Remembering Greenfield’s shoestores
By ROBERT BITZER For the Recorder (2/13/2021) This is a topic I don’t think I have ever written about — shoestores from the past — and I have written extensively about stores and businesses that were part of Greenfield years ago. One of the nicest shoe stores in town, Flemmings, was located on lower Federal Street. Elsewhere, on the north side of Main Street, there was Endicott- Johnson. Another retailer, Rosen’s, might have sold shoes although I am not positive about that. Of course, the former Wilson’s Department Store always had a shoe...
read moreA whole story about Spring Terrace
Travis Drury, A local author, has decided to use the pandemic to write a detailed history of his street — a small intentional community in the shadow of Poet’s Seat. Created in 1895 off the Orchard of George Grinnell, sold by his son James S. Grinnell to 3 men, who eventually sold all to John F. Spring. In minute detail, displaying reports from the Gazette and Courier and with a mix of maps from various sources; Travis, details from 1895 to 2013, it’s history, for each of the 22 houses, on Spring Terrance itself and on the...
read moreLibrary of Articles
The HS/GF now has a library of articles about the Historical Socienty or the Town of Greenfield or related areas and topics. See Articles
read moreResearch on artist Anna Feron Pierce Judah
Railroad research centers on Greenfield artist Anna Feron Pierce Judah: As part of her research for an upcoming exhibit at the California State Railroad Museum that will highlight the contributions of women to the history of railroading, Christine Pifer-Foote of Sacramento found herself at the Historical Society of Greenfield, flipping through old photos of Anna Feron Pierce Judah, wife of Theodore Dehone Judah. More in the Recorder...
read more7-23-22 Ice Cream Social at the Museum (THIS SAT – Come on down)
The Historical Society of Greenfield invites you to join us OUTSIDE on the lawn to celebrate Mary P. Wells Smith’s birthday with ice cream generously donated by Foster’s Supermarket! An outstanding woman born in 1840, she is well known as the author of “Boy Captive of Old Deerfield,” as well as 20 other children’s books. She was a civic-minded and progressive activist, and we celebrate the 176th anniversary of her birth! Come and enjoy an ice cream, photo fun, and “Mary’s Fan...
read moreSociety Opening for 2022
Historical Society (of Greenfield) opening for first time since 2019 By MARY BYRNE Staff Writer GREENFIELD — For the first time since its fall 2019 season, the Historical Society of Greenfield is opening its doors to the community. The museum at 43 Church St., which will be open today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., was closed throughout the 2020 and 2021 seasons, according to Meg Baker, secretary of the society. Only recently did the society begin operating on an appointment-only basis for researchers, she said. “We’ll be open for the first time...
read moreValley Black History project
More at: Blog of Black history Project Black history is American history. And it’s the history of western Massachusetts, too. This year, the UMass Public History Program, the UMass Amherst Libraries and the Pioneer Valley History Network and local history organizations across Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties collaborated to launch the “Documenting the Early History of Black Lives in the Connecticut River Valley” pilot project. This community-based research project aims to document the lives of free, enslaved, and formerly...
read moreSharing William Apess’ incredible story
Drew Lopenzina will be at Greenfield Historical Society on July 13, at 7 p.m. to give a talk, “William Apess: Reclaiming a Native Son,” that will offer more information about this remarkable Native life. His introduction to William Apess, from his My Turn in the Greenfield Recorder of May 28, 2021 is here
read morePeter Miller, local historian Passes
Peter S. Miller, a Greenfield historian known for his collection of local memorabilia and his encyclopedic knowledge of the city’s past, and former Historical Society of Greenfield president died Sunday. He was 82. – See the full article from the Recorder His work (with Tim Blagg) collecting information of cemetery records and other aspects of Greenfield can be searched...
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