USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Shelburne > History and tradition of Shelburne, Massachusetts > Part 20
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1895 - BOARD OF TRADE
This group was active. Some of the leading busi- nessmen were Charles Thurber, William A. Johnson,
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G. W. Halligan, and Charles Merriam. The town was advertised in trade magazines in the hope of bringing new industries. We were called "The Town of Tumbling Waters" in 1895.
In the years 1912-1920 when the New England Power Company and the Power Construction Com- pany were constructing dams, much interest and enthusiasm were put into a drive to bring in new businesses. This group advertised us as "Shelburne Falls - the Bright Spot." Posters and buttons and general advertising with "The Bright Spot," were on display. Stores had sales, and trade did flourish. This was before the days of automobiles.
In early 1920 the Board of Trade reorganized with William Woods and Elmer Hallett and George Mirick among presidents, always backing town better- ment projects. An outstanding achievement then was getting the Colrain road, which was being constructed, routed through the town of Shelburne Falls. They also aided the school band and furnished instruments for the band. They sponsored the Christmas street- lighting project. At present they are inactive except for the Christmas street-lighting.
1899 - BONA VISTA CLUB
The founders of the Bona Vista Club were a group of young men who were accustomed to gather at Ben Kemp's Jewelry and Watch Store. It was organized March 20, 1899, by Frank E. Innis, Gilbert R. Jones, Charles L. Severance, Benjamin J. Kemp, and B. H. Newell, as the original members. Other members were Ralph Eldridge, Harold Hoyt, Robert F. Wood, Percy Richmond, C. Perry Wilson, and George M. Innis.
A clubhouse was built on Ashfield Lake in 1899. It was built originally as a clubhouse for bicyclists, who could ride to the foot of Ashfield Mountain, near Buckland Four Corners, in one-half hour, and then it would require another half hour to push the bicycles up the hill to reach the clubhouse.
It was decided that each club member should de- posit six dollars in the club treasury by July 1, 1899, and pay fifty-cent monthly membership dues.
At that time the Frank J. Wood home on Main Street was being extensively built over. The club members conceived the idea that if Robert Wood could obtain from his father the old front door and six window frames, he would be accepted as a member in lieu of initiation fee and first-year dues. That is how the old front door of Theodore Wood was in- stalled and is still preserved at Bona Vista.
Dennis Canedy was boss carpenter. The Latin name "Bona Vista" was provided by Arthur Merrill, scholarly eldest son of George Merrill, when some of the founding members of the club asked him for a name in Latin, or at least in another language than English.
1903 - SHELBURNE GRANGE #68
Shelburne Grange has played a very important part in the life of the community over the years, and it seems fitting that a brief outline of its history be placed in the permanent records of the town history.
On February 16, 1903, thirty residents of the community gathered at the Shelburne Vestry to dis- cuss with Mr. William N. Howard, secretary of the Massachusetts State Grange, the possibility of re- organizing the Shelburne Grange. This was the sec- ond attempt to have a Grange group in the town. It was originally organized on December 31, 1870. However, the records of that Grange have been lost.
Following the meeting, it was voted to reorganize, and a slate of officers were elected, and on February 26. 1903 the organization became official. The elected officers were: Master, William O. Long; Lecturer, Mrs. D. P. Bardwell; Treasurer, Charles S. Dole; Secretary, George Everett Taylor. Charles S. Dole continued in the office of treasurer from 1903 to 1939, when he died. He was succeeded in office by his son Fred B. Dole, who held the office for fifteen years. Another who held the same office for a long period was Winfred A. Gould, who acted as secretary from January 1928 to October 1953 - twenty-five years of faithful service.
The secretary's records of Shelburne Grange are complete from 1903 to the present time, and cover all the various activities. The records tell of seventy members from Colrain coming over to join in the meeting at Shelburne, also of well over one hundred of our members attending a regular meeting.
In the early days of Shelburne Grange the activities were rather different from today. There was a com- mittee on cooperative buying, and there was also a card issued to each member certifying membership which made him or her eligible for a ten percent dis- count on items bought in specified stores in Shelburne Falls and Greenfield. The regular meetings were given over to the discussion of questions and problems of the day, and the affairs of the town were very well talked over before town meeting.
In later years the Grange has taken on the trend of a service organization ; Home and Community Serv- ice has long been a very active part of the Grange program. Shelburne Grange, back in the 1930's, pur- chased land and built a community swimming pool. This is nothing fancy, but it certainly is used in the summer months. They also, more recently, built the Boy Scout house on the same property and landscaped the grounds around the new Williams Memorial addition at the Center Library.
In 1956 the Massachusetts State Grange took on a state-wide project of raising funds for the Polio Foundation. The project was called "Beans for Polio," each Grange to put on an old-fashioned baked bean supper, and many of you who read this can remember the suppers which you attended. The result
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of combined efforts of all the small Grange groups like ours here in Shelburne is amazing. The net pro- ceeds of the suppers when turned over to the Polio Foundation were over $17.500. Shelburne was proud to have taken part in this project.
Masters of Shelburne Grange in the order of their service : William O. Long. Daniel P. Bardwell, Wil- liam J. Purrington, Clinton O. Loomis, William S. Davis, David T. Barnard, Roy H. Goldthwaite, Fred H. Alvord. Francis E. Barnard, Winfred A. Gould, Elliot H. Taylor, Kenneth A. Barnard. Ralph E. Blackmer, Fred B. Dole, Dorothy W. Geiger, Hazel N. Dole, Orin E. Ball, Parker S. Truesdell, Edward O. Moore, Theodore R. Cromack. Robert M. Gould. James F. Williams, Ian H. Fay. Colin M. Fay. Bruce R. Cromack.
The Grange has not been a very well-advertised group. They have gone quietly about their work. accomplishing things in their own fashion, always striving for the betterment of their community and mankind. always with the thought in mind. "Let us treasure up the lessons we have learned. both by successes and failures, plan wisely and hopefully for the future, and strive to make our lives as harmoni- ously beautiful and bountiful as are the works of nature's God."
1918 - +H CLUBS
4-H Clubs for children have been continuously organized in Shelburne Center and in Shelburne Falls village since 1918.
Organized through the co-operation of the Frankin County Extension Service. they have expanded from rural to larger towns.
The meetings are held in homes under adult leader- ship.
1919 - TROOP 1 BOY SCOUTS. SHELBURNE FALLS
Troop 1 was organized in July 1919 and was active until July 1921. They camped at the Rod and Gun Club in Chesterfield. The Troop was sponsored by the public schools, with Frank Chandler and William Morrissey as leaders. Assistant leaders were George Turton, Stanley Cummings, William Field. C. E. White and Francis Bray. Among the first Scouts and Scouters in Shelburne Falls living in town are: Paul H. Amstein; Murray I. Buell; Warren B. Bailey ; Edward C. Fiege; Vernon Hume; James H. Ken- nedy. Jr .; Robert King: David Leonard; Bernard Lawless; Howard Mills; Lyman Mayhew; Kenneth W. Miller ; Donald R. Morrissey ; Charles L. Rob- erts; George Spencer; Arthur Sharr: Raymond R. Smead; Burnett C. Stafford ; Welbourne O. Shaw ; George H. Tyler; Edward Thiringer; Francis Wheeler ; Kendall S. Wood; Harry J. Brown : How- ard Booker; Earle Cardwell : Frederick March ; John
S. Mahoney; Linwood E. Rowland ; Richard Miller ; Spencer Stanford : Fayette Mitchell; Harland Row- land ; Lloyd Kratt and Richard Hoyt.
In 1923 the Baker and Crittenden P.T.A. spon- sored Troop 1. It was reorganized and has been con- tinuous with the exception of 1928, when it disbanded for one year. In 1931 Troop 1 was changed to Troop 15. In 1932 Troop 15 was allowed the use of the second-floor rooms in the Hook and Ladder building on Bridge Street, where they still meet.
The Boy Scouts have been sponsored by the school committee, Methodist Church. Interchurch Brother- hood, and Trinity Fellowship. It is impossible to give credit to all who have given time to this worthy organization, following are some: Scoutmasters - Frank Chandler, William Morrissey, Roy Turton, Leo Duffy. Reginald B. Nichols. Harold Hannum, Aubrey Crocker. Frederick Binder. Edward Bardwell, Theodore Houghton, Stanley Cummings, Elliot Whit- beck and John Woodsome. Assistants - Deane Jones, Wesley Roberts. Lyle C. Pratt, James Perkins, George Dallas, Farley Manning, J. William Spencer, Robert S. King, William Sayward, Edward Moore, B. L. Allen, Erving Kendrick, Floyd Burnap, Robert Wis- hart. Francis Wilder, Gilbert Allen and Allen Scott.
Troop 15 camped for several years at Sunset Camp in Heath. At present the Scout Camp is at Chester- field.
During the flood of 1936, Troop 15 received an award for valiant service in the New England flood area. In 1935 the following from Troop 15 attended the National 25th Anniversary Jamboree, celebrating the founding of Boy Scouts of America, in Washing- ton. D. C .: Frederick Binder, Charles Waste. Donald Wood. Jr .. Shailer Cummings, Peter Ferrari. Henry Johnson, Howard Marble. Howard Ballard. Lowell Brown and Philip Miller.
In 1957 four from Troop 15 attended the Jamboree at Valley Forge. Va .: John Wright. James Whitbeck, Frederick Grey, and John Hoyt.
St. Joseph's Catholic Boy Scout Troop 86 was or- ganized in 1953 with twenty-seven members. Leaders have been Harold Lively, Roy Spencer, and William Meyers.
Troop 86 has camped for the past four years at Boy Scout Camp in Chesterfield.
1946 - CUB SCOUTS
Cub Scout Pack No. 85 was originally sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. April 25, 1946, according to records. The original committee was John Wood- some, Sr., K. S. Woods, C. H. Salls. Stanley Brewer. Robert Wishart. and George Mirick. Others serving on committee during later years were Alfred Ferrari, Irving Lewis, and Robert Wishart. who is serving at present.
Original den mothers were Mrs. Madeline March. Mrs. Marion Brosnan, Mrs. Sybil Brewer, Mrs. Mil- dred Phillips, MIrs. Elsie Woods. and Mrs. Ella
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Mazanec. Monthly pack meetings were held first in Cowell Gymnasium. At present they are held in the Community Room in Memorial Hall. Weekly meet- ings are at homes of boys' den mothers.
Average membership is thirty to thirty-five boys, in five or six dens.
1920 - GIRL RESERVES OF SHELBURNE CENTER
In 1920 a need for organized high school girls of rural areas was felt in Western Massachusetts. Mrs. Ruth Thompson was called, and under her leadership the District Y.W.C.A. of Western Massachusetts was started that year. Annual Girls' Conferences of the District were organized. These Conferences grew in size and popularity, and many local clubs were soon being organized in the country districts and towns of Western Massachusetts. The clubs were called "Girl Reserves."
When Mrs. Thompson moved to other work, she was replaced by Miss Winnifred Parkhurst. Under Miss Parkhurst's leadership the Shelburne girls organ- ized in 1929 as "The Mohawk Girl Reserves" with eleven charter members.
The charter members were: Ruth Gould, Mary Ellen Cromack, Verna Long, Sylvia Long, Ruth Cromack, Dorothy Cromack, Bessie Gould, Celia Gould, Marjorie Wheeler, Pauline Wheeler, and Irene Wheeler.
The membership grew over the years to about fifty girls. As the older girls left the club, they were placed on the honorary list, and were remembered by gifts in later years. The purpose of the Girl Reserves: "That each tomorrow find us farther than today." The slo- gan : "I will try to face life squarely ; to find and give the best." The Theme Song: "Follow The Gleam."
The Shelburne club was well organized. Leaders during the years of activity were: Mrs. Helen Smith, Mrs. Myrtle Baker, Mrs. Maude Reynolds, Mrs. Beatrice Cress, and Miss Marjorie Wheeler, now Mrs. John Burnham.
The high lights for the girls were annual three-day conferences held each year at a different place in Western Massachusetts. To help raise money, gala street fairs were held each year for five years in Ashfield and Conway.
To raise money the girls conducted German sup- pers, gave plays and pageants with their own and other local talent, sold refreshments at community affairs, sold candy on various occasions, and conducted other small money-making affairs. The girls were also very active in the local club. They held regular meetings; attended handicraft lessons; had pajama parties, sleigh rides, and parties for many other occasions; went on hikes and had cook outs; organized a girls' baseball team and played with competing teams. They also were very helpful in aiding the church, Ladies' Aid, and Sunday School activities. There were candle- lighting ceremonies and presentation of Girl Reserve rings to many girls.
In March 1935 the Girl Reserves voted money to buy handbooks for the newly formed Girl Scouts. During the last few years of Girl Reserve existence, the Y.W.C.A. sponsorship began to wane. However, the Shelburne club remained organized but became less active, until in 1940 it was agreed to disband the club.
1935 - SHELBURNE FALLS GIRL RESERVES
In November 1935 a Girl Reserve group was formed in Shelburne Falls with a membership of fif- teen. Mrs. Donald Purrington was the leader. The girls met in rooms on Bridge Street over Shippee's Store.
1919 - GIRL SCOUTS
Girl Scout troops were organized under a town council, somewhere about 1919. The council worked very hard to earn money to send the girls and their leaders to Camp Bonnie Brae, a Girl Scout Camp, under the sponsorship of the Springfield, Mass., Coun- cil.
In later years the idea of having Lone Troops, operating under a Troop Committee, came into being, and in 1956 the Franklin County Girl Scout Council was formed, with an office in Greenfield, and the services of a paid, trained Girl Scout executive avail- able to all troops in the county.
Without complete records it is impossible to give credit to all the women who gave so much of their time and effort to the Girl Scouts, but these people were leaders during the years, some serving only a year or two and others for a much longer time : Mrs. Myrtle Perkins Lawrence, Miss Julia Heery, Miss Ruth Chapman, Mrs. Margaret Merrill Loomis, Mrs. Rose Berg Vose, Miss Virginia Greene, Mrs. Muriel Muir, Mrs. Hazel Richmond, Mrs. Rosamond Lang Gerry, a Miss Marble who taught here, Mrs. Jose- phine Woodsome, Mrs. Barbara Meade, Mrs. Donald Wood, Jr., Miss Eileen Madden, Mrs. Marguerite Allen, Mrs. Helen Shields, and Mrs. Margaret Booker.
About 1921-1923 there were two troops - one for elementary school girls and the other for high school girls. The high school troop had a Drum and Bugle Corps for a year or two under the direction of Miss Ruth Chapman.
A Brownie Pack was started about 1923 and went on for a year or two under the leadership of Mrs. Margaret Merrill Loomis and Mrs. Merle Bronson Pike.
1927 - SHELBURNE FALLS GIRLS CLUB
This club was organized in March 1927 as a self- supporting social organization for the young business- women of Shelburne Falls. They met in the rooms over the Savings Bank.
Charter members were: Esther Goodell, Ruth Mc-
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Neil, Kathleen Wheeler, Edna Morrissey, Marion Wheeler Brosnan, Dorothy Tudor, Anna Madere. Helene Jones Sloan, Isabel Halberg Donelson and Kathryn Amstein Brown. Five of the above charter members are still active members.
Mrs. Helen Hoyt Ashworth has been advisor to the club through the years. The red rose is the club flower. The group meets monthly. They enjoy an annual Christmas party, a banquet, a picnic in sum- mer, and socials after business meetings.
In the early years basketball and bowling made up most of the extra activities. The first basketball team consisted of : Ruby Burnap, Edna Morrissey, Kathe- rine LaBelle, Evelyn Lawless, Eileen Hayes, and Esther Goodell. That year the club gave twenty-six dollars from a benefit game to the "Bridge of Flowers."
In 1932 a Bowling League was formed and was represented in the New England Bowling Tourna- ment in Boston. This Bowling League was very active until 1940. The club sponsored Easter Monday Balls for several years.
This group has been active in community projects, working for, and financially aiding, them. Plays, card parties, dances and food sales have been sponsored by the Girls Club.
Through a special effort one hundred dollars was raised to provide a skating rink, but the project was abandoned when the locality was not suitable because of the soil condition.
The Girls Club was well represented during the war years, donating time and money to drives, and members served at the "Report Center" and worked at Red Cross, folding bandages.
This group has comfortable clubrooms, which they have furnished, in the Savings Bank building, with a membership of forty-five.
1927 - THE SHELBURNE GARDEN CLUB
A front-page write-up in the Recorder Gazette on August 25, 1930, about the first Flower Show put on in the Vestry in Shelburne Center, tells us the club was started in 1927 with Mrs. James Bush as President and Mrs. John Andrews, Secretary-Treas- urer. The record books are not available, but yearly programs for 1931, 1932, and 1933 make it plain that this club was active, with thirty-five members meeting in the homes and gardens of the members, having "garden tours," lectures, and a flower show every year for at least five years.
Mrs. James Bush was always the president, but Mrs. George Parsons succeeded Mrs. Andrews as secretary-treasurer. Mrs. Dorothy Dyer, Miss Chris- tine Gould, and Mrs. Beatrice Cress were active on committees.
As the depression became prolonged, so many mem- bers took up new work that garden work had to be curtailed, and the Garden Club dissolved by mutual consent of the members.
THE SHELBURNE FALLS GARDEN CLUB
On the evening of February 10, 1930, at the invi- tation of the late Harry G. Blish, a group of people interested in flower-growing met in the Community Rooms in Memorial Hall and organized the Shelburne Falls Garden Club.
Mr. Blish was elected to serve as President with Harold Temple of Colrain as Vice President, Mrs. Roy Amstein as Treasurer, and Mrs. Fred Schontag as Secretary.
The flower lovers in the community were invited to join and interest increased until the club numbered over forty members.
Meetings were held twice a month during the sum- mer and once a month during the winter at the homes of the members.
Interesting and informative programs were arranged. Various phases of flower growing were discussed and special speakers were often procured.
In August 1931, the first Flower Show was held in Memorial Hall. This was a venture for the club and an innovation for Shelburne Falls, but proved to be an overwhelming success, establishing popularity for all future shows.
As one reporter said, "Probably no exhibition ever given in Shelburne Falls created so much interest. The hall was filled with every variety of beautiful flowers and plants.
"Persons dropped in for a few minutes and stayed for an hour to look and advise."
Annually thereafter shows were held, each equal- ing if not surpassing the first, and were considered among the finest in Franklin County.
During the Second World War, when gasoline rationing curtailed public travel, it seemed advisable to omit the flower show. Meetings continued to be held but interest waned and finally the club disbanded after seventeen years of operation.
Serving the club as presidents were the late Harry G. Blish, Charles L. Severance and F. P. Davison. Also, George Shattuck, Harold Temple and Robert Lillpopp. MIrs. George Lees served as treasurer for many years and Mrs. Fred Schontag as secretary dur- ing the entire existence of the club.
1931 - P.T.A.
A meeting was called at the Shelburne Vestry on the evening of April 23, 1931 for the purpose of form- ing a Parent-Teacher Association in this community. The Reverend Hemenway introduced the speaker of the evening. MIrs. Edwin Fiske of Greenfield, who outlined the work of the organization, and Miss Helen Anderson gave an enthusiastic talk on the organiza- tion from a teacher's point of view. The Shelburne Parent-Teacher Association was organized that same evening. The first officers were : Mrs. Howard Trues- dell, President; Mrs. Lyndon Peck, Vice President ; Mrs. Dorothy Dyer, Secretary; Mrs. John Cress, Treasurer.
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When the organization was started the dues were fifty cents per member, fifteen cents of which was paid to the state and national membership dues. Since that time the state and national dues have increased to twenty-five cents, but the local membership dues have remained the same.
In 1939 the P.T.A. sponsored a Kindergarten which was very successful for a time, and in 1940 they started and carried on a hot lunch program until the town took charge of it.
During World War II the P.T.A. printed and sent out to servicemen and women The Shelburne Shriek which contained editorials written by teachers and parents, and many humorous and newsy items of interest to those away from home. This service was free to those in the armed forces, but so many others subscribed to it that it became self-supporting, and when it was discontinued on VJ Day, there was money left over which was used to purchase records for the school.
The P.T.A. sponsored a Girl Scout Troop, which is now sponsored by the Grange. In 1948 a parent organization from Baker School and the Shelburne Center School P.T.A. united, now having a paid membership of over one hundred twenty members, with about fifty active members.
Together with the Crittenden P.T.A., the Shel- burne P.T.A. pays for the leader for the seventh- and eighth-grade dances. The Shelburne P.T.A. sells vitamin pills at cost. For the last two years they have sponsored dancing lessons for the upper grades of the elementary schools. For many years they have filled candy boxes for the children at Christmas. They pro- vide ice cream and cake for the Kindergarten children at Christmas. They contribute every year to the Weber-Fiske Scholarship Fund, which gives scholar- ships to persons going into the teaching profession. Shelburne P.T.A. gives a $50 scholarship every year to a Shelburne pupil going to college. They bought tonettes and music for the use of the 4th grade pupils ; a bird feeder in memory of Mr. Parsons; films; rec- ords; playground equipment, including a slippery slide. They contribute to Bridge of Flowers Christmas Tree, and contributed to the Rag Shag Parade when that was popular.
The last two years the P.T.A. has held a Talent Show open to pupils from all eight grades. Each con- testant receives a candy bar, with several prizes awarded to winners, and refreshments are provided for all present. For several years the P.T.A. has worked on publicity for new schools. Last year they formed a citizens' committee which met with inter- ested people from other towns in the region and sent brochures for the Regional Planning Committee. Just recently the P.T.A. sponsored a forum for the purpose of presenting the candidates opposing Mr. Roger Smith for the school committee, and Mr. William Hefner for the Mohawk Regional School Planning Committee.
1913 - SHELBURNE FALLS P.T.A.
The Shelburne Falls Parent-Teacher Association was organized February 18, 1913 with Mrs. Alice Mcknight Phillips as first president. Members in- cluded Shelburne and Buckland residents. The pur- pose was to promote child welfare in home, school, church and community, and bring into closer relation- ship the home and the school, that parents and teachers might cooperate in the schools of Crittenden and Baker. The membership was about one hundred.
Through the influence of this P.T.A. the district nurse project was established. The first nurse was Miss Alma Seward, who began her duties in 1918. Her first kit and $25 was given by the P.T.A. for relief work. Many health lectures were given by leading town and State doctors, and milk was pur- chased for needy children.
In 1929 over one hundred dollars was raised to finance equipment for a school band. Playground equipment was given to both Crittenden and Baker Schools. .
Well-Child Clinics were held each year with Massa- chusetts State doctors in charge. The list of prominent workers includes Mrs. John Temple, Mrs. Henry Patch and Mrs. Ernest Halligan.
(See Appendix)
1931 - BUCKLAND, COLRAIN AND SHELBURNE TEACHERS' CLUB
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