"Marchant" Samuel Colton's Front Door- A Treasured Gift

"Marchant" Samuel Colton's Front Door
Courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Boston, MA

 
On this day #OTD- October 29, 1921- an article was published in the Springfield Republican with the news that the Boston, MA architects William T. Aldrich and Robert P. Bellows had gifted the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston with the front door of "Marchant" Samuel Colton's house.  The museum had described this door in its Bulletin as "typical of the finer houses of the Connecticut Valley during the early half of the 18th century and was well known to architects".  This gift was received during the time period of March 4- June 2, 1921.

(Click to enlarge)

During the 18th century "Marchant" Samuel Colton (1727- 1784) was a wealthy businessman.  His house had been located on the west side of Longmeadow Street, south of the Longmeadow Town Green.

He had a shipyard on the Connecticut River bank and his ships transported goods to the West Indies and to Bristol, England.  His beautiful house was built by John Steele.  

 
Attached to the rear of his house was his store that contained goods that this merchant sold to customers in the area.

 
In an interesting story that was read on October 6, 1905 to the members of the Longmeadow Historical Society at their annual meeting, Mrs. George E. Brewer (Caroline Brewer) gave a history of this house.  The information was found in "Marchant" Colton's ledgers.  Mrs. George E. Brewer was a Longmeadow resident, a reporter for the Springfield Republican in Springfield, MA and also a descendant of Quartermaster George Colton- one of the first residents of Long Meddowe (Longmeadow).  

In Mrs. Brewer's story she stated, "in June, 1754, five-days' work was done on the fore door" of this beautiful house.  She also stated that "Marchant" and Lucy Colton's only son, also named Samuel (1778- 1811), married Anne G. Warriner of Wilbraham and they "remained in the ancestral home" in Longmeadow.  After Samuel died in 1811 his widow married Rev. Gideon Leon Burt.  She survived her second husband, also, and died in 1853.  The property was purchased by the descendants of Thomas Colton who also owned the property next door.  For 45 years the house had been unoccupied and was falling into disrepair.     

Eventually, Longmeadow resident Everett B. Allen purchased it and then sold the house to W. Dillon to "remove" it.  The house was torn down in September 1916 and parts of it were saved and purchased by parties interested in antiques.  

"Marchant" Colton's door was gifted to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston by these two gentlemen, William T. Aldrich and Robert P. Bellows, who recognized the significance of this doorway.                               

Sources:  Boston Herald:  Aug. 7, 1921; Evening Gazette:  Oct. 17, 1921; Springfield Republican:  Oct 08, 1905;  Sep. 8, 1916; Sep. 17, 1916; Oct. 29, 1921 and Dec. 8, 1925; and Map and other Photos courtesy of Longmeadow Historical Society.    

~Judy Moran

"Great New England Hurricane of 1938"

On This Day, September 21, 1938 a destructive and powerful storm pounded Southern New England.  This storm is now known as the "Great New England Hurricane of 1938".   Several days before it had rained and with this storm many areas of the Connecticut River Valley in Massachusetts had a total of 10- 17 inches of rainfall.  In the Springfield, MA area the Connecticut River rose 6- 10 feet above the flood stage.

The New York, New Haven and Hartford Co. railroad tracks in Longmeadow's meadows became flooded in the early morning hours of September 21st.   

Source:  Springfield Republican
Friday, Sep 23, 1938

 
Longmeadow, MA Town Officials reported that more than 200 large trees were destroyed as a result of this hurricane.  Large elm trees were uprooted on the tree belt on Longmeadow Street and also on private property.  The home of Mr. and Mrs. Coryden K. Litchard at 756 Longmeadow Street  suffered damage.  The former home of Arthur J. Skinner in the north end of town at 46 Longmeadow Street had the most damage.  A large tree fell against the northern ell of the house. 

756 Longmeadow Street (left)
Litchard Home
Source:  Longmeadow Historical Society

 Every day life was affected!  "Trolly" service was disrupted with trees across the "trolly" tracks and electric power was down.  In many areas sidewalks were no longer in good condition.  On the night of September 23rd the residents of Longmeadow continued to use candlelight, once again.

Sources:  Springfield Republican:  Sep 21, 1938; Sep 23, 1938 and The National Weather Service- Boston: "The Great New England Hurricane of 1938".        

The Estate at 588 Longmeadow Street

Deepwood Hall
Painting by Artist Arthur A. Hart
Source:  "1961 Longmeadow Annual Town Report" Cover
Currently- Administration Building
at Bay Path University

At the beginning of the 20th century George M. Hendee was very well known in the Springfield, MA area and also throughout the world.  As a young man he was a famous high wheeler bicycle racer.  Later, he and Oscar Hedstrom (another bicycle racer) formed the Indian Motocycle Company that was located in Springfield.  Mr. Hendee and his wife Edith C. began making plans to live in Longmeadow, MA.  In 1909 he purchased about 20 acres of land from J. B. Burbank. This land was part of the Ethan C. Ely estate located on Longmeadow Street.  Mr. Hendee removed the old S.C. Stebbins house that had been located on this property, so he could build his house.

(click to enlarge)

In 1910 the ground was staked out for the new Hendee residence.  However, the plans changed after the Hendees divorced. The residence was not built and the land was sold to David and James Hale.

In 1915 the Hale brothers sold this property to another distinguished and successful Springfield resident, Frank H. Page.  In 1916 the property was staked out once again for a beautiful house and the new residence was completed in 1917.  The Jan. 1, 1917 issue of the Springfield Republican stated, "Frank H. Page of Ingersoll grove has probably built the finest and costliest house ever put up in Longmeadow."  The property contained 20 acres of land and the house was built of Harvard brick.  The living room was located on the first floor and it overlooked Wheelmeadow Brook.  Some of the rooms in this beautiful home included a library, a billiard room, a dining room, a breakfast room and also a dining room for the servants.  There was an area for sewing and an elevator went to the third floor.  Chapman & Frazier of Boston, MA were the architects for this beautiful home at 588 Longmeadow Street.  A. G. Chapman of Springfield, MA was the contractor and the cost was $50,000.

(click to enlarge)

Frank H. Page was born in Holyoke, MA in 1864.  After graduating Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1885 he moved to Minneapolis, MN and worked in the knit goods industry. This led to his interest in candy manufacturing machinery.  In the early 1890's Frank H. Page and his wife Bertha moved to Springfield, MA and he founded the Confectioners' Machinery and Manufacturing Company in Springfield.  This company became the National Equipment Company.  It expanded and the location was on North Main Street in Springfield next to Bosch Magneto's property (near the Chicopee, MA boundary).

Frank H. Page
(1864- 1928)
Source: Unknown

The Page family lived in their beautiful home, known as Deep Wood, for ten years.  All three of their children were then married, so they sold their estate to Mr. and Mrs. Douglas V. Wallace.   

Douglas V. Wallace was the vice- president and treasurer of the Forbes & Wallace Company in Springfield, MA.  He died in 1930 and his wife Mary R. continued to live on this beautiful estate with their two sons, John R. and Mack F. Wallace.    

Time moved on and the property became the campus of Bay Path Institute of Commerce.  Thomas G. Carr was a Springfield businessman.  In 1945 he purchased Bay Path Institute that was located at 100 Chestnut Street in Springfield, MA.  After the Longmeadow Zoning Board of Appeals gave the "green light" to establish a private school for girls at this location, it moved from Springfield to Longmeadow.  Mr. Carr became the first president at the Longmeadow location and changed the name to Bay Path Secretarial School for Women.  It became Bay Path Junior College in 1949.  Years later, the name changed again to Bay Path College.  As of 2014, we know this institution of higher learning as Bay Path University.  The beautiful home that Frank H. Page built at 588 Longmeadow Street is now the Administration Building of Bay Path University. 
                                             
Sources:  Bay Path University: "Bay Path's 100-year Plus History", Springfield Republican- Oct 1, 1910, Jun 26, 1915, May 1, 1916, Jan 1, 1917, Dec 20, 1928, Jan 30, 1930, Jun 19, 1945, 1910, 1920, and 1930 U. S. Federal Census.  

~Judy Moran    

On This Day- July 1, 1894

On This Day July 1, 1894 the Villages of West and East Longmeadow divided into two separate towns!  It was 127 years ago today.  On May 22, 1894 when it was reported that Massachusetts Gov. Frederic T. Greenhalge had signed the bill for the separation, there was celebration in the West Village.  

Source: Springfield Republican
May 23, 1894

 
~Judy Moran         

Longmeadow's Memorial Day Celebration 99 Years Ago!

Memorial Boulder
on the Longmeadow Town Green

In 1922 Memorial Day was celebrated on Tuesday, May 30th.  This Memorial Day in Longmeadow, MA was a special celebration, because following the parade the Memorial Boulder on the Town Green was unveiled and dedicated.  Maj.Gen. Clarence R. Edwards was the invited guest speaker to address the large crowd that had gathered.  He had been the commander of the 26th (Yankee) Division in France in the "World war" (WWI).  The Memorial Boulder was a 16 ton granite boulder that had been donated by Mrs. Joseph Wesson with the aid of her son-in-law Flynt Lincoln (of 161 Forest Glen Road).  A bronze plaque located on the boulder was inscribed with the names of Longmeadow town residents who lost their lives in earlier wars and WWI, in addition to those who served during WWI.

Longmeadow Town Green- ca. 1925
Source: Longmeadow Historical Society

After the dedication and honored speakers were finished, the guests were led into the Longmeadow Cemetery to pay their respects to the brave soldiers.  In the cemetery George A. Beal was honored.  This young man was the first soldier from Longmeadow, MA who died during WWI.  He died a few months after enlisting.  There were a total of three Longmeadow men that made the ultimate sacrifice during World War I.  They were George A. Beal, R. S. McNair and Albert T. Wood.

 
Sources: Through The Lens Longmeadow Into The New Century 1890- 1920 by Judy and Jim Moran,  Springfield Republican- Jun 3, 1918, May 31, 1922, Arkansas Gazette- Feb 15, 1931 and Springfield Union-  May 25, 1959. 

~Written by Judy Moran         

Was This Block of Stores the Second "Longmeadow Shops"?

Block of Stores
on Corner of Longmeadow Street and South Park Avenue
Current Photo- 2021

Around the 1920's as more and more families moved to Longmeadow, MA more businesses also located here.  One of the businesses was the A. H. Phillips grocery store.  This store was one in a chain of grocery stores in the Connecticut Valley area that Alvin H. Phillips, Sr. founded.  He was a self made businessman who was born in Saco, Maine in 1871.  Mr. Phillips began his career as a "commercial traveler" (salesman) and then opened his first grocery store on Main Street in Springfield, MA.  Another grocery store was opened on Walnut Street in Springfield and the chain eventually grew to 189 grocery stores.  Mr. Phillips was one of the first businessmen to realize that he could reduce the cost of products to customers by mass purchasing the items and then selling them.

Alvin H. and Mary Phillips and their children lived in Springfield and then moved to 32 Longmeadow Street in Longmeadow before moving back to Springfield.  Mr. Phillips saw business potential in Longmeadow and he opened a new grocery store in 1921 at the Colonnade (that was located at the corner of Longmeadow Street and Bliss Road).  His biggest rival, The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, was already at this location.

Click here to read an earlier story about the Colonnade: Was the Colonnade the First "Longmeadow Shops"?

In the South Park Terrace area many more families were moving in.  In 1922 Mr. Phillips built a new block for seven stores on the corner of Longmeadow Street and South Park Avenue.  His A. H. Phillips grocery store relocated there.  In 1926 not only was his grocery store located there, but also a tailor, a baker, a meat retailer, a drug store and a shoe repairer.  The town of Longmeadow was growing and there were more choices for shopping.  The A. H. Phillips grocery store remained in this block of businesses until 1940.

An Advertisement for A. H. Phillips, Inc.
Specials for the July 4, 1933 Holiday

Source: Springfield Republican- Jun 30, 1933

Note:  In the above Ad the Grocery Manager and the Meat Manager are identified for the Longmeadow Store (in the upper right hand corner). 

 

Bottles of milk with the name A. H. Phillips were sold in his grocery stores.  Below is a half pint glass milk bottle.   

When Mr. Phillips died in 1950 at the age of 79 years he was still very active in running his grocery store chain.  In 1951 many of the stores in his large chain were sold to Popular Markets, Inc.  

Places of Business in 1926 in the block at the corner of Longmeadow Street and South Park Ave.
Source:  1926 Longmeadow Directory. 

Tailor & Repairer-      Benjamin Hirst            149 Longmeadow Street
Baker-                        Mrs. Ade E. Fox           151 Longmeadow Street
Meats Retail-              William D. Sullivan     153 Longmeadow Street
Grocer-                       A. H. Phillips, Inc.       155 Longmeadow Street
Shoe Repairer-           Frank Zito                     157 Longmeadow Street
Druggist-                     Bennett's Pharmacy     159 Longmeadow Street

Sources:  Springfield Republican- Mar 9 1921, Aug 31 1922 and Jan 27, 1923, Springfield Union- Aug 8, 1950 and Jul 02, 1952, 1917,  1920 and 1926 Longmeadow Directory.   

~Written by Judy Moran                         

Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel Company- A New Early 20th Century Business in Longmeadow

On the corner of Longmeadow Street and Edgewood Avenue a stucco building was built in 1916.  It was advertised as containing four stores, a garage and a large hall that could seat 400 people.  It was built by Chaplin & Chaplin and the cost was about $35,000.  

[click image to enlarge]
Photo: Emerson Collection
Courtesy of Digital Commonwealth/ Longmeadow Historical Society

A business that was located in this block from 1918- 1924 was the Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel Company.  Charles H. Martin was the president and treasurer.  Herman G. Farr was the secretary.  The business office was located at 21 Besse Place in Springfield, MA.  This business specialized in manufacturing Martin Rocking Fifth Wheels.  A Fifth Wheel is the name given to the specialized hitch that allows a trailer to attach to a motorized vehicle. It was a rounded shape, so it was called a Fifth Wheel (see figure 1 below).  The Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel rocked on hinges, so the trailer behind the vehicle was able to adjust to rocky and unpaved roads/ streets.  In the past horses had been pulling wagons with cargo to the destinations.  This mechanism made it easier for motorized vehicles to be used (see figure 2 below).

Figure 1: Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel Advertisement
[click image to enlarge]

 

Figure 2

Mr. Martin had moved to the Springfield, MA area at the turn of the 20th century to work in Springfield's automotive industry.  He designed a tractor for the Knox Company (in Springfield) when he was employed there.  After partnering with Herman Farr, another inventor who received a patent for this product, the Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel Company was formed.

This invention made shipping products from one location to another so much easier.  The term "fifth wheel" is still used today for the connecting mechanism that tractor trailers currently use!          

 Sources:  Springfield Republican- Jun 9, 1918, Apr 10, 1920, May 11, 1922 and May 18, 1922, 1918 Springfield, MA Directory, 1918 and 1920 Longmeadow, MA Directory.

Written by Judy Moran   

Longmeadow and the March 1888 Blizzard

March 12, 1888
Main Street
Springfield, Massachusetts

The March 1888 Blizzard stopped everyday activities everywhere on the East Coast!  This blizzard is also now known as "The Great White Hurricane".  What began as rain on March 11, 1888 turned to snow and then heavy snow fell and continued the next day.  There were at least 40 inches of snow on the ground and large snow drifts, so moving around was very difficult.  It was difficult for foot travel and also for railroad travel. In nearby Springfield, MA the city residents were getting hungry.  They also relied on milk for their families from the local farms.

The Longmeadow resident and farmer Charles S. Allen was the President of the Springfield (Mass.) Cooperative Milk Association.  During this blizzard the local cows were producing milk, but the farmers had no way to get the supply to their customers in the city.  Mr. Allen found a solution with help from others including members of the Cooperative Milk Association. About 50 men carved a path from Longmeadow to Springfield shoveling the snow drifts.  Horses, oxen and sleds were then able to bring milk deliveries to Springfield. 

After they completed this task the men then proceeded to dig out a path to the railway station in Longmeadow.  Stranded down at the railway station was Longmeadow resident Daniel Erskine Burbank and four other people. They had been "snowed in" there for two days during the blizzard.  These men had not been able to get back up to the main street that we now know as Longmeadow Street.  Being rescued from the Longmeadow station was such a noteworthy event that this fact was stated in Mr. Burbank's obituary in 1914 when he died at the age of 88 years.

This blizzard in March of 1888 made life difficult for people of all ages.                        

Sources:  Boston Herald-  Dec 10, 1884, Springfield Republican- Mar 15, 1888 and Nov 17, 1914.     
Photo:  Courtesy of Wood Museum of Springfield History at Springfield Museums, Springfield, MA

Seuss Connections to Longmeadow

Dr. Seuss U.S. Postage Stamp
2004

During the first few days of March many of us remember the children's author and illustrator Theodor S. Geisel.  He wrote numerous children's books using the pen name of Dr. Seuss.  Many of us also know that Seuss was his mother's maiden name.  He was born in Springfield, MA on March 2 in 1904, so today we celebrate his birthday!

When Ted Geisel was 4 years old his father's cousin Anna Geisel married Alfred E. Stuckert.  The Stuckert family lived in Longmeadow at 909 Longmeadow Street.  They owned a large area of land including a section called "Stuckert's Grove".  It was located near their home and was a destination for large gatherings and picnics at the time.  The parents of both the bride and the groom were born in Germany and had immigrated to the United States. 

The Geisel- Stuckert wedding took place on the evening of January 25, 1908 at the home of Theodor Geisel.  This gentleman was the uncle of the bride and also Ted Geisel's (Dr. Seuss') grandfather.  The home where the wedding took place was 162 Sumner Avenue in Springfield, MA.  The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Henry Lincoln Bailey- the Pastor of the First Church in Longmeadow.  

As time moved on Ted Geisel's mother Henrietta died in 1931.  In 1946 his father Theodor Robert Geisel remarried.  This newly married couple Theodor R. and Merle D. Geisel lived at 125 South Park Avenue in Longmeadow.

As we celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday it is interesting to remember the connections that his family had to Longmeadow.     

Sources: Springfield Republican- Jan 27, 1908; Mar 9, 1931; Feb 23, 1946, 1908 Longmeadow, MA Marriage Records,                     

Was the Colonnade the First "Longmeadow Shops"?

The Colonnade
April 9, 1919

In 1916 the Colonnade was built at the corner of Longmeadow Street and Bliss Road by W. H. Carpenter and Co.  Longmeadow residents were able to shop in seven stores in one convenient area.  Was this the first "Longmeadow Shops" located in Longmeadow, Massachusetts? 

A grocery store, The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co., located to this block at 477 Longmeadow Street.  This grocery store was one of many in the chain of grocery stores that the Hartford family owned.   

The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co.
June 3, 1918

In 1859 The Great American Tea Company was founded in Lower Manhattan, New York by George F. Gilman.  George Huntington Hartford became his partner.  They sold tea.  Then, in 1870 the company's name was changed to The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co.  Mr. Gilman died and George Huntington Hartford and his two sons George L. and John A. built up the business and opened grocery stores.  They also expanded the products that they sold.  In addition to selling tea, coffee, spices and extracts they sold baking powder.  The owners learned that they could manufacture baking powder cheaper than what they were paying for it to sell in their stores, so they did.  They began manufacturing other products to sell, too.  They expanded their region to other states including Massachusetts and into the Springfield, MA area.  Today, we know this chain of grocery stores as the A & P.  The Longmeadow store conducted business at 477 Longmeadow Street.

The Ford Drug Co. was located on the corner of Longmeadow Street and Bliss Road.

Ford Drug Co.
June 3, 1918

A garage was located on the northern end of the Colonnade. 

Garage
July 12, 1918

In 1918 the Proprietor of the garage known as the Longmeadow Garage was Edward S. Parmenter.     

According to the 1923 Longmeadow Directory residents were able to stop into the following businesses at the Colonnade:

Graves Garage                                           465 Longmeadow Street

Nathan Sherman- Tailor                             467 Longmeadow Street

Michael Shea- Shoemaker & Repairer       469 Longmeadow Street 

The Ginter Co.- a Grocery Store                475 Longmeadow Street

The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co.      477 Longmeadow Street

Max Sisitsky- Meat Market                        479 Longmeadow Street

Ford Drug Co.                                             481 Longmeadow Street

These businesses were conveniently all located in one area.   

Sources:  Springfield Republican- Jan 01, 1917, Feb 17, 1923, 1923 Longmeadow Directory, 1941 Longmeadow Street Directory, 1940 U. S. Federal Census, Encyclopedia Britannica and Boston American- Sept. 26, 1957.
Photos Courtesy of Longmeadow Historical Society- Emerson Collection