Sacred Heart Church Revisited

Ask and ye shall receive...

I drive by Sacred Heart Church on Chestnut Street in Springfield on my way to work every day. Interstate 291 in that area gets tricky, the crossover to the Armory Street exit - which is the one I want - a daily dare of death-defying driving. Yet, I never pass the towering and magnificent, aptly-crowned structure without taking a look. 'Tis a satisfying gaze, this rock of hope, steadfast and true, beckoning like a stepping-stone to greatness. Proof that man can rise above.

Last month, I happened to be in the area of the church for appointments (how come many of the new people you meet as you get older seem to be doctors?), and noticed the cross from the south peak had been removed temporarily as part of renovations to the church roof. It was odd, but neat, to see the heavy stone cross at ground-level. I made it a point to stop on my way home to take some photos. I wondered how long it had been since the cross had been so accessible, the last time folks could walk up and look at it close-up, the simple carving no less humbling to a believing soul whether at fingertip's reach or eye's far-focus.

I featured some of those photos here on EWM in a post of March 12, 'Sacred Heart Church Gets a New Roof,' captioned with my corny, but captivating, commentary. Due to time constraints, I wasn't able to do much research on the history of Sacred Heart Parish or Church, and it wasn't until my follow-up post of March 28, 'Sacred Heart Church Gets a New Roof Redux,' and a query from a regular reader and sometime contributor, that I was prompted to look further into this majestic treasure of Springfield, a source of pride to the community, parishioner and non-parishioner alike.

I was a bit surprised to find that the parish doesn't have a website. What a sign of the times that is: It's one thing to imagine the world accessible at the click of a mouse, it's entirely another to begin to expect it. Disappointment in a fruitless Google search is a symptom of change.

I resorted to snail-mail, and was extremely pleased to receive a quick response which included some excellent information, especially a concise historical summary of the parish and church, titled, 'Sacred Heart Church: A Magnet to the Eye, A Signal to the Spirit.' I wish whoever had sent the materials had included their name, because they certainly have been very helpful. I guess I will just thank the entire parish, after all, they are the ones who support the work of the church, the anchor of the North End for well over 100 years.

I was a little amused with myself when I noticed that on the first page of the history was a quote from the book 'Springfield Present and Prospective' (Pond & Campbell, 1905), the book I am currently transcribing here at EWM as part of the regular Sunday history transcription series. Had I consulted the book, I would have found two pages dedicated to a brief description of Sacred Heart Parish and its history up to the farewell turn of the 19th century. Another reminder that I'm not the sharpest tack in the bulletin board. Alas, those reminders seem to come more frequently with the passing of the days.

Most of the following information is gleaned from the two aforementioned sources.

The Gothic Revival-style church is actually the second home of Sacred Heart Parish, the third if you consider that, in 1872, Sacred Heart Parish was spun off from St. Michael's Parish, the city's oldest, established in 1861, which, up until that time, had been the sole parish serving an ever-growing population of Roman Catholics in Springfield. The land for the city's second parish, at the corner of Linden (now Stafford) and Chestnut Streets, was purchased in 1869 by Boston Bishop John Williams. As pointed out in the history, 'A Magnet to the Eye, A Signal to the Spirit,' this makes Sacred Heart Parish older than the Diocese of Springfield itself, which was established in July, 1870, by Pope Pius IX. Rev. Patrick T. O'Reilly enjoyed the distinction of being named first Bishop of Springfield, and it is remembered that he served with great devotion and kindness for his congregation from the time of his consecration in St. Michael's Cathedral on September 25, 1870, until his passing on May 28, 1892. On the day of Bishop O'Reilly's funeral, June 1, 1892, Springfield's mayor, Lawson Sibley, requested that city businesses remain closed as a sign of respect for the beloved clergyman.

The design and purpose of the original structure for the new parish was decided at an 1872 meeting between Bishop O'Reilly and North End Catholics, the majority of them Irish immigrants, who were the foundation of Sacred Heart Parish. Desiring a Catholic school, as well as a place to worship, the parishioners opted to build a tri-level, multi-use structure with their limited funds, rather than pouring all of their resources into a singularly-functioning church, the two choices having been presented to them by Bishop O'Reilly. James Murphy, of Providence, Rhode Island, was chosen as the architect of the parish building. The final design agreed upon consisted of room for 1,200 worshippers on the building's ground-level, with the Catholic school, the first in the city, occupying the second floor. The third-floor was set aside for social functions and was known as 'convent hall,' and the basement was utilized as a home for various church organizations.

The cornerstone for the first Sacred Heart Parish building was laid, fittingly so, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart in 1873. Although the church was still years away from completion, Father James J. McDermott, chosen to shepherd the new parish, celebrated the first Mass at Sacred Heart on Easter Sunday, 1874.

In 1877, the school opened, admittance to which was restricted to girls because of a lack of classroom space. A girls' high school was carved out of part of the third floor in 1881. The school went co-ed in 1908. Sacred Heart High School and Holy Name High School in Chicopee were combined in 1969 and renamed Notre Dame High School. The high school closed seven years later, in 1976.

The $40,000 price of construction of the parish building was raised through donations, parish fundraisers and a loan, which was satisfied in 1888. Sixteen years after the original unmistakably utilitarian Parish building was conceived, Father McDermott and his growing flock again called upon architect James Murphy, this time to build them the soaring and spectacular sandstone testament of spirituality and faith we see today. A towering monument with a historical footprint and palpable neighborhood presence, standing now for over a century as a silent sentinel of Sacred Heart Parish's devotion.

The Gothic monolith, 194 feet long, 67 feet high and built of East Longmeadow brownstone, took five years to build. The church's cornerstone was laid and dedicated at an October 21, 1888, ceremony attended by 10,000 people and presided over by Bishop O'Reilly and Father McDermott. Unfortunately, and (presumably) unbeknownst to them at the time, the Bishop and good Father would not be present at the church's consecration. The Mass consecrating the Parish's new home was celebrated on October 18, 1896, by Bishop Thomas D. Beaven and Father Thomas Smyth, the replacements for the two earlier officiating clergymen, who had both passed-on before the second incarnation of Sacred Heart Church was completed.


Father McDermott was the driving force behind the construction of the new church, and had eventually become ill as a result of his over-exertions. On July 26, 1891, Father McDermott died in Paris, France, having left Springfield in May for rest and relaxation in Europe. His body was returned to his flock for burial. Father McDermott's funeral Mass was held on August 11, 1891, amidst the scaffolding and pillars of the unfinished church, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination into the service of the Roman Catholic priesthood. The sad Mass was the first ever held in the church, with Bishop O'Reilly pontificating over the service for his brother pioneering Springfield clergyman.

Father Smyth, who had come to Sacred Heart Parish from St. Mary's in Westfield - my family's home parish - continued Father McDermott's work as overseer of the church's construction, which was completed in 1896, as mentioned before, at a cost of $100,000. Father Smyth served as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish for almost forty years, from 1891 to 1928. He was nearly eighty years old by the end of his ministry, having entered this world on Christmas day in Ireland, 1848.

Because of unanticipated budget constraints, the spires which were planned for the two church towers, a 114 foot tall one on the 134 foot high south tower, which houses the church's carillion, and a 79 foot tall one on the 67 foot high north tower, were scratched from the plans, their construction put off for a future date, when funds became available. Imagining spires of that height atop the two already-giant towers is difficult, the smaller tower embellished as such gaining more than double its height, and the taller tower on the corner of Stafford and Chestnut Streets nearly that itself. As it is, chances are good that the parish will be satisfied for many years to come with the superb copper crowns added fairly recently to each tower, embellishments lending a distinctive look and a finishing touch. The crowns' peaks are adorned with Celtic crosses, mirroring those found in the church below. Designed by Springfield architect Stephen Jablonski, the crowns, or "pinnacles," were installed in May, 1999, by Springfield Steel Erectors. When the new copper "pinnacles" were first installed, many folks grumbled about the change in the church's profile, most notably that the new additions were too bright and shiny for the Medieval-looking church. Architect Jablonski, in a Union-News article, was convinced that once the copper aged, and developed its natural patina, the crowns would "look fabulous." He was right.

The addition of the crowns demonstrates Sacred Heart Parish's commitment toward growth and renewal throughout the years. The parish not only faithfully, and without reserve, maintains its property and place of worship, they improve the buildings they know and nurture as the congregation's spiritual home. From a half a million dollar interior renovation in 1992, to the $30,000 purchase and installation of the sixty ton Italian marble altar in 1951, Sacred Heart Parishioners have spared no expense or sacrifice in the maintenance and beautification of the awe-inspiring material expression of their faith embodied in stone. Easily apparent is a communal aesthetic inclination and sense of pride and duty of the parish to the image projected to whomever may pass, all eyes inevitably drawn to the structure as to fine art...even if they do happen to be doing sixty miles an hour on the interstate while trying to cross two incoming lanes to make it to their exit ramp in chaotic rush-hour traffic at the time.

As always, thanks for stopping by and take care.

Quabbin Gate 40: Dana Town Common

The Dana town common is a popular destination for Quabbin visitors.

About a two mile walk from Gate 40 on Rte. 32a in Petersham, the common affords explorers the best glimpse into the past of a vanished Quabbin town. Dana actually one of four, the other three being Enfield, Greenwich and Prescott, sacrificed for the building of Quabbin reservoir.

With the remnants of sidewalks and silent stone foundations ringing what was once a vibrant and active town center, a visitor can't help but feel conflicting feelings of discovery and unease - history and loss.

A town hall, a church, a school and hotel. Homes and stores and fields and cemeteries. They were all here. As solid and real as the homes you and I live in today. And now: Nature reclaims.

For more about Dana and the walk to Dana Common and directions to Gate 40, see the recent EWM article: 'Quabbin Gate 40: The Dana-Greenwich Road,' a companion piece to these photographs. For a timeline of Quabbin history, check out: 'The Quabbin Chronology: A Timeline of the Swift River Valley.'


The commemorative marker on Dana Common. Carved into the stone:

Site of Dana Common
1801-1938
To All Those Who
Sacrificed Their
Homes And Way
Of Life
Erected By
Dana Reunion 1996

The Marcille family home's foundation is on the south side of the road as you approach Dana Common. This was the site of a suicide-murder attempt in the early 1900's.

Moses Marcille was the town blacksmith.

He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1907 after shooting his wife twice beforehand. Fortunately, Mrs. Marcille recovered from her wounds and continued living in the house until moving in the late 1920's.



The Marcille home's foundation cornerstone or doorstep perhaps?



Looking east up the old Dana-Greenwich Road from near where the front of Dana's town hall once was located.



The Vaughn family occupied the home that sat near this beautiful retaining wall, distinctively sheathed with uniform size round stones. The home, facing the eastern tip of the town common, was located across the street (diagonally) from Dana's town hall, schoolhouse and cemetery and a couple of doors down from the general store-post office to the west.

I'm not sure of the name of the road to the right of the wall, which runs southeast off the common for just a short way before disappearing into a nice field.



The rear of the Vaughn family home, looking toward the stone memorial on Dana Common and the cemetery beyond. Dana's schoolhouse and town hall would have been off to the right a bit.

Time and neglect are starting to take their toll on the unique structure.







A few foundations along the south side of Greenwich Road, bordering Dana Common.

In the Spring, the maples in this area are sometimes tapped by area farmers with the permission of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.



A curbstone and sidewalk remnant in front of the stone foundation of what was once the 15-room Eagle Hotel, located on the west side of Dana Common between Greenwich Road and Skinner Hill Road.



The foundation of the Eagle Hotel looking southwest. Greenwich Road is in the background. A cellar stairway is in the far corner of the foundation to the right.

The hotel was built in the early 1800's.



A chunk of concrete near the site of the old Dana town hall. Apparently, they used everything in the mix in the 'old days', from chunks of glass to bottlecaps and other debris. Talk about stone soup.



If this sidewalk could talk...

This is a remnant of the sidewalk that passed in front of the schoolhouse and the Dana town hall. The cemetery field in the next photo is to the left of the sidewalk in this picture.

Dana's town hall had served as a church for many years prior to becoming an official public meeting place.

The building was moved to its location on the Dana town common in 1800 by the Universalist congregation, who used it as a house of worship until 1842 when it became the town hall. The structure had originally been constructed in the nearby town of Petersham, and served as a Baptist church there.

Petersham absorbed all of Dana after the town's disincorporation on April 28, 1938.



These stone posts mark the border of Dana's cemetery, which once claimed a population of around 700 resting residents. Cemeteries within the Quabbin watershed area were emptied before the flooding of the reservoir, most of the disinterred being removed to Quabbin Park cemetery on Rte. 9 in Belchertown.

In the 1935 census, Dana's above-ground population was 387.

The schoolhouse and the town hall were in front of the cemetery, and would have been to the right in this photograph.



The Dana Common area at Gate 40 is one of the most interesting and beautiful spots to visit in the Quabbin watershed.

For even more town of Dana information, check out the EWM post 'Quabbin Gate 40: The Road to Dana Common.'

And be sure to take a look at EWM's The Quabbin Page for lots of interesting links and resources, including the EWM exclusive, The Quabbin Chronology: A Timeline of the Swift River Valley.

As always, thanks for stopping by and take care.

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'Springfield Present and Prospective (1905), The Visible Charm, As It Was, Is, and May Be,' Excerpt VII

Another installment of 'Springfield Present and Prospective' (Pond & Campbell 1905), the book currently being transcribed as part of the historical book series presented on these pages. We continue chapter one, 'The Visible Charm, As It Was, Is, and May Be,' with section three, 'Churches, Monuments and Chimneys,' from part III, 'Architectural Garments.' The author is Eugene C. Gardner, a prominent Springfield resident and an accomplished architect, who, together with his son, George Clarence Gardner, also an architect, designed such significant city structures as the Chestnut School, the Myrtle School and the Springfield district court building at 1600 E. Columbus Avenue. The latter two are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Eugene C. Gardner's fussy interest in architecture, evident in his contribution to 'Springfield Present and Prospective,' is also reflected in his other written endeavors, including 'Homes and How to Make Them (1874),' compiled in a homespun 'letters to the architect' format, and 'The House that Jill Built, After Jack's had Proved a Failure (1882),' another folksy approach to architecture through word, with many interesting illustrations and diagrams. Both books are available for free reading or download at Project Gutenberg, currently hosting 20,000 titles, including audio books and digitized sheet music.

Without further interruption...

Continued from: 'III. Architectural Garments, Part 2. Commercial and Municipal.'


III. Architectural Garments

3. Churches, Monuments and Chimneys

Local ecclesiastical architecture is easily disposed of. There are plenty of cities in the world infested by eager tourists, sung by enamored poets, and coveted by military heroes, whose fame rests almost solely on the marvelous beauty and impressive grandeur of their churches and cathedrals. Even the buildings of state, erected by the rulers of great nations with apparent utter recklessness as to cost, are less notable on the whole than those which have been inspired by religious sentiment and devoted to its expression. It will hardly be considered unkind to say that Springfield is in no immediate danger of being ravaged by rapacious generals, preserved in ponderous poetry, or tormented by tourists, solely on account of the magnificence of her churches. Leaving out the venerable and hoary First church, which by reason of its halo of historic sentiment and hallowed associations can hardly enter the race on its architectural merits, there are four or five others that are justly entitled to admiration for their beauty; although in two or three of these it would appear that the lamp of sacrifice flickered and went out before they were completed. Aside from these, of the various buildings used for religious purposes, none rise above the commonplace. If any one of them should be destroyed, it is doubtful if it would be rebuilt in its present form solely for the sake of its architectural excellence.

Monumental architecture belongs either to some of the dead and gone golden ages, renowned for a precocious development of physical courage and intellectual refinement, or else to the tyrannical reigns of great autocrats, able to compel the unlimited resources of a kingdom, including the unrequited toil of their subjects. We have escaped the latter condition and have not yet attained the former. In our commercial age, the successful production and accumulation of material wealth makes it inevitable that the finer intellectual, aesthetic and moral qualities are often submerged under waves of financial success and business ambition. We have no time nor inclination for "Art for Art's sake;" there must also be money in it.

In combination with other structures, spires and towers are somewhat monumental in purpose, though these were originally intended for use, either as campaniles or as observatories when enemies were expected, and for hurling hot pitch and Greek fire on their heads as soon as they arrived. When to the strength and magnitude of defensive towers, grace of form and beauty of detail were added, they came to be recognized as among the most impressive examples of the builder's art, the most effective of decorative features. Seen from a distance, the simplest of strictly utilitarian structures, be-smoked and be-sooted steam chimneys, greatly improve the landscape of a city. If beauty is ever recognized as an essential element in all the work of our hands, as it will be when we are sufficiently civilized - say, for instance, as highly civilized in this direction as the Japanese - so obvious an opportunity for combining the two as exists in these great organs of respiration, will not be neglected, and every steam chimney, like every urban park and church spire, will be beautiful not only to the stockholders and the employees but to all good people in sight of it. Of course, long before that time the "smoke nuisance" will be not merely "abated" but abolished, and there will be no stain on the escutcheons, or the chimneys, of the great corporations.

From monumental to industrial architecture, by way of the chimney tops, is an easy step and highly suggestive of the close relation between the useful and the beautiful. If industrial architecture is given a shelf by itself, there are few cities that would make a more creditable showing than this city of homes and industry. The venerable buildings of the United States Armory are models of simplicity and agreeable proportions. It is undoubtedly through their silent influence that many of the more important factories in the city exhibit a thoughtful regard for careful, harmonious design.

It appears, therefore, that in modification of Nature's perfect legacy by means of architectural garments, we have not gone far astray. There is health and hope and vigor in us, and while much remains to be done, there is comparatively little that needs to be undone.

Next: 'IV. Looking Forward, Part 1. Bed Rock.'

Complete chapters of 'Springfield Present and Prospective':
Chapter 7: 'The Story of Springfield,' by Alfred M. Copeland and Edwin Dwight (includes book title page)

Flounder Logic

One night it was my middle son Addy's turn to have the exclusive, one-on-one fishing trip with Dad.

We went to the Connecticut state park at Bluff Point, in Groton. It wasn't long before Addy caught the first fish of the night, a flounder.

I rebaited his hook with a sandworm and cast the line back out for him. Handing the pole to him, I said "There you go. I cast it right in the same spot."

Addy replied "Why Dad? I already caught the fish that was there."

Ah, the logic of youth.

Photo: Turning the Soil

"Spring ploughing, New England"
Platinum print photo, by George E. Tingley (c. 1899)

Sacred Heart Church Gets A New Roof Redux

Driving to work last week, I noticed the stone cross had been replaced atop the peak of the Stafford Street side of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield. Yesterday I was able to snap a few follow-up photos showing the progress made since the EWM post of March 12, 'Sacred Heart Church Gets a New Roof.'

The cross, back where it belongs in time for Easter.

The south tower climbs heavenward.

The north tower and facade.

The Chestnut Street facade and a gathering of shrubs.

The east side or rear of Sacred Heart church. In the aforementioned previous post, the stonework running up the peak and the cross on the left were missing, taken down temporarily as part of the ongoing roofing project. The roofers are certainly earning their money on this job.

As always, thanks for stopping by and take care.

MassPike, Morning

Massachusetts Turnpike - March 23, 2007

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Museums of Western Massachusetts

Museums have a wide range of operating days and hours, some are seasonal, others open only on weekends. Some are limited to visits as part of a guided tour. It's always best to call ahead to get all of the details, or visit the museum's web site, if available, when planning an outing. (Updated July 10, 2013)

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Amherst


The Amherst College Museum of Natural History
Amherst College Campus
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
(413) 542-2165

"A partnership of seven outstanding college museums with three unique neighboring museums offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to experience the art, books, Natural and human history of many periods and cultures." --From the museum web site.

http://www.amherst.edu/~pratt/


Amherst History Museum
67 Amity Street
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
(413) 256-0678

"Housed in the 1750 era Strong House, the Amherst History Museum takes visitors on a journey from the towns colonial past, through its industrial age and into the computer driven present...The Amherst History Museum opened in 1916, governed by the Amherst Historical Society, founded in 1899." --From the museum web site.

http://www.amhersthistory.org/


The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
125 West Bay Road
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
(413) 658-1100

"The mission of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is to inspire, especially in children and their families, an appreciation for and an understanding of the art of the picture book." --From the museum web site.

http://www.picturebookart.org/


Emily Dickinson Museum: The Homestead and the Evergreens
280 & 214 Main Street
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
(413) 542-8161

"The Museum is dedicated to educating diverse audiences about Emily Dickinson's life, family, creative work, times, and enduring relevance, and to preserving and interpreting the Homestead and The Evergreens as historical resources for the benefit of scholars and the general public." --From the museum web site.

http://www.museums10.org/index.php?op=about&m=1


Hampshire College Art Gallery
Johnson Library Center, Lower Level
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
(413) 559-5544

"The gallery's active program of exhibitions includes, in addition to the more traditional media, environmental installations, dance and performance pieces, and video presentations." --From the gallery's web site.

http://www.hampshire.edu/library/1473.htm


Mead Art Museum
Amherst College Campus
Corner of Route 9 and Route 116
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
(413) 542-2335

"The Mead Art Museum exhibits highlights from the permanent collection in six galleries, and presents temporary shows on contemporary art, photography, and interdisciplinary subjects highlighted by loans from public and private collections." --From the museum web site.

http://www.amherst.edu/mead/index.html


National Yiddish Book Center
1021 West Street
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
(413) 256-4900

"We invite you to visit us in person at our beautiful new headquarters in Amherst, Massachusetts: a lively "cultural shtetl" featuring a book repository, theater, conference space and museum exhibitions." --From the book center web site.

http://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/


University Museum of Contemporary Art - UMass Amherst
Fine Arts Center
University of Massachusetts
Anherst, Massachusetts 01003
(413) 545-3670

"The Gallery maintains a Permanent Collection of approximately 2,600 objects with an emphasis on drawings, prints and photographs from the second half of the 20th century." --From the gallery web site.

https://umafacweb1.admin.umass.edu/Online/defaultN.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=A8D4EA53-0BB3-48FF-A15C-332E0478ECA0&sessionlanguage=

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Chester


Chester Historical Society
15 Middlefield Street (Route 20)
Chester, Massachusetts 01011
Email: HistoricalSociety@chestermass.com

"The Chester Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of Chester’s heritage and historical buildings. The society maintains numerous resources for local history or genealogical research, as well as a large collection of items from Chester’s industrial past. Email us if you would like to make an appointment to use the resources of the society or if you have any questions/comments about Historic Chester Massachusetts." --From the historical society web site.

http://www.chestermass.com/

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Chesterfield


Bisbee Mill Museum & Chesterfield Historical Society
66 East Street
Chesterfield, Massachusetts 01012
(413) 296-4384 (Curator)

"...In December 1995, this building with its old grist mill, woodworking shop and blacksmith shop --and space to display items already in the possession of the Historical Society-- was accepted and deeded to the Historical Society for $1.00." --From the historical society web site.


Edwards Memorial Museum
3 North Road
Chesterfield, Massachusetts 01012
(413) 268-9927 (Curator)

"The Edwards Memorial Museum features a Victorian Parlor and old organ, as well as period dresses and costumes. Antique furniture, spinning wheels, household tools, equipment, pictures and "Living History" tapes. Open Fourth of July and Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m." --From the Hidden-hills.com web site.

http://www.hidden-hills.com/edwardsmuseum/

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Dalton


The Crane Museum of Papermaking
30 South Street
Dalton, Massachusetts 01226
(413) 684-6481

"In wall and floor cases, exhibits trace the history of American papermaking from Revolutionary times, with special emphasis on the durable, distinctive Crane papers made for currency, bonds, stock certificates and elegant stationery." --From the Crane Museum web site

http://www.crane.com/navContent.aspx?NavName=aboutus&DeptName=Museum

(See EWM post: 'The Crane Museum of Papermaking', July 6, 2008.

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Deerfield


Historic Deerfield
Old Main Street
Deerfield, Massachusetts 01342
(413) 775-7214

"Historic Deerfield, Incorporated, is dedicated to the heritage and preservation of Deerfield, Massachusetts, and the Connecticut River Valley. Its museums and programs provide today's audiences with experiences that create an understanding and appreciation of New England's historic villages and countryside." --From the Historic Deerfield web site.

http://www.historic-deerfield.org/

(See EWM post: 'Cemetery: Old Deerfield Burying Ground', July 31, 2007.)

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Granville


Noble & Cooley Center for Historic Preservation
42 Water Street
Granville, Massachusetts 01034
(413) 357-8814

"NCCHP is a new museum created to preserve and incorporate the rich history of Granville and the surrounding areas. The museum is housed within the historic buildings of the Noble & Cooley drum factory." --From the NCCHP web site.

http://www.ncchp.org/

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Greenfield


Museum of Our Industrial Heritage
2 Mead Street
Greenfield, Massachusetts 01301


"The museum’s mission is to celebrate our industrial heritage through preserving, collecting, and educating the public, with emphasis on Franklin County and Athol, Massachusetts." --From the Museum of Our Industrial Heritage web site.

http://industrialhistory.org/

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Holyoke


Children's Museum at Holyoke
444 Dwight Street
Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040
(413) 536-7048

"The Children's Museum at Holyoke provides a unique setting in which children and adults learn together about art, science and the world around them." --From the museum web site.

http://www.childrensmuseumholyoke.org/


The Volleyball Hall of Fame
444 Dwight Street
Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040
(413) 536-0926

"The Volleyball Hall of Fame...opened to the public on June 6, 1987. A two-day volleyball tournament was hosted by the Volleyball Hall of Fame to celebrate the grand opening." --From the Hall of Fame web site.

http://www.volleyhall.org/index.html


Wistariahurst Museum
238 Cabot Street
Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040
(413) 322-5660

"Wistariahurst Museum seeks to preserve the home, landscape and material culture of the Skinner family and promote an appreciation of history and culture through educational programs, exhibits and special events." --From the museum web site.

http://www.wistariahurst.org/

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Lenox


Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum
East end of Housatonic Street
Lenox, Massachusetts
(413) 637-2210

"A vintage railway coach houses this unique permanent exhibit where visitors are introduced to the rich history of Berkshire County and to the locations where that history can be revisited...On summer weekends and Holidays the museum offers two ninety minute round trip excursions from Lenox Station to Stockbridge and a forty-five minute round trip excursion from Lenox Station to Lee narrated by a uniformed conductor." --From the museum web site.

http://www.berkshirescenicrailroad.org/index.php


Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio
92 Hawthorne Street
P.O. Box 2256
Lenox, Massachusetts 01240
(413) 637-0166

"Visit the home of American Abstract Artists George L.K. Morris and Suzy Frelinghuysen, set on a 46 acre estate in the heart of Lenox, Massachusetts. View their paintings, frescoes, and sculpture; experience their exquisite collection of American and European Cubist Art." --From the studio web site.

http://www.frelinghuysen.org/


The Museum of the Gilded Age at Ventfort Hall
104 Walker Street
Lenox, Massachusetts 01240
(413) 637-3206

"Ventfort Hall is an imposing Elizabethan-style mansion built in 1893 for Sarah Morgan, the sister of J. P. Morgan...Located on spacious grounds in the heart of the village, it is partially restored and open to the public. Through lectures, exhibits, theatrical performances and other events, The Museum of the Gilded Age interprets the great changes that occurred in American life, industry, and society during the Nineteenth Century, a fascinating period of American history." --From the museum web site.

http://www.gildedage.org/


The Mount - Edith Wharton's Estate and Gardens
2 Plunkett Street
Lenox, Massachusetts 01240
(413) 551-5100

"The Mount is the turn-of-the-century home that Edith Wharton designed and built based on the precepts outlined in her groundbreaking 1897 book, The Decoration of Houses, co-authored with architect Ogden Codman, Jr. A perfect example of the newly dawned American Renaissance, the classical revival house and its formal gardens represent the only full expression of Wharton’s architectural and landscape architectural theories." --From the Mount web site.

http://www.edithwharton.org/

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Monterey


The Bidwell House Museum
Art School Road
P.O. Box 537
Monterey, Massachusetts 01245
(413) 528-6888

"The museum, set in the Berkshire hills, is an elegant Georgian saltbox originally built circa 1750 as a parsonage. Authentically restored, filled with antiques and surrounded by beautiful grounds and hiking trails, the museum is open Thursday through Monday between 11 am and 4 pm from May 27th to mid October." --From the museum web site.

http://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org/

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North Adams


Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
87 Marshall Street
North Adams, Massachusetts 01247
(413) 662-2111

"Since opening in 1999, MASS MoCA has become one of the world's premier centers for making and showing the best art of our time. With annual attendance of 120,000, it ranks among the most visited institutions in the United States dedicated to new art." --From the museum web site.

http://www.massmoca.org/index.php


North Adams Museum of History and Science
Western Gateway Heritage State Park, Building 5A
State Street
North Adams, Massachusetts 01247
(413) 664-4700

"Our mission is to protect, preserve and promote the rich history of North Adams, Massachusetts and its people...Our goal is to present exhibits, publications and programs that will bring to life the rich history of North Adams, Massachusetts. You are cordially invited to attend all of our programs." --From the historical society web site.

http://www.northadamshistory.org/history.htm

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Northampton


Smith College Museum of Art
Elm Street at Bedford Terrace
Northampton, Massachusetts 01063
(413) 585-2760

"With approximately 25,000 objects, the Smith College Museum of Art has one of the nation's finest teaching collections." --From the museum web site.

http://scma.smith.edu/artmuseum/

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Pittsfield


The Berkshire Museum
39 South Street, Route 7
Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201
(413) 443-7171, Ext. 11

"The Berkshire Museum enriches, educates, and inspires through diverse collections of art, natural science, and history, as well as dynamic educational programs and special exhibitions. From American art by Hudson River School artists to our aquarium housing both native and exotic fish, reptiles, and amphibians, from an interactive dinosaur dig to the mummy of Pahat, the Berkshire Museum is “a window on the world” for all ages." --From the museum web site.

http://www.berkshiremuseum.org/index.html


Herman Melville's Arrowhead
780 Holmes Road
Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201
(413) 442-1793

"It was at Arrowhead that Melville wrote his most famous work, Moby-Dick, along with three other novels...Arrowhead is now a house museum interpreting the life of the Melville family in the Berkshires. It is owned and operated by the Berkshire County Historical Society, a non-profit corporation" --From the museum web site.

http://www.mobydick.org/

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South Hadley


Joseph Allen Skinner Museum
Woodbridge Street
South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075
Contact: Mount Holyoke College Art Museum (413) 538-2245

"The main building, open to the public, was originally the Congregational church in Prescott, Massachusetts. When that town was flooded due to the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir, Skinner bought the 1846 building and moved it to South Hadley. It became his personal museum, housing his wide-ranging collection of American and European furniture, decorative arts, crafts, tools, and geological specimens." --From the Mt. Holyoke College web site.

https://www.mtholyoke.edu/artmuseum/skinner


Mount Holyoke College Art Museum
Lower Lake Road
South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075
(413) 538-2245

"Dedicated to providing firsthand experience with works of significant aesthetic and cultural value, the Museum develops exhibitions and programs that aim to provide aesthetic enjoyment, stimulate inquisitive looking, and encourage understanding of the artistic achievements represented by a diversity of cultures." --From the museum web site.

https://www.mtholyoke.edu/artmuseum


South Hadley Historical Society - The Old Firehouse Museum
4 North Main Street
South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075
413-536-4970

"The Old Firehouse Museum presents the history of this town, which was settled in 1753 and is the site of our new nation’s first commercially successful canal." --From the museum's Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/South-Hadley-Historical-Society-Old-Firehouse-Museum/105131839315?sk=info

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Springfield


Springfield Museums at the Quadrangle
21 Edwards Street
Springfield, Massachusetts 01103
1-800-625-7738

George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum

"The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum is one of the two Springfield Museums dedicated to fine and decorative arts. It represents the very personal taste of the Victorian collector whose name it bears. The Museum was built in 1895 in the style of an elegant Italian villa and opened to the public in 1896 as the “Art Museum.”" --From the museum web site.

http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/gwv_smith_art/


The Museum of Fine Arts

"The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the two Springfield Museums dedicated to fine and decorative arts. The Art Deco-style Museum was erected in response to a bequest from Mr. & Mrs. James Philip Gray, who left their entire estate for the "selection, purchase, preservation, and exhibition of the most valuable, meritorious, artistic, and high class oil paintings obtainable," and for the construction of a Museum to house them. The Museum opened in 1933. The Museum of Fine Arts presents a strong cross section of American and European paintings, sculpture and works on paper." --From the museum web site.

http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/fine_arts/


Springfield Science Museum

"Visitors to the Springfield Science Museum will find a world filled with the wonders of natural and physical science. The Museum also is home to a live animal center with fish, insects, reptiles and amphibians in such realistic natural habitats as an Amazon rainforest, coral reef, and New England harbor." --From the museum web site.

http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/science/


Connecticut Valley Historical Museum

"Learn more about the history and traditions of the Connecticut River Valley through our permanent and changing exhibits that tell the story of the region from 1636 to the present through the Museum's collection of handcrafted furniture and silver by local craftsmen, motorcycles and antique autos made in Springfield, industrial objects from the region's factories, and historical firearms from the area's gun industry, including selected revolvers from a premier Smith & Wesson collection." --From the museum web site.

http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/ct_valley_history/


Dr. Seuss National Memorial

"The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is now open at the Springfield Museums in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where Theodor Seuss Geisel was born and which appears to have inspired much of his work." --From the National Memorial web site.

http://www.catinthehat.org/memorial.htm


Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History

"The 40,000-square-foot museum presents exhibits that interpret Springfield history in the larger context of American history in the 19th and 20th centuries. As a prosperous city growing out of the Industrial Revolution, Springfield reflects historical trends experienced by the United States as a whole." --From the museum web site.

http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/springfield_history/about

Springfield Armory National Historic Site
1 Armory Square
Springfield, Massachusetts 01105

"Overlooking the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts, Springfield Armory National Historic Site offers the story of our Nation’s first armory. Our large museum, year-round public programs, exhibits, and special events speak of nearly two centuries of pioneering American military arms manufacturing." --From the Armory's web site.

http://www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm


The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
1000 West Columbus Avenue
Springfield, Massachusetts 01001
(413) 781-6500 or 1-877-4HOOPLA

The museum of the continuing history of basketball in the city where the sport was created.

http://www.hoophall.com/


Pan-African Historical Museum USA
Tower Square
1500 Main Street
Springfield, Massachusetts
(413) 733-1823

"Existing exhibits at PAHMUSA include documents and photographs chronicling centuries of Black history in the Pioneer Valley." --From the Tower Square newsletter.


The Titanic Museum
208 Main Street
Indian Orchard, Massachusetts 01151
(413) 543-4770

"The Titanic Museum provides an exciting combination of discovery, adventure and education for visitors of all ages. The Titanic Historical Society's (THS) foundation, and its greatest strength, is its collection of rare, Titanic survivor artifacts, one of the finest anywhere." --From the museum's web site.

http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/museum/

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Stockbridge


Chesterwood Estate and Museum
Williamsville Road
P.O. Box 827
Stockbridge, Massachusetts 01262
(413) 298-3579, Ext. 11.

"Chesterwood, the 1920's summer home, studio and garden of sculptor Daniel Chester French (1850-1931) is just a few short minutes from the Red Lion Inn. Guests take a step back in time when visiting this 122 acre estate that inspired an artist who inspired a nation." --From the museum web site.

http://www.chesterwood.org/


Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Glendale Road, Route 183
Stockbridge, Massachusetts 01262
(413) 298-4100

"Norman Rockwell Museum houses the world's largest and most significant collection of original Rockwell art. Highlights include enduring favorites from Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers, the powerful Four Freedoms, and the nostalgic Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas." --From the museum web site.

http://www.nrm.org/

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West Springfield


Josiah Day House Museum
70 Park Avenue
West Springfield, Massachusetts
(413) 734-8322

"The oldest known brick salt-box style home in the United States...Tours of the Josiah Day House are available by appointment and during special town events and selected holidays. Tours may include a demonstration of a working loom and a cemetery tour." --From the museum web site.

http://www.west-springfield.ma.us/public_documents/westspringfieldma_attractions/dayhouse_home.htm

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Westfield


Amelia Park Children's Museum
99 Elm Street
Westfield, Massachusetts 01085
(413) 572-4014

"Amelia Park Children's Museum is a Learning Place where hands-on exhibits invite children to experiment, create and play through activities. Adults and children can share in the excitement of learning and discovering the region and the world in which we live." --From the museum web site.

http://www.ameliaparkmuseum.org/


Jasper Rand Art Museum
Westfield Athenaeum, Main Level
6 Elm Street
Westfield, Massachusetts 01085

"The Jasper Rand Art Museum on the Athenaeum's main level is a spacious gallery designed to showcase the works of local artists and craftspeople, with exhibits in all types media shown on a monthly basis." --From the museum web site.

http://www.westath.org/about-the-library/jasper-rand-art-museum


Edwin Smith Historical Museum
Westfield Athenaeum
6 Elm Street
Westfield, Massachusetts 01085

"The Athenaeum's Edwin Smith History Museum is a treasure trove of Westfield history dating back to Westfield's colonial settlement in the 1600s. Opened in 1927 and named in honor of Edwin Smith, the co-founder of the H.B. Smith Company, the quaint History Museum is open Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. or by appointment. (Call (413) 568-0638)" --From the museum web site.

http://www.westath.org/westfield-history/historical-museum

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Westhampton


Westhampton Blacksmith Shop Museum
5 Stage Road
Westhampton, Massachusetts 01027
(413) 527-3209

"The front room of the museum is an authentic 19th century blacksmith shop, filled with tools of that trade and featuring a large collection of hand tools." --From the museum web site.

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Wilbraham


Wilbraham Children's Museum
678 Main Street
Wilbraham, Massachusetts 01095
(413) 596-2472

"The Wilbraham Children's Museum is available to children in all surrounding communities. Designed to meet the needs of children under age 5, the playground and play areas inside the museum have been specifically designed with this age group in mind." --From the museum web site.

http://www.wilbrahamchildrensmuseum.org/

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Williamstown


The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
225 South Street
Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267
(413) 458-2303

"Nestled in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute is both art museum and research center, welcoming visitors year-round to experience its outstanding collections of European and American art in an intimate setting of profound natural beauty." --From the Institute web site.

http://www.clarkart.edu/


Williams College Museum of Art
15 Lawrence Hall Drive, Ste 2
Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267
(413) 597-2429

"One of the finest college art museums in the country, the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) houses 12,000 works that span the history of art. Within the broad range of time periods and cultures represented, the collection emphasizes modern and contemporary art, American art from the late 18th century to present, and the art of world cultures. Admission to the museum is always FREE as are a host of educational programs that are available to the public." --From the museum web site.

http://www.wcma.org/

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This list is continually evolving. If you want to help build it, and there is a museum you know of that can be added, please email explorewmass@yahoo.com, or leave a comment here. Thanks!

For lots more Western Massachusetts activity ideas visit the EWM page, 'Things To Do In Western Massachusetts'.

As always, thanks for stopping by and take care!

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'Springfield Present and Prospective (1905), The Visible Charm, As It Was, Is, and May Be,' Excerpt VI

The first Sunday of Spring, and in typical New England fashion, the snow that was predicted overnight turned to rain, with sun breaking through the clouds forecast for later on today and possibly thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon. The only thing reliable about New England weather is its unreliability.

We continue our journey through 'Springfield Present and Prospective' (Pond & Campbell 1905) with section two, 'Commercial and Municipal,' of part III, 'Architectural Garments,' from chapter one, 'The Visible Charm, As It Was, Is, and May Be,' written by Eugene C. Gardner.

Continued from: 'III. Architectural Garments, 1. The Personal Equation in Houses.'


III. Architectural Garments

2. Commercial and Municipal

Perhaps there is no better illustration of the evolution of business architecture in the older parts of this country than in the main commercial avenue of an old New England city like Springfield. Beginning with a corner grocery, detached stores and shops gradually extended along either side of the street, with a sprinkling of dwelling-houses, the latter being sooner or later given over to business and the vacant lots filled in until the principal street presented a continuous wall of buildings, each with its own proprietor and line of business. Before the days of elevators, buildings were commonly two or three, rarely four, stories in height, and after fire ordinances prohibited the use of wood for external walls, red brick, with a mild peppering of granite or brownstone, were the most available and useful materials. These earlier business blocks might almost be classified as factories, so simple were they in design, so strictly utilitarian in character. As business prosperity increased there was a larger outlay for more expensive material and skillful workmanship without essential departure from the simpler forms. These quiet, serviceable structures making no claim to architectural display, still produce the most pleasing effect. They have something of the aristocratic dignity of old families; they are at peace with one another; naked and not ashamed.

Really fine, scholarly examples of commercial architecture are so few and far between that they tend to exaggerate by contrast the homeliness of the earlier structures, while the fantastic and sometimes frantic efforts at ornament and variety, of what may be called the transition period, where each building is indifferent, if not openly hostile, to its neighbor, only produce architectural confusion and discord. Probably merchants and architects will need to be born again several times over before either will voluntarily sacrifice contemporary popular applause and a chance for vociferous advertyising, in order to educate the public taste.

As might be expected from the conditions of business prosperity and freedom from political graft, and from the general culture of the citizens, our municipal buildings are usually well adapted to their various uses, of good style and quality. Indulgence in monumental features for the sake of impressive architecture is rare. The prevailing and apparently irremovable handicap in all public work is the constant change of executive. Sometimes this occurs during the progress of important undertakings, men of different tastes, divergent judgement and, perhaps, opposite ideas as to public economy and utility, are called upon to complete work begun by others whose taste and intentions they do not approve.

Inasmuch as the average sentiment of those to whom the members of a city government feel responsible and look for their official support is never in favor of that which is absolutely the best, it follows that the highest excellence is rarely attained in municipal work. Sometime we may arrive at the dignity of a permanent board of public works that shall also be a competent board of censors. We shall also learn that temporizing for the sake of present saving is culpable waste, and that thorough, high-class, fire-proof building is the only true economy.

Next week: 'III. Architectural Garments, 3. Churches, Monuments and Chimneys.'