USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Bernardston > History of the town of Bernardston, Franklin County, Massachusetts, Volume II, 1900-1960, with genealogies > Part 10
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
CANNING, COOKING AND SEWING
Miss Frances Andrews, Assistant County 4-H Club Agent, or- ganized the Clover Leaf Canning Club in June, 1937. Mrs. Alfred Gay and Mrs. Herbert Slate were the leaders of this group. At the end of the summer, an exhibit was held at the Town Hall. The average record for the first year of canning was twenty-four jars of fruits and vegetables.
At the beginning of the second year (1938) of the Canning Club, Doris Flagg and Margaret Slate participated in a WHAI Ex- tension Service Program. In the fall, a 4-H Clothing Club was organized under the leadership of Mrs. Raymond Dunnell and Mrs. Herbert Slate. After learning basic stitches and techniques, the girls made aprons, skirts and simple dresses.
The Canning Club continued its program during the summer of 1939. Members learned how to make jams and jellies, and gave demonstrations at meetings on methods of canning various prod- ucts. Many of the Bernardston 4-H Club members attended the County 4-H Rally program in Greenfield in 1940, where girls took part in the Dress Revue in which they modeled the garments they had made. By summer of that year, girls in the Canning Club were canning over one hundred jars of fruits, vegetables, jams and jellies.
As part of the 1941 County Girls' Day Program, a model 4-H Club meeting was demonstrated by "The Little Women's Cloth- ing Club" of Bernardston. Margaret Slate won the second highest score in the senior canning judging contest at the Massachusetts Horticultural Show in Boston in that same year.
During 4-H Mobilization Week in 1942, Miss Slate took part in a special radio broadcast over Station WHAI which emphasized the value of being a 4-H member; she was also one of the four Franklin County representatives in the State Dress Revue at the University of Massachusetts. In July, Marian Cairns and Margaret Slate attended State Camp at Amherst.
Demonstrations are a vital part of the 4-H program and several were given by club members. Life at Camp Howe in Goshen was also important, and gave 4-H members an opportunity to partici- pate in outdoor activities, and to receive good citizenship training. One of the counselors at the camp in 1944 was Margaret Slate, and Catherine and Adrian Miller were campers that summer. Among county winners in 1944 were Catherine Miller in "Food for Victory" and Margaret Slate in "Food Preparation Project,"
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
Miss Slate also attended the National 4-H Club Congress in Chi- cago as state winner in her project.
Participants in the 1945 County Girls' Dress Revue were Edith Burrows, Bernice Erving, Sylvia Grant, Shirley Livermore, Ann Root, and Margaret Slate. An apron made by Shirley Livermore and a suit made by Margaret Slate were displayed at Wilson's Department Store in Greenfield.
The New England Farm and Garden Association awarded a $300 scholarship to Margaret Slate, when she entered the Uni- versity of Massachusetts in September, 1945. At UM, she was active in the Campers 4-H Club and in October, she was initiated into the Massachusetts Chapter of "All Stars." During the summer of 1949, Miss Slate spent three months in Great Britain, as a par- ticipant in the International Farm Youth Exchange Program.
The Make and Bake 4-H Club was formed in 1948 with Mrs. Russell Hale and Mrs. William Field, Jr. as co-leaders. Cooking, Sewing, Child Care and Safety were among the projects taught the members. About seventy-five different girls joined this group dur- ing the years following its organization.
In 1949, the Grange voted to act as sponsor of a 4-H Club for girls, and several volunteer leaders held meetings at the Grange Hall. The Principal of Powers Institute, realizing the importance of girls learning to sew, allowed the last period of the school day, an activity period, to be used once a week for this purpose. Sev- eral girls took advantage of this opportunity.
Mrs. Hale formed the Happy Stitchers Club in January, 1956. This club was the result of a few meetings on creative stitchery. During 1958, a Food Preparation Project was added to the Stitch- ery Project and the name was changed to Happy Stitchers and Cookers 4-H Club. A charter was received by this group.
COMMUNITY 4-H CLUB
In the fall of 1960, with the assistance of the County Agents, the Bernardston Community 4-H Club was formed. Any child in town who joins a 4-H group, regardless of the project, belongs to this club. Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Miller are Advisors for the club and meetings are held monthly when special programs are pre- sented. The project work is carried on with the leaders of the various groups periodically during the month. In this club there are three sewing groups (Elementary, Junior High and Senior High School girls), a cooking group, and an Agricultural Club. Leaders of the above clubs are: Mrs. William Field, Jr., Mrs. Rus-
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
sell Holmes, Mrs. Clarence Randall, Mrs. Russell Hale and How- ard Grover.
Looking back across the years to the early part of the century when 4-H work first started in Bernardston, the accomplishments seem to indicate that members have lived up to their 4-H Club pledge:
"I pledge my Head to clearer thinking
My Heart to greater loyalty My Hands to larger service And my Health to better living For my Club, my Community, and my Country."
BERNARDSTON'S COMMUNITY GARDEN CLUB
T' HE Community Garden Club was organized March 6, 1928, at a meeting in the vestry of the Baptist Church, when a constitu- tion and a set of by-laws were drawn up. The object of the club is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening among amateurs, to aid in the protection of native trees, plants and birds, and to encourage civic planting. Meetings are held monthly in the mem- bers' homes, and since December, 1939, a collection, which is the only means of income for the club, has been taken at each meet- ing. The programs have been varied and interesting. Sometimes, instead of the program, the members have gone on a garden tour, visiting gardens in other communities.
The club has sponsored flower shows, entered exhibits in the shows of other Garden Clubs, and has set out trees and shrubs in public places, including Cushman Park and the library. Several books have been purchased for the library in memory of members who have died. The organization subscribes annually to Horticul- ture Magazine, which is passed around among its members.
BERNARDSTON GRANGE NO. 81
O N FEBRUARY 15, 1875, a few citizens of Bernardston met at
the Town Hall to consider the matter of organizing a Grange in the town. After some discussion it was voted to or- ganize, with thirty charter members. Imla K. Brown was chosen for Master and was installed by Installing Officers Robinson of Blanford and Smith of "Coleraine." A meeting was held March 29, 1875, at Sanderson Hall, and at that time the remaining officers were installed by J. P. Felton, Master of Greenfield Grange. The organization was active for probably less than two years. The last
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
known records are of a meeting held on March 14, 1876, when officers for the year were installed.
Through the strenuous efforts of Frank W. Putnam, Edwin B. Hale, L. Dwight Slate and others, the present Grange was re- organized on February 25, 1903, by W. N. Howard of South Easton, Massachusetts. Mr. Hale occupied the station of Master with honor and dignity, and later became a member of the force of State deputies.
Succeeding Edwin B. Hale as Master are Myron L. Corbett, Frank W. Putnam, Ralph H. Cushman, Mrs. Edson W. Hale, Clarence S. Hale, Hugh E. Adams, Everett J. Slate, Ray E. Frank- lin, Walter Buchanan, Harry Foley, William J. Purrington, Clar- ence D. Pratt, Herbert E. Thurber, Hurbie F. Deane, who later became a State deputy, Eugene L. Turner, Ellis N. Franklin, Howard J. Grover, Clarence M. Deane, Clarence E. Jillson, Nor- man D. Field, Ruth F. Gale, Walter C. Grover, Jr., William E. Field, Jr., Ralph A. Marcotte and Raelene A. Bardwell.
Meetings were held regularly at the Town Hall until March, 1942, when the building was closed for a time for necessary re- pairs. Through the generosity of Mrs. Mabel Grover, meetings were held at her home until May, 1945, with the exception of a few special meetings held in the church vestries.
The Grange, in December 1944, passed a vote to purchase from Myron E. Barber a building on South Street formerly used as a store. Generous contributions were received from townspeople as well as former residents, which helped greatly toward the purchase and reconstruction of the building. On May 2, 1945, the first meeting was held in the new hall, and the formal dedication of the building took place on November 14, 1946, with Mrs. Dorothy Warden, Worthy State Lecturer, as dedicating officer.
While the Grange is primarily an agricultural organization, in its earlier days it served as a social center, there being few such activities aside from those connected with the churches. However, as time has gone on, many other groups have been organized and the Grange has continued to work in conjunction with them for the good of the community.
Members of the Grange were instrumental in organizing Ber- nardston Old Home Day which has now grown into the Old Home Day Association, an organization in itself. From time to time Grange Fairs have been held in the Town Hall, and records note that on one occasion one hundred thirty-five varieties of potatoes were exhibited by Ralph H. Cushman. Also, for many
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
years the Grange has exhibited at the Franklin County Fair in Greenfield. Many public dinners and suppers have been served by the Grange members, and dances, card parties and food sales have also been ways of raising funds.
Among community projects sponsored by the Grange could be mentioned the erection of street signs and the installation of elec- tric lights in Cushman Park. The organization also shared the expense of a water fountain in the Park, contributed toward com- munity Christmas trees, and planted several trees along the road to the Elementary School.
The Bernardston Grange has given approximately five hundred dollars since 1912 to the Massachusetts State Grange Educational Aid Fund which helps the youth of the Grange who wish to fur- ther their education. Several of our young people have availed themselves of the opportunities made possible by this fund through its loan and scholarships.
Yearly contributions have been made to charitable organiza- tions such as The American Cancer Society, The Heart Associa- tion, Infantile Paralysis Foundation, Franklin County Public Health Association, United Fund of Franklin County, Franklin County Association for Retarded Children, Kurn Hattin Homes, and many others.
Included in the membership are forty-three members of the National Grange, and the following persons have been members of the Order for more than fifty years: Mrs. Minnie Thurber and Mr. Arthur Gadd of Bernardston, Mrs. Grace McMurdy of Ver- non and Mrs. Bertha Putnam of Easthampton.
The Grange is a group in which young and old work together in an effort to build a better community in which to live.
BERNARDSTON MEN'S CLUB
I N JANUARY, 1945, a group of men of the Goodale United Church met at the invitation of their pastor, Rev. Frederick Dixon, to consider organizing a Men's Club in the society. In their discussion, the purpose of the proposed club, as envisioned by those present, seemed to call for a larger fellowship than could be found in the one church. The committee members were Wendell Streeter, Myron Barber, Kenneth Howard, Richard Phelps and Mr. Dixon; they arranged with the other churches of the town for an organization meeting at the Goodale Church on the evening of January 22. About thirty-five men from all three churches attended this meeting, and formed the Bernardston Men's Club. A
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
supper was served by the ladies of the host church; this was the be- ginning of the custom whereby the ladies of the three town churches serve suppers, in rotation, for club meetings. In the first year, meetings were held in the churches; since then, in the Town Hall. The club early joined the Franklin County Federation of Church Men's Clubs and Brotherhoods, and a member of the club, Richard Phelps, was at one time president of that organiza- tion. The purpose of the Men's Club is to promote fellowship and co-operation in community affairs. Any man living in Bernardston or vicinity, eighteen years of age or over, is eligible for member- ship.
Many projects have been carried out to provide funds, enabling participation in various community efforts. The major source of income since 1947 has been the booth at the Franklin County Fair. At first a temporary booth was leased, but in 1957, a group of members and Boy Scouts cut about 3500 board feet of timber, donated by club member Edgar Collis, the lumber being used to replace the old booth with a new and larger one. Christian Eckhoff was the member who conceived the idea of having a booth in the first place; he was the leader in preparing the first booth, and in building the present one. His departure for Florida was a great loss to the club. The booth is operated by relays of club members under the excellent management of Lynn Wyatt.
For several years, the Men's Club was in partnership with the local American Legion Post in producing the annual Minstrel Show, the proceeds helping to swell the treasury.
The Men's Club sponsored the Boy Scout Troop for one year in 1946, and again in 1954 when Troop 62 was organized, and has been the troop's sponsor since then. During the early years, Theo- dore Cronyn served as the Institutional Representative and did much to get the troop started. The club has given financial assist- ance to the troop, and boys have been sponsored at Camp Chester- field and at the 1960 Jamboree at Colorado Springs. The Ex- plorer Scouts are now a part of the set-up.
Support has also been given the "Y" swimming classes and the Little League teams, and individuals have been sponsored at Girls' State, Boys' State and Greenfield's Winter Carnival. An annual scholarship of $50 was set up for a deserving Senior at Powers Institute. The amount was later raised to $100.00, and is now given to a deserving Senior, a Bernardston resident, at Pioneer Valley Regional School. The Franklin County Hospital Building Fund, the Heart Fund, the United Fund, and various
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
others have received club contributions through the years, and some of the club members gave of their time and ability to assist with the building of the new 4-H dairy barn at the Fair Grounds.
The club's fellowship program has included: father and son baseball, father and daughter softball, cookouts and picnic style meetings, deep-sea fishing trips, father and son banquets with pro- grams of interest to the younger generation, and the annual Ladies Night when the members and their "ladies" go out to dine and be entertained.
In November, 1960, a move was initiated to sponsor a football banquet and to award a trophy to the most valuable football player on the team at Pioneer Valley Regional School. Later, it was decided to include all competitive sports at the school. The Northfield Kiwanis and certain individuals in Leyden and War- wick joined the Bernardston Men's Club in this project, and the first Sports Trophy Banquet was held at P.V.R.S. in June, 1961.
UNION MISSION STUDY CLASS
E ARLY RECORDS show that a number of ladies, representing the four churches, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist and Uni- tarian, met at the Baptist Church, September 6, 1905, to form a Union Mission Study Class. The original officers were: President, Mrs. Frederic W. Smith; Vice-President, Mrs. C. R. Sherman; and Secretary, Miss Catherine S. Slate.
The purpose of this group was to study and promote the cause of missions at home and abroad. In the early days original papers were written by the members. The class made contributions to the "Mountain Whites" of Virginia, the work among lepers at the Leonard Wood Memorial in the Philippines, and the Grenfell Mission in Labrador.
At the present time, there is still a small group of women meet- ing on the first Friday of each month, carrying on the work started in 1905.
BERNARDSTON OLD HOME DAY ASSOCIATION
T HE FIRST Old Home Day was held in 1953, as a community service of the local Grange. Much planning had preceded this event, which included a parade of bicycles and doll-carriages, con- tests in wood-chopping, sawing, horse drawing, pie-eating and baseball. This affair was very successful, due to work by many persons, liberal contributions of local merchants and fine weather.
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
The Grange sponsored similar community programs in 1954 and 1955.
In 1956, an Old Home Day Association was formed, with a view to encouraging more participation by townspeople and town or- ganizations, all being invited to take part. The Grange turned over to the Association the funds remaining from the previous affairs. The first Association President was Russell Deane. The 1956 program had, as added features, a chicken barbecue and a contest on home-baked cakes. Both of these features continued as popular parts of the program.
The celebrations were first held in Cushman Park, but begin- ning in 1957, the event has been held at the Chase House Field, on the third Saturday in July. However, one of the avowed pur- poses of the association is to select and purchase a site on which this event can be held, and which can be developed as a town recreation center and picnic site. No suitable place has yet been found which is for sale.
Many individuals, organizations and business establishments have contributed annually to the success of Old Home Day. The association holds its annual meeting in October, and other prepar- atory meetings during the year. There are no dues, and anyone willing to give of his time and strength is welcome to join.
GIRL SCOUTING IN BERNARDSTON
T HE FIRST Girl Scout troop in the Town of Bernardston was organized in 1942 under the leadership of Miss Lucretia Taft. Miss Taft, popularly known as "Lukie," had twelve girls in this original troop. This troop received a charter from the national organization of Girl Scouts of America, and operated as a "lone troop" since there was no Girl Scout Council in Franklin County at that time. That year "Lukie" had no regular assistant but re- ceived help as needed from mothers of the girls.
The next year Mrs. Harold Coates became assistant leader with a group of sixteen girls. These leaders carried on until 1946 with a troop which continued to grow. The first troop carried on the Girl Scout program as outlined in the handbook with work on badges and went on many hikes around the vicinity of Bernard- ston. These were war years and gasoline was rationed so that long trips were impossible.
In 1947, Miss Ann Senior became leader with a troop of twenty-five girls, over twice the number in the original member-
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
ship. A group of interested women, with Miss Lena Corkins as chairman, formed a council.
Aside from program and badge work, the troop from 1947 to 1952 had various other activities which included overnight camp- ing at Stonehenge, and an annual fair on St. Patrick's Day. One year a musical show, "The Wedding of the Painted Doll," was presented to help raise money for a movie projector for Powers Institute.
Bouquets of painted grasses and pine cones were presented to the hospitals and to the churches at Thanksgiving time and bas- kets were filled and presented to the shut-ins. Christmas card scrapbooks were made for the Veterans' Hospital. A senior troop was carried on for one year with a membership composed mostly of the original group.
Miss Ann Senior acted as troop leader until 1952 when she gave it up and no other leader was found, so Girl Scouting came to a halt in Bernardston.
In 1957 there was renewed interest in Girl Scouts. By this time a Franklin County Girl Scout Council had been formed and could offer the local people some help and encouragement. People in- terested in scouting held several meetings. Mrs. Raymond Bard- well agreed to be the leader with Mrs. Charles Herrick and Miss Jane Pratt as assistants. In December, 1957, twenty-five girls com- posed the troop which was officially registered and designated as Troop 83 for which the Bernardston Community Club voted to be the sponsoring organization.
Perhaps the most noteworthy activity of the year 1957 was a guided tour of New York City by the leader and a part of the troop. In addition, a hike was taken during maple sugar season to see one of the first pipe-line sap-gathering outfits in this area op- erated by the Streeters on Huckle Hill; then to Howard Grover's sugar house to see the boiling. Two blue spruce trees were planted on the lawn of the Elementary School, and a Mother-Daughter banquet was held during Girl Scout Week. Several girls, with as- sistance from the librarian at Cushman Library and also from their parents, ran a book service for shut-ins around the town.
Mrs. George Slocum became the leader in January of 1959. During this season, Red Cross swimming lessons were carried on at the pool of the Northfield School for Girls. Hikes were taken up Mt. Toby to the fire lookout tower, and up Mt. Sugarloaf and Mt. Grace. The girls knitted many squares for an afghan for Mrs. Bardwell, who had been forced to give up as leader because of ill
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
health. Older girls from the troop attended a three-day "camp- out" with other scouts from neighboring towns at Mt. Monad- nock.
Each year, 1957 to 1960, Troop 83 took part in the annual Girl Scout Cookie Sale to raise funds for troop and council. Mrs. Del- mar Magoon was chairman of the drive and was the first in the county to get the returns to the council office. In 1960 the troop sold over nine hundred boxes of cookies.
During the 1960 season, swimming lessons were again conducted in Northfield. Three record hops were held for teenagers of the town. There was a hike and bike trip to Camp Stonehenge to work on conservation projects at the Girl Scout Camp. A very success- ful rummage sale was held in Greenfield to raise money for troop camping equipment and tents and tarp were bought. Again the troop joined in a King Philip neighborhood "camp-out" for three days, held this year at Windsor State Park in Western Massachu- setts.
As another Scout year begins, it is hoped that Troop 83 will be able to continue to offer Girl Scouting experience to all Ber- nardston girls.
BROWNIES
There was a Brownie Troop in 1949 and 1950, with the follow- ing as leaders: Lucretia Taft, Barbara Harris and Margaret (Drew) Letourneau. There were about twelve girls in the troop who later became Girl Scouts. Food sales were held to earn money to send two girls to camp while two others paid their own ex- penses. There was no other activity until Brownie Troop 94 was formed in November, 1960. This consisted of twenty-five girls from the Elementary School with Mrs. Barbara Manning as leader. At the present time there are twenty-four active members.
BOY SCOUTS
A DESIRE for outdoor adventure, an open fire to cook over, and a soft bed of evergreen boughs; these elements of scouting appealed to boys long before 1910, when the Boy Scouts of America was organized.
The Greenfield Gazette & Courier mentioned a scout troop in Bernardston in 1926, but details are lacking, and duration un- known. Troop 12, the first chartered group in town, was formed in the early thirties. The man principally responsible for its or- ganization was Rev. B. M. Prangnell, pastor of the Baptist Society.
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
With a particular interest in the welfare of boys, and a bicycle for transportation, he started the troop and used the Town Hall for a meeting place. Being a Canadian citizen, he could not be regis- tered as Scoutmaster; the leader chosen was Richard Phelps, one of many men who have contributed greatly to scouting in Ber- nardston. Troop 12 had a camp near Fall River, east of the present Hollywood, on Walter Nelson's land.
Sponsors on record during this period were: Bernardston Grange in 1943, a group of citizens in 1944 and 1945, Bernard- ston Men's Club in 1946-1947 (one year). From 1947 to 1954 there was no troop.
The present Troop 62 was organized in 1954, with the Ber- nardston Men's Club as sponsor. Boy Scouts and Explorer Scouts were combined in one unit until 1958, when an Explorer Post was formed. Cub Pack 62 was organized in 1956. The Explorer Post started with fourteen members and Charles Herrick was Advisor. Thomas Nettles was Advisor in 1959-1960, and David DeForest took over in 1960. Highlight of the Explorer program was a 1959 hike on the Long Trail in Vermont, from Stratton Pond, between Wardsboro and Manchester, to East Wallingford on Highway 140. Eight boys went on this outing, the leader being Amherst Scouter, Donald Bascom, who already knew the region and the Trail.
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