USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > The history of Wilbraham, Massachusetts; > Part 30
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
32. On east side of street. Now owned by Hermenigile Dutille. Former owners: Peon, Michael Fitspatrick, William Langdon, - Langdon.
33. On east side of the street. Now owned by William Fitz- gerald. Former owners: Timothy Powers, James Powers, who built the house, a little north of the site formerly occupied by the blacksmith shop of J. P. Streeter. The shop was discon- tinued about 1875.
34. On west side of street. Now owned by James P. McDon- ald. Former owners: Mrs. Minerva (Langdon) Streeter, her father, Walter Langdon, his father, Capt. Paul Langdon, who probably settled here, from South Wilbraham previous to 1800. About 1863, in the time of the Civil War, Walter Langdon went to the blacksmith shop one morning to hear the war news. The Union forces had gained a victory. He became excited, and died in a few hours. He was nearly ninety years old.
35. On west side of street. Now owned by Charles Barcome. Former owners: James Powers, Hanson Langdon.
36. Down the hill and past the little brook at the foot of the hill, on west side of street. Now owned by E. Towne. Former owners: Alburtus Langdon, Hanson Langdon.
37. On east side of street. Now owned by John B. Ebright. Former owners: J. Poduski, John Trask. Some 40 or 60 rods north of this place, West Street crosses the new section of the Boston Road which was constructed in 1896, making a great improvement over former conditions.
38. On east side of street. Now owned by William Lapine who built the house about 1908.
39. On east side of street. Owned by Michael Powers estate. Former owners: Michael Powers, William Stevens, - Jenks.
40. On west side, in the triangle made by the new and old Boston Roads is an old cemetery, in which a stone tells of the death of Roswell P. Stevens, who was killed at the original
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAIIAM
Wilbraham depot August 10, 1840, "By falling across a Rail Road Track, Aged 23." In the record of deaths the first name is given as "Parmele."
41. On west side, very close to the railroad. Now owned by John B. Dumane. Former owner, W. Stevens. At this point West Street formerly crossed the railroad at a grade crossing. In 1883 the course of the road was changed a little way to the east, an underpass constructed, and the grade crossing abolished. The Boston Road formerly ran on the south side of the rail- road, some 50 or 80 rods further to the east, and crossed there at a grade crossing near where the Wilbraham station was first established, which station was moved to the present Oak Street, in 1851.
West Street continued. The following places are all north of the railroad in the northwest corner of the town. After going through the underpass and entering the original road.
1. On west side of street. Now owned by John Craig, who built the house in 1901.
2. Now owned by Mrs Mary McFarland. The house was erected in 1901.
3. Now owned by Edward Macdowell who built the house in 1909.
4. On east side of street. Now owned by George F. Perry who built it in 1895.
5. Now owned by Paul L. Levigne. Former owners: Richard La Fountain, who built the house in 1888.
6. On west side of street. Now owned by David Ogilvie. Former owners: Michael Leahy, Horace Stevens.
7. On east side of street. Now owned by Paul L. Levigne who built the house in 1914.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
8. On east side of street. Now owned by Frank A. Brodeur. Former owners: - La Fountain. Mr. Brodeur is employed in the wholesale department of the Ludlow Manufacturing Associates.
9. Now owned by Cyrille Brodeur. Former owner: Joseph La Fountain.
SCHOOLHOUSE, DISTRICT NO. 2. "THE PINES." "In action."
10. On west side of street. Now owned by Michael Leahy. Former owners: James A. Langdon, Horace Stevens.
11. On east side of street. Schoolhouse, District No. 2. which was erected in 1886 at a total expense of $1954.00. Because of the pine trees surrounding the location it is appropriately called "The Pines." I think that all of the other places on this street, to the Springfield line, belong to the Ludlow Manufac- turing Associates, which have about 60 houses in this vicinity which are not entered here individually.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
On street leading northeasterly from the underpass towards the Chicopee River, sometimes called BRIDGE STREET.
1. On west side of street. Now owned by George Perry.
2. On east side. Now owned by Lexyebert Gagne.
About 30 or 50 rods east of Bridge Street, so called, is an old road leading northerly from the old Boston road towards Chicopee river. Now, sometimes called River road. On the west side of this road and on the north side of the old Boston road, is the site of the Elisha Fuller tavern which was moved to Indian Orchard station (now called Oak Street) in 1851. There are now two houses on this road.
1. On west side. Now owned by -.
2. Now owned by Peter Burdon. Former owners: William Gorven, Ludlow Mfg. Co., L. H. Brigham, Matthew Welch. Fifty years ago this place was known as the "Red House."
There is a short street leading from the River Road west to Bridge Street, on which three houses have been recently built, all on the south side.
1. Going west from the River Road. Now owned by Amos Lapine.
2. Now owned by Louis Pellerin.
3. Now owned by Charles Lapine.
The other houses in this vicinity are on the Boston Road.
RIDGE ROAD OR MOUNTAIN ROAD
This road formerly ran north and south nearly the entire length of the original Wilbraham. That part of it which runs south from the four corners, at the top of the mountain, where the Monson Road crosses it, was discontinued as a highway,
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
about 1870, and called a "Bridle Path." This south part was laid out by the town in 1769, in consequence of a "Petition by Joseph Jones to lay a Road back side of Bauld Mountain." It commenced near what is now called "Burleighs corner," as follows: "Beginning at Black oak staddle on the Middle Road about 40 rods north of Serg. Kings fence," then north in all 330 rods, "to a stake and stones the east side of Joseph Jones house, then as the path now goes the east side of Joseph Masons house"-then past the west side of Perminas (?) Kings house, "then north by east the west side of Rattle Snake Peak, so called, to the Road formerly laid out by Springfield." (Monson Road.) So it appears there were three houses on that road in 1769, where there are none now. The road continues on to the north, until it enters the Old Bay Road, now called Maple Street at North Wilbraham. I have called this road Ridge Road because the name is so descriptive of the locality. For about one mile north of the Monson Road, there are no houses now, although several cellar holes, along the road, show where there were houses once.
Among them, are the colonial homes of Cadwell, Webster, Chapin, who is said to have brought the first rat to town, in a sack of wool purchased in Rhode Island. Ezra Barker, Town Clerk for many years, lived on this road.
Some of these cellar holes, near the four corners, mark the place where the men went in the night time, to dig for "Cap. Kidd's Gold," about 1850.
1. A little more than one mile north of where the Ridge Road crosses the Monson Road, some 50 to 70 rods east, is the first house on this road. Now owned by George W. Ely, or by his daughter, Mrs. Edith (Ely) Patterson. Former owners: An- drew Anderson, -, Solomon Brewer, D. L. Atchinson, -, Judah Ely probably lived here about 1810.
2. Some 30 or 50 rods east of the Ely place is another house, now owned by George W. Ely, who built it about 1900. Mr. Ely owns several large tracts of land in this vicinity.
1
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
3. On west side of road. The old stone chimney still standing marks the site of the Webster house. The place is now owned by George W. Ely. Former owners: Orrin Webster, Moses K. Bartlett, S. Bartlett. Just north of this chimney is the road leading down to Wilbraham centre.
4. On east side of road opposite the old chimney. House, now owned by Mrs. Edith (Ely) Patterson. Former owners: Roswell P. Mills, Orrin Webster.
THE FIRST BUNGALOW IN WILBRAHAM. Now owned by Miss Effie L. Morgan.
5. On west side of road. Monus Konus Bungalow. Now owned by Miss Effie L. Morgan. Former owners: Mrs. W. F. Morgan. Erected in 1910 on land formerly owned by Charles Tupper, Jennie E. T. Dowe, R. P. Mills, J. Duncan, Jonathan Ely. This was the first bungalow erected on the mountain. About 1850, a small shoemakers shop stood near, and that business was carried on by Jonathan Ely and his son Dixon.
6. On east side of road. Now owned by Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Morgan. Former owners: William B. Morgan, Jonathan Ely.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
A little south of the Morgan place is the site of the Ely house which was burned about 1888.
7. On west side of road. Now owned by Louis G. Stacy. Former owners: George W. Tupper, William Tupper, Warren Collins, Capt. James Shaw, who commanded the company that responded to the Bennington alarm in 1777. The house for- merly stood on the east side of the road, where the barn now is. It is said, that Warren Collins and his wife cared for Captain and Mrs. Shaw in their last days. He died in 1831. Mr.
SCHOOLHOUSE, DISTRICT NO. 5.
Standing on the site of the second schoolhouse which was erected in the town. "Master" Ezra Barker was a teacher here.
Stacy is the seventh generation of the Stacy family that have lived in town.
8. West side of road. Now owned by Herbert E. Tupper. Former owners: Edwin L. Tupper, who purchased the place in 1842 of William Bliss, it being part of the original Bliss farm. Mr. Tupper is the rural mail carrier on the R. F. D. route and is familliarly called "Bert" by those whom he serves. On the
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
east side of the road is the site of a house formerly the home of Mr. B. F. Green, and of his parents.
9. On east side of road, and on north side of the road, leading eastward to East Street. Schoolhouse of District No. 5. This schoolhouse formerly stood about one-half mile further north, and was moved to the present location in 1881.
10. On west side of road. Now owned by Mrs. Edith Miniter Former owners: John Hitchcock, John Thayer, Samuel M. Bliss, J. Bliss. The house was built in 1830 by Samuel M. Bliss. It is said that the town's poor were kept in this house about 1845-50. A very tall oak tree stood near this house, and was sold by John Thayer, about 1857, for $100, to make a mast for a ship.
11. East side of road. Now owned by Thomas Lyons. For- mer owner: D. N. Haskell.
12. On east side. Now owned by Benj. F. Green. Former owners: Miss Angeline Woodward and her sister Jerusha Woodward, Dea. Aaron Woodward. This place was known for many years as "The Deacon Woodward place." Deacon Woodward settled here, probably about the year 1803. In the records of the First Congregational Church is this entry, "Jan. 1 .. 1804, Rev. Aaron Woodward & his wife were admitted by letter from the church of Christ in Wilten (?) Norwalk Conn." Elizabeth, his daughter, was born here April -, 1804. Deacon Woodward died February 21, 1840, aged 79 years. He never served here as a pastor, but was a deacon for many years. There is a stone in the underpinning of the house marked 1769. Probably Oliver Bliss lived here at that time.
13. On east side. Now owned by T. D. or Charles S. Potter. Former owners: Miss Abbie Spear who inherited it from her mother, Mrs. Antoinette (Bliss) Spear. John Bliss, Oliver Bliss, Ensign Abel Bliss. It is now used for a suburban home. (See History.)
Mr. Potter has built on this property, in the last two years, three or four bungalows, some 70 rods west of the road.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
14. On east side of road. Now owned by William Whitney. The house was built by Lawrence Wrinkle about 1883 and being visible at quite a distance from the east, is sometimes called "The Lighthouse."
A little north of this place, the Ridge Road enters what was formerly the "Old Bay Road," and turns to the west, and continues along what is now called Maple Street, until it
A RARE SCENE.
Taken on East Street, just over the line in the present town of Hampden.
enters the original Main Street, near the garage of J. M. Perry. (See Maple Street.)
EAST STREET
In 1767, the town "new laid the Third Road in this Town (so called) as follows." "Beginning near the south side of Jabes Hendricks Lot-thence northerly." They ran the line from one tree to another. (In all 81 trees are mentioned.)
.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
Also, "near Caleb Stebbins Barn-near Daniel Cadwells House-to a White Roek on the north side of Twelve Mile Brook-to a Black Rock North of Stebbins Mill-then to the Bay Road by a Pine Tree." It is interesting to reeall these ancient boundaries. The White Roek is still there. It is on the west side of the road and is about four or five feet in diameter.
EAST STREET, BEGINNING AT HAMPDEN LINE AND GOING NORTH.
HOME OF MRS. LEOLA B. EDSON.
1. On east side of road. Now owned by Mrs. Leola (Blan- ehard) Edson. Former owners: Mrs. Sophronia (Calkins) Blanehard, Mrs. Lueia (Day) Calkins, A. Jackson Blanehard, Susan Lamson, Shadrach Thayer, Abisha Blanehard, Eleazer Bishop, Peter Walbridge, 1806, Moses Hancock, Amos Beebe, Judah Wiley, 1793. First eultivated strawberries in this neigh- borhood were raised by Shadrach Thayer.
2. On west side. Now owned by John Franeovitz. Former owners: Wm. A. Riee, Mrs. Mary (Carpenter) Riee, her father,
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
Dr. Wm. Carpenter, Capt. John Carpenter, Moses Hancock, Jr., Moses Hancock, Mrs. Wealthy (Bishop) Hancock was the "yarb docter" of the neighborhood, and her "Bee Balm" grows there beside the wall today as it did one hundred years ago.
3. Now owned by Karney Netupski. Former owners: Sophia Seagal, Mrs. A. J. Blanchard, A. Jackson Blanchard, Abishia
SCHOOLHOUSE, DISTRICT NO. 7. The only district keeping its original number.
Blanchard, Moses Hancock, Gilligan, Ithamar Bliss, Nathan Mack.
This was among the first places in town purchased by persons of the Jewish nationality, about 1902. All the residents agree that they were good neighbors, but they only remained a short time.
4. Now owned by Karney Netupski. Former owners: Sophia Seagal, Mrs. A. J. Blanchard, and W. A. Mowry, Sophia
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
Knowlton, Moses Hancock, Jr., - Webster, - Gilligan, Carpenter. The house was burned some years ago, but some of the other buildings are still standing. This place was known for a long time as the Dennis Knowlton place.
5. About one-quarter of a mile north of the Knowlton place the street crosses the Monson Road. On the west side of the street, and on north side of Monson Road is the Glendale Cemetery. Probably established previous to 1800.
6. Opposite the cemetery on east side of street is the Glendale Methodist Episcopal Church, which was erected in 1868. The Duty Partridge house stood many years ago, just north of the site of the church.
7. On east side. Now owned by Albert L. Farr who built the house in 1913, on land purchased of his father, James H. Farr. This is the first new house built in this vicinity for several years.
8. On east side of road. Schoolhouse, District No. 7. For- merly called the Chapin District.
9. On west side. Now owned by James H. Farr. Former owners: Wm. P. Clark, George Edson, Isaac N. Chapin, Solomon Chapin, Zebulon Chapin, Samuel Bishop, 1777. The south part of the farm is on the overplus land and was pur- chased of the town of Wilbraham in 1773. Isaac Chapin had a Brandy Still just north of the barn on this place. At the time when the temperance wave was sweeping over the land, about 1845, the still caught fire. The neighbors gathered, but they were glad to see it go, and would not lift a finger to help Mr. Chapin put out the fire, although he begged them with tears to aid him. It is said that Zebulon Chapin, father of Isaac, lived about 50 rods east of the Ridge Road, near the top of the mountain, and that several rock maples now mark the site of his house, and that his 12 children were born there, from 1769 to 1791. He gave this place to his son Isaac.
10. On east side of road. Cellar hole. Now owned by Henry I. and Clarence E. Edson. Former owners: Cyrus F. Edson,
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
HOME OF ALLYN M. SEAVER.
View showing one of the industries in which Mr. Seaver is interested.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
Benjamin Edson, 1802, Justin Stebbins, Zebulon Chapin 1783, Caleb Stebbins, 1739, Daniel Warner. The old deed was part of lots 114, 115 and 116.
11. On east side. House now abandoned, formerly Chauncey Bishop place.
12. On east side of road. Now owned by Dwight W. Eddy. Former owners: , Eleazer Bishop, Shubal Davis, Nathaniel Knowlton, Orson Holdrich, Elmer Lemon, Albert Bliss, Anna Bennett.
13. On west, side of road. Now owned by J. L. Brooks. Former owners: - Perkins, Allyn M. Seaver, Mrs. Almira Davis, George Stebbins.
14. On east side of road. Now owned by Allyn M. Seaver. Former owners: A. Delos Seaver, Jason Stebbins, Frederick Stebbins, Caleb Stebbins, David Chapin, Jr., in 1751. This is said to be part of the original lot, 105, allotted to Japhet Chapin in 1685, and came to his son Daniel in 1685. Many Indian relics have been found on this farm.
15. On east side of road. Now owned by Herbert H. Graves. Former owners: Goldie Frankel, A. M. Seaver, A. Delos Seaver, Francis Knowlton, N. Knowlton, -Cadwell, Capt. Daniel Cadwell, who from 1737 to 1764 bought of Samuel Warner, David Warriner, Isaac Brewer, the east end of lots 97 to 102. The deed from Samuel Warner reads, "From Brim- field line, west, to a gutter where a road is to be laid out." (Ridge Road.) It is said that the early settlers got bog iron ore near the brook east of the house, and that Temperance Day Knowlton raised silk worms with considerable success at the time of the silk industry excitement. This was one of the places purchased by the society for the promotion of agricul- ture among the Jews a few years ago.
16. On west side of road. Now owned by Joshua L. Brooks. Former owners: A. M. Seaver, Oscar F. Benedict, John Bul- lard, Stephen Cadwell. Capt. Daniel Cadwell purchased of Nathaniel Warriner in 1764. Being the east end of lot 96,
HOME OF H. H. GRAVES.
"BROOKMONT." Home of Joshua L. Brooks.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
22 rods, 2 feet and 9 inches wide. Mr. Brooks purchased the place in 1903. He was instrumental in getting the telephone line established in this vicinity. He has called the place "Brookmont." Mr. Brooks is now President of the Springfield Board of Trade.
17. East side of road. Now owned by Mrs. Edna Metcalf. Former owners: A. M. Seaver, Mrs. Joseph (Shields) Baldwin, Sextus Shields, - Sheldon. Many Indian relics have been found on this place, and on many other places in this vicinity.
18. On west side of road. Cellar hole. Formerly owned by James Calkins, also by James W. Bennett.
19. On east side of road. Now owned by Fred C. Phelps. Former owners: George W. Ely, George Leadbetter, James W. Bennett who built the house.
20. On east side of road. Now owned by J. Addison Bennett. Purchased from John Rindge. There are some curious stones on this place which may have done service for the Indians.
21. On west side of road. Now owned by George L. Rindge. Former owners: Lucius Rindge, Royal R. Rindge. This place, having been occupied by the Rindge family for more than one hundred years, is very appropriately called "Century Home- stead."
Continuing this road in a northerly direction for about half a mile.
On east side of road there is a cellar hole which marks the site of a house burned several years ago. The place is now owned by Henry M. Green. Former owners: Mrs. Julia (Butler) Green, Benjamin Butler, Orsemus Smith, Alvin Bennet. Mr. Orsemus Smith was killed on the railroad near the North Wilbraham station about 1867, and Mrs. Smith drowned herself and her child in the brook east of the house about 1872.
22. On east side of road. Now owned by Mrs. Amelia L. Hollingsworth. Her husband built the house about 1867. On
"THE CENTURY HOMESTEAD." Now owned by George L. Rindge.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
east side is the site of the first mill in this vicinity formerly owned by E. B. Gates, Dr. Shearer, Benjamin Butler.
23. On east side of road. Now owned by H. and M. Elpert.
THE RINDGE OAK.
A red oak tree standing at the intersection of the roads just north of the "Century Homestead." Girth is 16 feet, at 3 feet above the ground. The view is looking northerly.
Former owners: Frank Rindge, Charles Rindge, Benjamin Butler, Artemus Knowlton.
After passing over Eleven Mile Brook (sometimes called Twelve Mile.)
REV. CHARLES H. GATES.
Born at Palmer in 1823. He was ordained in the Congregational Church in 1851. Most of his service as a clergyman was in other states. He retired from the active ministry in 1893. He was the oldest man in town and held the Boston Post cane. Died December 12, 1914, in his ninety-second year.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
24. On the east side of the road is the home of Rev. Charles H. Gates. Former owners: Asa Gates, Dr. Shearer. Rev. Mr. Gates was born in Wilbraham in 1823, and is now the oldest man in town.
25. On east side. Owned by estate of E. O. Gates. Former owner: E. B. Gates.
26. On west side of road. Owned by estate of E. O. Gates. Formerly used as a residence by one of the managers of the mill.
27. On east side. Estate of E. O. Gates. Also used as a residence by one of the managers. Former owners: D. W. Ellis, Benjamin Butler.
28. On west side of road. House, owned by Estate of E. O. Gates. These last five places were formerly the property of Dwight W. Ellis, Gates and Nelson, Stebbins and others, and were used as homes for the help employed in the saw mill, grist mill, and woolen mills, some of which were operated here, from about 1762, until recently, using the power furnished by the brook. The road formerly went over the railroad at a grade crossing, and entered the Boston Road, between the houses now owned by E. N. Lyman and Bradway and Warren. Now the road runs under the railroad, at an underpass several rods west of the former crossing, and enters the Boston Road.
East Street, completes the list of roads running north and south through the town. We will now commence on the roads running east and west in our territory, beginning with the most northerly one.
OLD BOSTON ROAD
GOING EAST FROM SPRINGFIELD LINE
1. Near Springfield line. Now owned by estate of John Kelly.
About one-third of a mile east from the Springfield line, the Boston Road enters West Street, turns to the north and runs
WILBRAHAM WOOLEN COMPANY'S MILL.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
under the railroad at the underpass and turns again to the east. The houses on the road are as follows:
1. On north side of road and a little east of the underpass. House now owned by William Lapine.
2. Now owned by John W. Powers, who built the house recently.
3. On south side of road between it and the railroad. Now owned by Alexander Cormack. Former owners: Thomas Patterson, Michael Powers.
4. A little east of Cormack house. Now owned by James Flanigan. This place was owned or occupied for many years by C. M. Willard, who conducted the saw mill on the south bank of Chicopee river. The first railroad station in Wilbra- ham was established here, probably between these last two houses. The road continues on about half a mile and crosses the railroad by an overhead bridge and again connects with the new Boston Road. Just before crossing the railroad, on the north side of the road is the cellar hole which marks the site of the house of Patrick Moran. This crossing is still called "Moran's crossing." It was formerly a grade crossing, eight or ten rods further to the east.
Following along the road, on the south side of the railroad, about half a mile to the east.
5. On north side of road. Now owned by George C. Rose. Former owners: Allyn M. Seaver, James W. Bennett who built the first house there about 1900 and which was burned some years later and the present house erected. The place has been called Overlook Poultry Farm.
6. Now owned by C. W. Parish. Former owner, Abram Simons, who manufactured cigars.
7. On south side of road. Now owned by heirs of Levi R. Bliss. Former owner: L. Ruggles Bliss who built the house, about 1840. Known as Minnechaug Farm and as a summer resort.
Mithechavi Farm
HOMESTEAD OF LEVI RUGGLES BLISS. Now called "Minnechaug Farm." Owned by his daughter, Mrs. Harriet (Bliss) Fuller.
AUTO INN. Owned and conducted by William E Li versace.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
8. On south side of road, near the edge of Nine Mile Pond. 14 cottages, property of Mrs. F. A. Towne of Springfield. Mostly used for summer residences.
9. On north side of road. Now owned by Lewis C. Tripp. Built in 1912.
10. On south side of road. Now owned by Mrs. Mary P. Moore. Former owners: Mrs. E. B. Gates. Mrs Dexter Tufts, Mr. Fred Pease, Marshall A. Lane.
11. On north side. Now owned by Marshall A. Lane and built by him in 1912.
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