Heath Road Covered Bridges

Colrain once had more than nine covered bridges, including these two off Adamsville Road at the beginning of the Heath Road. This 1921 photo is from the collection of the Colrain Historical Society. Both bridges were destroyed in the flood of March 18, 1936.

Calvin P. Call (1910-2007), in notes about Colrain’s covered bridges wrote “Near the Frank Herzig Barrel Shop were 2 bridges. The largest bridge was on the main part of the river. The smaller and shorter covered bridge was over the canal that ran a waterwheel for power for the mill.” Calvin’s notes are in the collection of his great-niece Carol Purington.

This 1871 F. W. Beers & Co. map has the location of the two bridges circled in red.

The recently  reopened Arthur A. Smith bridge in Lyonsville is a replica of the last of the town’s historic bridges, retaining its original rare Burr trusses.

“Colrain on Canvas” 2021 Calendar

The “Colrain on Canvas” 2021 calendar is available at many local locations for $15. Stop by soon and pick up your copy. They are also great gifts for friends and family, far and near.

Sale locations include

• Boswell’s Books
• Sawyers News Co.
• Marty’s Repair
• Colrain Town Office
• Catamount Country Store
• Hager’s Farm Market
• Pine Hill Orchards
• or call (413) 624-8800

Proceeds benefit the Colrain Historical Society.

We are looking forward to presenting “Colrain on Canvas II” on May 22 & 23, 2021. Fifty paintings of Colrain scenes that were not included in our original show.

 

Covered Bridge Opens to Vehicle Traffic

A car enters the east end of the Arthur A. Smith covered bridge on Friday, September 25, 2020.

For the first time since 1982, cars cruised through the iconic Arthur A. Smith covered bridge on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.  The last of more than nine covered bridges that dotted the town historically, this is actually an exact replica of the original bridge, with its Burr trusses, on this site.  

First built in Shattuckville in 1869, and known as  the Fox Bridge, it was damaged by flood in 1878, repaired and moved to its present site on the east branch of the North River  in 1896.  Laminated wooden arches were installed to strengthen the bridge in the 1920s.  

It was closed to traffic as unsafe in 1982.  Removed from the river for repair by a team of oxen in 1990, the bridge was later rebuilt  by the state in 2007, but it remained closed to traffic until this week.

See this article in the Shelburne Falls Independent for information about the rebuilding of the bridge.

http://www.sfindependent.net/site/assets/PDF/SFI51.pdf

Repairs near completion for Arthur Smith Bridge.

Historic covered ‘Burr arch’ bridge is the last of its kind in Massachusetts.

By Laura Rodley

Buy Bill Pitt’s Books

Bill Pitt was an omnivorous reader.  His library in the G. William Pitt House, which now belongs to the Colrain Historical Society, housed hundreds of histories, art books, novels, cookbooks, books about Maine, reference and travel books, and poetry, as well as a collection of books about the theater.

The curatorial committee has set aside all of the theater collection and all books dealing with Colrain and local history, and we will be selling hundreds of the other books from his library Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5 and 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. across from the Brigham farmhouse on Route 112 just north of the village.  Proceeds of this sale will help to fund repairs to the Pitt House buildings.  The books will be priced to move, and there are some wonderful finds there.

Across the road, in front of the farmhouse, there will be a tag sale of antiques and farm implements from the Brigham farm—well worth a look.

We will be masked and practicing social distancing, and hope visitors will do so as well.  Cash and checks only.

Ownership of the Pitt House on Main Road

(Article from the September 2020 issue of the Colrain Clarion.)

With great enthusiasm the Colrain Historical Society has accepted ownership of the Pitt House on Main Road. After a two-year absence from the property, the society looks forward to restored life and activities in these buildings. Meetings and the popular programs on Colrain history will return to the Stacy Barn behind the house. The main barn, containing much of the collection of agricultural, industrial and cultural artifacts, will be stabilized and open again to the public and to school children, as will the town’s early fire station/hose house. And, finally, a re-organized Pitt House will re-open. The Historical Society’s Building Committee (Ken Noyes, Guy Wheeler and Phil Sherburne) is organizing the first phase of the restoration. The Finance Committee (Bill Cole, Prentice Crosier and Guy Wheeler) is planning a capital campaign with the goal of raising funds for these essential projects. Co-Chairmen Brad Brigham and Hale Johnson will spearhead this effort. The work will take time, organization and money — but success will mean that one of the few remaining historic buildings in the village,* along with its important collection, will remain a proud landmark accessible to the people of Colrain, many of whom donated to the collection and supported the Historical Society for nearly 70 years. *The Colrain Inn, Memorial Hall and the Blue Block are no more; the future of the Brick Meetinghouse is uncertain.

“Be part of this community effort. Help us grow,”  asks Board Chair Belden Merims. To lend a hand—or an idea— call Belden at 624-3453, Joan McQuade at 624-8818, or Debby Wheeler at 624-8800 (or email).

 

Colrain Historical Society Accessions Barrel Stove

 

The Historical Society recently accepted this historic barrel stove, a gift from Lee Denison of Denison Logging and Lumber in East Colrain. 

 

The term "barrel stove" refers to its function rather than to its shape. This stove was used to heat moistened staves arranged around it until they become flexible enough to bend. The staves are then held together by metal hoops to create a barrel.

 

Wooden barrels and crates were widely produced throughout our agricultural history for transporting and storing apples, potatoes and other produce from Colrain farms. This barrel stove joins the Historical Society's collection of artifacts from the town's economic, cultural, and social history.

 

The lumber business started by Caroll A. Denison in 1900 is as historic as this barrel stove. It is now a fifth generation family enterprise offering a multitude of services such as timber harvesting, site development, and emergency tree services.

Catamount Hill Quinquennial Reunion on August 8

Catamount Hill Quinquennial Reunion via Zoom Maintains Tradition

 

2012 photo descendants of Major Hezekiah Smith, Jr. (1752-1843) at the stone monument marking the site of the Catamount Hill School house where Hill residents raised a flag in protest of American sailors being captured at sea and impressed in to the Royal Navy prior to the outbreak of the War of 1812. The event marks the transition of the flag from a military banner to a national symbol.

 

The Catamount Hill Association was organized in Colrain in 1875 and its members take a long view of their history. Descended from families of Revolutionary War veterans who were also politically active in support of War of 1812, the Association's members have reunited every five years ever since.

This year, because of COVID-19, the Association's 30th Quinquennial Reunion program will happen online via Zoom, a popular digital video conference service. As a technology, Zoom is a far cry from the steam railways and horse-drawn vehicles which brought participants to the first Reunion in 1875, held near the small caves on Catamount Hill known as "the dens". 

On Saturday, August 8 the Quinquennial will be held for the first time in cyberspace. Descendants will meet at 11 a.m. EDT by using a link e-mailed to them from the Association's contact list. Non-listed descendants may send their name, e-mail address, and family affiliation to catamounthill1875@gmail.com.

The Reunion program will include a presentation of images, historic and contemporary. The business meeting of reports and elections is traditionally heralded by the ringing of a cow bell. This year, rather than echoing through Colrain's hills and valleys, it will resonate through cyberspace. 

 

Totes and Tees of the Arthur A. Smith Bridge

From the Colrain Clarion Special Edition, Monday, June 8, 2020:

Totes and Tees of the Arthur A Smith Bridge— A Fundraiser for the Colrain Historical Society The winners of the Colrain Arthur A Smith Bridge Totes and Tees Design Contest are Lisa Nartowicz Jablonski (first-place, above left) and Makenna Johnson (second place, above right). Sale of these tote bags and tee shirts will promote awareness of the hoped-for use of the bridge for a town park, to be voted on at the Colrain Annual Town Meeting on June 20. There were 18 entries ranging from abstract to fine art to whimsical, giving the judges some excellent choices. Each entrant will receive a tee shirt for their efforts, and the 5thgrade class at Colrain Central School will also get shirts for their work and input this year as we developed plans to create a park and recreation area around the Arthur A Smith Bridge. To order your limited-edition shirts ($20 each), please go here. Shipping is available, as well as free delivery or pickup within Colrain. (Thanks for your patience as we get the website fully up and running.)

Historical Notes 2020

The Spring 2020 edition of Historical Notes, the newsletter of the Colrain Historical Society, was mailed in mid April. Click here for a PDF version. Click on the photos of the pages below to view a larger image.

Historical Notes 2020 page 1.

Historical Notes 2020 page 2.

Historical Notes 2020 page 3.

Historical Notes 2020 page 4.

Old Photos of Griswold Mills and Colrain

The Museum of Our Industrial Heritage in Greenfield has a collection of photos of the Griswold Cotton Mills and other location in a Colrain. These photos were provided courtesy of the Colrain Historical Society.

http://archive.industrialhistory.org/CA/pawtucket/index.php/Detail/collections/10
When you are on their website, click each photo for an enlarged view and information about the photo.

This page on their site has a very brief article about the history of the Griswold Mills.
http://industrialhistory.org/histories/griswold-cotton-mills/

 Explore the other links on their website (EXHIBITS, DATABASE, HISTORIES, VIDEOS) for more fascinating videos and photos of this area’s industrial heritage.

PItt House Update

PItt House, 8 Main Road, Colrain

The Colrain Historical Society has moved one notch closer to achieving ownership of its traditional home, the Pitt House at 8 Main Road. The property was left in trust to the town under the will of G. William Pitt in 1976 for the use of the Historical Society as a museum. Recently the town decided to shift the property in trust to the Historical Society, a transfer that required approval first by the office of the state Attorney General and then by Probate Court. Petition for that move has cleared the AG’s office and is now at Probate.

Because of “change of use” from residential to museum, the house and outbuildings must now meet commercial code requirements in order to receive Certificates of Occupancy. The Society has not had use of these buildings since 2018. The heavy lifting required to meet code on these buildings one at a time will begin after Probate rules.

Meanwhile, volunteers are working to secure the town’s material history, the collection of artifacts, photos, textiles and documents housed in these buildings for the people of Colrain. We will return to the Stacy Barn for our meetings and popular programs as soon as possible.

Program Schedule for 2020

Early spring crocuses lean in to the sunshine. Photo by Alex Purington.

Because of COVID-19, we will skip the April meeting and hope to be able to continue in May. As in the past, the October meeting at Joan McQuade’s will be preceded by a potluck supper and followed by a short program, listed below.

Our meetings/programs are held on the second Thursday of each month, April through October, beginning with a business meeting at 7 p.m., followed by a program at 7:30. Potlucks begin at 6 p.m. Currently, most programs are in the barn/garage beside Joan McQuade’s house, across the road from the Pitt House in Colrain Center. They are free and open to the public, followed by refreshments.

Note: this year the June and July programs will be at the former Dude Ranch and at Wheelview Farm in Shelburne respectively. ​

Watch the Greenfield Recorder newspaper, the online Colrain Clarion, and this website for program details as the date approaches.

May 14, Improper Intimacy: Almira Edson and the Perfectionist Movement, Prentice ​Crosier

 June 11, A Dude Ranch in Colrain, Belden Merims, at the former Dude Ranch

July 9, Centennial Farms of Shelburne, Carolyn Wheeler, at Wheelview Farm

August 13, Kenny Noyes Makes a Windsor Chair, Kenny Noyes

September 10, Yankee Narratives, performed by Sarah and Harry Hollister

October 8, Doctor in the House: Olie, Joan McQuade, and potluck at Joan’s house

Colrain Covered Bridge Design Contest

Covered Bridge Design Contest poster. Click image to enlarge.

Win a $250 prize if your artwork featuring the Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge in Colrain is chosen in this design contest. The winning image will be reproduced on t-shirts and tote bags and sold as a fundraiser to benefit the Colrain Historical Society and Colrain Central School. All entrants will receive a t-shirt or tote bag.

The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2020. For digital submissions or questions send an email to FriendsofAASmithCoveredBridge@gmail.com. Or submissions may be mailed to Colrain Historical Society, P.O. Box 45, Colrain, MA 01340.

This contest is sponsored by the Friends of the Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge and Jonathan’s Sprouts.

Architectural detail inside the Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge showing a portion of the Burr truss and the planked arch. Photo by Jim Purington.

East entrance to the bridge. Photo by Don Purington.

Colrain’s Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge in the news

Colrain’s historic Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge was recently featured in a “Chronicle” news  report on WCVB NewsCenter 5 - Boston. A link to the video report is below.

https://www.wcvb.com/article/haunted-covered-bridges/30901866

After visiting a reputedly haunted covered bridge in Greenfield, the reporter heads up to Colrain.

Also featured in the report was the Pine Hill Orchards Farm Store and Restaurant and the neon American flag, both on Greenfield Road in Colrain.

Screenshot of the video showing Jonathan Lagreze being interviewed about the Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge.

Old School Days in Colrain

The Greenfield Recorder published a Business Advertising Supplement on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 featuring articles about school days from long ago. Three of the stories were about Colrain schools.

• School Memories: Foundry Village School, by Pricilla Phelps
• Recollections of a One-Room Schoolhouse in Colrain: Spurr School - 1945, by Dorothy (Willis) Giffin
• A Teacher’s Life Was Not An Easy One, by Belden Merims

Click on this link to read the articles:
https://view.publitas.com/the-recorder/in-business-since-2020/page/1

Photo of the Wilson Hill School taken sometime in the 1970s. Courtesy of the Purington Family collection.

“Love Colrain” Valentine Lasagna Dinner

Please join us for this warming, delicious dinner in mid-winter.

Chef Kevin Hollister will man the kitchen at a “Love Colrain” Valentine lasagna dinner Friday, February 14, at the Shelburne-Buckland Community Center, 53 Main Street, Shelburne Falls, MA.

Both meat and vegetarian lasagna from his own special recipes will be the centerpiece of the feast, which will be served buffet style from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Call Debby or Belden for reservations before February 10. Tickets are $12.50, pay at the door on arrival. This is a fundraiser for the Colrain Historical Society.