Guns and Skates in Longmeadow

1870 Map of Longmeadow

The Warner Pistol Factory was a small fire arms manufacturing company located in Longmeadow, Massachusetts just south of the Pecowsic (Pecousic) Brook (see arrow).  The factory was established in the early 1860s by James Warner, who was a skilled gunsmith and inventor. 

Warner Pistol Factory

Date of photo is unknown
[click to enlarge image]

Today, the Warner Pistol Factory is remembered as an important part of the history of American firearms manufacturing.  James Warner made significant contributions to the industry, including his numerous patents and innovative designs.  In 1857, Warner received a patent for a new type of cartridge revolver that used self-contained cartridges. This breech loading design was a significant improvement over the previous percussion revolvers, which required the user to manually load each chamber with gunpowder, a ball and a percussion cap.

James Warner and Everett Hosmer Barney had a significant connection in the history of American firearms manufacturing.  In 1863, James Warner was granted a patent for a new breech-loading, single shot cartridge-based firearm that became known as the Warner Carbine.  Shortly before the end of the Civil War, Barney began working for James Warner at the Pistol Factory in order to provide some assistance in fulfilling a contract for the manufacture of army carbines for the US government. 

Warner Army Carbine- Civil War
Single shot- breech loading

The partnership between Warner and Barney continued for several years, and they collaborated on several other patents related to firearms design.  It was during this time at the factory that Barney discovered the beauty of the Pecowsic Valley where he later built his home.

Everett Hosmer Barney

Barney was also a prolific inventor and had many patents to his name, including patents for ice skates for which he became famous.   After the Civil War ended, there was significantly less demand for guns so Barney had time to work on an improved design for ice skates.  He leased the gun factory and made 500 pair of skates with a new metal clamp-on skate design which proved to be a winner with locals.

clamp-on skate design

 

 

With the successful proof of concept with the new clamp-on skate design John Berry- an old friend and associate in Boston joined Barney as a business partner in the skate business.  Together they moved from the former gun factory in Longmeadow and set up a manufacturing operation in Springfield near the Mill River in 1866.  After two years Barney bought out Berry’s interest and Berry retired from the firm in 1869.

In 1872 a larger manufacturing plant called the Barney and Berry Skate Company was built on Broad Street.  For over fifty years the company was one of the most prosperous in the city of Springfield.  At the height of its operation, the Barney and Berry Company were manufacturing over 600,000 skates per year and employing 250 workers.

Barney & Berry Skate Factory
1886 Sanford Map Section

Barney & Berry Skate Company
Broad Street, Springfield, MA

Through his successful business ventures Everett Barney became a rich man and in 1882 purchased 105 acres of land in the Pecousic Valley which was later to become part of Forest Park.  He built a majestic home called Pecousic Villa on this property overlooking the Connecticut River.

Pecousic Villa- Home of Everett Hosmer Barney

In June, 1890 a portion of Longmeadow extending south from Pecousic Brook to Forest Glen Road which included King Philip’s Stockade was granted to Springfield by the Massachusetts State Legislature for the later use in the creation of Forest Park.   Barney played a key role in the passage of this bill- “An Act to Annex a Part of the Town of Longmeadow to the City of Springfield”.  

On October 23, 1911 Everett H. Barney donated his land to the City of Springfield which eventually became part of Forest Park.

With declining demand for guns at the end of the Civil War the Warner Pistol Factory building was repurposed and used by the American Papier Mache Company to manufacture various items for sale.  The building was eventually demolished.

References

1.  Early Springfield and Longmeadow Massachusetts by Harry Andrew Wright, (1940)

2.  Springfield- Present and Prospective, by Eugene C. Gardner et al, (1905)

3.  Springfield Republican, September 6, 1872- The Papier-Mache Works

4.  Everett Hosmer Barney- His Family Connections- A Record of His Life Work by George Murray Barney,  (1912) Privately published

5.  The Original B& B: The Barney & Berry Company,  Skate Guard Blog, November 16, 2017

6.  Springfield Republican, November 9, 1870- The Best Skate in the World

7.  Springfield Republican, February 25, 1873- Mr. Barney’s  New Factory

8.  Springfield Republican, June 10, 1880

Written by Jim Moran/ Invited Historian

 

 

 

 

The Parsonage

The First Church of Christ Parsonage
741 Longmeadow Street, Longmeadow, MA
June 1907
(Click image to enlarge.)
Digital Commonwealth/ Longmeadow Historical Society

In June of 1907 the Parsonage for the First Church of Christ was located at 741 Longmeadow Street in Longmeadow, MA.  It was home to the Pastor Rev. Henry Lincoln Bailey and his wife Nelle Clute Bailey.  Rev. Bailey had accepted his new position and came to Longmeadow in 1901.  He served in this official capacity until retiring in 1916.  Rev. and Mrs. Bailey then built a house at 169 Crescent Road and continued living in Longmeadow.

(Click image to enlarge.)

The Parsonage at 471 Longmeadow Street was built closely to the site of the home of Longmeadow's first Minister, Rev. Stephen Williams.  In 1846 (long after Rev. Williams had died) the Williams house had been destroyed by a fire.  Funds were then raised by the parish and the Parsonage was built.  It became the home and Parsonage for Rev. John Wheeler Harding who served the First Church of Christ from 1850- 1891.  Many more Ministers lived in this home.

In 1921 this Parsonage was moved to 777 Longmeadow Street which was south of the First Church of Christ.  A new building, the Community House, was built at the former location of the Parsonage. 

(Click image to enlarge.)

Sources:  1907 Longmeadow Street Directory; 1917 Longmeadow Street Directory and "Ministers of First Church of Christ in Longmeadow From 1716-1999". 

~Written by Judy Moran               

A Local Florist- Meadowview Greenhouses

May 4, 1941
The Springfield Union

In 1941 Mother's Day was celebrated on Sunday, May 11th!   Longmeadow, MA residents did not need to go far to place that special order of flowers for their mothers for that special day.  Meadowview Greenhouses was located at 734 Longmeadow Street, in Longmeadow, MA with the entrance off Ely Road.  The advertisement above states the telephone number of this business and the fact that flowers could also be delivered.  Not only were cut flowers and corsages available to purchase, but potted plants were also sold.  Surely there were mothers in the Longmeadow area that would enjoy watching their "special" plant grow.

Meadowview Greenhouses
undated
courtesy of Museum of Springfield History
(click colorized photo to enlarge)

This business was owned by Mrs. Mary Ida Young Denault who had purchased and lived in the Wolcott Brewer mansion.  For more information about Meadowview Greenhouses, click here.  This beautiful mansion is now known as the Brewer Young Mansion and still sits on our Longmeadow Town Green.

~Written by Judy Moran                

The Mystery of Edna Solved

Edna Fay Ross with family
visiting W. F. Emerson at his home on Depot Road.
left to right:  William F. Emerson, Edna Fay Ross, Paesiello Emerson
May 28, 1911
(click to enlarge)
Digital Commonwealth/ Longmeadow Historical Society

Every so often in the early 1900's Edna Catherine Fay traveled from Brooklyn, New York (where she lived) to Longmeadow, MA.  She visited members of her family- the Emerson family.  Edna was the niece of Paesiello, William F., Annie and Henry Emerson.  She visited them and stayed with them when in town.  In 1904 Edna married Dr. Walter Ross, a physician, who lived and practiced medicine in Brooklyn, New York.  Edna's Longmeadow family- Henry, Annie, William F. Emerson and his wife along with William's daughter traveled to New York to attend the ceremony.

Springfield Daily Republican
Oct. 3, 1904

Edna's husband Dr. Walter H. Ross had graduated from high school in Springfield, MA in 1889 and then also graduated from Amherst College in Amherst, MA.

In the May 28, 1911 photo above, Edna (age 36 years) is visiting her relatives and staying with her uncle William F. Emerson (age 62 years)- the gentleman standing on the left.  After closely examining other photos of her uncle Paesiello, Paesiello (age 79 years) is the gentleman standing on the right.   This colorized photo shows us more details of all three people in addition to the Emerson fields in the background.  Click on the photo to view the details of their clothing.  Both men were holding cigars.    

Below is a partial Emerson Family Tree to give a better understanding of how Edna was related to other members of the Emerson family.  Below the family tree are also written details. There is more to the story, but this short review makes the details more clear.

Emerson Family Tree
(click to enlarge)

Edna's father Marcellus was Paesiello Emerson's brother.  Marcellus was 11 years younger than Paesiello.  Their father was William Goddard Emerson.  When Marcellus was 2 months old their mother, Susan, died.  It was in the year 1843.  Marcellus was then raised by the Fay family who also lived in Southborough, MA.  His name was Marcellus E. Fay.  Years passed and Marcellus married Emma P. Foster in Brooklyn, New York in 1871.  Their daughter Edna Catherine Fay was born in New Jersey in 1875.  Marcellus died three years later in 1878.

____________________________________________

William Goddard Emerson- the birth father of Paesiello and Marcellus remarried in 1847.  He and his new wife Lovina had three children.   William G. and Lovina Emerson along with their children William F., Annie and Henry eventually moved to Springfield, MA.  In 1872 the family moved to Longmeadow.  Their home is now known as the Cooley- Emerson house at 476 Longmeadow Street.    

The mystery of the identity of Edna has been solved.

Sources:  Springfield Republican- Dec. 15, 1888; Jul 12, 1919; Jan. 29, 1943, Springfield Daily Republican- Oct. 3, 1904, Jun. 26, 1905, The Evening Union- May 29, 1911, 1911 Longmeadow Street Directory and Judy Moran's Emerson Family Tree. 

~Written by Judy Moran    

Henry H. Emerson- A Longmeadow Farmer

Henry H. Emerson and His Niece Edna C. Fay
ca. 1902- 1927

On May 16, 1922 the Murdough Bros. grocery store in Springfield, MA advertised in the Springfield Republican that asparagus was available to purchase.  Every morning day a "fresh supply" arrived.  Many people would recognize the farm's name- the Emerson farm in Longmeadow, MA.

Source:  Springfield Republican
May 16, 1922

Henry H. Emerson lived at the family's homestead at 476 Longmeadow Street in Longmeadow, MA.  This house is known as the Cooley- Emerson house that is located at the corner of Longmeadow Street and Emerson Road (Depot Road).  Henry was a farmer.  He, his sister Annie and his step-brother Paesiello all lived at this address in 1922.  Annie was a teacher and an authority on Longmeadow history.  Both Henry and Annie were unmarried.  Paesiello was the retired widowed gentleman who took up the hobby of photography later in his life.  His beautiful photographs of Longmeadow at the turn of the 20th century record the history of our town.

Henry Emerson farmed the family's land.  In the early 1890's he was one of the largest growers of raspberries in Western Massachusetts.  Many of the young people in town worked harvesting the ripened raspberries.  Asparagus was another crop that he grew and sold.  In early May of 1903 frost damaged part of his crop.  The crop in 1914 yielded 300 to 400 pounds daily.

Asparagus Field Gone to Seed
1911
Digital Commonwealth/ Longmeadow Historical Society

In 1913 Mr. Emerson harvested wheat.  His wheat crop was the only wheat crop in Longmeadow.

Henry H. Emerson's Wheat Stacks
1913
Digital Commonwealth/ Longmeadow Historical Society

He grew sunflowers and corn, also!

The end of the season.
September 5, 1918
Digital Commonwealth/ Longmeadow Historical Society

Quite often when we think about the Emerson family, the names Annie and Paesiello come to mind quickly.  Annie's and Henry's brother and Paesiello's step- brother William F. Emerson served as Longmeadow's Town Clerk.  However, Henry H. Emerson was the family member who cultivated the land, grew and harvested crops for so many Longmeadow/ Springfield area residents.

Once again, we can thank Paesiello Emerson for taking these photos (that have been colorized).  Now, we know more about Henry H. Emerson who moved to Longmeadow, MA in 1872- with his parents and family at the age of six years. 

Additional Sources:  Springfield Daily Republican- May 4, 1903; Springfield Republican- Jan. 26, 1943; 1870, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 U. S. Federal Census.

~Written by Judy Moran