The First Patriots' Day- April 19, 1894!

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Boston Morning Journal
April 12, 1894

On April 19, 1894 the state of Massachusetts celebrated its first Patriots' Day! It was a legal holiday with the Proclamation signed by the Massachusetts Governor Frederic T. Greenhalge.  That day businesses throughout the state were mostly closed and people celebrated, including businesses and residents of our local area. 

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Springfield Daily Republican
April 18, 1894

For so many decades there had been a holiday in April called Fasting Day.  It was a holiday that included people fasting and praying and it was celebrated before the planting season began.  However, this holiday was not celebrated as much at this time period. 

Both towns in Massachusetts, Lexington and Concord wanted a day set aside to honor the battles fought in their specific towns during the Revolutionary War.  Both towns also wanted to be the center of the celebration.  Gov. Greenhalge decided to make the holiday a statewide holiday.  It would be named Patriots' Day!

Patriots' Day was celebrated on April 19th every year from 1894- until 1969.  That year the Massachusetts Legislature changed the date of the celebration to the third Monday in April.  Today, we will remember the fact that the first time that Patriots' Day was celebrated in Massachusetts was on April 19, 1894!  

~Written by Judy Moran          

Easter Sunday Dinner- 1958

Springfield Republican
March 30, 1958

In 1958 Easter Sunday was celebrated on Sunday, April 6th!  A few days earlier an advertisement appeared in the Springfield Republican newspaper inviting interested members of the public to make their Easter Dinner reservations at the Old House On The Green.  This charming restaurant located on the Town Green in Longmeadow, MA was a favorite for so many families and organizations for many years. The proprietors of this restaurant that was located at 797 Longmeadow Street were George E. and Margaret Adams.  This establishment opened in October of 1940 and was located in a historic home in Longmeadow.

797 Longmeadow Street
Date: 1909
Emerson Collection
Digital Commonwealth/ Longmeadow Historical Society

While many patrons enjoyed their special dinners on that day, they did not know that this would be the last Easter Dinner that would be served at this destination location.  In October of 1958 the Old House On The Green closed.  Dining at 797 Longmeadow Street would be a wonderful memory for so many people- both Longmeadow residents and also diners from out of town.

Click here for more of the history of the Old House On The Green.

~Written by Judy Moran                

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             

Winter Wonderland

Emerson Photos
Courtesy of
Digital Commonwealth/ Longmeadow Historical Society

Looking back to snow covered roads and beautiful views of winters in Longmeadow, MA.  These scenic photographs were taken more than 100 years ago! 

The Annexation of "Franconia" by Springfield

On June 10, 1914 the Massachusetts Governor David I. Walsh signed the Bill that changed the boundary of Longmeadow, MA.  Franconia had been a little hamlet that had been located in the northeast corner of Longmeadow.  As of that day in June Franconia became part of Springfield, MA.

Springfield Union
June 10, 1914
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There were very few houses in this area that was known as Franconia. For that reason there were not many children. The few school age children that lived here attended schools in Springfield.  The Springfield schools were much closer to them.  The town of Longmeadow paid Springfield to educate these students.

Longmeadow School Committee Report
1894-1895
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The residents of this area did not enjoy other conveniences other residents of Longmeadow had. As time went on these residents wanted better roads, water and sewer connections. Their children attended schools in Springfield and they lived closer to other residents in Springfield than in Longmeadow.  They were interested in being part of Springfield.     

Springfield Republican
Jan. 23, 1914
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Attorney John Aldrich represented the Franconia residents when they petitioned the State Legislature to become part of Springfield, MA.  The Bill was passed and Gov. David I. Walsh signed it on June 10, 1914.  According to the 1915 Longmeadow Annual Town Report there were 802 acres of land and about 33 houses in Franconia when the separation took place

1915 Longmeadow Annual Town Report

Shown below is a 1920 map of Longmeadow/ Springfield showing the section of Longmeadow (Franconia) that became part of Springfield in 1914.

1920 Map of Longmeadow/ Springfield
Franconia section is outlined in yellow
(Click map to enlarge)

 

Written by Judy and Jim Moran

Vote YES to Save the Young Mansion

 

This pivotal Special Town Meeting was held 5 years ago today
January 25, 2018. 

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The Brewer-Young Mansion at 734 Longmeadow Street was built in 1885 and is an iconic, historic landmark in Longmeadow. This 10,900 sq. ft. mansion was put on the market in 2010, but there was no interest from any residential buyers. The prior owner was foreclosed upon and evicted in 2015, and the mansion had fallen into severe disrepair. The mansion was considered too large and too costly to restore and maintain for it to ever be a private residence again.  Restoring it would cost more than $2 million.

The Longmeadow Historic Preservation Partners (LHPP) led by town residents Dr. Andrew Lam and Chris Orszulak and local general contractor Henry Clement purchased this property in September 2017. The deterioration of this structure had reached a point that they needed to act soon if the historic mansion was to be saved.

The LHPP believed that the only way to save it was to make it self-sustaining.  After analyzing all possible uses, they determined adaptive re-use as professional offices would be the most stable, sustainable way to preserve the mansion long-term. This use would also be least impactful to the Town Green and is one that can be supported by abutting homeowners.

The LHPP believed that saving this mansion would preserve and enhance Longmeadow’s historic character and the Town Green.  They planned to restore the exterior to its former grand appearance and preserve most of the historic interior as well.

One key hurdle was the rezoning of this property for professional offices only, not commercial, so it could never become a retail store, restaurant, or anything else.  This change would require a 2/3 vote at a Special Town Meeting in order to move forward.

This pivotal Special Town Meeting was held 5 years ago today on January 25, 2018.  

Below is a photo of this Special Town Meeting with Dr. Andrew Lam outlining the plans before a packed Longmeadow High School gymnasium of some 1,250 Longmeadow voters. 

In the weeks leading up to this STM there was significant opposition to this plan particularly by some owners living on the perimeter of the Town Green.  In the end the zoning change from Residential A-1 to Professional District passed by ahttps://gofund.me/8663ddc3 narrow margin of 857-381 (2/3 approval vote required).

Dr. Andrew Lam Outlining Plans for the B-Y Mansion
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Today, the Brewer-Young Mansion at 734 Longmeadow Street is a vibrant building with many small businesses and entrepreneurs as well as a medical practice occupying the building.  The exterior as well as the interior of the structure have been completely renovated including restoration and preservation of many architectural and esthetic features. 

For additional information including many photos about this project visit the Save the Mansion Facebook page.

Below are some exterior photos of the mansion during the past 100+ years.

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A huge THANK YOU to the Longmeadow Historic Preservation Partners who have certainly delivered on their promise to rejuvenate the Brewer-Young Mansion (both inside and outside) and have returned it to its status as a historic gem on the Longmeadow Town Green.

 by Jim Moran/ Guest Historian