Lee Historical Society
Newsletter
Vol. 4, No. 6
June 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 will be held on Thursday, June 14, 2007 in the old courtroom at Memorial Hall. A business meeting will be held at 6:15 p.m. for Board Members, Officers and Society Members. Starting at 7:00 p.m. society member, Jack Trowill will present “The History of Berkshire Railroads”. This program is open to the public.
The May Meeting was held on Thursday, May 24th. Martin Deely spoke on the history of Lee Lime and Lee Marble. Mr. Deely distributed hand-outs containing information about lime and limestone, diagrams of different kinds of limestone kilns and copies of old pictures of workers at Lee Lime and also of old quarries of Lee. He entertained members and guests for over an hour with stories of Lee Lime and Lee Marble, his family and the old quarry holes of Lee. I am sure that he would be welcome back again to continue where he left off.
New Members to Welcome:
Jane E. Benjamin Brown, 4722 Park Lane, Apt. 157, Moorpark, CA 93021
John W. Turner, Sr., 155 Marble St., Apt. 42, Lee, MA 01238
Anne and James Lostrangio, 60 Mountain View Terrace, Lee, MA 01238
All members should have received their 2007 Membership cards. If anyone has not received their card yet, please let us know and we will send one out to you.
MARY NEEDS HELP
Mary McGinnis is seeking any information on Andrew Carnegie, the chief contributor of the building of the Lee Library. The requested information on Mr. Carnegie will be used by Mary for Founders’ Day and should be in the time frame of the construction of the Lee Library. Any information could be helpful in bringing this presentation together. Mary can be reached by email at KevinMcGinnis@Adelphia.net or 413-243-8110.
RECOLLECTIONS II
By Vic Mottarella
(Continued from the May issue)
Later, I became proficient as a short order cook in addition to washing dishes. I got to the point where I could flip eggs and pancakes in the air from a pan without dropping them on the floor. I also became proficient at making various types of sandwiches. I didn’t particularly like the work and it didn’t pay much but it was better than no money at all and it allowed me to work in the winter months. I used some of the money to buy clothes at the Owens Department Store where I opened an account and made periodic payments.
During the fall of 1942 Mr. D. Allen Fraser stopped by the farm late one Sunday morning and asked me if I might be interested in working part time at his service station. I was delighted to say the least. Anything mechanical was right down my alley. Paul Naventi was the lead mechanic at the station and I suspect he had suggested that I be hired. My first assignment was to open up the station each morning before school, clean the latrine and pump gas until Paul arrived. I also took readings of each pump which were used as a basis to verify the accuracy of cash collected at the end of the day. The number of gallons sold were calculated by subtracting the morning readings from the evening readings. The cash had to add up for all gas and other items sold during the day. Gas rationing was in effect during this time and each customer had to produce rationing stamps before gas could be purchased. I learned to do grease jobs as well as polishing and waxing cars. Later, I assisted Paul on various repair projects including major overhauls. I learned a lot from Paul during the two years I worked at the station. On one occasion Paul installed a self-starter on a Model T Ford. (It was bought new without one). The vehicle was kept in the station over night. When I opened up the station the next morning I attempted to back the vehicle out of the station even though I had never driven one before. Instead of backing the Model T went forward and ran into Paul’s tool box doing some minor damage. I worked at the station until I was called to active duty on August 11, 1943. I enjoyed that job more than any of the other money making ventures that I had engaged in. As a result of the work I did at the station I was able to ace almost every test I took when studying aircraft engines a few months later at Williams College.
My First Car
It was during the summer of 1942 when I toyed with the idea of buying my first car. I had been working at the Lee Esso Station for several months and had saved a few dollars. I planned to use this money for my first automobile purchase. I discussed this several times with Paul Naventi and after a period of time he came up with a lead. He happened to know the owner of a salvage yard in the village of Washington, Mass which is only about 8 miles from Lee but the closest route necessitated an exciting drive on a dirt road over the Washington Mountain. Paul drove me to the site and introduced me to the owner. The owner started the car and Paul said it ran fine and it was well worth the asking price of $35.00. The car was an open 1932 six cylinder Chevrolet roadster which was fine during the summer but proved to be too cold for dating girls in the winter. But, at the time I was very excited for it allowed me more freedom to go and come as I pleased. I was the only student in my class who owned a motor vehicle. During the winter of 1942 I traded the car in for another 1932 six cylinder Chevrolet but this car was a four door sedan. Before buying these two cars I drove my father’s 1940 Plymouth pretty much as I saw fit. I started out by driving it back and forth on Fairview Street without a license but since no one criticized me I gradually expanded my driving area to several other streets in Lee and eventually to Pittsfield and Great Barrington, a distance of about eleven miles. During this period I used the Plymouth to take girls out on dates. On one occasion Bob Gibbs and I took a couple of girls to the movies in Pittsfield. My date was Enes Sacchario. Enes was in the class behind me and was quite attractive. Betty and I visited her and her husband several times during our recent summer jaunts to Massachusetts. We became re-acquainted with her at the Lee Nursing Home where her mother was residing at age 100. I must not have impressed Enes because she does not recall the event which turned out to be more interesting than expected. While I was driving towards Lee I looked in the mirror and noticed that Bob was kissing his girl. Her name was Joyce Feely. She was well built and very attractive. At this moment I was passing another car and was distracted by what I saw in the mirror. I inadvertently pulled over to the right lane prior to attaining sufficient distance between me and the other car resulting in hooking my rear bumper with the other vehicle’s front bumper. I did some minor damage to the other vehicle. I was able to convince the other party not to report the incident to his insurance company since I had no license. He apparently knew my father. I agreed to pay him for whatever damage occurred provided he did not tell my father about the incident.
(Continued to the July issue)
Soldiers of Lee in the Civil War:
GEORGE HULL HYDE – Company D, 37th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
Found in the American Civil War Soldiers Records:
Name: George Hyde
Residence: Lee, Massachusetts
Occupation: Teller
Enlistment Date: 27 August 1862
Distinguished Service
Side Served: Union
State Served: Massachusetts
Service Record: Enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant on 27 August 1862 at the age of 22. Commissioned in Company D, 37th Massachusetts Infantry on 04 September 1862. Promoted to Full 1st Lieutenant on 17 January 1863. Promoted to Full Captain on 27 January 1864. Mustered out on 21 June 1865 in Washington, D.C.
The 37th was composed largely of men from the four western counties of Massachusetts and was organized at Camp Briggs in August and early September of 1862. Between August 30th and September 4th the companies of the regiment were mustered into the United States service. On 07 September the regiment left for Washington, arriving there on the 9th. Here in Washington, they were assigned to Briggs’ Brigade of Casey’s Division of Reserves and stationed at Camp Chase at Arlington Heights. On 30 September the 37th was transferred to Fredrick, Maryland and then on to Downsville, where it was assigned to Deven’s Brigade of Couch’s Fourth Corp Division and later into the Sixth Corp. The first engagement of the 37th took place at Fredericksburg, Virginia between December 11th and 15th, 1862. For the remainder of the war the 37th Massachusetts was engaged in such places as: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Mine Run, Virginia, Wilderness, Virginia, and Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia. Other battles in Virginia that they fought in were; North Anna River, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Snickersville, Charlestown, Winchester, Hatcher’s Run and Sailor’s Creek.
George H. Hyde is found in the 1860 U. S. Census of Lee as a 20 year old clerk, living with his parents, 5 sisters and 2 brothers. The family home and school, operated by Alexander Hyde was situated on the right hand side of West Park Street, just across the railroad tracks, and still stands.
George Hull Hyde was born 02 July 1840 and was the son of Alexander and Cornelia Hull Hyde. He married Laura Gould on August 03, 1869 in Levinworth, Kansas. The couple had 5 children. He died in February 1924 in Miles City, Montana.
Officers of the Lee Historical Society for 2007:
President – Stephen A. Cozzaglio, 413-243-3204 or scozzaglio@rcn.com
Vice-President – Gary Allen. 413-243-2140 or GaryWAllen@Earthlink.net
Secretary – Position open
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 January 2, 1974 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.”
Henry Billings Brown was born in South Lee in March 1836 and became Justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1890. He has received his A.B. Degree in 1856 from Yale, admitted to the Bar in 1860, in Detroit where he lived. A strong Republican, he was appointed by President Grant in 1875 as a district judge of the eastern district of Michigan until he was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, where he served for six years.
It was Jim Burns of South Lee who introduced me to Judge Brown, while doing some research after he bought the home which was the birthplace of the Judge. The house was known locally as the “Pixley: house. Henry Billings Brown was the son of Billings Brown, former South Lee postmaster.
From South Lee the family moved to Groton, Connecticut when Henry was just a youngster.
Judge Brown compiled “Brown’s Admiralty Reports” which were considered an authority in all parts of the country. He also became a lecturer on admiralty law at Michigan University.
He was a pioneer in decrying what he thought was to have a dangerous effect on the growth and wealth of popular government.
At the time of his appointment to the Supreme Court, the work of the court was exceedingly heavy, taking four years for a case to be heard. He was required to pass upon such important matters as the constitutionality of the income tax, control of the Philippines, Northern Securities case and the slavery question. While serving, he became blind, but continued to work, cases being read to him. Months later the sight in one eye gradually returned and he was able to walk the streets of Washington, although not alone.
He died in 1913 and was buried in Detroit.
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, January 11, 2007 --- Business Meeting for all Board of Directors and Officers and all interested members.
Thursday, February 8, 2007 --- Program Meeting for all members and the public. The subject will be “The History of the Lee Fire Department”. To be held at the Lee Fire Department on Main St.
Thursday, March 8, 2007 --- Business Meeting for all Board of Directors and Officers and all interested members at 7:00 p.m. in the old courtroom in Memorial Hall.
****Thursday, April 12, 2007 --- Program Meeting for all members and the public. The program that was scheduled for this date was cancelled and re-scheduled for the June Meeting.
****Thursday, May 24, 2007 --- Program Meeting on “The History of Lee Marble and Lee Lime”
given by Martin Deely at 7:00 p.m. in the old courtroom at Memorial Hall. The public is invited.
Thursday, June 14, 2007 --- Business Meeting at 6:15 p.m. for Board Members, Officers and interested members. Program Meeting for all members and the public at 7:00 p.m. Jack Trowill will speak on the history of Berkshire Railways at 7:00 p.m. in the old courtroom of Memorial Hall.
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 their one hundred year anniversary. The speaker is unknown at this date.
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 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.
BECOME A MEMBER OR ENROLL AN OUT OF TOWN FRIEND OR RELATIVE. HOW ABOUT A PRESENT OF A MEMBERSHIP, COOKBOOK, SET OF REFRIGERATOR MAGNETS OR PICTURE PACKET OF “OLD LEE”?
MEMBERSHIP FORM
Membership fees:
Student Membership --- $5.00 Senior Membership (1 person over age 65) --- $5.00
Business Membership --- $25.00 Individual Membership (1 person under age 65) --- $10.00
Family Membership (all members of a family living at home) --- $15.00
Please circle one: Student Senior Individual Family Business
Name_______________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________
City__________________________State____________Zip____________
Telephone__________________Email_____________________________
Is this a renewal?_______or a new membership?________
Would you be interested in serving on a committee?________
Or helping out at one of our fundraisers?___________
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
