Children's Author Thornton W. Burgess Shared His Knowledge

Springfield Republican
November 7, 1926

In 1926 the children's author Thornton W. Burgess lived in Springfield, MA.  On November 6, 1926 he heard the news that early that morning an owl was perched on a radio aerial at the home of  Dr. and Mrs. James V. W. Boyd.  The home was located at 34 Ellington Street.  Mr. Burgess, "a local naturalist", learned of this very interesting news and arrived on Ellington Street to see for himself.  Perhaps he heard the news from his step-son, Chester P. Johnson or Chester's wife Ruth.  Chester, Ruth and their son Robert lived at 112 Benedict Terrace in Longmeadow.  

When Mr. Burgess first heard the news he had believed that the owl would be a Horned Owl.  That was what he believed until he saw the large bird.  An estimation was given of the owl's size.  Two feet in height as it was perched up high and the distance from wing tip to wing tip was 60 inches.  

It was a Great Northern Snowy Owl.  The home for these owls was Labrador, not Massachusetts.  For 3 hours the owl was perched up high with spectators watching below.  Suddenly, the owl flew to a nearby rooftop and watched the scene below for another half hour.  Then, it flew away.

Mr. Burgess eagerly shared his beliefs as to why this owl had ventured to Western Massachusetts.  Food such as fish may have become scarce, so it flew south.  The Great Northern Snowy Owl could see during the day and also at night, so hunting for food could be done anytime here in Western Massachusetts.  Rabbits, squirrels and ducks could become food for it.  

Thornton W. Burgess was well known in the area and throughout the country as the author of children's stories and books.  His stories were about animals and birds.  The short stories were published in newspapers across the country under the title  "Burgess Bedtime Story".  Whitey the Owl was one of the characters in his stories.                         

The Atlanta Journal
March 1, 1927

Mr. Burgess was born in Sandwich, MA in 1874.  His father had died when he was an infant.  He married Nina Osborne in 1905 and she died when their son Thornton was born in 1906.  Mr. Burgess worked for the Phelps Publishing Co. (in Springfield, MA) on the Good Housekeeping Magazine.  He began writing stories for his son about the Green Forest and about the Green Meadows.  These stories are in his first book, Old Mother West Wind.  

The author remarried in 1911.  Thornton and Fannie Burgess lived in Springfield.  In 1912 Thornton Burgess began writing children's stories for newspapers.  The first story that was printed in the Springfield Republican appeared on Feb. 17, 1920.

Springfield Republican
Feb 16, 1920

Mr. Burgess purchased Laughing Brook in Hampden, MA as a summer home in 1928 and later turned it into a year round home.  He died at the age of  91 after publishing so many daily stories for children including 70 children's books.

Laughing Brook is a familiar name and a familiar location in Hampden, MA to many area residents.  Many children have enjoyed expanding their knowledge about nature while attending camp during the summer at this beautiful Massachusetts Audubon Society education center and wildlife sacnctuary.       

Additional Sources:  Springfield Republican- June 6, 1965; Watertown Daily Times- May 19, 1928 and
Union-News- Jan. 14, 1988

~Written by Judy Moran      

Old House on the Green

Courtesy of
Longmeadow Historical Society

Mother's Day has been celebrated for many years in our country!  In our beautiful town of Longmeadow, MA there was a restaurant located on the Town Green where families could enjoy a special dinner on the special day set aside to honor mothers.  The Old House on the Green was located at 797 Longmeadow Street.  George E. and Margaret Adams had purchased the house at this address in 1921 and moved with their family from Springfield, MA.  The house had been built for Justin Colton, ca. 1833 (perhaps earlier).  Justin Colton's granddaughter, Miss Elsie Hatstat and other heirs sold this home to Mr. and Mrs. Adams.

797 Longmeadow Street in 1909
from the Emerson Collection
Longmeadow Historical Society

On October 11, 1940 Mr. and Mrs. Adams opened their home to visitors during specific hours and the next day guests with reservations could enjoy dinner at their establishment.  For many years organizations from surrounding areas enjoyed luncheons and dinners here.  The private home located at 797 Longmeadow Street became a guest house and a tea room.  The name was the Old House on the Green.

Bridal showers, wedding receptions, anniversary parties and annual banquets were celebrated at this charming destination.  Advertisements appeared in our local newspapers.

Source:  Springfield Republican
Sept. 16, 1945

In 1953 advertisements for Mother's Day reservations were found in the Springfield Union newspaper.
                

Source:  Springfield Union
May 3, 1953

The 1950 U.S. Federal Census lists this business that Mr. and Mrs. Adams owned as a "Tea Room".   An undated Luncheon and an undated Dinner menu can be viewed.

(Click to enlarge.)
Menu- undated
Courtesy of Longmeadow Historical Society

In October of 1958 Mr. and Mrs. Adams celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.  During that month and that year they also closed their destination restaurant.  Over the years the Old House on the Green had become a treasured dining experience for so many guests.  That dining destination became a wonderful memory for so many people in our area.

Some additional background information- George Adams did have insight into running a restaurant.  In 1899 his father Leroy Adams and his uncle Edward C. Crosby had purchased the Brooks House in Brattleboro, Vermont.  The Brooks House was well known in the Brattleboro area.  Leroy Adams sold his share of this establishment in 1907 and then spent part of his time in Springfield, MA.  He became the president of The Springfield Flour and Grain Company located on Liberty Street in Springfield, MA.  His son George E. Adams was the secretary and the treasurer of the company.

Sources:  1909 Springfield, MA City Directory; 1920 U.S. Federal Census; 1950 U.S. Federal Census; Springfield Republican-  Feb. 5, 1910; Oct. 31, 1921; Oct. 11, 1940; Springfield Union- Nov. 9, 1958 and Massachusetts Historical Commission- 797 Longmeadow Street written by Peter Santos. 

~Judy Moran

Happy Birthday Paesiello Emerson!

Paesiello Emerson
Photo Date: June 10, 1918
Courtesy of the Longmeadow Historical Society

Today is February 10th. On February 10, 1832 Paesiello Emerson was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. It is fitting to remember him today, because 100 years ago this Union Veteran of the Civil War lived in our town at 476 Longmeadow Street.  He lived with his step-brother and step-sister Henry and Annie Emerson.

In 1891 Paesiello Emerson's wife Nancy E. (Hartshorn) Emerson had passed away in the town where they lived- Spencer, MA.  After he retired from his occupation as a boot maker, he took up the hobby of photography.  This was at the turn of the 20th century.  We Longmeadow, MA residents are so fortunate that Mr. Emerson enjoyed his new hobby when he visited Henry and Annie.  He took photographs and documented our town as it was developing as a suburb of Springfield, MA.  

After moving to Longmeadow Mr. Emerson continued to take photographs of houses, old and new.  He also took photographs of people and places in town.  Paesiello Emerson died on December 28, 1927 and his glass negatives are now in collection of the Storrs House Museum in Longmeadow, MA.

Today, on February 10th let us remember this gentleman on his birth date!

~Judy Moran    

Sources:  1832 Hopkinton, MA Birth Records, Civil War Soldier Records, 1891 Spencer, MA Death Records, 1912 Longmeadow Street Directory, 1910 and 1920 U.S. Census Federal Records,                        

"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".        

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 Historian