
The Sycamores, South Hadley
IT’S BACK!
The Pelham Historical Society is once again holding their long-awaited pie auction. The pies, of course, are homemade and may include fruit, cream, chiffon, custard, meringue and other delectable treats. The auctioneer, as always, will be Stan Rosenberg, who has 30 years of experience in the art of transferring pies from the baker to the highest bidder!
The event will take place on Saturday, September 24th at 1 P.M. at the Pelham Town Hall… located at the intersection of Amherst Road and Route 202.
Immediately following the pie auction, author Dan Bullen will discuss his book, “Daniel Shays’…An Honorable Rebellion”. Hear the story of the “rebellion” from the protestors’ perspective and how a group of farmers banded together peacefully, risking their lives for justice in a quintessentially American story. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
Visitors are encouraged, but not required to wear masks. We look forward to seeing you at this event.
DO YOU WANT TO BAKE A PIE TO DONATE TO THE PIE AUCTION? PLEASE CONTACT Linda Hanscom lindahanscom690@gmail.com
Present and past members of the Pelham Fire Department and several others will share factual and anecdotal information on Pelham’s fires and fire department history and evolution. This round table discussion, led by Chief Dennis Nazarro, will be followed by a brief tour of the Fire Department facility across the street. You are invited to bring your own stories about Pelham’s fire history.
Canceled Play Ball, a program about Pelham’s sandlot and ballplayers of yore
Canceled
Come and share in the beauty and solitude of Brewer Road.
Our hike will take us into the 19th century where we will view seven cellar holes of former residents, as well as the cellar hole of John Lincoln Brewer, the esteemed farmer who the road was named after.
Dress comfortably … don’t forget to bring water and insect repellant. For more information contact
Linda Campbell Hanscom, 413-323-7377 or Bruce Klotz, 413-695-1797.
THE HIKE IS ON FOR TODAY!
Meet at the southern end of Brewer Road and North Valley Road.
Meet at the Quabbin Park Cemetery to commemorate individuals removed from their original resting places for the building of the Quabbin Reservoir. The Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.
Points of Interest in the Cadwell Forest area, a walking tour of historical sites
Pelham Historical Society (“PHS”) will hold its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 7:00 pm at the Ramsdell Room in the Pelham Library, 2 South Valley Rd, Pelham, MA 01002. We invite all members and those interested in becoming a member to attend to vote on the proposed Slate of Officers and Trustees and to brainstorm ideas for next year, especially if COVID restrictions remain in place.
Due to COVID restrictions there will not be a program at the annual meeting. Please bring a mask. If you have any questions, please contact Cynthia Weigel at 413-256-4606.
Meet at 10:30 a.m. the Quabbin Park Cemetery to commemorate individuals removed from their original resting places for the building of the Quabbin Reservoir. The Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. There will be no refreshments or band this year but there will be a parade as part of the Ceremony. March behind the PHS banner with Pelham residents.
Early in the last century, Eugene Bartlett, CEO of the Pelham Fish Rod Factory, funded an annual December celebration at Pelham’s Community Hall. Celebrate with a social hour, sit-down pot-luck dinner and a sing-along with oldies performed by David Boyden on guitar. ALL ARE WELCOME.
As we approach our Thanksgiving tables, learn about Pelham poultry farmers of the last century, who carved out a living without the aid of 21st century machinery and technology. Featured will be the Adriance and Hall chicken and egg farms and the nationally-known Shaw turkey farm. Richard and Laura Hall, Sharyn Wentworth, and Linda Campbell Hanscom will share memories and histories of these farms.
Annual Meeting at 7 p.m., Presentation at 7:30 p.m.
Presentation Followed by Field Visit
Travel with Mt. Holyoke Professor of Geology Steve Dunn back 600 million years to learn about the real birth of Pelham! Following a presentation, we will car pool to visit examples of Pelham’s geology, including old quarries and an asbestos mine.
Savor a New England boiled dinner prepared by our excellent caterer David Jean. After an apple crisp dessert, Stan Rosenberg, who has entertained us with his talent and humor for 30 years, will auction our homemade pies. Tickets will be available at the Pelham Library or online HERE
The Swift River Valley holds many stories of strength and hope in which women are at the heart. Join DCR Quabbin staff member Nancy Huntington as she introduces us to some of these great and often surprising ladies whose lives have left an indelible mark on the Valley, and in some cases, the nation.
Accompany the Pelham Historical Society on a tour of the Swift River Valley Historical Society’s complex in New Salem, MA. to learn about the lost towns of Quabbin. Please sign up to attend as space may be limited
There may be a small virtual event, please check back
Meet at the Quabbin Park Cemetery to commemorate individuals removed from their original resting places for the building of the Quabbin Reservoir. Refreshments beginning at 10 a.m. will be followed by a parade and service at 11 a.m.
Revisit Pelham’s Fenway Park and the ballplayers who captivated and entertained the Town on a sandlot located on Jones Road.
Horticultural historian Christie Higginbottom explores a selection of plants that 19th century New Englanders grew in their gardens, employed as medicine and admired in forests and fields. She’ll include information about Native American healers who taught the value of these plants. This program is a part of “Libraries in the Woods” and is also a part of the Virginia Davis Memorial Lecture Series.
Present and past members of the Pelham Fire Department and several others will share factual and anecdotal information on Pelham’s Fire Department history and evolution, some fire events of note, and current status and plans. This panel discussion, led by Chief Raymond Murphy, Jr., will be followed by a brief tour of the Fire Department facility. You are invited to bring your own stories about Pelham’s fire history.
Presentation at 7:30 Followed by Fire Department Tour
(this is a rescheduled event from 2019)
Business Meeting at 7:00pm
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Celebrate the Holiday with a social hour, sit-down potluck dinner and later feel free to sing along with oldies performed by David Boyden on guitar. For reservations and to provide in-formation on your contribution (appetizer, main dish, vegetable, salad, bread or dessert), please contact Ginia Servos, 413-687-0258 or giniaservos@gmail.com.
The Potluck will begin with the rescheduled Annual Meeting at 5:30 pm
Present and past members of the Pelham Fire Department and several others will share factual and anecdotal information on Pelham’s Fire Department history and evolution. This panel discussion, led by Chief Raymond Murphy, Jr., will be followed by a brief tour of the Fire Department facility. You are invited to bring your own stories about Pelham’s fire history.
FIRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION RESCHEDULED TO MARCH 31 2020
Join renowned terrestrial ecologist and author Tom Wessels at 12 p.m. for a presentation on learning to read our forest landscape, followed by an interpretive walk at 1:30 p.m. Using tree stump decay patterns, the construction of stone walls, and much more, Tom will show us how to unravel former agricultural, logging, and wind histories in our forests. Tom’s books will be available for sale.
Come along for the presentation, walk, or both! Please sign up for the walk at the Library as space may be limited. Walk participants are encouraged to carpool, bring a snack, and dress for the weather.
Pelham Library Ramsdell Room Presentation followed by Interpretive Walk
Following a New England boiled dinner, Stan Rosenberg will entertain and delight us during the auctioning of our handcrafted home-made pies
Celebrate Pelham Voices: Make a Mini-Book
Make a mini accordion-pleated book and take inspiration from Pelham authors and illustrators featured in our Pelham Voices exhibit. Perfect for poetry, tiny sketches, or gift giving.
Drop by anytime from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to make your very own small book to take home
In 1806, Quaker Eseck Cook came to Pelham, where he was instrumental in gathering together a small society of his faith.
We will carpool to the site and then walk to Pelham’s Quaker Cemetery.
In memory of Roger Conant, Shirley Conant will provide a history of the presence of the Quakers in Pelham, including this visit to their simple wooded cemetery.
For those interested and willing to bushwhack a little, we also will explore the site of Pelham’s former Quaker meeting house.
Explore old-fashioned games like Nine Men’s Morris, Catch Ball and more, learn a Jacob’s Ladder magic trick, and make a Thaumatrope, a popular 19th century toy. Try our Pelham Game and discover Pelham’s history.
Drop by between 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for a short time or stay the entire two hours. You are welcome to bring your favorite game, historic or modern, to tell us about and/or play.
Cemetery Commissioners Cleon Booth, Norman Page and several PHS Board members will share brief histories, stories and points of interest relating to two of Pelham’s burying grounds, the North Valley Cemetery and the Cook-Johnson Cemetery. As we tour those cemeteries learn about some of the decorative stone engravings, personal inscriptions and fables that have endured the test of time.
Meet at 10 a.m. at the Quabbin Park Cemetery for refreshments followed by a parade and service at 11 a.m., honoring individuals removed from their original resting places for the building of Quabbin Reservoir. March behind the PHS banner with Pelham residents
Our annual meeting with Pelham Elementary School third graders provides a continuing opportunity for the Pelham Historical Society to enlighten Pelham school children to the town’s history. This event is held at the Community Hall, a former Pelham one-room school-house. Anyone with pre-1980 Pelham school experience is invited to attend and share their memories with the children.
Quabbin historian J. R. Greene will present a narrated slide program of scenes relating to the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir. The program concludes with views of life in the towns prior to the flooding, with a focus on Pelham. Available for sale will be a collection of J. R. Greene’s books
Did you know that Pelham has official Fence Viewers? Joseph Larson, one of Pelham’s current Fence Viewers, will explain how this ancient and honorable town position was created in Colonial days. Learn how he became involved, publishing a Handbook on Fence Viewers in Massachusetts. Find out what Fence Viewers actually do in Pelham today.
Business Meeting at 7 p.m. Followed by Presentation at 7:30 p.m.
(Note new Date – One week later)
We will again co-host this popular event with the Pelham Library by providing treats for the Tea
Learn about the varieties of vegetables grown in New England since 1743 when Pelham was incorporated, many of which might be unfamiliar to you today. Ruth DiBuono, Coordinator of Horticulture at Old Sturbridge Village, will explain how vegetables have changed over the years both in how they were valued and preserved as well as in the actual varieties used. You are invited to bring your favorite vegetable seeds to share and exchange with other participants
Following a New England boiled dinner, Former Senator Stan Rosenberg will entertain and delight us during the auctioning of our handcrafted homemade pies.
This is a special opportunity to visit Daniel Shays’ homestead site located in the Quabbin; we will drive and then walk to the remains of Shays’ homestead (formerly part of Pelham). A Quabbin Visitors Center interpreter together with William Pula, Pelham resident and former Regional Director of the Quabbin, will lead our tour. Dress for the weather, wear long pants and bring bug spray. This excursion will take approximately 3 hours
This 18th century house at 24 Cook Road is named for a leader of the Pelham Quakers. The house is currently owned by Peter & Kate Lamdin, who graciously invite us to visit the house and property.
Celebrate Pelham’s 275th by learning about Shays’ Rebellion from UMass Professor of History Leonard Richards, author of “Shays’s Rebellion: The American Revolution’s Final Battle.” In the historic Town Hall, Richards will highlight the role of Pelham residents in that famed controversy. Following Richards’ presentation, a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Museum next door will inaugurate the new interactive Conkey Tavern area where visitors can role-play historic tavern discussions and 18th century Pelham life.
Meet at 10 a.m. at the Quabbin Memorial Cemetery for refreshments followed by a parade and service at 11 a.m., honoring individuals removed from their original resting places for the building of Quabbin Reservoir. March behind the PHS banner with Pelham residents. Pelham Elementary School children plan to work on an art project for this occasion.
April 2018 Time and Date TBD
Former attendees of Pelham schools and current Pelham Elementary third graders will share their school experiences at Community Hall, a former Pelham one-room schoolhouse.
Children also will learn about life in a one-room schoolhouse.
“Private Mailing Cards” were invented in 1898. Since then, the design and technology behind postcards has changed several times, from the “divided back” to the “linen” and then photochrom. Postcards themselves depict scenes and document history. Learn more about the history of postcards from expert Gregory Wilson, who has worked with postcards both in his antique business and as a Librarian, cataloguing Theodore Roosevelt’s postcard collection. Wilson is an expert appraiser of postcard and trade card collections. As part of his presentation he will evaluate antique postcards from the audience. You are invited to bring your old postcards.
In this year celebrating 275 years of Pelham, learn how to use Library of Congress resources to research a historical subject that interests you. Rich Cairn, director of Emerging America, will show attendees how to use the online Library of Congress and its links for historical research. Emerging America includes the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program. Cairn will use the topic “History of the Quabbin Reservoir” to illustrate the online resources that are accessible without a trip to Washington, D.C
Business Meeting at 7 p.m. Followed by Presentation at 7:30 p.m
Program co-sponsored with the Pelham Library
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Some last minute conflicts that we could not work around have forced us to cancel. Check back because we will have our schedule of events for 2018 posted soon!
Annual Meeting at 7 pm; followed by a presentation at 7:30 pm
In anticipation of Pelham’s 275th Anniversary in 2018, Tom Fanning will provide an introduction to the Shays Rebellion, an event whose import went far beyond our town and foreshadowed the class struggles that occur even today. The Shays Rebellion has been both reviled and praised over the 235 years since the yeoman farmers of the western counties rose up to express their displeasure with the “coastal elite” in the east. This presentation will feature a timeline of forced court closings and other actions that constituted the actual rebellion. A lively discussion of this and other related events is planned.
The Museum will be open from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
Please join us for this annual community event, a traditional New England boiled dinner followed by a home-made pie auction. David Jean will again cater the dinner. Senator Stan Rosenberg returns to delight and entertain us as the “pie auctioneer.” Former State Rep. Ellen Story and current State Rep. Solomon Goldstein Rose will be guests of honor.
Pelham Town Hall Complex: An Updated Tour
This year’s tour of the Pelham Town Complex (Town Hall, Church/Museum, Cemetery, and former Militia Ground) incorporates the exciting findings of the Interior Preservation Study completed in 2016. Learn not only about the local, state and national importance of Pelham’s Town Complex, a National Register Historic District, but also about the original color of the Town Hall’s interior paint and about other features original to 1743 and more recent periods examined by the preservation experts. Joseph Larson of the Pelham Historical Commission will lead the tour of the site and buildings. The tour will conclude with highlights from Pelham’s newly-renovated Museum, housed in the Church of the Town Complex.
This Tour is highly recommended for anyone thinking about volunteering to be a Greeter.
For information on volunteering as a Museum Greeter contact Sharrie Reydak at sreydak @quabbinwood.net or at 413-256-1097.
Join us for a tour of the recent residential conversion of the U.C.C. Meetinghouse at 142 Amherst Road. The main structure was built in 1837 and it has evolved over the years. The tour will include some discussion of the building’s history as well as green building retrofit work. Architect/owner Carey Clouse will educate us on why she chose to take up residency in a church.
The farm at Meads Corner dates back to 1780. The buildings underwent extensive renovation in 1820 to create the home and barn as they appear today. The farmhouse is rumored to have functioned as a tavern, complete with dance hall on the second floor. The Tyler Bergeron family purchased the property in 2011, resulting in much of the home’s interior being returned to its 19th century layout. Dexter cattle and numerous other farm animals have taken up residency throughout the restored pastures. Come see this exquisite piece of history.
Join Ruth diBuono, Pelham resident and Old Sturbridge Village Lead Interpreter of Countryside Gardens, in discovering 19th century applications of medicinal woodland plants. Learn through personal accounts of 19th century families and period advice books while exploring Buffam Falls. Practice skills in plant identification and botany with Ruth’s guidance. Come along for the presentation, walk, or both!
This year’s tour of the Pelham Town Complex (Town Hall, Church/Museum, Cemetery, and former Militia Ground) incorporates the exciting findings of the Interior Preservation Study completed in 2016. Learn not only about the local, state and national importance of Pelham’s Town Complex, a National Register Historic District, but also about the original color of the Town Hall’s interior paint and about other features original to 1743 and more recent periods examined by the preservation experts. Joseph Larson of the Pelham Historical Commission will lead the tour of the site and buildings. The tour will conclude with highlights from Pelham’s newly-renovated Museum, housed in the Church of the Town Complex.
This Tour is highly recommended for this year’s Sunday Museum Greeters and anyone thinking about volunteering to be a Greeter.
Meet early at Quabbin Park Cemetery for refreshments followed by a parade and service at 11 am, honoring individuals removed from their original resting places for the building of Quabbin Reservoir. March behind the PHS banner with school children and Pelham residents. Pelham Elementary school children are working on an art project for the occasion.
Explore the cellar holes of Gate 11. Learn about the Quabbin and everyday life along Pelham Hollow Road prior to the Quabbin’s creation. Quabbin interpreter Nancy Huntington together with William Pula, Pelham resident and former Regional Director of the Quabbin, will lead our Tour. There will be limited vehicle access. Dress for the weather, wear long pants and bring bug spray. It will be a lovely walk.
Former attendees of Pelham schools and current Pelham Elementary third graders will share their school experiences at Community Hall, a former Pelham one-room schoolhouse.
How many of you recall the water dipper, filling the woodstove, the “outhouse” and pigtails in the inkwell? Step back into history with Dennis Picard, Director of Storrowtown Village and Museum, to learn about these practices and the education received in a single room with multiple grades and ages.
Business meeting at 7 pm; followed by a presentation at 7:30 pm
Surrounding Pelham MA, potters, brick-makers and the general population made use of clay for utensils, homes and other products from the colonial period through the 19th century. These products employed colorful names that occasionally became slang. This history and their stories will be presented by Rick Hamelin, who has researched the Massachusetts clay industry since 1985 and is a Master Potter from Warren, MA.
We will again co-host this popular event with the Pelham library by providing tea, sandwiches, and sweets.
Annual Meeting and Election of Officers 7 pm. followed by the program at 7:30 pm
Are you familiar with Monks Cave in Pelham or the Goshen stone tunnels? James Vieira, Ashfield stonemason, writer and Northeast Antiquities Research Association member, will introduce you to stone chambers, turtle effigies, serpent walls and cairn fields in Franklin and Hampshire counties and the theories, some controversial, explaining them.
This begins a new annual tour, highlighting unusual Pelham structures, artifacts, and stories. Each year we hope to introduce you to 3 to 5 additional points of interest in Pelham. Join Bruce Klotz as he begins this series with a visit to one of Pelham’s horse troughs, the gravesite of a smallpox victim, Pelham’s Rocking Stone and other points of interest.
Learn how to grow your own apples. Wes Autio, Director of UMass Stockbridge School of Agriculture, will give a brief historical overview of apples, followed by tips on how to plant, take care of, and prune your apple trees. An apple tasting will follow the presentation; vote on your favorite.
In the Pelham Library Ramsdell Room.
For more information, contact Cynthia Weigel, 413-256-4606.
Come join us for this longstanding community event, a traditional New England boiled dinner followed by a pie auction. David Jean will cater and Sen. Stan Rosenberg will be our auctioneer. State Rep. Ellen Story guest of honor.
Work up your appetite and become inspired for the Harvest Supper and Pie Auction later this month. Robert Cox will discuss his new book “New England Pie: History under a Crust.” Robert Cox explores the origin and evolution of popular pie ingredients, e.g., the Revolutionary roots of the Boston cream pie. His book, which will be available for signing, includes classic recipes and modern twists, celebrating seasonal fixings one month at a time. Head of special collections at UMass Amherst, Robert Cox has written previously about New England culinary history (chowder and cranberries).
Shutesbury’s Historical Commission chair Leslie Bracebridge will lead us on an informative tour of the cellar hole remains of Shutesbury’s poor farm, an example of a town poor farm created to house paupers. We will be joined by the Shutesbury Historical Commission on our hike to the cellar hole, the hike will be about 45 minutes each way. Leslie will supply an oral history and photographs on site. Come learn about a pauper farm, an alternative developed in many New England towns to the “auctioning off” of paupers at town meetings.
Join Leverett historian and artist Louise Minks for a fascinating, interactive program about paupers in Pelham and surrounding towns. Paupers were “auctioned off” at town meetings in New England from the 1600s generally through the Civil War; many towns developed town poor farms as an alternative to that method primarily post-Civil War right up until the New Deal. Pelham and Leverett’s early warrant articles and town meeting minutes reveal the names of paupers, who “bought” them and for how much.
Learn from Rex Eads of Vancouver, WA how a key “player” in American football history played a central role in the growth and development of The Pelham Fish Rod Factory. Rex Eads is an avid fly fisherman, collector of bamboo fishing rods and a fishing tackle historian. Known as “The Monty Man” by other fishing tackle historians and collectors, he is working on a book about the history of the Montague Rod & Reel Company, with a focus on the bamboo fly fishing rods they produced. The Pelham Fish Rod Factory, run by Eugene Bartlett, represents the birthplace of this company and an important part of its history.
You are invited to bring any Pelham Rod Shop or Montague artifact or memorabilia to share with the group and to bring your fishing rods for identification and appraisal.
An opportunity to tour and learn about the local, state, and national importance of Pelham’s National Register Historic District. Joseph Larson, of the Pelham Historical Commission, will lead the tour of the site and buildings. Learn why LIFE Magazine, Yankee Magazine and Washington D.C.’s Governing Magazine have all published illustrated articles on the Town Hall. Find out why the leading expert on colonial town halls and meetinghouses states that Pelham’s is unique in New England. The interiors of both the Church/Museum and the Town Hall/Meetinghouse will be visited with attention to the features that are original to 1743 and more recent periods.
This Tour is highly recommended for this year’s Sunday Museum Greeters and anyone thinking about volunteering to be a Greeter.
March behind the PHS banner together with Pelham Elementary school children and members of the Pelham Historical Society at this service honoring individuals removed from their original resting places for the building of Quabbin Reservoir.
Moving first through the Quabbin Park Cemetery we will arrive at the War Memorials and markers from the former Swift River valley towns of Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott. In addition to honoring Veterans and those who lost their lives in service to our country, this ceremony also recognizes the sacrifices made by former residents of the Swift River Valley so that the Quabbin Reservoir could be built. More information about the Quabbin Park Cemetery can be found at the Department of Conservation and Recreation – Quabbin Park Cemetery website here.
Explore parts of old Enfield during its Bicentennial year with a special tour led by Quabbin interpreter Nancy Huntington. Learn about the former Hanks Farm and Martindale Farm and the stories they tell as you encounter cellar holes near Hanks Meadow and old Webster Road. If time permits we may explore the Quabbin Park Cemetery as well.
Learn the historical significance of the Bartlett and Allen Dams in Pelham as well as their impact on Amethyst Brook. The Allen timber dam may be one of the oldest dams of its type in Massachusetts. The dams were removed to promote ecological restoration of the brook and to address public safety issues. Informative, interesting speakers will guide you through the history of the dams, their removal, and how the stream is responding. Speakers include Alex Hackman, project manager and restoration specialist from Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game; Robin MacEwan engineering design manager from Stantec; Boyd Kynard, an authority on sea lamprey; Keith Nislow from UMass/US Forest Service on stream ecology; and James Dietrich from Dartmouth College on high-tech survey techniques using drones.
Come celebrate Pelham Historical Society (“PHS”)’s 50th Anniversary. Enjoy cake and a trivia quiz! Learn about our 2016 programming, our plans for reopening and upgrading the Pelham Museum, and how you can become involved. Meet our new consultant, Sheila Damkoehler. Bring your ideas and let us know how PHS can better serve you. Help us shape PHS for the future.
We will again co-host this popular event with the Pelham library by providing tea, sandwiches, and sweets.
Tea begins at 11:00 a.m. – Program begins at noon –Pelham Library
For information: Bruce Klotz, 253-1601
Attention all Members and Interested People!
Please join us at the Pelham Historical Society’s 2015 Annual Business Meeting.
Come catch up on what we have been up to and what we are looking to do in the future. We will be electing new officers and trustees for the year, as well as some bylaw changes, so members, we need you to come and vote!
If you do not already know who we are and want to learn more, this is a great change to find out!
Sen. Stan Rosenberg auctions pies, as guests enjoy a New England boiled dinner. Come join us for this longstanding PHS community event.
Historic Town Hall – Tickets: Bruce Klotz, 413-695-1797.brucek@pelhamhs.org
Tickets are On Sale at The Pelham Public Library
Bruce Klotz will lead a walk through the Brewer Road neighborhood as a follow up to the program. Pack a bag lunch and dress for the weather.
Rain or Shine.
Meet at the Historical Complex
Call to sign up: Bruce Klotz, 413-695-1797
Please help us getting the museum ready for the season. We need a few good people to help move and clean and get things looking good. Help for an hour…help for 10 mins….help all night…
JUST SHOW UP
or email or call Bruce Klotz, 413-695-1797 brucek@pelhamhs.org
Visit 19th century Brewer Road neighborhood as perceived by the late Robert Lord Keyes and Linda Campbell Hanscom, longtime PHS officer and Pelham native, who will present on the history of this historic Pelham enclave.
Community Center Ramsdell Room Business meeting
Chairperson: Linda Campbell Hanscom, 323-7377
Please join in sprucing up the grounds around Pelham`s historic buildings. Bring gardening gear, food/drink and your energy.
9:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m. Historic Complex (rain date Sunday, May 31st)
Call or email Bruce Klotz, 253-1601 brucek@pelhamhs.org, or just show up to help.
March behind the PHS banner at this service honoring individuals removed from their original resting-places for the building of Quabbin Reservoir.
Moving first through the Quabbin Park Cemetery we will arrive at the War Memorials and markers from the former Swift River valley towns of Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott. In addition to honoring Veterans and those who lost their lives in service to our country, this ceremony also recognizes the sacrifices made by former residents of the Swift River Valley so that the Quabbin Reservoir could be built.
More information about the Quabbin Park Cemetery can be found
at the Department of Conservation and Recreation – Quabbin Park Cemetery WEB site.
Meet at Museum at 9:30 a.m. to car pool/11:00 a.m. for services at Quabbin Park Cemetery
Call to sign up: Bruce Klotz, 253-1601
Pelham photographer Jon Crispin unites art and history with images of suitcases with belongings left by patients who passed away at the Willard Asylum from 1910 to 1960. Locked in the attic of the Willard New York Psychiatric Center, the suitcases are a time capsule offering insights into the lives of unique and sometimes forgotten individuals who lived there. Jon has also done photographic studies of abandoned New York State prisons and asylums.
Community Center Ramsdell Room Business Meeting
Chairperson: Bruce Klotz, 253-1601 brucek@pelhamhs.org
We will again co-host this popular event with the Pelham Library by providing tea, sandwiches and sweets.
Tea begins at 11:00 a.m. – Program begins at noon –Pelham Library
For information: Barbara Jenkins, 253-2929
!!! POSTPONED Due to bad weather !!!
Capt. Job Shattuck, one of the principal leaders in Shays’ Rebellion, was tried and sentenced to death for high treason. Join author Gary Shattuck as he discusses previously undiscovered evidence that sheds a surprising new light on Capt. Shattuck’s involvement, and forces a reassessment of this honorable man’s actions.
Community Center Ramsdell Room Business Meeting
Chairperson: Bruce Klotz, 253-1601 brucek@pelhamhs.org
What is the difference between a ghost and a spirit? What is the history of paranormal investigation? How do you do an investigation? Are you a believer or a skeptic? Join Agawam Paranormal as they introduce us to the world of the paranormal.
Community Center Ramsdell Room Room Business meeting
Chairperson: Bruce Klotz, 253-1601 brucek@pelhamhs.org
Sen. Stan Rosenberg auctions pies, as guests enjoy a New England boiled dinner. Come join us for this longstanding PHS community event.
Historic Town Hall – Tickets: Bruce Klotz, 413-695-1797.brucek@pelhamhs.org
Tickets are On Sale at The Pelham Public Library
Visitors` participation at this 12th annual event is encouraged, but not required. Books available. Participants may come and go as they please
Historic Town Hall
For information: Chris Gould 253-9162
This is a special opportunity to visit the Quabbin`s restricted Prescott peninsula where we will drive and then walk to various sites including the site of Daniel Shays` cellar hole. Bring a bag lunch. Rain or shine.
Meet at the Historic Complex
Call or email to sign up: Bruce Klotz, 253-1601 brucek@pelhamhs.org