50 Years Ago
- A local chapter of the Inventors Club of America, Inc., is being formed in Hampshire County. Thomas Yarrows of West Hatfield, a member of the Springfield chapter, hopes to find enough members in Hampshire County to establish a chapter here.
- B. Stanley Dowgert, 57, the director of the Smith’s Vocational High School for the past 16 years, died unexpectedly yesterday morning of cancer. He had been admitted to the hospital on Wednesday and until then he was not even aware that he had cancer.
25 Years Ago
- The final phase of a top-to-bottom renovation of the Forbes Library is set to begin after bids from general contractors were opened last week. The work will redesign and refurbish the second floor, including the art and music department and portions of the Calvin Coolidge Rome, create a climate-controlled storage area for county historical collections, and air condition the entire building.
- The Rev. Casimir S. Switalski, who served the Polish community in the Pioneer Valley for 55 years, died March 10 at the Mount Saint Vincent Home in Holyoke. He was 87. Rev. Switalski retired in 1995, after 20 years as pastor of St. John Cantius Church in Northampton. His father and uncles were among those who had helped build the church in the early 1900s.
10 Years Ago
- Questions over the fairness of Mayor David J. Narkewicz’s proposed changes to water and sewer rates were raised at a public hearing Wednesday night. Residents also wondered whether water conservation incentives would backfire and force a rate increase.
- Once very close to being sold last summer, the iconic Grange building which stands between the Williamsburg General Store and the Williamsburg Historical Society, is no longer for sale, thanks to enthusiastic new Grange members and the support of the local community. “It is very exciting,” longtime Grange member Candace Smith said, noting that the organization had been predominantly composed of seniors before the addition of the new members.