Potluck and Last Program of 2019

The Colrain Historical Society will hold its final meeting of 2019 on Thursday, October 10, at 7 p.m., following a potluck supper at 6 p.m. at the home of Joan McQuade, 7 Main Road, Colrain.

Election of officers and Board members will be on the agenda, along with an update on the status of the Pitt House, plans for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner cooked by chef Kevin Hollister, “Colrain on Canvas” calendars for Christmas giving, and plans for “Colrain on Canvas 2,” in the spring.

The meeting will be followed by a brief program,”Dustup at the Methodist Parsonage.”

Colrain’s Methodist Church shown on an old postcard.

Those participating in the potluck supper are asked to bring an entree, salad or dessert to share, wine if you like, as well as a place setting. Cider will be available.

 For information call Joan McQuade, 624-8818.

A Visit to Old Greenfield Village

Old Greenfield Village Museum sign beside Rt. 2 at the bottom of Greenfield Mountain.

A visit to Old Greenfield Village, at the foot of the Mohawk Trail in Greenfield, will offer Colrain children ages 8 to 12 an authentic glimpse of  village life around 1895. Sponsored by the Colrain Historical Society and Griswold Memorial Library, this time-traveling excursion Sunday, September 22. from 2 to 4 p.m. will be free. Ten buildings, including a general store, print shop, drugstore (apothecary), a builder's shop, and a candy store, among others, offer a vivid picture of village life over 100 years ago. Young historians must be accompanied by an adult, up to a total of 40 registered in advance by calling Belden Merims at 624-3453.

Program: School Days - Our Many One and Two Room Schools

The one-room Four Corners School.

“School Days” will take the Colrain Historical Society back to the town’s one and two-room schools Thursday, September 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the former East Colrain Chapel on West Leyden Road. [NOTE this change of venue.] A business meeting at 7 p.m. will precede the program.

 In addition, and not to be missed, the one-room Four Corners School uphill from the church on West Leyden Road will be open from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This school was restored to its original state dating from the mid-1800s by Ellen Miller. In its day it was one of 19 mostly one-room schools in Colrain.

 Built in 1872 and known then as Four Corners Church, the East Colrain Chapel was restored to service as the River Valley Christian Church in 2016. It’s a little gem.

The former East Colrain Chapel on West Leyden Road.

 West Leyden Road begins at the top of Colrain mountain by the old Chandler Hill Cemetery. Four Corners School is about four miles down that road on the right, followed on the right by the East Colrain Chapel. As there is little room to park at the school, park at the church and walk up to the school.

Wilson Hill Schoolhouse.
An undated photo of one of the early one-room schools in Colrain.

Program: A Photographic Tour of Western Massachusetts Libraries

A photographic tour of hill town libraries in western Massachusetts, including Colrain’s Griswold Memorial Library, and histories of some will be the topic of a program following the August meeting of the Colrain Historical Society Thursday, August 8, at 7:30 p.m. in Joan McQuade’s barn, 7 Main Road, across from the Pitt House.

 Residents of Rowe, Carlos and Kathy Heiligmann spent five years driving their 1947 Desoto over the highways and byways of western Massachusetts in search of its eclectic collection of public libraries. Carlos, who worked for ten years as an industrial engineer at Kendall Mills in Colrain, created a photographic record of libraries in 112 towns and cities from the Berkshires to Worcester, while Kathy compiled little-known historical facts related to many local libraries.They will share their photographs and personal observations from this unique journey of discovery.

 A meeting of the historical society will precede the program at 7:00 p.m. Both are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For information call Belden at 624-3453.

The Heiligmann’s book, Public Libraries in Western Massachusetts: A Photographic Essay, is available to borrow or read at some Western Massachusetts public libraries: http://bark.cwmars.org/eg/opac/record/4314979

Colrain’s Griswoldville Memorial Library photographs in the Heiligmann’s book.