NORTHAMPTON — Dozens of people gathered around “The Queen of Main Street,” downtown’s iconic bronze owl statue, in remembrance of four people whose lives made an impact on the city.
The Eva Trager Memorial now includes a plaque honoring former mayor of Northampton Sean Dunphy, Susanne Naegele of Naegele Bakery, artist Gregory Stone, and Bill Streeter of Harlow Luggage.
Stone, who died in 2016, created the statue in 2012 in memory of Eva Trager, who was known as the “Queen of Main Street,” on the sidewalk where Trager’s store Country Comfort stood for 30 years.
Judith Fine, a member of the Eva Trager Memorial Committee, said she was standing right next to Stone when the statue was first unveiled.
“We knew the owl, the raptor that he admired, the ‘Queen of Main Street,’ would be an instant celebrity representing everything we wanted to celebrate — the diversity and uniqueness of our incredibly vibrant downtown,” Fine said.
Fine said Stone was known to be friendly and treat homeless people with dignity and respect. He’d offer them coffee, a blanket, a meal or just a cigarette, Fine said.
“He taught others to be respectful and generous,” Fine said.
Stone chose an owl to honor Trager because of the animal’s spirit and tenacity. Suzanne Beck, executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, said those honored Friday all had the spirit and tenacity to reach their achievements.
“Susanne was a crusty hunk of dark German bread: leavened by nature, fermented by survival. At turns sweet and bitter, organic, full of life force,” Beck read from Naegele’s obituary.
Beck said Naegele started in the business of baking with $60 she borrowed from her husband. A few years later, Naegele opened a store on Main Street in 1977, where the restaurant Teapot now operates.
“One person said she brought good taste to Northampton,” Beck said. “She also brought the first espresso machine to Northampton.”
Streeter had about 20 professions, Beck said, which included owner of a general store, dairy farmer, tavern owner and leather repair craftsman. His honorary profession was “ambassador of Main Street,” Beck said. He was also known as the “zipper king,” Beck said.
“He had a passion for quality zippers that brought ‘60 Minutes’ to Northampton,” Beck said.
As owner of the Harlow Luggage store on Main Street during the 1970s, Streeter became known in the city as a skilled leather craftsman.
Current Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz said that Dunphy was the city’s youngest mayor. Dunphy was elected in 1970 at age 28, and served three two-year terms. He is also a former justice and chief justice of the Hampshire Probate and Family Court system.
As mayor, Dunphy established the first recycling center, created the first planning department and made significant investments in recreation programs, Narkewicz said.
He’s also remembered for creating a spark that led to “Northampton’s Renaissance,” making investments in downtown infrastructure, Narkewicz said.
Beck said it’s like magic, when visionary people are connected to a visionary community.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.