Lee Historical Society
Newsletter
Vol. 8, No. 7
July 2011
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.comHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Well, our first meeting at our new home didn’t go too well thanks to the efforts of Mother Nature. The meeting was cancelled due to the rain and wind storms that raised havoc and created destruction to the area. We did hold a short business and work meeting for the officers and board members on the following Thursday, June 16, where we put together packages of our new fundraising item, note cards with street scenes of “Old Lee” on the front. There will be five note cards with envelopes in a package, selling for the price of $5.00. We will be having a tent at the Craft Fair in the park sponsored by the First Congregational Church UCC on Saturday, July 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., please stop by and see us. We will also have our fourth in the series of Commemorative Mugs at the booth. This year the mug will have a replica of the old Hyde School on its side. Stop by and add to your collection, or get the whole collection at a reduced price.Our July Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 14th at 6:30 p.m. in the Hyde Meeting Room at Crossway Tower. We plan to discuss plans for manning our booth at the Craft Fair in the Park on the 30th, ideas associated with our new room at Crossway Tower, discussing Founders’ Day Weekend and our “November Calendar Raffle”. We would also like to invite the tenants of Crossway Tower and Crossway Village to drop by and say “hello” at 7:00 p.m. and let us show you our new facility. We have a computer set up with pictures from old postcards of Lee that visitors may look at and we will be adding copies of old Lee books, such as, “Gale’s History of Lee” and “Old School Houses of Lee” that visitors may find interesting to read.
2011 Scholarship winner:
This year, congratulations go out to Lindsay Clayson, a 2011 Lee Middle and High School graduating senior for being chosen as this year’s Lee Historical Society Scholarship winner. Lindsay ended her four years at Lee High School with a 95.6 grade point average. She was a member of the National Honor Society for two years and currently is the vice-president. Lindsay played the flute and piccolo in the Lee High Band for all of her four years. She was also a member of the school’s jazz band. She also played on the soccer team for four years. In her sophomore and junior years, she served as class secretary as well as well as being a member of helping hands and community suppers. Lindsay has also been active in many community service projects. I think the Scholarship Committee made a great choice by selecting this young lady to be this year’s recipient.
A big congratulation goes out to society member Peggy O’Neill Westergard (LHS Class of 1958) of San Diego for having a piece that she had written called “Boof” being selected by the Playwrights Project in San Diego, California. It was performed on June 28th at the theatre in Old Town. “Boof” is a monologue, where an actor plays the part of a dog who is out in the yard waiting for his owners to come home. Good work, Peggy, keep it up!
On a sad note, our thoughts and prayers go out to society member, Paul Stumbaugh (LHS Class of 1959) and all the other people of Minot, ND, where flood waters have destroyed much of their city. Paul, in an email said that “you have to keep a good attitude” and that “the Red Cross here in the shelter is doing a great job and the people of the community are fantastic.” We also hope that all our other members throughout the country are safe during this period of devastating weather and floods.
A REQUEST:
We have a request for any historical information pertaining to the business of E. P. Tanner, which was located on the site of the old Clark-Aiken Company (now the entrance to Prime Outlets of Lee). Mr. Paul Moran of Bellevue, Washington has a hitching post at the entrance to his home that was made by the E. P. Tanner Company of Lee, Massachusetts, with a patent of 1867 and 1870. He states that the hitching post has been in his family for generations and he is looking for some history on it. Any information would be appreciated. He can be reached at PaulMoran@milgard.com
Carol Nadeau of Saugus, Massachusetts is a collector of old Massachusetts Annual Reports and recently purchased one entitled Annual Statistics of Manufactures, dated 1896 which contains combined statistics for the whole state. She found some interesting facts about industry in Lee which is printed below:
LEE – In January, arrangements made for starting up Morley Paper Mill. February, Smith Paper Co. refitted Valley Mill for manufacture of tissue paper------Thistle Wire Co. added two wire looms-------Hurlbut Paper Manufacturing Co. made repairs in machine room, March, Paper mills shut down temporarily on account of high water. April, John Dowd, manufacturer of paper machinery, died, aged 71 years. May, Smith Paper Co. started up Valley Mill on half time-------Benton Bros., paper, shut down temporarily for repairs. June, Smith Paper Co. refitted the Eagle and Columbia Mills for the manufacture of tissue paper. July, George K. Baird & Bro. incorporated as G. K. Baird Paper Co.-------Smith Paper Co. shut down Eagle Mill for several days-------Gray & Sons, lumber, reduced force. August, G. K. Baird Paper Co. shut down for repairs. September, Eaton, Dikeman & Co., paper, shutdown for repairs--------Smith Paper Co. made improvements at Eagle and Valley Mills. October, Hurlbut Paper Manufacturing Co. shut down for repairs and Smith Paper Co. shut down temporarily on account of low water. November, Smith Paper Co. re-adjusted time at Valley Mill-------Hurlbut Paper Manufacturing Co. resumed operations-------James F. Benton, paper manufacturer, died, aged 57 years.
Recollections IX
By U. S. Navy Retired Commander Vic Mottarella,
A native of Lee
(Continued from the June-2011 issue)
Back Aboard Ship
On September 9 and 10, 1947 I flew a couple of flights involving field carrier landing practice. My logbook shows that I made four carrier landings on the Kearsarge from September 16 to 18 with a catapult shot and return to Quonset Point on September 19. I have little recall concerning the purpose of these flights. More than likely its main purpose was to maintain proficiency for the pilots as well as the crew of the USS Kearsarge in preparation for a deployment to the North Sea in the vicinity of Greenland. We nicknamed this future trip scheduled from October 29 to November 26, 1947 “Operation Cold Balls”.
John Votolato’s Wedding
Upon returning to the New England area John started dating his high school sweetheart. His writings to Mabel in Robstown, Texas ceased some time before. It was disappointing for me because I didn’t have my old buddy to carouse around with anymore. The girl’s name was Florence M. Fertitta. He had known and dated her during all four years of high school. She was half Irish and half Italian. Later, I would also marry my wife who was also descendent of the same nationalities and split in the same proportions except that her surname was Irish (O’Neill) instead of Italian. During John’s absence, while he was going through Cadet and operational flight training Florence had remained true blue. She visited him while we were attending Williams College in early 1944 and was on the dock when the Kearsarge left Quonset Point for deployment to Northern Europe in June 1947. He finally asked her to marry him and the date was set for October 4, 1947. I thought the wedding was quite extravagant. He invited numerous pilots from the squadron. They had to be attired in dress blue uniforms with the customary officer’s sword. That complicated things a little because the Ensigns and Lt. Junior Grade Officers did not own a sword. At the time they were not required so we had to do a lot of borrowing mostly from Naval Academy Graduates in different squadrons. The wedding took place at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of their hometown in Milford, Mass. After the ceremony they walked under the arch made by officers with their crossed swords. It was an impressive sight. Following a big reception dinner they left for their honeymoon that took them to New York City, Washington D. C. and various sites in Virginia.
RECOLLECTIONS X
Operations in the Davis Strait
During late 1947 we put to sea again for about a month at which time we engaged in cold weather operations aboard the Kearsarge, somewhere in the Davis Strait between Greenland and Labrador. This is where we were first introduced to the new anti-exposure suits. The suits were one piece, made of very thin rubber and fit over our regular flight suits. To say that they were uncomfortable would be an understatement. As I recall the neck and arm cuffs had drawstrings that had to be tightened before takeoff. The feet and legs were all part of the one-piece suit. The idea was to keep the cold water away from your torso in order to delay as long as possible hypothermia effects should you end up in the water. Body functions were completely ignored by the Navy and the manufacturer. Can you guess why the pilots called them “poopy suits”?
Fortunately, for us fighter pilots, was the fact that we had limited fuel and could only stay aloft for a relatively short period of time. That was not the case for the dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers. I don’t recall any weapon delivery missions being undertaken on this short cruise. The primary purpose of the cruise might have been to check out the new anti-exposure suits. Perhaps its real purpose was to test cold weather flight operations on a carrier but I do not recall.
The Executive officer of the Dive Bombing Squadron unexpectedly got to check out the new suit. Jim Holloway (mentioned in Recollections VI) who later became Chief of Naval Operations either had a propeller malfunction or a cold catapult shot in a SB2C Helldiver and ended up in the water with his crewman. They managed to avoid being run down by the bow of the Kearsarge and were picked up by the helicopter plane guard in short time. Their flight suits were filled with icy artic water. The water was trapped in those enclosed waterproof feet. The solution was to take off their flight boots and cut the toes out of the anti-exposure suits in order to drain the water. It sure made a mess of the interior of the helicopter. The two were shivering and very cold but otherwise ok. Because of hostile weather conditions a minimum of flying was conducted during this cruise and we returned to Quonset Point having accomplished very little in my opinion.
Assignment As Photo Pilot
A short time after returning from the Davis Straight Lt. Commander Duke Windsor assigned Lt. Junior Grade Jim Dillingham and myself as photo pilots. This meant we would be flying both the Hellcat and the Bearcat and sometimes on the same day either from land or from the carrier. Only two Hellcat photo airplanes were assigned to the squadron so we pretty much had the use of the two planes to ourselves. I didn’t realize until looking at my logbook recently that on a few occasions I flew the Hellcat from the ship with armed guns, rockets and bombs aboard for delivery at targets. Our primary duty, however, remained to deliver various weapons from Bearcats. I knew next to nothing about taking official pictures from an aircraft but on the other hand there was little for the pilot to know. The cameras were placed and retrieved from the belly of the plane by enlisted photo crewmen. The crewmen explained the purpose of each of the associated switches in the cockpit. After a mission the photo crew developed the pictures in the ship’s photo lab. I don’t recall taking any pictures while in New England but later we did some photo work over Porto Rico while flying from the Kearsarge.
Naval Auxiliary Air Station Charlestown Rhode Island
On January 20, 1948 our squadron was transferred to the Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Air Station for about three months. I don’t recall the reason for the transfer but I suspect it was associated with a shortage of berthing facilities at Quonset Point for returning squadrons. Charlestown was located about 25 miles southwest of Quonset Point. The base had been a night-fighter training base and the buildings were of a temporary type and only meant to last until the end of the war. Overall, other than the main runway the place was pretty rundown. Accommodations were not much different than we experienced in cadet training.
The remote location made it inconvenient for married officers who had rented homes in the Quonset Point area. John Votolato who was recently married was one of the lucky ones since he found an apartment in nearby Narragansett. I remember him being royally chewed out by Lt. Commander Williams (the Executive Officer) on one occasion because he exceeded by a few minutes the newly imposed half hour lunch rule. Most of the early flights were assigned to us single junior pilots. My logbook indicates that I flew frequently from late January through the early part of April. The type of flights varied and included rockets, strafing, bombing, instruments and night flying as well as field carrier landing practice. The number of flights averaged two per day but on one day in February I flew four rocket flights at targets located at Otis Air Force Base.
(Continued to the August -2011 issue)
MINUTES OF THE FIRST TOWN MEETING:
The first town meeting, according to the Book “Records of the Town of Lee, from its incorporation to A. D. 1801” was held on December 26, 1777. The following are the minutes as written;
1777 – 1778
By a Warrant I served Out By Charles Goodrich a Esq of Pittsfield By Order of the generil Court Bearing Date November 17 AD 1777 to Call a town Meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Lee agreeable to said Warrant the Town Meet on Wednesday the 26 Day of December Current at the house of Peter Wilcock in said Town the Warrant Lys in file Opened the Meeting.
1Chose Mr William Ingersoll Modorator for sd Meeting
Chose Mr William Ingersoll Modorator for sd Meeting2Chose Mr William Ingersoll and Capt Jesse Bradley Oliver West Amos Porter and Prince West for Select Men for the year Insuing and swore them
Chose Mr William Ingersoll and Capt Jesse Bradley Oliver West Amos Porter and Prince West for Select Men for the year Insuing and swore them3ly Chose Prince West for Town Clerk and swore him
4Chose Mr William Ingersoll for Town Treashurey
Chose Mr William Ingersoll for Town Treashurey5Chose Rubin Pixley and James Penoyer for Constables for the said Town and swore them
Chose Rubin Pixley and James Penoyer for Constables for the said Town and swore them6Chose Danial Church and Jobe Hamblin John Nye and William Ingersoll for Surveyors of high ways
Chose Danial Church and Jobe Hamblin John Nye and William Ingersoll for Surveyors of high ways7Chose Abijah Tombirlain and Samuel Standley for Tytheing men and swore them
Chose Abijah Tombirlain and Samuel Standley for Tytheing men and swore them8Chose Mr William Ingersoll and Capt Jesse Bradley and Mr Oliver West as a Committy of Corespondants
Chose Mr William Ingersoll and Capt Jesse Bradley and Mr Oliver West as a Committy of Corespondants9Chose Samuel Standley for Leather Sealor And swore him.
Chose Samuel Standley for Leather Sealor And swore him. This Meeting Desolved
A 1866 Mark Twain quote:
“No man’s life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session”
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 $10.00 each or 3 packets for $25.00, plus $2.50 if they need to be shipped.
Picture Packet – Six, 8” x 10” colored prints of “Old Lee” for $10.00 each or 3 packets for $25.00, 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 sign. They are $3.00 each or buy all four for $10.00 with no shipping charges.
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 April 1971 and August 1977 that appeared in the Penny Saver. Price is $10.00, plus $2.50 if shipped.
“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 $10.00, 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 tales of earlier days in Lee. The price is $15.00, plus $2.50 if shipped.
“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 $15.00, 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. These mugs can be purchased for $10.00 each, plus $3.00 shipping or two
mugs for $18.00 and $5.00 shipping or all three mugs for $27.00 and $7.00 for
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
Officers of the Lee Historical Society for the year of 2011
President – Gary W. Allen – 413-243-2140 or garywallen@earthlink.net
Vice- President – Open Office
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/2011Josh Hall/2011Peg Biron/2011
Josh Hall/2011Peg Biron/2011Matt MacNayr/2011JoAnn Zarnoch/2012Maria Hopkins/2012
JoAnn Zarnoch/2012Maria Hopkins/2012Robert Kelly/2012Ethel Noonan/2013Annette Perilli/2013Dolores Eckert/2013
Immediate-Past President and Board Member – Stephen Cozzaglio
Society Historian – Charlotte Davis
Newsletter Editor – Mal Eckert
Please support our “Business Members” that support us.
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 01240Greylock Federal UnionQuality PlusConsolati Insurance Agency
Quality PlusConsolati Insurance Agency47 Main Street260 Chestnut Street71 Main Street
260 Chestnut Street71 Main StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Sullivan Station RestaurantPaperdilly, Inc.Dresser Hull Company
Paperdilly, Inc.Dresser Hull CompanyRailroad Street74 Main Street60 Railroad Street
74 Main Street60 Railroad StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Robert 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 01238Morgan House Restaurant & PubLee BankDevonfield Inn
Lee BankDevonfield Inn33 Main Street75 Park Street85 Stockbridge Road
75 Park Street85 Stockbridge RoadLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Hunter & Graziano P. C.Locker Room Sports Pub
Locker Room Sports Pub10 Park Place232 Main Street
232 Main StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Monk’s Professional Barber Shop
91 Main Street
Lee, MA 01238
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_______________________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________________
City____________________________State__________________Zip____________________
Telephone____________________Email___________________________________________
Is this a renewal membership?__________
Would you be interested in serving on a committee? __________
Or helping out at one of our fundraisers? ____________________
Lee Historical Society
P. O. Box 170
Lee, MA 01238
