50 Years Ago
- An appreciation night for outgoing Mayor Sean M. Dunphy will be held tomorrow at the Hotel Northampton. Dunphy, who is nearing the end of his third term, is expected to resign as mayor before the end of the month to assume his new position as chairman of the state Appellate Tax Board.
- The City Council last night tabled the question of whether to add new public parking to the central business district by acquiring the Standick Trust parking lot on Old South Street by eminent domain. The motion to table the measure came after an hour-long debate during which the council was told there will be a land damage suit filed if the lot is taken for $50,500 as recommended by City Solicitor Thomas Growhoski.
25 Years Ago
- After a night of suspense and drama, the presidential vote is cast but the verdict is unknown. The outcome of the race between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore hung on an incomplete vote count Wednesday in Florida, where fewer than 1,700 votes separated the two candidates out of 96 million cast across America.
- Sleep-deprived residents of the area are marveling at the election limbo. “I gave up at 12:15,” said June Hardy. “It’s interesting. I heard that former Northampton Mayor Mary Ford said on the radio this morning that other countries must be shocked we didn’t elect a president last night.”
10 Years Ago
- Police have interviewed two students they believe are responsible for leaving five boxes containing camera equipment and bearing the words Danger Keep Away in several downtown locations Thursday. The packages were scattered around downtown two were on the sidewalk near Thornes, one was on the traffic island at the center of the crosswalk outside Thornes, one was on the corner of New South Street at Elm, and one was on the corner of West Street at Elm.
- Five Colleges Inc. will try again to build a library annex on vacant farmland between North Maple Street and Rocky Hill Road, this time through the courts. The organization filed an appeal of an October Planning Board decision to deny it the right to build a 74,000-square-foot library annex which would house rarely circulating volumes.