A Beautiful Winter Painting

FIRST CHURCH
LONGMEADOW, MASS.
EST. 1716
Artist: Wiley

So many of us enjoy learning about and also revisiting the history of our town of Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Many of us follow the tradition of former residents of Longmeadow and acquire and/or purchase items that relate to our town's history. Some items are large and other items are small. 

When you walk into the Longmeadow Community House to cast your vote in the upcoming election you also have a wonderful opportunity to view a painting of a winter scene that we quickly recognize. The Community House is one of the buildings in the beautiful work of art. However, the First Church with its tall steeple can catch our attention. This large oil painting "FIRST CHURCH, LONGMEADOW, MASS., EST. 1716" is hanging on the left side of the wall in the Community House- after you walk into the building.

Plate on frame of painting

Previously, this painting had hung on the wall of a physician's office in Springfield, MA. The physician was Dr. Stanley N. Teale- a very well respected Cardiologist at Springfield Hospital (now Baystate Medical Center). Dr. Teale, his wife Shirley and their three sons Peter, Phillip and Malcolm lived for many years in a historic house in Longmeadow- 655 Longmeadow Street. When Dr. Teale retired in 1983 this work of art was gifted to him. He and his wife moved to Fairlee, VT and spent the remainder of their lives in that community. In 2008 Mrs. Teale passed away. This very well respected gentleman Dr. Stanley N. Teale passed away at the age of 101 years in 2022. Recently, his family gifted the painting to the Longmeadow Community House, so it could be displayed for all of us to admire.

While viewing this beautiful winter scene we are drawn to the center of the painting- to the First Church. There is snow on the ground and the scene looks tranquil. It may have had a special meaning to Dr. Teale, because his father Rev. Arthur E. Teale became the minister in Granby, CT after the family immigrated from Canada to the United States- when Dr. Teale was a young child. This scene from Longmeadow Street was also one that Dr. Teale, his wife and his sons recognized easily.

The artist signed his work Wiley. John J. Wiley, Jr. was born in and lived in Springfield, MA. Later he and his wife Elizabeth and children John III, Nancy, David, Kenneth and Bonnie lived in Feeding Hills, MA. Mr. Wiley was self- employed for 25 years and he took up the hobby of painting. He took art classes at the Springfield Museums and also at Bay Path College. After retiring in 1985 this artist painted only using watercolors.

Mr. Wiley displayed his work at the Agawam Public Library and in other exhibits including the art shows at the Longmeadow Shops. This artist would have been very familiar with this winter scene of the Cordis House, the Community House and First Church- while driving down Longmeadow Street. 

In 2016 John J. Wiley, Jr. passed away in Atlanta, GA at the age of 93 years. His wife Elizabeth had passed away in 2009. Mr. Wiley's works of art are found in private collections in the United States and other countries. 

This beautiful work of art by a Western MA artist can be viewed by all of us in the Longmeadow Community House. It is a winter scene that we recognize easily. 

Sources: Sunday Republican- Nov. 6, 2016; Valley News (West Lebanon, NH)- Aug. 28, 2022 and October 2024 Longmeadow Town Managers Newsletter.     

~Written by Judy Moran