200 Years Ago
- A stately elm, venerable in appearance, growing a few rods north of Hatfield meeting house, measures in circumference 34 feet at two feet from the ground. There is a cut in the tree four feet from the ground, which tradition says was made by the Indians, for the highest rise of water in the Connecticut River.
- One Cent Reward! Ran away from the subscriber on the 23rd inst., an indented apprentice boy by the name of Elbridge G. Rich. All persons are hereby forbid harboring or trusting him on my account, as I will pay no debts of his contracting. The above reward will be paid to any person who will return said runaway, but no charges will be paid. — Seth Lamberton, Ware.
100 Years Ago
- A number of off-campus houses operated for many years as private residences for Smith College students, will be discontinued with the opening of the new dormitories on Paradise Road, according to an announcement today by Mrs. Laura W. Scales, college warden.
- A pleasing announcement in connection with the Academy of Music is that J. M. Barrie’s “The Little Minister,” is to be done by the Northampton Repertory company Thanksgiving week. The production will be of a notable completeness and beauty in every detail.
50 Years Ago
- A fire at Northampton Cutlery Co., just before 6 a.m. yesterday, damaged a heat-treating machine and burned through the roof of the plant’s building on Riverside Drive, fire officials reported. The president of the blade manufacturing firm, Harvey J. Finison, called the damage very small.
- Albert Lumley, whose “Lilac Land” has been chosen for the site of the International Lilac Society’s annual meeting in 1977, reports that he has 21 new varieties as a result of gifts from the Russian government and the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Lumley has the world’s largest private collection of lilacs which have been raised on their own roots.