Frosted Foods Tested in Longmeadow- 1930!

Source:  Springfield Republican
March 6, 1930

On this day, March 6, 1930 Clarence Birdseye's frozen foods were introduced to the market place!  Springfield, MA was advertised as one of the test markets selected for his products.  The Birdseye Frosted Foods were also available to the residents of Longmeadow, MA when they stopped in to make their purchase at the Thrift Stores, Inc. that was located at 10 Bliss Road!

Source: Springfield Republican
March 6, 1930

The Massachusetts inventor and scientist Clarence Birdseye invented the quick freezing process.   

Source: Springfield Republican
March 6, 1930

There were many foods available for purchase. 

Source: Springfield Republican
March 6, 1930
Note: A partial list of the stores are found earlier in this story.

 

Frozen foods were available to Longmeadow shoppers when they shopped at the self service Thrift Stores, Inc. at 10 Bliss Road.

Source: 1933 Longmeadow Sesquicentennial Official Souvenir

It would be very interesting to learn how many Longmeadow families tried this new product in March of 1930 and what their reviews were.  Today, the Birds Eye Frozen food products along with other frozen food brands are enjoyed by numerous families and we see them in grocery stores. 

~Written by Judy Moran 

A Winter View From the Past

The Majestic Home of Mrs. Corinne H. Brewer
734 Longmeadow Street
March 2, 1914
Courtesy of
Digital Commonwealth/ Longmeadow Historical Society

On March 2, 1914 the children who lived in the town of Longmeadow, MA had a "no school" day!  The winter weather was challenging for residents in the Longmeadow/ Springfield, MA area.  The recent snow had accumulated and then it was recorded in the Springfield Republican that 2 inches of rain had fallen in Springfield.  Traveling in the area was very difficult.     

Springfield Republican
March 2, 1914

Students may have had the day off, but the local photographer Mr. Paesiello Emerson braved the icy paths and streets of Longmeadow to record this day for all of us to view 109 years later.  The photo is a beautiful winter scene of Longmeadow Street.  Mrs. Corinne H. Brewer's home is prominently seen on the left.  Her husband Edward S. Brewer had passed away in 1911.  Today, in the 21st century we recognize this majestic home as the Brewer- Young Mansion that proudly sits on our Longmeadow Town Green.  

Glancing a little farther down the street, the home of William B. and Grace Medlicott can be viewed.  They and their family lived at 720 Longmeadow Street.  A few years later this house was sold and in 1921 it was town down.  Another large house was built and still sits farther back on the property. 

On this day in March of 1914 some home owners had already taken the precautions to have a path cleared in front of their homes.  Everyone was waiting and wishing for a change in the weather.

Additional Source: Through the Lens Longmeadow Into the New Century- written by Jim and Judy Moran.

~Written by Judy Moran