Lee Historical Society
Newsletter
Vol. 8, No. 12
December 2011
Lee Historical Society, Inc.
Crossway Tower
P. O. Box 170
Lee, MA 01238
www.leehistoricsociety.homestead.com
TO ALL OF OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS FROM THE BOARD AND OFFICERS OF THE LEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY:
GOOD FRIENDS ARE HARD TO FIND, HARDER TO LEAVE, AND IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET. WITH THIS THOUGHT, WE WISH YOU THE HAPPIEST HOLIDAYS AND ALL THE GOOD LUCK THAT THE NEW YEAR COULD POSSIBLY BRING TO YOU.
At our Business Meeting of the 10th, we discussed the upcoming year and how we would bring the Society into the public eye. We revamped our committees to some extend but are still looking for people that would like to be part of a committee, or maybe just do a small project on their own.
A person does not need be a society member to contribute. We will try to hold a Program Meeting every other month and are looking for program ideas and people that would be willing to give a short talk on a Lee Family, business or subject of the past. We are thinking about creating a coloring book for the younger Lee residents that would teach them about some of the older buildings in town. We are looking for someone willing to do some research on a statue, memorial, or plaque around Lee. How about writing the history of your house?
We are looking for items that can be donated or just loaned to the Society that would be put in a secure, public display possibly in the Library or one of the local banks. We need pictures that can be either donated to the Society or that we can scan for our files. The pictures can be of buildings, places or, better yet, old time residents of the town. How about postcards? Does anyone have an old postcard or a collection that we could scan? We talked about having a “Sharing Evening” where people could just bring their items to the meeting and others could just be able to look at them.
We ask anyone who might want to do a pet project to please let us know. We can probably get you started in the right direction or help if it is needed. We need to preserve the history of Lee in all forms. Please, come to our next business meeting on Thursday, December 10th and help us out or email us at Lee_Hist_Soc@msn.com.
On Thursday, January 12, 2012, the Society will host a Program Meeting on the history of the Lee Police Department. Police Chief Joseph Buffis will talk on the history of the Police Department in Lee and show some early pictures dealing with the police force.
A LETTER FROM A READER:
Dear Society Members,
I would have liked to have heard Prof. Hyde's talk to the Lee Historical Society in October, so connected to my childhood is the name "Hyde".
In the 50's, growing up on the corner of St. James and West Park, the gang of kids in the
private four-season playground. Thanks to Russ Seff, the caretaker, we could play on the grounds as long as we didn't go NEAR the house. And so we ran around the periphery and played all varieties of ball games inside the court, everything except tennis. It was within the confines of a chain-linked fence I learned that if you're big enough and bossy enough, you not only get to make the rules, but you get to change them when your side is losing.
The only time I ever saw anyone at the "Hyde Place" was for a summer wedding. Big cars drove up and parked the length of the drive. From my side porch, I watched people come onto the terrace, glasses tinkling and laughing, and we all stayed away, as we had been told.
Aside from a few surreptitious peeks inside the deep rose-colored house, from the front or back terraces, the only incursion I recall was a summer dusk after Russ had finished mowing the lawn but forgot to lock the large shed. Inside were a half dozen pair of old wooden stilts with leather straps, irresistible and lonely, stuck in a corner. We took turns getting each other upright. It wasn't too hard to hold our balance, but getting off wasn't as easy. Mr. Seff heard the squeals, came back to save us from ourselves, locked the shed, and told us to go home.
What a place!
Marilyn Fontana
Thanks, Marilyn! The Society welcomes and encourages letters and articles by our readers and members about their memories of Lee.
WINNERS OF OUR NOVEMBER “CALENDAR RAFFLE” FOR 2011
On Tuesday, November 1st, the November “Calendar Raffle” of the Lee Historical Society started. This raffle is our largest fundraiser for the year and is used to fund our annual scholarship that is given each June to a graduating Lee High School student. It is also used for operating our society for the upcoming year. The Fundraising Committee decided on trying a “calendar raffle” three years ago. The first year, we learned quite a bit that we didn’t know. We had to purchase a raffle permit from the town. No sooner than the raffle permit arrived, so did a form from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts explaining that whatever we made for a profit was taxable, even though we are a non-profit organization. So, now after three years, we have got the rules and the raffle down pretty well to a science. This year we gave out a total of 88 prizes shared by the 41 winners. Also, this year we created a winner’s list and notified many of the ticket holders and donators by email on a daily basis. Next year, we will try to make room on the ticket stub for an email address for anyone who wishes to be notified of the daily results. This year’s raffle winners are:
November 1 – Linden Searing, of Stockbridge won $50.00 cash donated by the Frank Consolati Insurance Agency and a glass swan donated by the Up Stairs Basement.
November 1-Bonus – Lillian Paul, of Richmond won a hat & scarf set made and donated by former Lee resident Peggy O’Neill Westergard (Pony Leg Designs), who now resides in San Diego, CA.
November 2 – Betty Kinne, of Housatonic, won two tickets donated by the Colonial Theatre for an 11/30 concert, Christmas in Cape Breton, featuring Natalie MacMaster.
November 2-Bonus – Mark Morgenstein from Great Barrington won a $25.00 cash prize donated by the NBT Bank that has just opened its doors in Lee.
November 3 – Henry T. Zukowski, of Lee. won a $50.00 Gift Certificate donated by the Whalen family at Crown Jewelers, a $25.00 Gift Certificate donated by the East Lee Package and Varity Store, and a haircut, donated by Fran Puleri at the Professional Barber Shop.
November 4 – Terry Clark from Tyringham won a $100.00 US Savings Bond donated by the Lee Bank and two tickets to a 2012 performance at the Doris Duke Theatre at Jacob’s Pillow, donated by Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.
November 5 – Barbara Thomson, of Lee, won a Fire Magic stainless steel grilling set donated by Ray Murray, Inc, She also won a autographed baseball by Daniel Bard donated by the Boston Red Sox,
November 5 –Bonus – A $25.00 Gift Certificate donated by the Price Chopper was won by Lynda Newton from Lee.
November 6 – An all cash prize of $130.00 was won by Carol Smith of Ashley Falls. $100.00 was donated by the Garrity family from The Valley Mill Corporation and $30.00 was donated by Paul Viale of A. F. Viale Insurance Agency.
November 7 – Karen Kelly of Lee won a 34 piece oscillating tool donated by Carr Hardware of Lee. Karen also won two Ventford Hall Tour passes donated by Ventford Hall.
November 7 – Bonus – Glenn Wilcox of Lee won the second of three hat & scarf sets donated by Peggy O’Neill Westergard (Pony Legs Design) of San Diego, CA.
November 8 – A Gift Certificate donated by Henry’s Electric for $50.00, a large, two-topping pizza donated by the Locker Room Sports Bar, a Gift Certificate for $10.00, donated by the Red Apple and a $10.00 Gift certificate donated by Main Street Books were won by Bev Allen of Lee.
November 9 – Jim Gilmore of Pittsfield won a throw and pillow donated by Country Curtains and a water color donated and painted by Al Hollworth.
November 10 – We had a repeat winner with Henry T. Zukowski, of Lee, winning a $50.00 cash prize donated by Daley & Sons Trucking and a snowshoe rental for two donated by the Arcadian Shop.
November 11 - Kevin Kelly from Lee won a Family four-pack donated by the Blandford Ski Area and a Holiday needlepoint made and donated by Joan Zukowski.
November 11- Bonus – Jessica Davis Gaherty won four train tickets donated by the Berkshire Scenic Railway.
November 12 – Another repeat winner with Glenn Wilcox of Lee. Glenn won a $25.00 Gift Certificate donated by Karen Keenan Gifts and Home, a $25.00 Gift Certificate donated by Pho Saigon, a haircut donated by Kevin Morandi at Clip n‘ Snip and a $25.00 Gift Certificate by Tim LePrevost at LePrevost Plumbing and Heating.
November 13 – Timothy Taylor won a $50.00 Gift Certificate donated by the Red Lion Inn, a $25.00 Gift Certificate donated by the Olde Heritage Tavern, a $20.00 Gift Certificate donated by Lee Video, and a haircut donated by Mario Privitera at Steve’s Barber Shop.
November 14 – Two tickets to a 2012 Red Sox game was donated by FTBNL and won by Pete DiGrigoli, Jr. of Lee.
November 14 – Bonus – A bag full of goodies donated by the South Adams Savings Bank and a donation by the Berkshire Record of a year’s subscription was won by Lee Bellaver of Lee.
November 15 – Shaivesh B. Patel of Lee won a $50.00 Gift Certificate donated by Zabians’ Inc., a large two-topping pizza donated by the Locker Room Sports Bar, $15.00 Gift Certificate donated by Paul Face of Otto’s, and a haircut donated by Kevin Morandi at Clip n‘ Snip.
November 16 - $50.00 cash was donated by the Toole Lodging Group and won by Susan Brown, of Lee, along with a Makita 6408k 3/8” drill donated by the Dresser-Hull Company.
November 17 – Jane Bartoni of Housatonic won a $100.00 US Savings Bond donated by the Berkshire Bank and two tickets donated by the Mac-Haydn Theatre to any 2012 performance.
November 17 –Bonus – Steve Garrity of Lee won a year’s subscription to the Berkshire Record donated by the Berkshire Record.
November 18 – Barbara Zanetti from Sheffield won a $25.00 Gift Certificate donated by Sullivan Station, $25.00 worth of alterations donated by Five Cents A Dance, $25.00 Gift Certificate donated by Paul Face at Salmon Run, and a haircut at Sandy’s Place.
November 19 - $50.00 in cash donated by RW’s and a one year membership donated by Ventford Hall was won by Linda Searles of Becket.
November 20 – Charles Shaylor from Springfield won a $30.00 Gift Certificate donated by Terrac Hair Studio, a $25.00 Gift Certificate donated by Lee Picture Framing at PaperDilly, a $25.00 Gift Certificate donated by Perigee Restaurant and a $20.00 Gift Certificate donated by Hats & Jewels.
November 21 – Lou DiGrigoli won a $50.00 cash prize donated by Fox Homes and a Gift Pack from Bunnells’ Auto Parts.
November 22 – A donation of a year’s membership to Hancock Shaker Village and a $25.00 Gift Certificate donated by Pauline’s at Greenock go to Shauneen Bossidy of Ashland, MA.
November 22 – Bonus – Marion Leach of Tyringham wins 2 admission tickets to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
November 23 – A donation of five deluxe car washes donated by Dave Comalli at the Patriot Car Wash, a $30.00 Gift Certificate donated by Clark’s Garden Center, and a $25.00 Gift Certificate donated by Ben’s Shop is won by Cindy Packard of Lee.
November 24 - Turkey Day Drawing - Marsha Forrest of Pittsfield won a gift box of cosmetics donated by Jane Iredale Cosmetics, a gift pack donated by Lee Power Equipment, Inc., an Arlo Guthrie CD, along with two tickets to a 2012 performance at the Guthrie Center donated by the Guthrie Center, and a afghan made and donated by Peggy O’Neill Westergard of Pony Leg Designs.
November 25 – Another repeat winner, the third. Susie Brown of Lee won $50.00 in cash donated by Carlson’s Auto Body and two admission tickets donated by the Norman Rockwell Museum.
November 26 – The fourth repeat winner. Carol Smith of Ashley Falls won two tickets donated by the Berkshire Theatre for any 2012 Main Stage performance and two admission tickets donated to MASS MoCA.
November 26 – Bonus #9 – Carrie Gangell from Pittsfield won a $25.00 Gift Card donated by the Big Y Super Market.
November 27 – Four hand painted wine glasses, painted and donated by Sheila Maroni and an all-occasion chair with a rush seat donated by Lenox Design is won by Janey Longerato of Lee.
November 28 – Gift Certificates donated by the Highland Restaurant for $25.00, Lee Hardware for $25.00, Price Rite Super Market for $10.00, Cakewalk for $20.00 and a haircut donated by Fran Puleri at Professional Barbers were won by Jon Gray of Glendale.
November 28 – Bonus #10 – Donna Toomey of Lee won a Gift Card donated by the Price Chopper for $25.00.
November 29 – Carmen D. Martinez of Winsted, CT won a Master Mechanic 34 piece oscillating tool donated by Carr Hardware of Lee and two passes donated by The Mount.
November 29 - Bonus #10 – A hat and scarf set donated by Peggy O’Neill Westergard of Pony Legs Design from San Diego, CA is won by Jean Monachina of Lee.
November 30 - $150.00 in cash, $100.00 donated by the Garrtiy Family at the LB Corporation and $50.00 donated by Mike Bacolli of the Southern Berkshire Janitorial Service was won by Clint Schneyer of Glendale.
We congratulate all of the winners of our raffle and sincerely thank all of the businesses and individuals who donated to our raffle. Without their kind and generous help our 2011 November “Calendar Raffle” would not have been such a huge success. If your ticket was not drawn, get set for the 2012 raffle.
A REQUEST:
The Lenox Historical Society has recently sent me an email requesting information on a Mrs. Ethel Katherine Salsbury (or Salisbury) who may have lived in Lee or Lenox in the early 1930’s.
The executive director of an automobile museum in Maine that now owns a 1916 Simplex-Crane automobile, which has her initials on the door of the car. They are interested in finding out about Mrs. Salsbury/Salisbury.
Due to the list of November “Calendar Raffle” winners, the monthly article Recollections by Vic Mottarella was omitted until next month.
Officers of the Lee Historical Society for the year
President – Stephen Cozzaglio – 413-243-3204 or scozzaglio@roadrunner.com
Vice- President – Gary W. Allen – 413-2543-2140 or garywallen@earthlink.net
Treasurer – Mal Eckert – 413-243-1797 or MalEckert@msn.com
Secretary – Bambi Johndrow – 413-243-2845 or disdeer62@netzero.net
Board of Directors of the Lee Historical Society
Mary Morrissey
Maria HopkinsPeg Biron
Maria HopkinsPeg Biron Matt MacNayr JoAnn ZarnochMarion Leach
JoAnn ZarnochMarion Leach Robert Kelly Ethel Noonan Annette Perilli
Ethel Noonan Annette PerilliDolores EckertBrenda Liebenow
Brenda LiebenowSociety Historian – Charlotte Davis
