Lee Historical Society
Newsletter
Vol. 4, No. 7
July 2007
Lee Historical Society, Inc.
P. O. Box 170
Lee, MA 01238
The purposes of the Lee Historical Society are to promote and foster a greater knowledge and appreciation of the unique history of the Town of Lee to friends, students and citizens through research, lectures, exhibits, acquisition and preservation of historical material and sites for future generations. We also offer assistance to those in the pursuit of local historical information.
The funding that our society receives is strictly from membership dues and other private sources. There is no financial support received from any governmental source or agency. The Lee Historical Society is a non-profit corporation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, classified as a 501 (C) (3) charitable organization under the U.S. Revenue Service Code.
June Meeting:
The June Meeting was held on Thursday, June 14th in the old courtroom at Memorial Hall. A business meeting was held at 6:15 P.M. where committee reports were read and accepted. Gary Allen, our Vice-President had accepted a new title, Vice-President/Secretary for the remainder of the year. Thanks to Gary for taking on this added task.
The program part of the meeting started at 7:00 p.m. with society member Jack Trowill speaking and showing a slide presentation of the “History of the Railroads in Lee”. Mr. Trowill is an avid railroad buff and a volunteer at the Berkshire Scenic Railway in Lenoxdale.
The Berkshire Scenic Railway operates Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays, including July 4th. The regular season ends the last weekend of October. The train leaves the Lenox Station at 10:10 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. for a 90 minute round trip to Stockbridge Station. The “Grandparents Special” leaves the Lenox Station for Lee at 12:15 p.m. for a 45 minute round trip. For trip information call 413-637-2210 or go to www.berkshirescenicrailway.org
The July Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 12, 2007 in the old Courtroom at Memorial Hall. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. and is strictly a business meeting for Officers, Board Members, Committee members and interested society members.
New Members to Welcome:
Robert M. Kelly, 65 South Prospect Street, Lee, MA 01238
Mr. Kelly operates a business named WScon where he is a consultant for historic wallpaper use. He tells me that in 1833 there was a wallpaper factory here in Lee called W. and W. Laflin.
Allan T. Welcome, 2124 Enright Place, Herndon, VA 20170
Adrienne Harrison, 115 River Road, Apt. #10, Cos Cob, CT 06807
A FIRST FOR LEE:
On Friday, June 29, 2007 Ann Marie Clark was sworn in as Lee’s first woman Postmaster. The Postmaster Installation Ceremony took place at 1:00 p.m. at Sunset Farm in Tyringham and the oath was delivered by District Manager John Powers.
On the program was a list of all the past Postmasters and Officers in Charge of the Lee Post Office. This list was researched and documented for accuracy by our President, Steve Cozzaglio to ensure that Ann Marie Clark is truly the first woman Postmaster in Lee.
Board Member Mary Morrissey, standing in for President Cozzaglio, accepted a gift of a Benjamin Franklin Limited Edition Collectable of four First Day of Issue commemorative envelopes, cancelled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 7, 2006. This date signifies the First Day of Issue of the Benjamin Franklin stamps and honors the 300th year (tercentenary) of his birth. The four envelopes are custom framed in a 12 x 24 inch frame with a name plate on the back which reads:
“Presented to the Lee Historical Society
With Gratitude,
Ann M. Clark
Postmaster
Lee Post Office”
Mary accepted the gift and thanked the new Postmaster on behalf of the Lee Historical Society. She congratulated her, wished her good health and much happiness as Lee’s new Postmaster.
The entire Board of Directors, Officers and members of the Lee Historical Society echo these remarks and thank her for the kind gift.
RECOLLECTIONS II
By Vic Mottarella
(Continued from the June issue)
Model Airplanes
During a period of about four years from age eight to twelve I built numerous model airplanes. These were made from kits that were purchased from the local five and dime store. The average cost of each model was between fifteen and twenty-five cents. Most of these were considered to be flying models—the power to the propeller was produced by winding up a rubber band and then releasing the plane which would sometimes fly for several seconds. The actual results were dependent on several factors, such as the quality of work performed during construction, weight and balance considerations and the prevailing winds at the time. I would often spend several days in the construction of a particular plane (constructed with balsa wood which is very light). Each kit contained several paper views showing the ribs and spars of the plane which very closely paralleled the actual airplane that the model represented. For each view it was necessary to cut many pieces of balsa wood and lay these pieces directly on the diagram of the ribs. Each rib was then cut to size with a razor blade. The pieces were each glued in place to complete one side of the airplane. Eventually, the top, bottom and sides were glued together to form a complete fuselage. Numerous wing ribs of different sizes were cut out from flat pieces of balsa to form the actual wing. Each rib was numbered and was put in place on the diagram and joined with balsa strips. The completed wing was joined to the fuselage with bracing struts made of balsa. The elevator and rudder were fabricated essentially the same as the wings and were then glued on to the fuselage. All of the exterior surfaces including the fuselage, the wings and the tail were covered with a special type of thin paper which would shrink when dampened with water. The result was normally a smooth wrinkle free exterior for the entire model. Next came the gluing of the landing gear and finally the installation of the propeller with a rubber band that was used as the power source. I would sometimes spend days constructing a model only to have it crash and crumble on it’s maiden voyage which lasted only a few seconds. One of the first models that I built was a Piper Cub. It was only a few years later that this aircraft was to be the first airplane in which I would solo when barely attaining the age of eighteen. I also built Cessnas, Stearmans, a bi-wing Beechcraft Staggerwing, a Waco, a high wing airplane called Mr. Mulligan and others that I do not recall and are too numerous to mention. One model which stands out was a Ryan ST. This was a low wing monoplane with tandem seats and fixed gear. It was streamlined and just looked like it was the fastest thing around in the thirties. I recently flew the Bellanca of which I am one third owner to Camarillo, California. This city is about one hundred miles from Lompoc. There sitting on the flight line was a Ryan ST—a beautiful all metal relic of the thirties. It was the first time that I can recall seeing the real thing.
A Near Tragedy
During the fall of 1939 I entered high school and made a new friend who remains so to this day. His name is Peter Comalli. One Saturday afternoon during the fall of my Freshman year he came up to the farm to join Louie Naventi, myself and a couple of others. We had previously decided do some plinking with my father’s 22 caliber Winchester rifle. When we started out for the woods my brother Eddie insisted on following us. I yelled at him several times to stay home but he was persistent. As mentioned before there was little discipline on the farm. He was only about six years old at the time. My stepmother told him to remain at home but she did not enforce the order. My insistence that he stay home continued to fall on deaf ears so I finally gave up and we started out for the woods. Eddie lingered back but he continued to follow us. We had a good time shooting at different targets such as cans, trees and bottles and finally ended up on the Valenti property. There we each took turns shooting at cans. After one had taken a shot a dispute arose between two in the party as to who would get to keep the empty shell. One of the two was holding the gun. Just as I noticed that a dangerous situation was developing I screamed “be careful” but it was too late because the gun discharged and Eddie yelled that he had been shot. We were only about one hundred yards from the Valenti house so we called the Doctor and Eddie was transported to the hospital in Pittsfield. Doctor Wickham opined that although the bullet had gone all the way through his side it had not struck any vital organs and that he would be fine in a few days. Florence Consolati wrote an article in the Berkshire Eagle explaining what had happened. Mentioned in the article was the fact that Victor Mottarella had taken the gun without his father’s permission which I suppose was true because I had never before asked or had been granted permission for any gun that I used. Eddie fully recovered in a few days with no after effects.
(Continued to the August issue)
Soldiers of Lee in the Civil War:
Dwight Payson Bradley
Found in: U. S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861 – 1865
Name: Dwight P. Bradley
Side: Union
Regiment: Massachusetts
Regiment Name: 37 Massachusetts Infantry
Regiment Name expanded: 37th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry
Company: B
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Film Number: M544 Roll 4
I also found this in the American Civil War Soldiers which is somewhat different from what is found above.
Name: Dwight Bradley
Residence: Lee, Massachusetts
Occupation: Farmer
Enlistment Date: 15 July 1862
Side Served: Union
State Served: Massachusetts
Service Record: Enlisted as a 1st Sergeant on 15 July 1862 at the age of 19. Enlisted in Company B, 37th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment on 30 August 1862. Discharged due to wounds on 03 July 1863.
Dwight Payson Bradley was born 09 April 1843 in Lee, Massachusetts and was the third child of Charles and Emily Crosby Bradley.
Dwight P. Bradley is found in the 1850 U. S. Census of Lee as a 7 year old, living with his parents, Charles, 37, and Emily, 34 along with a brother George F. age 13 and a sister Martha J., age 10. No occupations were given.
Dwight P. Bradley is found in the 1860 U. S. Census of Lee as a 17 year old student, living with his parents, Charles, age 47, a farmer, and Emily, age 44, who is listed as a housekeeper. There is also a brother, George F., 23, a farmer and a sister, Martha J., 20, an asst. housekeeper in the household.
Dwight P. Bradley is found in the 1870 U. S. Census of Lee as a 27 year old farmer, with a wife, Linda, 24, and a daughter Mabel, a year old, living next door to his parents
Dwight P. Bradley is found in the 1880 U. S. Census of Lee as a 37 year old farmer, with a wife, Malinda, 34, and family Mabel, 11, Emma, 9 and Charles, age 5. Also in the household is a farm laborer, whose name appears to be Buck Williams, age 17.
In the 1900 U. S. Census, Dwight P. Bradley is found as a 57 year old farmer with a household of wife, Linda, 54, a daughter, Emma, 29, a son, Charles, 25 and his father Charles, 87. There is also a servant, Crosby Charles, age 50 in the household.
An application for a Civil War pension was applied for on August 19, 1865 listing Dwight P. Bradley as an invalid. On June 4, 1919, Linda Bradley, applied for a widow’s pension
Society member, Marion Leach is the great-grand-daughter of Dwight P. Bradley.
Officers of the Lee Historical Society for 2007:
President – Stephen A. Cozzaglio, 413-243-3204 or scozzaglio@rcn.com
Vice-President – Secretary - Gary Allen. 413-243-2140 or GaryWAllen@Earthlink.net
Treasurer – Mal Eckert 413-243-1797 or Lee_Hist_Soc@msn.com
Board of Directors:
Marion Leach/2007 Mary Holt/2008 Ethel Noonan/2009
William Clarke/2007 Henry Holt/2008 James DiMario/2009
Cindy Packard/2007 Mary Morrissey/2008 Mary McGinnis/2009
Society Historian: Charlotte Davis, 413-243-1092
Newsletter Editor: Mal Eckert, 413-243-1797 or Lee_Hist_Soc@msn.com
The Lee Historical Society is continuously looking for articles and stories of Lee and its people to include in our newsletters. If anyone has an article or story, or is looking for an ancestor, please contact one of our officers or board members or send me an email.
The following article was copied from the Penny Saver of November 18, 1975 as written by the late Betty L. Dennis, former Town Librarian, who wrote a series of articles regarding historical events about the Town of Lee for the Lee Rotary Club that were published in the Penny Saver under the column of “Historical Lee.”
In 1910 an Artist staying in Lee in the neighborhood of “Frogs’ Landing” was visited one day by two ladies. They had a hornet’s nest the size of a half bushel basket which they had found on the hill. Thinking it was deserted they pried off a sapling to which it was attached, and decided to preserve it. They were riding the trolley and couldn’t carry their “prize” back to Pittsfield, with them, so they asked the Artist to keep it for them until a friend could come pick it up. He agreed and placed it on his mantel.
That evening the Artist started up a fire in the fireplace and then stepped out to his “verandah”. Within a few minutes he heard what he thought was the Pittsfield fire alarm. The whistle soon grew louder, so he decided it must be the Lee whistle. He went up the hill to see if the blaze was visible. Seeing nothing he returned to his house and there the “whistle” was very much louder, and upon investigating found it coming from inside. With extreme caution he opened his door. As he did he saw his living room full of swirling, buzzing insects, playing tag all over his possessions. He remained outside.
After dark he quietly pried all the windows open and let the cold night air take over. About midnight the hornets became chilled so that he could venture inside. By 3 AM he had cleared the house, and buried a pail full of hornets under an old pine tree in the yard.
The lady owners of the nest were requested to call for their property which would be found “in an open lot, half a mile due East of his bungalow”.
SCHEDULE OF 2007 MEETINGS:
Meetings of the Lee Historical Society will take place on the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 P.M. Business meetings will be held in the old courtroom at Memorial Hall and some of the program meetings may take place on the site of the subject matter of the meeting. We will try to advertise all meetings in various places in town. We will also try to advertise in the local media and TV stations. Our Program Meetings are free and open to the public and people are encouraged to attend. This schedule will be updated as more speakers and locations are confirmed.
Thursday, July 12, 2007 --- Business Meeting for all Board of Directors and Officers and all interested members.
Thursday, August 9, 2007 --- Program Meeting for all members and the public. The subject will be the History of the Lee Library and this year’s one hundred year anniversary. The speaker will be Barbara Allen.
Thursday, September 13, 2007 --- Business Meeting for all Board of Directors and Officers and all interested members.
Thursday, October 11, 2007 --- Program Meeting for all members and the public. The subject will be the History of St. Mary’s Church and presented by Mary Morrissey and Betty Leahey at 7:00 p.m. at the old courtroom in Memorial Hall. St. Mary’s is celebrating their 150th anniversary.
Thursday, November 8, 2007 --- Business Meeting for all Board of Directors and Officers and all interested members. Nominations for members of the Board of Directors.
Thursday, December 13, 2007 --- Annual Meeting --- Election of members of the Board of Directors and Officers.
When friends, neighbors or relatives move, downsize, move or just clean house, PLEASE, ask them to think of the LEE HISTORIC SOCIETY before they discard any old books, pictures postcards, letters or memorabilia of the TOWN OF LEE. We are also interested in obtaining old Lee High School yearbooks and Town Reports.
The Lee Historical Society has available for sale the following items:
Picture Packets – Six, 8” x 10” colored pictures of “Old Lee” for $10.00 each or 3 for $25.00 plus $2.50 if shipped.
Refrigerator Magnets – (approx. 2” x 3”) street scenes of early Lee for $3.00 each or $7.50 for a set of three different scenes. No shipping charges.
Cookbook, “Boiling Water” – A 400 recipe cookbook put together by the ladies of the Society for the price of $10.00 plus $3.50 if shipped.
Please send me______________Picture Packets
Please send me______________Refrigerator Magnets
Please send me______________cookbooks
Enclosed is my check or money order (NO CASH) for $__________________
NAME___________________________________________________________
ADDRESS________________________________________________________
CITY_________________________STATE_______________ZIP____________
Lee Historical Society
P. O. Box 170
Lee, MA 01238
