Mrs. Clara Brand- Community House Manager

Mrs. Clara MacDonald Brand
(Mrs. F. Tracy Brand)
The Springfield Union
May 18, 1949

It was in May of 1949 that Mrs. F. Tracy Brand notified the Town of Longmeadow that she would be retiring on July 1st of that year. Mrs. Brand (Clara MacDonald Brand) was the Hostess and Manager of the Longmeadow Community House. She had served in this role for 25 years! 

Longmeadow Community House- 1923
Longmeadow, MA
Emerson Photo
courtesy of Digital Commonwealth/ Longmeadow Historical Society

It was after her husband F. Tracy Brand passed away in 1923 that Mrs. Brand took on this new position for Longmeadow. Previously, Mrs. Brand had been the secretary of the Longmeadow Community House Association.

1949 Longmeadow Annual Town Report

Clara MacDonald (McDonald) Brand was a native of Maine and she had graduated from Colby College. After graduation she taught school in Bath, Maine. Then she moved to Springfield, MA. Miss MacDonald taught ninth grade at the State Street Elementary School, so she had experience with children and also with the public.

State Street Grammar School- Springfield, MA
Clara B. MacDonald
Teacher- Grade 9
Springfield Daily Republican- June 17, 1906

Then, on April 17, 1907 Miss MacDonald married Frederick Tracy Brand. He also worked in Springfield. Mr. Brand was a Teller at a bank- the Springfield Institution for Savings. Three years later they moved to Longmeadow. Mr. and Mrs. Brand had two sons- Thomas and Alexander.

Her husband died in 1923 and soon after Clara Brand was appointed to the position to become the Hostess and the Manager for the new Longmeadow Community House. There were so many activities to schedule for residents and other guests at this new venue. Early on the very well attended May Breakfast was one of the events that relocated to the Community House.

Springfield Republican
May 1, 1924

The Boy Scouts and the Brownie Scouts scheduled meetings. Dancing classes and community group meetings were held at this location. Special Lectures drew audiences from Longmeadow and also the greater Springfield area. The Community Players presented plays. Meetings of the Red Cross, Woman's Maternal Association and women's groups from all of the churches in town took place in this building. There were so many different activities at the Longmeadow Community House!

Springfield Republican
Sept. 28, 1924

In addition, town primaries, town elections and town meetings were also held here. The Longmeadow Community House was busy.

In 1944 teenagers enjoyed attending the "Jive Junction" Dances. The very popular Saturday afternoon movies began in the autumn of 1945. The average attendance at these movies for young people was 150 elementary and Junior High School students. Mrs. Clara Brand scheduled all of these activities.         

This lady lived in Longmeadow for 55 years. In 1959 she relocated back to Springfield. Clara MacDonald Brand passed away in December of 1962 at the age of 88 years. Both of her sons had married, raised their own families and were living in Springfield. Mrs. Clara Brand had come in contact with so many residents in the Longmeadow area. They remembered talking with her while attending the programs, the meetings and the special events that she scheduled at the Longmeadow Community House when she oversaw all of the events. There were so many wonderful special events held in this building! Longmeadow and area residents had so many long lasting memories.  

Other Sources: Springfield Daily News- May 18, 1949; Springfield Republican- Jan. 6, 1946; Springfield Weekly Republican- Jan. 24, 1924 and The Springfield Union- Dec. 14, 1962.

~Written by Judy Moran