AMHERST — Nearly two centuries of mills along the Mill River and Cushman Brook between North Amherst and Cushman will be detailed through an interpretative history trail.
The District One/ North Amherst Neighborhood Association recently provided updates on the project to both the Recreation Commission and Historical Commission, as it seeks from the Community Preservation Act account $105,000 for continued historical work and surveys, and $85,000 for signs and kiosks associated with passive recreation.
Bryan Harvey, a member of the neighborhood group, said there are many ruins and foundations that border existing trails. “We found more than we ever thought would be there,” Harvey said.
The ongoing historical survey will eventually allow stories to be told and to encourage people to learn more while using the trails.
“What we’re trying to do is encourage greater interest in passive recreation, promote appreciation of the public landscape in general and get people into personal contact with our shared history,” Harvey said.
He pointed to both the Roberts Lower Mill paper mill that was in operation for decades, with stones set in 1795, and the later Roberts Upper Mill, built in 1848, where leatherboard was made.
Between 1727 and 1920, there were 18 locations with at least 26 structures holding 69 different businesses making products such as grain, textiles and wood. There would be four to five main kiosks to direct people and other signs with QR codes for people to get more insights.
Much of the land on which the trail would run is owned by the town and is permanently preserved.
Meg Gage, who is also part of the committee, said she wants people to be exposed to this “extraordinary history” that otherwise would be available only in books at the Jones Library or in boxes in the library’s special collections.
Shade tree essays
Amherst Arbor Spotlight is a new monthly series of articles that will focus on specific
shade tree species, citing their identifying characteristics, ecological benefits and historical significance, accompanied by vintage and contemporary photographs.
Launching in January by the Public Shade Tree Committee, the first focus is the majestic white oak. That examines the 400-year-old white oak tree growing on the banks of Puffer’s Pond, as well as trees at the Dickinson Homestead, the North Cemetery and Wildwood Cemetery.
Future articles will feature the American elm, American sycamore, Dawn redwood, northern catalpa, shagbark hickory, sugar maple and tuliptree.
New articles will be posted on the first of the month on the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee’s website, with links on Facebook and Instagram. The first article is at https://www.amherstma.gov/3882/WHITE-OAK.
French night
Amherst Regional High School students in the French Club are putting on their ninth annual French Night, with a Francophone Dinner, Jan. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m.
The event celebrates Francophone cultures, with Amanouz Moroccan Cafe catering, student potluck dishes, live performances, trivia, henna, fondue and crepe stations, a children’s area, a photo booth and raffles.
Community members, families and friends are all welcome to attend, and volunteers and food contributions are also appreciated.
For information and to purchase tickets, send email to seegera@arps.org or cisseo@arps.org.
Jones Library funding
With challenges of expenses rising faster than town support and fundraising, Library trustees President Austin Sarat told trustees at a Decmeber meeting that the 4% draw rate from the Jones Inc. endowment may be conservative.
“We may need to increase that draw rate, that would still put us within range of what is responsible for endowment management,” Sarat said.
Sarat said there needs to be a conversation about what is needed to prevent the library operations from fraying at the edges.
“None of us wants to live in a town that year in and year out can’t meet the needs that are growing faster than we can bring in new revenue to the town,” Sarat said.
New candy store in Hadley
Outline Sour Candy recently opened in a small commercial plaza at 103 Russell St., Hadley.
Owned by Joseph Morrison, the store sells a variety of old-fashioned candy by the gram. It is also decorated with antiques and pays tribute to Morrison’s son, a Berklee School of Music graduate.
The business is a member of the Black Business Association of Amherst Area.
Meetings
MONDAY: Amherst School Committee, 6 p.m., and Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall, with a formal swearing-in ceremony for new elected officials
WEDNESDAY: Public Art Commission, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY: Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.