WILLIAMSBURG — When Meekins librarian Rochelle Wildfong announced that the paintings of the late Mary Crampton would be on exhibit at the library, it sent warm feelings of nostalgia through many longtime residents of Williamsburg.
Crampton, who was a beloved teacher at the Haydenville Center School from 1930 to 1972, passed away in 2005, but over 20 of her oil paintings are keeping her memory alive at the Neil Hammer Gallery for the month of December.
The show opened in November and Wildfong says that some of the reasonably priced work has already been sold. “The paintings are nostalgic and we wanted them to be affordable for the people that knew her,” she said.
Much of Crampton’s work depicts local fall and winter landscapes, as well as a number of European seaside vistas.
One of her paintings is of a eucalyptus tree that is outside the Myrtle Ave home in which she lived from the age of 14 until her death at 94 years old.
Crampton moved to Haydenville from Northampton at the age of 14 after her mother died of tuberculosis. Moving in with her two maiden aunts in 1925, she graduated valedictorian of her class at St. Michael’s High School in Northampton, after which she attended Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, graduating in 1929.
Her life’s work then began at Haydenville Center School, which was located on Route 9 and eventually became the current Williamsburg Town Offices.
She was active in Haydenville’s St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Williamsburg Historical Society and was a trustee of the Haydenville Library.
“She also really liked to travel a lot and went to Europe many times where she painted these seaside views, but because she never titled any of her paintings, unless you recognize the view, the location is unknown,” Wildfong said. “Perhaps when people walk in and see the paintings, they will know where they were done.”
For many years, Crampton studied with the well-known Williamsburg artist Greta Carey, whose work has also been on display at the library.
Those interested in viewing Crampton’s work should make sure to visit the gallery soon. Wildfong said that as the show has been up since November, and as it is the holiday season, items purchased in December may be taken from the exhibit as they are sold.
For more information contact Rochelle Wildfong at: 268-7472.
CHESTERFIELD — The Hilltown Community Development Corporation in Chesterfield says that now is the time for business owners to get their business listing and advertisement in the 2020 Hilltown Business Directory.
The directory is mailed to every household in the Hilltowns early in the year.
It is open to any business located in the towns of Ashfield, Becket, Blandford, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Dalton, Goshen, Granville, Haydenville, Hinsdale, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Peru, Plainfield, Russell, Washington, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Windsor and Worthington, or any business whose owner resides in these towns.
Over 300 hilltown businesses currently advertise in the directory, which is mailed to 15,000 households.
Listings will be available in print and in an online searchable directory, available at www.hilltowncdc.com. To register, visit the website, or request a paper application from Michele Kenney at michelek@hilltowncdc.org, or call 354-1055.
GOSHEN — A fundraiser craft fair will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Town Hall, 42 Main St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This event raises money for the Chesterfield-Goshen Children’s Fund, which helps provide holiday gifts to local children and families who need a little help this season.
The fundraiser will feature crafts, handmade wreaths, baked goods, raffle prizes and more.
Ideas for this column on life in the Hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at Fryan.gazette@gmail.com