A Look Back, Oct. 1

50 Years Ago

■The first town and gown parade in the history of Smith College marched up Main Street Saturday to kick off a day of open house events at the college. A new college flag designed for the centennial year flew from the tower of College Hall. According to college President Thomas C. Mendenhall, the flag was too heavy to carry in the parade.

■Walter Ely Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ely of 19 F Hampshire Heights, was presented a $25 savings bond award Wednesday as the Gazette’s Newsboy of the Month. Walter, who is a student at Hawley Junior High School, has 68 customers at Hampton Manor, along King Street and at the Hampshire Heights.

25 Years Ago

■The Pease Funeral Service Inc., located in a landmark Tudor stucco building on Prospect St., is now run by the co-owner of one of the region’s oldest funeral homes. Kenneth Pease, who learned in July he has advanced cancer, has sold the funeral home, along with the affiliated Pease-Healey Funeral Home of Westfield, to Springfield funeral director James C. Gay.

■An area home care program affiliated with The Cooley Dickinson Hospital, will lay off 30 part-time home workers and sever contracts with three agencies by Dec. 1. The VNA/Hospice Alliance announced the cutbacks Ð which will affect care for about 100 homebound area residents Ð in a letter circulated to staff Thursday.

10 Years Ago

■The Board of Public Works would lose its power as a decision-making body under a significant reorganization of Northampton’s city government proposed by Mayor David J. Narkewicz. Rather than acting as an independent body with the power to set rates, approve projects, establish policy and sign contracts, Narkewicz is proposing that the board take on an advisory role to the Department of Public Works.

■With the luck of a draw, Bistro Les Gras, 25 West St., now will be able to serve liquor after receiving a sought-after license. The city’s License Commission randomly selected that restaurant from the seven applicants seeking the license.