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Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 20, 1875
Heath
Heath - Messrs.Editors: The death of our most aged mother and much beloved neighbor and friend, Mrs. Martha Spooner, widow of the late Philip Spooner, who died at her home in Heath with her son Deacon N.W. Spooner Aug. 21, aged 96 years, she being the oldest person in town - is deemed worthy of something more than a passing notice.
For more than 60 years the deceased was a resident of this town. Left in early life with a large family of children, almost entirely dependent on her labor for support, she neverthless maintained them in comfort and respectability, early training them to habitual industry, temperance and frugality, teaching them to reverence the Sabbath and be guided by the principles and precepts of God's word...
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 20, 1875
Greenfield items
Greenfield - Miss Mary M. Scoby competes with the growers of large tomatoes. She had a single stem, bearing a cluster of 15 tomatoes, the smallest of which would fill a common saucer.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 20, 1875
The Caledonians at Lake Pleasant
There was not the anticipated crowd at the Tournament of the Springfield Caledonian Society at Lake Pleasant on Wed. Special trains were run up from the South and from the east on the Fitchburg road, but many of the cars were nearly empty. The lake has had its attractions for the season, and people are now holding on to the spare coppers for the needs of approaching winter.
But few of the Caledonians were in full costume, yet the advertised programme was carried out, and the day’s sports were by no means a fizzle. The Fitchburg Band and Russell’s orchestra furnished the music, and the following were the successful winners in the principle athletic feats:
In the three-legged race, in which the competitors race in pairs with a leg of each tied to that of his comrade, Richard Harvey of Easthampton and Paul Fitzgerald of Shelburne Falls took the first prize of $6, and Hutchins and Wilson took the second of $3.
In the Hop, Skip and Jump contest, Thomas O’Donald of Northampton proved the best man, clearing 38 feet, and took the first prize of $5; and P. Sullivan of Ftichburg, who cleared 37 1/2 ft. took the 2nd prize of $2."Putting heavy stone" was a trial of strength of throwing a 16 lb. iron ball; John Purcell of Florence threw it 41 1/2 ft.and won the 1st prize of $6; Patrick Purcell of Florence, who threw it 31 ft. 4 inches, had the 2nd prize of $3.
Dancing the Highland Fling in costume was an interesting feature,George Bothwick of Boston taking the 1st prize of $6, and W.G.Smith of Boston the 2nd of $3. Tossing the caber ( a 12 ft. stick of lumber) was won by John Purcell who threw it 30 ft. 1 inch, receiving $5, and E.R. McCormick of Florence came next, and received $3.
In vaulting with a pole, Richard Harvey cleared a perpendicular jump of 8 ft. 7 inches and took the 1st prize of $5, and P. Purcell took the 2nd of $3. In the mile foot race, P. Sullivan of Fitchburg made the best time and took the 1st prize of $10, and E. Wilson was 2nd, and took the prize of $5.
There was a hurdle race, which was quite an exciting affair; R. Harvey took the 1st money, $6, and __ Hitchcock, the 2nd, $3. There were 4 contestants in the swimming match. The course was from the gent’s bath house to the landing. F.M.Sweeney of Worcester took the 1st prize of $15, and G.H. Crocker of Fitchburg the 2nd, of $10.
The single scull race was the great event of the day. There were 4 entries, and the course was the length of the lake and back. It was a close and exciting contest. John E. Brown of Worcester won the race and the 1st money, $40; Daniel McSweeney of Fitchburg came in 2nd, for $30; Jerry Callahan of Springfield came in 3rd and received $15.
Some boys caused no little sport in the tub race, where they were frequently capsized. The games were continued until the departure of the trains at night.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 20, 1875
News of the week
A freight train of 82 cars drawn by 1 locomotive engine passed Lockport on the New York Central railroad several days ago. It is said to have been the longest train ever drawn over the road with one engine, measuring over a half mile in length.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 20, 1875
News of the week
Weston succeeded Friday the 10th on his second attempt at the New Haven ball grounds, to walk 100 miles inside of 22 hours, and had half an hour, lacking only 15 seconds to spare.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 13, 1875
Shelburne Falls
Shelburne Falls - Thurs. morning the Niagara Company with a full number of men, well officered, accompanied by their machine, took the excursion train for North Adams to attend the fireman’s muster. They were well pleased with the exercises, but did not have a chance to play for a prize.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 13, 1875
Leverett
Leverett - Mrs. W.H. Smith Jr. has 4 dahlias growing near her door, measuring respectively in height: 7 ft. 10 inches, 8 ft. 4 inches; 8 ft. 8 inches; and 9 ft. 6 inches. Last year she had one on which she counted over 70 buds.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 13, 1875
Orange
Orange - A match game of round ball was played between the Sewing Machine and the Foundry boys on the 4th, but with what result we are unable to learn.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 13, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
Greenfield - Charles Henry's numerous friends will be pleased to learn that he made the third best shot at the meeting of the National Rifle Club at Springfield on Wed...
Greenfield - The tournament of the Springfield Caledonian Society will be the great attraction at Lake Pleasant this week. It comes off on Wed., and excursion trains are to be run over the various roads. $250 are to be distributed in prizes. There are to be foot races, hurdle races and other athletic sports, and a single scull race, in which Harrington, the Springfield champion, and Brown, the champion of Worcester will participate. It will be the first boat race on the Lake. The Scottish societies will be in costume, and the "Highland fling" will be one of the features of the occasion.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 13, 1875
Foreign
At the London dog show this year, the Rev. J.W. Mellar's champion mastiff, Turk, a dog a little over 7 years old, that has won more than 30 prizes and cups, was valued by his owner at $25,000, and Mr. A.S.D. Fivas Granby, an animal almost as big as a lion, at $50,000. ..
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 9, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
(Greenfield) A.A. Rankin has a sunflower in his dooryard 10 1/2 - 12 ft. high and bearing 65 blossoms. The stalk is 5 1/2 inches in circumference 3 ft. from the ground. He also has parsnips, the tops of which stand over 3 1/4 ft. from the ground.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 6, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
(Greenfield) The biggest thing in the way of cucumbers has been raised by John Holton of Gill. He brought two into town Sat., one measuring 5 ft. and the other 5 ft. and 8 inches in length. They grew in coils, like snakes. The shorter one can be seen in Moody’s window.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 6, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
(Greenfield) S.L. Shattuck cut out of his farm, on the Bernardston road, formerly of the Samuel Pierce farm, at the first crop, 3 tons on a single acre, and at the second crop, 2 tons. Can any one tell of a better product? The first crop was cut the 1st of July and the second the 30th of August
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 30, 1875
Lake Pleasant
The Springfield Caledonian Club propose to hold a picnic at Lake Pleasant Sept. 15. The sports of the day - games, dancing, etc. - will be a novelty in this section. A boat race is also on the programme.
[Caledonian Clubs are composed of those of Scottish descent, and all others interested in Scotland].
I have now in my possession a small churn which was made by my father at Abington, Plymouth County, in 1774. It was made of the best of cedar, in a workmanlike manner, and will hold some 7 or 8 quarts. As yet it shows no signs of decay, and with proper care will last for centuries yet to come. It is not valuable to me only as a memento of departed relatives. Who in Franklin County has an older churn. T.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 16, 1875
News of the week
They have a successor to Sam Patch in Shelbyville, Ind., John Berry by name. A few days ago, he jumped from the top of the Shelbyville railroad bridge into the river, a distance of 75 ft., for a $10 purse made up among the admiring spectators, and he offered for $20 to make the same leap with a double back somersault, but the money was not forthcoming.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 2, 1875
Hampshire County items
Walter M. Dickinson of Amherst was chosen Tues. at the competitive examination in Amherst for a cadet to West Point Military Academy from Congressman Seelye's district. Mr. Dickinson is a son of M.F. Dickinson of North Amherst. The committee of examination were E.A. Thomas, Dr. Edward Hitchcock, Prof. E.P. Crowell, Prof. William B, Graves of the Agricultural College and Prof. Henry Storrs of Illinois College.
- Sun, Feb 21, 2010
