Upcoming events
Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019,
Booze, Schmooze and News: Remembering Hatfield Taverns and Clubs
The 100th anniversary of Prohibition got us to thinking about, well -- drinking. So for our next exhibit we delve into the history of drinking establishments in Hatfield, both established bars and restaurants, lounges, clubs, cafes, and package stores. Where drink was poured and lives were shared -- from the Daniel White Tavern on Main St., to the Hatfield Club and Barn on Elm St., to Buckwheat's and Casper's on West St. and much more! Come to the opening for a great start to your Luminarium evening. If you have photos or memorabilia of any of these Hatfield spots you'd be wiling to loan for the exhibit, let us know!
Past programs & events
Crowd enjoys multi-sensory WWI talk |
Recreated WWI Red Cross Canteen draws attendees to new exhibit
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May 16, 2019. The crowd enjoyed getting to re-live their childhood remedies w/o having to undergo the pertinent childhood ailments! Living history educator Reba-Jean Shaw-Pichette presented a fascinating exploration of medicine during World War I, with a focus on the 1918 influenza outbreak and its effects on the Valley, as well as on WWI soldiers and Red Cross workers. Thanks to Refreshment Committee Linda Golash and Pat Douglas for the tasty DIY ice cream desserts. Hosted by the Hatfield Historical Society, this program was also supported by a grant from the Pioneer Valley History Network, with funding from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and Mass Humanities. Thank you to all our sponsors!
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May 26, 2019. Opening the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, "Through Marian's Eyes: A Red Cross Canteen Worker Recounts World War I" tells the story of 37-year-old Hatfield farm manager Marian Billings during her time in France at the end of the war, through her journals. The other half of the exhibit presents stories we uncovered about Hatfield's WWI soliders, detailed in a five-part series on our blog (click above).
On opening day, we recreated a canteen in the front yard of the museum and staffed it with costumed Red Cross "workers" (two Smith Academy juniors and living history reenactor Piper Pichette) serving coffee, lemonade, cider donuts and chocolate drops -- as canteen workers would have done in France in 1918. And in addition to the public, the young women served a WWI Army doctor and two reenactor soldiers waiting for the next train (also Smith Academy juniors). *Thanks to Richardson's Candy Kitchen for the chocolate drops, and to Atkins Farms for the cider donuts. Remembrance poppies courtesy of the Women's Auxiliary of Hatfield American Legion Post 344.
This exhibit is curated and presented by the Hatfield Historical Society and co-sponsored by the Forbes Library, which is presenting an online exhibit showcasing WWI soldiers from Hampshire County, including Hatfield. This exhibit is also supported by a grant from the Pioneer Valley History Network, with funding from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and Mass Humanities. Thank you to all our sponsors! |
Whately & Hatfield in Shays' Rebellion
April 17, 2019. A great crowd showed up to hear local historian Dereka Smith, of the Whately Historical Society, and Cher Nicholas, president of the Hatfield Historical Society, share their extensive local research on the agrarian rebellion of 1786 to 1787. As the meeting was held at the Hatfield American Legion Post 344, many attendees enjoyed a glass of beer or wine as Dereka and Cher regaled us with stories of Whately and Hatfield residents involved in Shays' rebellion and as the hosts of multiple meetings.
This program was co-sponsored by the Whately and Hatfield Historical Societies.
This program was co-sponsored by the Whately and Hatfield Historical Societies.
Sugaring in New England and Hatfield
Something for everyone at lighting exhibit
Dec.23, 2018. Approximately 100 people came out to see our eclectic new exhibit: "Out of the Darkness: A History of Illumination in Hatfield," on Luminarium Sunday.
Come see what types of devices local folks would have used prior to candles, and what fuels and fixtures they did use in their homes in between candles and the arrival of electricity. How did YOUR family get its light in the early and mid-20th century? How many electrical outlets in a room did you grow up with?
The exhibit will run till next fall (when we start preparing for NEXT year's Dec. exhibit -- on the history of drinking!) Let us know if you have some items or stories to donate or loan for that exhibit -- or additional stories about lighting.
The Museum is open Tuesday mornings 10 to 12 and Saturday mornings 9:30 to 11:30 am.
Come see what types of devices local folks would have used prior to candles, and what fuels and fixtures they did use in their homes in between candles and the arrival of electricity. How did YOUR family get its light in the early and mid-20th century? How many electrical outlets in a room did you grow up with?
The exhibit will run till next fall (when we start preparing for NEXT year's Dec. exhibit -- on the history of drinking!) Let us know if you have some items or stories to donate or loan for that exhibit -- or additional stories about lighting.
The Museum is open Tuesday mornings 10 to 12 and Saturday mornings 9:30 to 11:30 am.
Lost towns of the Quabbin
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Fall wine tasting fundraiser a hit!
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The Rise and Fall of the Porter McLeod Machine Shop
May 17, 2018. About 40+ visitors listened to UMass Lowell history professor Robert Forrant tell the fascinating story of the rise and fall of the Porter McLeod Machine Tool Co. His richly illustrated presentation was followed by a lively Q&A, with an audience dotted with ancestors of Porter McLeod workers, and one Porter McLeod worker himself.
Come see the accompanying exhibit in the Hatfield Historical Museum, which opened soon after his talk. Not only will you learn who built the company and who worked there, but learn how two collections of records and artifacts were rescued to save these stories.
This project and the accompanying exhibit were funded, in part, by grants from Mass Humanities, Mass SHRAB (the State Historical Records Advisory Board), and the Town of Hatfield's Community Preservation Act, all under the sponsorship of the Hatfield Historical Society.
For those who reserved a copy of Bob Forrant's article in the Summer Issue of The Historical Journal of Massachusetts, come to the Historical Museum to pick your copies (and pay, $8). It looks great! We ordered about a dozen extra copies, so come get one while supplies last..
Come see the accompanying exhibit in the Hatfield Historical Museum, which opened soon after his talk. Not only will you learn who built the company and who worked there, but learn how two collections of records and artifacts were rescued to save these stories.
This project and the accompanying exhibit were funded, in part, by grants from Mass Humanities, Mass SHRAB (the State Historical Records Advisory Board), and the Town of Hatfield's Community Preservation Act, all under the sponsorship of the Hatfield Historical Society.
For those who reserved a copy of Bob Forrant's article in the Summer Issue of The Historical Journal of Massachusetts, come to the Historical Museum to pick your copies (and pay, $8). It looks great! We ordered about a dozen extra copies, so come get one while supplies last..
How I-91 Changed Western Mass
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New England Apples for all! |
March 15, 2018. Storyteller Barry Deitz drew upwards of 70 people to his talk on the coming of Interstate 91 in Western Mass, which was held in Whately, jointly sponsored by the Hatfield and the Whately Historical Societies. If you missed it and want to take a look, Frontier Community Access TV (fcat) filmed it, available HERE. A great program!
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Nov. 16, 2017. If you missed this program and you ever get the chance to hear Russell Steven Powell speak on the history of apples in New England, go for it. It was a fascinating evening! And since he brought samples, he turned us on to lots of delicious varieties that many of us had never heard of -- like Ashmead's Kernel. Of course, we were kind of stuffed already from our annual potluck supper. Join us next year.
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A perfect day for Fall Festival 2017
Oct. 1, 2017. It was a great day for strolling through the Festival between the Historical Museum and Friends of the Library Book Sale at the front end of Billings Way and the Farm Museum at the back end. This year, a handful of Hatfield farmers joined the festival with their produce wagons and displays full of colorful vegetables. We still had the textile demonstrations in the Farm Museum, cider pressing, food tastings, games, music and more. Check out the pictures below!
A fitting farewell to World War II Exhibit
Feb. 25, 2017. Lots of family members of servicemen featured in our World War II exhibit and other veterans came to see the exhibit one last time before it was taken down. We also were honored to have visits from two of our featured WWII participants themselves -- Ted Picard, who drove a landing craft vehicle in Guadalcanal, and now lives at Capawonk, and Marion Root, who worked on clips for the M1 rifle at the Springfield Armory, and now lives on West St. Check out their photos and those of other visitors below.
(Photos by Kathie Gow and Marta Bilodeau.)
Sometime in the future, we hope to get a grant to build a permanent online exhibit that recognizes and honors Hatfield's WWII servicemen and women.
The exhibit, "Surviving World War II: V-Mail, Snapshots and Cigars Help Ease the Hardships and Heartache" ran from May 24, 2015 to Feb. 25, 2017. (click on the underlined title for a larger image of the poster).
(Photos by Kathie Gow and Marta Bilodeau.)
Sometime in the future, we hope to get a grant to build a permanent online exhibit that recognizes and honors Hatfield's WWII servicemen and women.
The exhibit, "Surviving World War II: V-Mail, Snapshots and Cigars Help Ease the Hardships and Heartache" ran from May 24, 2015 to Feb. 25, 2017. (click on the underlined title for a larger image of the poster).
Up close with the Hill Burying Ground
May 12, 2016. About 30 people turned out on a lovely evening to hear gravestone conservator Jonathan Appell describe the restoration work he did in the Hill Burying Ground last summer under a Community Preservation Act grant. After a brief walking tour of the graveyard, the group moved inside the American Legion building at the base of the hill for a fascinating slide presentation, followed by ice cream and treats!
**Look for an upcoming blog post about this event Crowd turns out for Old Farms updatesMarch 17, 2016. About 65 people showed up to hear UMass archaeologist Randy Daum talk about his discovery of the 17th century "Old Farms" Village along with his latest finds. Randy walked the crowd through his discovery with story and slides, from finding the first intact cellar hole, to identifying a dozen foundations, and the locations of rooms and out buildings. He brought a handful of artifacts from the site with him, which can now be seen at the Hatfield Historical Museum. An extensive body of work and a truly astonishing find for the whole region.
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What's new in the world of antiques?
April 14, 2016. George Thomas Lewis, based in Northampton, expert in fine art and antiques, shared the latest trends in the antiques world, and regaled us with stories of what sold and for how much -- or how little. More entertaining and educational than Antiques Roadshow!
Fall Festival 2015 a sunny success
Oct. 4, 2015. We ended up with beautiful fall weather instead of the threatened downpours, and that, along with a nice article in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, brought happy crowds to the 15th Annual Fall Festival, and approximately 150 visitors to the Hatfield Historical Museum to see the World War II exhibit.
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Sharing World War II Stories
May 21, 2015. In conjunction with the opening of our WWII exhibit in the Historical Museum, community members shared their memories of the home front in Hatfield during World War II. Those stories included:
--Al Rejniak as a boy chasing down a plane crash (see article) along with other local boys, trying to extract the machine guns from the plane before town authorities arrived. (He was unsuccessful, but managed to get away with a machine gun shell, now on display in the WW exhibit). --rationing for butter, fuel, meat, sugar, stockings and coffee -- which of those would you find it hard to do without today? --and civil defense demonstrations -- such as how to safely pick up a phosphorus bomb. Air raid wardens were assigned to each neighborhood, responsible for making sure no lights were visible from the street during air raid drills. Come see Dick Belden's air raid warden arm band and badge, and much more in the WWII exhibit! The program was followed by make-your-own sundaes, thanks to the refreshments crew! Pioneer Valley Goes for the Gold
April 16, 2015. Cliff McCarthy regaled attendees with stories of local folks who made the arduous trek to California in search of gold and fortune – dispelling commonly held myths, including who went and how they traveled. He talked about folks from Hadley, Williamsburg, and Hatfield, out of his database of approximately 500 local adventurers who trekked west. A fascinating slideshow presentation. Afterwards, attendees enjoyed dessert treats and reminisced over photos of the Center School and other now-defunct Hatfield elementary schools.
Connecticut River Oxbows
March 19, 2015. About 70 people packed the room to hear Greenfield Recorder editor and natural historian Gary Sanderson talk about the little-known history of the Whately, Mass., Connecticut River oxbow and surrounding areas. This event was held at the Whately Congregational Church and was co-sponsored by the Hatfield and Whately Historical Societies.
Tales of Hatfield past, plus potluck
Nov. 20, 2014. Giles Desmond ("Desi") gets a thank you from Marta Bilodeau for his contribution to "Turning Back the Clock," stories of Hatfield's past, following a sumptuous potluck supper. Other storytellers included Pat Cady, John and Jane Pease, Al Rejniak, Pat Douglas, Charlie Kellogg, and Fran Godin.
Guns in Early America: Busting the Myth of Colonial Sharpshooters
May 15, 2014. We had a great turnout of gun enthusiasts and neophytes, but all were fascinated by Amherst College history professor Kevin Sweeney's talk about the ownership and use of firearms in Colonial America. Co-author of Captors and Captvies" The 1704 French and Indian Raid on Deerfield, Prof. Sweeney has been researching the reality behind the popular image of well-armed colonists skilled in firearms' use. Don't miss this if he gives it again! Afterwards, deliciious ice cream concoctions were enjoyed by all.
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Center School Remembrance
April 4, 2015. More than 50 people showed up for the Center School Remembrance exhibit in the COA Senior Center to share stories with each other, while about a dozen of them recorded recollections with Hollington Lee. Great coffee donated by Mill District Coffee and local cider from River Valley Market made it easy to stay and chat, which people did! Check out the photos taken by Marta Bilodeau and the nice article in the Gazette the following Monday.
Folk Artist Thomas Yarrows Carved Supper
Feb. 28, 2015. This special exhibit, which ran in January and February, focused on a mini collection of a single folk artist --Thomas Yarrows of Hatfield and his carved Thanksgiving supper. It served as the preview of a larger exhibit of his work planned for the future.
Fall Festival 2014 and Lost Art of Cursive
Photos by Charlie Kellogg (unless otherwise noted).
Oct. 5, 2014. It was a beautiful day for Fall Festival, with hundreds visiting the Farm Museum and activities and vendors nearby -- check out images above for a sampling.
And close to 100 visitors graced the Hatfield Historical Museum as well, with its new exhibit, "Simple Tools, Elegant Script: The Lost Art of Cursive." Can you still write in cursive? Can your children, since the state's Common Core no longer requires that cursive be taught? Come see how the tools have changed over time and what handwriting looked like when writing was an art. Civil War Remembrance & Encampment
May 25, 2014. The weather held out for a great day -- Civil War encampment by the 15th Mass. Volunteer Infantry in front of the museum, town parade and veterans ceremony, followedy by a tribute to Hatfield's Civil War soldiers at the museum, including five descendants of our town's soldiers. Then everyone checked out the museun's Civil War exhibit, titled The Things They Left Us: A Glimpse Into Civil War Life for Hatfield Men and Boys, including a photo contest to see who could look most like a Civil War soldier. Contestants will be posted on our Facebook page (and on this website) soon. About 60 visitors joined us for the ceremony of remembrance, and one hundred and fifty visitors checked out the exhibit in the museum -- a banner day! The exhibit runs Saturday mornings through Oct. 25, so come by soon!
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Learning in a One-Room Schoolhouse
April 10, 2014. Dennis Picard, director of Storrowtown Village and Museum in West Springfield, not only entertained us with his stories of learning in a one-room schoolhouse in Western Mass., but taught us about Hatfield's early district schools, still earlier brick schoolhouse behind the present Congregational Church and even gave us instruction on how to curtsy and bow to the schoolmaster. A great program if you ever get the chance to see him do this!
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The Great River: Treasures in Our Valley
March 6, 2014. At least 85 attendees from all over the Valley came to listen to William Hosley regale us with stories of Connecticut River Valley treasures -- whether pieces of fine furniture, architectural details, portraits, gravestones or textiles. Many people mentioned how they left feeling proud to live in the Valley, and with lists of places they needed to visit! We plan to visit the American Precision Museum in Windsor, VT, for starters!
If you missed this program -- cosponsored by the Whately Historical Society and the Hatfield Historical Society, it was filmed by the Hatfield Cable Channel and should be available on Local TV (Ch. 15) soon. Keep an eye out for it! |
History of the 27th Mass. Regiment
Civil War artifacts displayed by Gene.
May 13, 2013. Gene Gore of New York, formerly of Hatfield, gave a great talk on the formation and battles undertaken by the 27th Mass. Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War. His talk included his three relatives in this regiment (from Williamsburg, Northampton and Westhampton), as well as the 11 Hatfield soldiers who enlisted in the 27th, some of whom lost their lives to save the union.
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Rebecca Dickinson: Working Woman in Revolutionary Times
April 11, 2013. UMASS history prof and author Marla Miller took us inside the life of Hatfield gownmaker and single woman Rebecca Dickinson (1738-1815), who lived and worked in Hatfield during Revolutionary times. We're hoping Marla will be bringing her hot-off-the-press biography of Rebecca -- Rebecca Dickinson: Independence for a New England Woman -- to our Fall Festival (Oct. 6) so she can sign copies. Check the Fall Festival listing up top for the lastest updates.
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Florence and the Underground Railroad
March 21, 2013. Steve Strimer gave a fascinating talk and slide show on early Florence (Mass.) history and the Underground Railroad to a packed house of more than 40 people. We learned about Sojourner Truth, David Ruggles, major abolitionists and the movements that tied them together. Steve, who co-founded the David Ruggles Center for Early Florence History and Underground Railroad Studies, also leads walking tours of underground railroad and abolition-era sites in Florence, so if you missed his presentation, check out one of his walking tours! |
Harvest Dinner and Show
Nov. 15, 2012. Hatfield Historical Society members and guests enjoyed a delicious dinner catered by Special Requests, and were then regaled by members of the Easthampton High School Drama Club performing selections from popular musicals. This was one talented group of singers!
Fall Festival 2012
Oct. 7, 2012. The rain held off and attendance was great! Visitors enjoyed fiber arts demos, family activities, antique cars, trucks and tractors, the library book sale, museum open houses, produce from local farmers, good music and good food! This year we were also treated to a demonstration of how to make sauerkraut by Society member John Pease, and the unveiling of the 6th "Art of Farming" mural on the side of the Farm Museum. The Historical Museum (above the library) also saw lots of traffic, as visitors came to see the two new exhibits -- on Polish immigration in Hatfield and the latest one on the discovery of the buried 17th century village in Hatfield by UMASS archaeologist Randy Daum -- both exhibits open Sat. mornings through Oct. 27.
Click individual photos below or click "Play" when you move your cursor over the big photo. Photos by Hollington Lee. Farm mural photos by John Robert.
Click individual photos below or click "Play" when you move your cursor over the big photo. Photos by Hollington Lee. Farm mural photos by John Robert.
Antiques Appraisal Night
Douglas Bilodeau
April 19, 2012. Not only did we get our treasures appraised, but we were educated and entertained by the stories of veteran auctioneer Douglas Bilodeau of South Deerfield-based Douglas Auctioneers. Antique and collectible Items appraised ranged from Depression glass, to artwork by local artists, to cigar and political advertising. A fun time was had by all (but we don't expect anyone is quitting their day job!)
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Polish Immigration Presentation
May 17, 2012. In conjunction with the new exhibit FINDING HOME in the Hatfield HIstorical Museum, curator Kathie Gow gave an illustrated presentation on Polish immigration in Hatfield. With attendees from Hatfield, neighboring towns and even Maryland, the program (and the ice cream) were well-received. Exhibit Extended through Aug. 24, 2013
The exhibit and program were made possible, in part, by a grant from Mass Humanities, the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and from the Hatfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Hatfield Pioneer Martha Leonard
March 15, 2012. Williamsburg historian Ralmon Jon Black presented a fascinating program on what life was like for Hatfield pioneer Martha Leonard (born 1649). Martha (who happens to be Ralmon's eighth great-grandmother), was part of the group of Hatfield settlers captured by American Indians on Sept. 19, 1677, and taken to Canada along with her three little girls. With a wealth of details, Ralmon painted a vivid picture of life for those early settlers, and the likely circumstances of the Indian attack on Martha's home and settlement. The group was later rescued by Benjamin Waite (Martha's husband) and Stephen Jennings (husband of another captive).
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Fall Festival and Auto Show 2011
Oct. 2, 2011. Though the rain-soaked day kept most of the antique cars and trucks away, it couldnt' stop the tractors -- or the patrons! After all, what's a little rain to a farmer? (Though it did keep cameras tucked away until the sun came out at the end of the festival). The Boy Scouts still served up their Hatfield fries, the Fire Department still had lines for burgers, and crowds of people packed the Farm Museum, checking out the various textile demonstrations or getting their faces painted. Up Billings Way, visitors viewed the new Civil War exhibit at the Historical Museum, and walked away with armloads of books from the Friends book sale, local produce and fresh-pressed cider. Rain or shine still works!
Photo by Charlie Kellogg.
Photo by Charlie Kellogg.
The Rise and Fall of American Clipper Ships
May 19, 2011. Cape Cod-based Jim Coogan presented a talk and slide show on the history of American Clipper ships. He focused on this country's greatest era of maritime achievement -- the narrow window when the Clipper ships dominated the oceans between 1845 and 1860. Coogan is a retired history teacher and author of seven books.
Painting by Lai Fong (Childs Gallery) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Wonders Inside the Church Tower
April 14, 2011. Jonathan Bardwell, of Bardwell Woodworking and Remodeling, whose family has been involved in caring for the Hatfield Congregational Church clock for generations, finished a major restoration of the workings and structure in the church tower this past summer. In stories and photos, he explained the workings of the bell and clock and took the audience "with him" as he made his way to the top of the steeple, sharing history he learned from research and his many journeys up and down the church tower. Some of the audience even got to ring the bell! The photo at left is looking down on the 1,800-pound, F# bell and the 7-foot wood wheel that is one of the ways the bell is rung.
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Buried Colonial Village Discovered in Hatfield
March 17, 2011. UMASS archeaologist and graduate student Randy Daum spoke to a packed house of fascinated listeners as he led us on his journey of discovery through a group of Hatfield farm fields to find the "Old Farms" settlement of the late 17th century. Daum's field work and research documented the classic "nucleated" village structure (where the homes were all grouped together).
Annual Harvest Dinner with
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Fall Festival 2010
Oct. 3, 2010. A great turnout on a beautiful autumn day. Click individual photos below or click "Play" when you move your cursor over the big photo. Photos by Charlie Kellogg and Kathie Gow.
The Belden Farm: Keeping a way of life alive
May 20, 2010. Three generations of the Belden/Williams family described past and present challenges and rewards of continuing their 300-plus-year-old farm in North Hatfield, Mass. At one time growing broom corn, potatoes, onions, and cucumbers and raising sheep, they have been a dairy farm since the mid-1960s. Who knows what the next generation will bring? (From l to r: Becka Williams, Gordon "Flash" Williams, Mary (Belden) Williams, and Darryl Williams.) Moderated by Kathie Gow.
Made possible, in part, by a grant from the Hatfield Cultural Council, a local agency of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. |
"Hatfield Stories"
March 18, 2010. Dick Belden (left) and Cory Bardwell regaled the crowd in the Congregational Church parlor with stories of growing up in Hatfield, including the '36 flood, the '38 hurricane, the Bradstreet, Milkman and Center schools they attended, stores and transportation options in the 1930s and 40s, the Old Mill, and more. Moderated by Kathie Gow.
Photo by Cronin Hill Photography Made possible, in part, by a grant from the Hatfield Cultural Council, a local agency of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Aug. 13, 2009. The Council on Aging's Senior Center held a full house to listen to story excerpts from Hatfield seniors Frank Godek, Rita Prew, Mike Paszek and Phyllis Kuzontkoski, hosted by Kathie Gow. Each of the four edited interviews on CD, about growing up and working in Hatfield, can be borrowed from the Hatfield Public Library, or listened to in the Hatfield Historical Museum during museum hours.
Made possible by a grant from the Hatfield Cultural Council, a local agency of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. |
Oct. 4, 2009
Click on images below for a larger image and captions. |
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