Lots of History Events

There is so much going on in the area that could be of interest to historians and genealogists.

The Pioneer Valley History Network is the source of lots of tempting offerings.  You can get on their email list, or check out the events page  HERE.

I was inspired by Joe Manning's talk at the Holyoke Heritage State Park, describing his research into descendants of child laborers photographed by Lewis Hine in the early 1900s. See details at http://www.morningsonmaplestreet.com/

Tina Peters is looking for help compiling favorite web sites of interest to genealogists at her October 13 talk in Colrain.  This will be a day full of local history with 16 sessions.  Tina's talk is entitled "Finding your ancestors in Colrain, West County, and Beyond"   The event is sponsored by the Mary Lyon Education Foundation.

Lots of cemetery info has been put up on Find a Grave by our Montague team and by a dedicated group in West County.

Remember, new information is being made available daily in a variety of ways.  The 1940 census, world-wide records on Family Search and photos of gravestones everywhere.  Do your part by sharing your research or responding to a request for a photo.  It's a big world out there full of Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness!

Hatfield On Line

This is a great site with info from the Hatfield Historical Society. It links to cemetery records: here.

Have You Explored the 1940 Census?

April 2 was a big day for genealogists, who have been awaiting the release of the 1940 U.S. census since the 1930 census was released 10 years ago. This time, images are available to view at a variety of sites. Until the forms are indexed, a project now underway by an army of volunteers, the pages must be read one by one to find our ancestors. In small towns it isn't too time-consuming to read through the images. In cities, knowing the Enumeration District narrows down the search. Maps of Massachusetts, VT and Rhode Island are available at Old Maps, with links to Steve Morse's site for other locations.

Have you tried indexing? You can join the effort through familysearch.org. By downloading their software, you can read and enter one page at a time. It only takes about 15 minutes, depending on the handwriting of the enumerator. It is a great way to be part of this exciting project. The more volunteers join in, the sooner the searchable images will be available to all of us. Get more information here.

The Face of Public Works

The Selectmen of Greenfield stated in their 1910 Report, "The wisdom of employing a town engineer has been thoroughly proved during the past year. Mr. Chapin has had supervision of all sidewalk, sewer, bridge and other construction work and has plotted many acres for Assessors’ maps, and we believe that his employment has saved money and benefited the town in other ways.” The line item for Town Engineer for 1911 was $1,300 salary.

The 1910 census of Greenfield shows H.G. Chapin, age 26, living with his parents on Congress Street. He is listed as a Civil Engineer. Former Town Engineer, Bill Allen, remembers Farley Chapin as his neighbor at 41 Congress St.

According to "Municipal Journal" of Public Works [Google books], published in July of 1912, Elwin S. Warner of North Adams replaced Mr. Chapin, who had resigned. So the term of Greenfield's first municipal engineer was brief. Mr. Warner is listed in the 1913 Harvard University Alumni Directory. Mr. Chapin's alma mater has not been discovered yet.

His 1921 passport application states that he was born in Gloversville NY on 23 June 1883 and had lived in Mexico from 1905-1907, Guatemala in 1912, and in France since July 1918. Passenger records show he arrived in New York on the Monterey on 28 August 1907 and again on the Merida from Veracruz, Mexico on 28 December 1907 and the Cartagno from Panama to New Orleans 19 December 1912.

Mr. Chapin later worked for J.W. Colt company and traveled extensively in Europe, according to the passport application made in France in 1921. He had plans to do business in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian countries. He is listed on the manifest of the Berengeria, arriving in New York from France 8 October 1926, on the Tuscania 1 November 1927, and on the Bremen 14 July 1930.

The database of Military burials at Arlington National cemetery includes a Harry Gardner Chapin, with the stated birth date, who died 7 February 1965. His service is listed as "CAPT HQ DETCH ARMY SVC CORPS A E F USA."

Does This Make You Feel Better?

From the 1919 Annual Report of Greenfield, the tone is less encouraging about the progress of public works, due to the lack of manpower and resources during the war.

'At the March meeting an appropriation of $2000 was made for much needed repairs to the Cheapside Bridge. Under the capable direction of Frank Frizzell, who was engaged for the job, the repairs were made rapidly, without mishap and well within the appropriation, the total cost beint $1,432.17. The bridge, though still of an unknown and questionable strength, has been made much safer.'

'Owing to the apparent need of retrenchment wherever possible, the purchase of a new sewer cleaning machine, contemplated for this year, was deferred. This machine should now be added to our equipment.'

Importance of Proper Plumbing

1892-1893 Greenfield Annual Report includes names of teachers, and books purchased for the library. The following comes from the Board of Health:

There were 84 deaths in the Town in 1892. We have suffered from no epidemic except a slight increase in the number of cases of scarlet fever, and an increase of about 60 percent of cases of diphtheria. Many of the cases of diphtheria have occurred in houses in which there was old and imperfect plumbing, or where there was no plumbing at all, save a cold water pipe in kitchen. The sooner that all householders recognize the importance of putting a trap between each and every sink or basin, or water-closet and the soil pipe, and then ventilating each trap with a separate pipe running to the roof (thereby preventing siphoning of traps) the better will the general health become. An unventilated trap is worse than no trap, because it gives a false show of protection.

Pretty Words on Building Roads

From 1889-1990:

In order to sustain the reputation of the town as a desirable place for residence and business, heavy expenditure of money is necessary. The people have been very liberal in voting supplies, and great care should be taken that the line be not crossed between expenditure which is necessary and right and that which is unnecessary, extravagant and useless.

At the last annual meeting the town voted to complete macadamizing Main street and a little over 5000 square yards was laid, averaging ten inches in thickness, completely underdrained by two lines of blind ditches, laid with porous tile, at an expense of $5,145 including the expense of crushing.

The excellence of this street has attracted the attention of people who are interested in road repairs, and many visitors from cities and towns intending to adopt some system of macadamizing their streets, have examined it and all report themselves as much pleased with our success.