Western Mass.

[Adapted from the Springfield Republican, Feb 12, 1922.]

Northampton, February 11.—William Mahar, 66,died at his home on Summer street tonight after a long illness. He leaves his widow, a daughter, Mrs. Herbert Cooper, three sons, Thomas and William of Northampton, a son in the West, and a brother, Michael of Bay State. The funeral will be held Monday morning at 8:15 at the home, followed by services at Blessed Sacrament church. Burial will be in St. May’s cemetery.

No Comments »

[Adapted from the Springfield Republican, 12 February 1922.]

Pittsfield, February 11.—Miss May Evangeline Otis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Otis of 112 Plunkett street, was married to James Barrett Mears of 35 Dartmouth street at her home this afternoon at 1:30 by Rev. Walter Scott Bezanson of the Advent Christian church. There ceremony took place under a bower of evergreens. Miss Gladys Anthony of Dalton played the wedding march. There were no attendants. The bridge wore flesh-colored crepe de chine with a single head ornament. She carried white roses. Mrs. and Mres Mears are to live at New Haven. She has been employed at the General Electric Office and Mr. Mears is a railway mail clerk on the New York& New Haven railroad. He is a son of Mrs. Henry Philip Richert of this city and of the late Dr. Frank Leroy Mears of Lee.

No Comments »

[Adapted from the Springfield Republican, 10 February 1922.]

North Adams, February 9.—the incessant shrieking of a locomotive whistle for nearly an hour beginning at about10 this morning caused much interest and curiosity about the city. The blast was caused by the catching of a steam whistle on a Boston & Maine locomotive. The trouble began when the train was in Johnsonville, N.Y., according to the trainman and they were unable to stop it. Then the locomotive reached this city, it was taken off and another substituted. The one that made the noise remained here until it was repaired, and, silence obtained about the city once more.

No Comments »

[Adapted from the Springfield Republican, 10 February 1922.]

Great Barrington, February 9.—Philo Blake, 87, died at his home in Sheffield late Wednesday night from an illness due to old age. He was born November 9, 1834, in Litchfield, Ct. On October 25, 1862, he enlisted as a private under Capt. John Edward, Cc M, 3rd regiment, artillery. He was honorably discahrged April 23, 1864, and on the same day, re-enlisted. He served in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Jackson, Campbell’s station and the seiege of Knoxville. He is survived by his widow and two daughters, Mrs. Ida Jennings and Mrs. Stella Rope, both of Bridgeport, Ct., and a son, Philip of this town. The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 at the home. Burial will be in Elmwood cemetery, Great Barrington.

No Comments »

[Adapted from the Springfield Republican, 11 Feb 1922.]

Melville Street Building is Badly Damaged—Body
of Woman Removed with Difficulty From Undertaker’s Rooms.

Pittsfield, Feb. 11—Fire which was still burning at 12:30 this morning caused damage estimated at $30,000 to the three-story brick block of James W. Meehan, undertaker, at 20 to 24 Melville Street. Mr. Meehan, his son, William, and an employee, John W. Davis were in the morgue on the first floor preparing the body of Mrs. James C. Brennan of 87 Second street for burial when one of them opened a door leading to the cellar and was met by a great wave of smoke and flame. A telephone alarm was first sent, to the central fire station, and was followed by an alarm from box 42 on the American house corner, and three minutes later by box 372, at the corner of North and Union streets. Twelve lines of hose were laid by the firemen.

(more…)

No Comments »

[Adapted from the Springfield Republican, 09 February 1922.]

Henry A. Cowles, Retired Whip Manufacturer,
Served in Civil War

Westfield, February 8.—Henry Addiosn Cowles, 77, a lifelong resident, one of the city’s most prominent retired whip manufacturers, and a veteran of the Civil war, died suddenly tonight at the Bismarck hotel. He was born in Mundale. Besides his wodow he leaves a sister, Mrs. Lucy Granger of this city, and a daughter, Mrs. Richard Van Houten of Amesbury. The funeral will be held at 2 Friday afternoon at Park Memorial chapel, Rev. Conrad Hooker officiating. Burial will be in Pine Hill cemetery.

1 Comment »

[Adapted from a headline in the Springfield Republican Sports section, 05 February 1922.]

Men Whom Fans Will See Leading Eastern League Ball CLubs in 1992 for the First Time. John Hummel of Springfield.

No Comments »

[Adapted from the Springfield Republican, 09 February 1922.]

Former Postmaster and President of Pynchon Bank
Passes Away at Home of Daughter
at West Brattleboro, Vt.

Edward P. Chapin, 82, formerly postmaster of Springfield, and well known as a local banker, died last night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Fred C. Wright at West Brattleboro, Vt. Mr. Chapin was a direct descendant of Samuel Chapin, whose statue as the personification of the Puritan by Saint Gaudens, adorns the city library grounds. His ancestors were among the early Puritan settlers of Massachusetts, coming to this country about 1635.

Mr. Chapin was born at Chicopee, October 7, 1839, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Pliny Chapin. He began his business life when he was 16 years old as forwarding clerk in the Western Railroad office in this city. When the Civil war broke out he was appointed paymaster’s clerk in the United States armory, and held that place for nine years. He then went into the hardware business with his brother-in-law, Charles A. Kibbe, under the firm name of Chapin & Kibbe. He was also president of the Hampden Paint and Chemical company. (more…)

No Comments »

[Adapted from the Springfield Republican, February 5, 1922.]

The Chicago Automobile show is second only in size and importance to the New York show. It is divided into sections, the National show conducted in the Armory, and the Salon presented for private enterprise at the Drake hotel. The exhibit at the Drake is comprised of only the highest-priced cars and custom body work, on the same idea as the Salon held each year in New York.

The Stevens- Duryea car generally dominated the Salon, several of the foremost body builders in the country having elected Stevens-Duryea chassis in which to exhibit their custom coach work. The local builders, the South Springfield Body Corporation showed three body types, one a conventional limousine which is a standard mode and one of the Stevens-Duryea best sellers. This is a large, roomy car seating three people in the front seat and with two folding chairs facing forward. A smaller, smarter car was the new brougham which is narrower and low and had a particularly aristocratic air. The third car is the Smith Springfield exhibit was a four-passenger sport model.

(more…)

No Comments »

[Adapted from the Springfield Republican, 07 February, 1922.]

Old Resident of City Dies Following a Shock.

Pittsfield, Feb 5.—Octave Merriam, 72, died this morning of a shock at the home, 93 Lebanon avenue after an illness of 10 days. He was born in Montreal P.Q., came to Pittsfield with his parents when he was two years old and had made his home in the west part of the city for 70 years. He was a carpenter by trade. Mrs. Merriam died two years ago. Survivors are one daughter, Miss Emma P. Merriam, a trained nurse; seven sons, O. Hentry, Emery C., Joseph G.C., David F., William H., Walter L. and Edward H. Merriam; seven grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Katherine Durwin and Mrs. Julia Baker of Pittsfield. The funeral will probably be held Tuesday morning at Notre Dame church with burial in St. Joseph’s cemetery.

No Comments »