Lee Historical Society
Newsletter
Vol. 9, No. 4
April 2012
Lee Historical Society, Inc.
Crossway Tower
P. O. Box 170
Lee, MA 01238
Visit us: www.leehistoricsociety.homestead.com
Contact us: Lee_Hist_Soc@msn.com
NEW MEMBERS TO WELCOME:
Mr. Alan Buckes, 15 Lake Avenue, Gt. Barrington, MA 01230-1016
Victor J. Stringer, 58 Tabor Avenue, Lee, MA 01238
Diana M. Stringer. 58 Tabor Avenue, Lee, MA 01238
March Meeting:
Our March meeting was held on March 8th followed by a Program Meeting featuring Great Barrington historian and writer, Bernard Drew. Mr. Drew spoke to our audience, and showed maps and pictures about his book about Bear Town Mountain. The talk was warmly received by the people in attendance and many questions were asked and answered by the speaker. As you could tell by the answers, Mr. Drew has spent a great deal of time in researching his findings and the talk was of great interest to all that attended.
April Meeting:
The April meeting was a business meeting for officers, board members and interested society members and it was held in the Hyde Room at Crossway Tower on April 12th. Marion Leach reported that people are starting to come to our area in the building and talk about the history of Lee and check out what is available.
May Meeting:
Our May meeting will be rescheduled from May 10th to May 17th due to the Annual Town Meeting that is scheduled for the 10th.
The Business meeting will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 7:00 p.m. for a Program Meeting with our guest speaker Neil Merwin, telling the history of the Lee Ambulance Squad. Neil was one of the original organizing members and will tell us about its history and growth. The meeting will take place in the Senior Center Cafeteria in Crossway Village. The Program Meeting is free, open to the public and attendance is encouraged.
By U. S. Navy Retired Commander Vic Mottarella,
A native of Lee
(Continued from March – 2012)
Promotion
On 29 April 1949 I received a letter from the Chief of Naval Personnel advising me that I had been promoted to Lt. Junior Grade with date
of rank of 16 December 1948 exactly three years after being commissioned as an Ensign. It was no big deal because almost everyone
in my category was promoted. However, I remember that Ensign Petty was among those who failed the promotion. For some reason our
Executive Officer (Lt. Commander Williams) disliked him even more than me. Promotions became more difficult as one rose in rank.
Reorganization of Air Group Three
Sometime during the spring of 1949 Air Group 3 was completely reorganized coupled with the introduction of the new Douglas Skyraider
Attack aircraft. The Skyraider was an outstanding single engine plane that could carry a larger payload than the four-engine World War II
Flying Fortress. It was introduced by the Navy and later adopted by the Air Force. Its use continued from 1948 through the end of the
Vietnam conflict.
The Curtis Hell Divers and the Grumman Avenger Torpedo Bombers of Air Group 3 were considered obsolete and were deleted from the
inventory. The two fighter squadrons were reduced in size while an additional fighter squadron was formed so the Air Group complement
continued at four squadrons. The new squadron was Fighter Squadron 33 while the Skyraider squadron carried the designation of
VA-34 (Attack Squadron 34). Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33) has long since been decommissioned as of this writing but VF-31 and VF-32
still carry on flying Grumman Tomcats out of NAS Oceana in Virginia and from the decks of the USS Harry S. Truman. About this time
VF-31 turned in their Bearcats for the new Phantom-1 Jets.
Some of the pilots from our squadron and our sister squadron were transferred to form the new fighter squadron but fortunately I was not
one of them. As I recall each of the three fighter squadrons were assigned sixteen fighters with a total of about twenty pilots per
squadron. I believe the Attack Squadron had an equal number of planes and pilots.
At about this time LCDR Duke Windsor was replaced as Commanding Officer by LCDR Williams and LCDR Stanek replaced LCDR
Williams as Executive Officer. I hated to see Duke Windsor go but felt just the opposite about Williams. Williams and I never got
along. Commander Hatcher replaced Commander Bauer as Carrier Air Group Commander. Hatcher was not well liked from the beginning. For one thing all our previous CAG’s had been fighter pilots and this guy would only fly the slower dive-bombers. I never interfaced with him
directly but I later had a special reason to dislike him. This I will explain below.
A Day on A Submarine
At one point in early 1949 arrangements were made for certain squadron pilots to spend some time on a submarine. The idea was to
allow us to become familiar with the problems and living conditions in the submarine service. The thought of going to sea and diving in
a submarine sounded fascinating so I volunteered. At that time submarines were quite small so only a few of us were selected. New
London was about forty miles from Quonset Point so we drove there on an early morning. We reported aboard and set out to sea about
an hour later. The mission was primarily training for the crew while we were solely observers. I recall a member of the crew checking
me out on hydrophones. After some training I was able to identify noises such as fish swimming close to the hull of the submarine.
The Captain put the sub through several crash dives and it was all very interesting. We returned to port at late afternoon of the same day. The submarine crew was invited to observe our aviation activities at Quonset Point but no one ever showed up.
Guantanamo Bay and Trinidad
At various periods between February 8 and May 3, 1949 I was at sea flying assigned missions aboard the USS Kearsarge. We departed
Quonset Point for fleet operations off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba followed by strikes at targets on the island of Culebra. Our sister squadron
(VF-31) was operating from the USS Randolph flying newly assigned Phantom-1 jets. These were the first jets to fly from aircraft carriers. One day our squadron was scheduled for a mission involving twelve Bearcats. Planes from both carriers filled the sky. As I joined up with my
squadron I counted only eleven Bearcats. I didn’t think much of it because maintenance problems frequently cause a plane to be
grounded. A few moments later I heard over the radio that a plane had crashed. I presumed that it was from another squadron because
our commanding officer, leading the flight, did not mention any problems on the radio.
It was not until I landed that I learned the whole story. One of the jets from VF-31 collided with one of our Bearcats flown by Lt. Bob
Hoppe. The Jet appeared out of nowhere and tore off most of the Bearcat’s right wing resulting in a violent spin. Hoppe finally got out
after several attempts and parachuted into the sea but he suffered several broken ribs. As he exited the plane its accelerated rotation
caused him to be struck by the horizontal stabilizer. He was picked up by the ship’s helicopter and returned to sickbay. He recovered
sufficiently to be restored to flying status after a period of about four weeks.
On that particular day Bob Hoppe was flying a Bearcat with tail number of 204. “Ensign V. G. Mottarella” was painted on its side and
that plane still rests at the bottom of the sea. Although severely damaged the jet landed successfully at NAS Roosevelt Roads,
Puerto Rico. The pilot was LTJG May. May had been a member of the original Blue Angels team that was formed in 1946. My
thoughts, at the time, were that I was fortunate to have been scheduled to fly a different plane on that particular day.
After completing fleet operations off Culebra Island we departed for the island of Trinidad where the ship was at anchor for about five days. The Venezuelan coastline was visible from the island. The only activity that I remember while there was accompanying LTJG Leo Krupp in his demonstration of sailing in a small craft. It was the only time that I have been exposed to small boat sailing. For him it was a hobby
but I never was that interested. After retiring from the Navy as a Commander Leo worked for a large aerospace company and appeared
on CBS with Walter Cronkite several times prior to moon launches. From Trinidad we returned to Quonset Point. I acquired twenty-one
carrier landings between the dates mentioned and it was on this last cruise that I completed my final landing aboard ship in a Bearcat.
I did fly the Bearcat again between 1949 and 1951 at the Naval Air Station in Glenview, Illinois but never again from a ship.
(Continued to the May -12 issue)
I recently sent out an email to our members on the electronic mailing list asking them what their fondest memory of Lee was. This was
the first four that I received and this is what they told me:
Judy Penland, Hayesville, NC – My fondest memory of Lee was visiting the Carty farm every summer. “Uncle Matt” and “Aunt Hattie”
always made our visits warm, fun and full of good food. Aunt Hattie was a wonderful cook and made the best desserts every day. You
had to watch out for Uncle Matt because he loved Hattie’s desserts and if you didn’t guard yours, it was his. He’d eat his before the
rest of the meal, to make sure he had room for it, so yours was fair game at the end of the meal. There was always something going
to return to the barn while you were still mounted. I was more fortunate than my sister, as she got unseated once. Being a “city girl” it
was always a treat getting together with our country cousins.
Charles Robert Powers, LHS Class of 57, Palm Desert, CA – The best memory I have of Lee was when I left for California in 1957.
Doreen Bartini, Lee – Lee Sale- A- Bration Days; Money wheel up by the Fire Station/Toole Agency and the lobsters behind the good
old Morgan House. That morning, Lynne Moore, the wonderful waitress at Joe’s diner, made us feel so welcome to town. I have many
other wonderful memories, but first impressions are lasting impressions. We fell in love with Lee through Lynne’s kindness and humor.
I will post any memories (fond or otherwise) in the future issues, so keep them coming. You can drop us an email or a note to tell us.
SOLDIERS OF LEE IN THE CIVIL WAR
Lt. Albert C. Sparks – 37th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
Albert C. Sparks was born in Tyringham, son of Lyman and Harriet Holmes Sparks in 1841. In the Federal Census of 1860, Albert,
19, is shown living in Lee with his parents and no other siblings. On June 1 of 1863, he married Celina H. Clark of Lee. The following
was found in the U. S. Civil War Soldiers Records and Profiles:
Name: Albert C. Sparks
Residence: Lee, Massachusetts
Occupation: Merchant
Age at enlistment: 21
Enlistment Date: 8 November 1862
Rank at Enlistment: Corporal
State Served: Massachusetts
Was Wounded? Yes
Survived the War? Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company B, Massachusetts 37th Infantry Regiment on 30 August 1862
Promoted to Full 1st Sergeant on 10 November 1862Promoted to Full Second Lieutenant on 03 June 1863Promoted to Full First Lieutenant on 15 May 1864Mustered out 20 September 1864 for wounds suffered.Birth Date: About 1841
Sources: Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War
GAR Department of Massachusetts 1866 – 1947 The 37th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was composed largely with men from the four western counties of Massachusetts and
was organized at Camp Briggs in August and early September of 1862. Major Oliver Edwards, commander of the camp, was
commissioned Colonel on August 27, 1862 and between August 30th and September 4th the companies were mustered in the
United States service. They left Camp Briggs on September 7th and arrived in Washington on September 9th, where they were assigned
to Briggs Brigade of Casey’s Reserves and stationed at Camp Chase on Arlington Heights. After being assigned and then reassigned
to several other brigades they finally saw their first action as part of Newton’s Third Division, Franklin’s Sixth Corps, which was part of
the Army of the Potomac that fought the war mostly in northern Virginia. On August 21, 1864 they fought in the Battle of Charles Town
and on September 19, a battle in Winchester, Virginia. In these two losing engagements, the 37th suffered the lost of many men, both
wounded and killed. Lt. Sparks was wounded at Spotsylvania Court House in May of 1864, was discharged, and returned to Lee. He
and his wife raised a family with six children, two of which died before reaching the age of two, and lived where the DuPont house now
stands on Robert Street. An old map shows that Albert Sparks owned a huge portion of what is now Robert Street. The 37th ended their
battles with a total of four of their officers killed or mortally wounded, 165 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 92 more dying of
disease or accident. At Spotsylvania, where Sparks was wounded, the 37th during the period of May 8 – 18th lost 32 men and over sixty
wounded. The 37th was also home for several other Lee soldiers that I will try to research and write about in the future.
In the 1880 Federal Census, Albert Sparks is listed as a merchant, head of household, with his wife, four children and father living
with him.
In an 1890 City Directory, he is listed as a dry goods merchant, living at 97 Center Street.
In the 1900 Federal Census, he is listed as a merchant with only him and his wife living at home.
In a 1903 City Directory, Albert C. Sparks is listed as a dealer in hardware and cutlery on Main Street.
In the 1910 Federal Census, he is still listed as a merchant and living with his wife.
Society member Bill Kerr, of Black River Falls, Wisconsin tells us that his grandfather purchased this house from Sparks in 1911
and has his GAR medal and book that was given to his father upon Mr. Sparks’s death on January 26, 1921. Bill also tells me that there
is a bayonet that was turned into a candlestick holder on display in the Lee Library that was donated by his father that came from a Lee
Civil War veteran.
The Lee Historical Society has the following items for sale. Any one of these would make a great gift for an out of town friend or relative.
(1.)Picture Packet – Six, 8” x 10” colored prints of “Old Lee” for $8.00 each or 3 packets for $20.00, plus $2.50 if they need to be
Picture Packet – Six, 8” x 10” colored prints of “Old Lee” for $8.00 each or 3 packets for $20.00, plus $2.50 if they need to be shipped.
(2.)Refrigerator magnets – (approx. 2” x 3”). Three are of old street scenes from the early 1900’s and one is an “Entering Lee” replica
Refrigerator magnets – (approx. 2” x 3”). Three are of old street scenes from the early 1900’s and one is an “Entering Lee” replica sign. They are $3.00 each or buy all four for $10.00 with no shipping charges.
(3.)Cookbook – “Boiling Water” – a 400 recipe cookbook, put together by the ladies of the society for $10.00, plus $3.50 if shipped.
Cookbook – “Boiling Water” – a 400 recipe cookbook, put together by the ladies of the society for $10.00, plus $3.50 if shipped.(4.)“Historical Lee” – a tribute to the late Betty Dennis. A seventy-three page book containing the articles that Betty wrote between
“Historical Lee” – a tribute to the late Betty Dennis. A seventy-three page book containing the articles that Betty wrote between April 1971 and August 1977 that appeared in the Penny Saver. Price is $8.00, plus $2.50 if shipped.
(5.)“Third Strike”- a book, the last of three written by Ralph W. Smith that was published in 1984. It contains stories of people and
“Third Strike”- a book, the last of three written by Ralph W. Smith that was published in 1984. It contains stories of people and tales of earlier days in Lee. The price is $10.00, plus $2.50 if shipped.
(6.)Commemorative Mugs;
Commemorative Mugs;(a.)A 2008, #1 in our series, mug with a replica of Memorial Hall embossed on the side.
A 2008, #1 in our series, mug with a replica of Memorial Hall embossed on the side.(b.)A 2009, #2 in our series, mug with a replica of Central Fire Station embossed on the side.
A 2009, #2 in our series, mug with a replica of Central Fire Station embossed on the side.(c.)A 2010, #3 in our series, mug with a replica of the Lee Library embossed on the side.
A 2010, #3 in our series, mug with a replica of the Lee Library embossed on the side. (d.)A 2011, #4 in our series, mug with a replica of the Hyde School embossed on the side.
A 2011, #4 in our series, mug with a replica of the Hyde School embossed on the side.These mugs can be purchased for $8.00 each plus $3.00 shipping or two mugs for $15.00 and $5.50 shipping, three mugs for
$22.00 and $6.50 shipping or all four mugs for $25.00 and $7.50 shipping.
Please send me (amount) ______________of (item/items) __________________________
Enclosed is my check for (no cash please)______________________________________
Name_____________________________________________________________________
Address___________________________________________________________________
City_________________________State_______________Zip________________________
Mail to:
Lee Historical Society
P. O. Box 170
Lee, MA 01238
We will have for sale, later in the year our #5 mug in the series. This mug will feature a replica of the First Congregational Church.
The above items can also be purchased by stopping by our historical room at the Crossway Tower on Tuesday and Thursday
afternoons between 2:00 and 3:30 p.m. on the first and last weeks of the month. Call ahead to our “store keeper”, Marion Leach at
413-243-0907 to make sure she is there. You may also purchase a membership or renew an expired one at the same time.
A QUOTE FROM MARK TWAIN:
“No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.”
Please support our “Business Members” that support us.
The following is a list of the area businesses that are current members of the Lee Historical Society for 2012. If you would like
your business listed here, fill out the membership application on the back page and send in the dues of $25.00.
Bartini Roofing CompanyBen’s ShopCharles Flint Antiques
Ben’s ShopCharles Flint Antiques290 Pleasant Street68 Main Street52 Housatonic Street
68 Main Street52 Housatonic StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lenox, MA 01240
Lee, MA 01238Lenox, MA 01240413-243-0570413-243-0242413-637-1634
413-243-0242413-637-1634Karen Keenan Gifts & HomeQuality Plus CustodialLocker Room Sports Pub
Quality Plus CustodialLocker Room Sports Pub151 Main Street260 Chesnut Street232 Main Street
260 Chesnut Street232 Main StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238413-243-2689413-243-2197413-243-2662
413-243-2197413-243-2662Frank Consolati Ins. AgencyPaperdilly, Inc.Dresser Hull Company
Paperdilly, Inc.Dresser Hull Company71 Main Street74 Main Street60 Railroad Street
74 Main Street60 Railroad StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238413-243-0105413-243-1928413-243-1400
413-243-1928413-243-1400Robert M. Kelly, PaperhangingKelly Funeral HomeThe Jonathon Foote 1778 House
Kelly Funeral HomeThe Jonathon Foote 1778 HouseSouth Prospect Street3 Main Street1 East Street
3 Main Street1 East StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238413-243-3489413-243-0204413-243-4545
413-243-0204413-243-4545Monk’s Professional Barber ShopLee BankDevonfield Inn
Lee BankDevonfield Inn91 Main Street75 Park Street85 Stockbridge Road
75 Park Street85 Stockbridge RoadLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238413-243-3341413-243-0117413-243-3298
413-243-0117413-243-3298Hunter & Graziano P. CTerrace Hair StudioWilcox Plumbing & Heating
Terrace Hair StudioWilcox Plumbing & Heating 10 Park Place135 Housatonic StreetP. O. Box 561
135 Housatonic StreetP. O. Box 561Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238413-243-0789413-243-1799413-243-2494
413-243-1799413-243-2494Deely & Deely, AttorneysMatt Liebenow Jr., Trucking
Matt Liebenow Jr., Trucking218 Main StreetP. O. Box 72
P. O. Box 72Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238413-243-2720413-347-7048
413-347-7048Check out TownOfLee.Com for information about Lee, where to eat, places to stay, shopping, etc.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How about becoming a member to help support our Society? Do you have an out of town friend or relative that might enjoy our
newsletters? Sign him/her up as a member.
Student Membership - $5.00Senior Membership (one person over the age of 65) - $5.00
Senior Membership (one person over the age of 65) - $5.00Business Membership - $25.00Individual Membership (one person under the age of 65) - $10.00
Individual Membership (one person under the age of 65) - $10.00Family Membership (All members of one family living at home) - $15.00
Please circle one:Student Senior Individual Family Business/Corporate
Student Senior Individual Family Business/CorporateName_______________________________________________________________________Mail to:
Mail to:Address_____________________________________________________________________Lee Historical Society
Lee Historical SocietyCity____________________________State__________________Zip____________________P. O. Box 170
P. O. Box 170Telephone____________________Email___________________________________________ Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Is this a renewal membership?__________
Would you be interested in serving on a committee? __________
Or helping out at one of our fundraisers? ____________________
