Lee Historical Society
Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 3
March 2009
Lee Historical Society, Inc.
P. O. Box 170
Lee, MA 01238
www.leehistoricsociety.homestead.com
When friends, neighbors or relatives move, downsize, or just clean house, PLEASE, ask them to think of the LEE HISTORICAL 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.
On December 20th, 2008, Lee businessman and Society member Doug Wilcox was stuck by a car while crossing Main Street and seriously injured. Doug is facing a long rehabilitation period. His friends have initiated a benefit dinner for Doug on Tuesday, March 17th at the Salmon Run Fish House on Main Street between the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This will consist of a pasta dinner costing $10 for adults and $5 for children with all the proceeds going to Doug. This will be an open sitting with tickets sold at the door. There is also an account set up at Lee Bank for Doug, if anyone would like to contribute, mail your donations to the Doug Wilcox Fund in care of the Lee Bank, 75 Park Street, Lee, MA 01238.
A business meting was held on February 12, 2009 at the Senior Center at Crossways Village. The Treasurer’s Report as well as Committee Reports were read and accepted. Several suggestions for Program Meetings were presented by the members such as having Judith Monachina come back and hold a “show and tell night” with members and guest bringing in old pictures and items of the Lee Mills to look at and discuss. A Board member suggested that a video could be made of older Lee residents that were interviewed by local Lee High School students. It was also suggested that Professor John Hyde be invited back for a lecture. It was also brought to the attention of the Board that the local Penny Saver, who has helped us greatly in the past years, will be closing down and we will now need a new source to advertise our Program meetings. All these suggestions will be brought up during our next business meeting and if anyone has an idea, please let us know.
Condolences go out to the family of Society member Bob Coty. Bob passed on in early February after a long illness.
Condolences go out to the family of Lorraine Lorette. Although Loraine was not a member of the Society, she volunteered to design, make and donate a colorful afghan every year for our annual raffle. She also enjoyed playing Santa Claus each year for the young children at the Lee Bank where she worked.
The March Program Meeting will be held on Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 12th at 7:00 p.m. This program will host novelist, Marilyn Rothstein, of Saratoga Springs, New York, who writes mystery novels set in Colonial New England. The main characters are two nosey Puritans as detectives. She will speak on “Writing the Historical Mystery” and “Salem, 1692”. Her latest novel is “Death of a Bawdy Belle” and is set in Salem during that period.
New members to welcome:
Dean W. Flewwellwen, 6941 Alma Street, Houma, Louisiana 70364-2657
A very special welcome to our youngest and newest society member, Andrew Peter Hall, who was born on March 2nd to Board member Josh Hall and his wife Rebecca. Congratulations!
Recollections VI
By U. S. Navy Retired Commander Vic Mottarella,
a native of Lee
(Continued from February – 09)
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas
We left Bunker Hill on the morning of April 18, 1945. Our train ride to Corpus Christi, Texas took us through the cities of Indianapolis, St. Louis, Memphis, Little Rock, Texarkana and Houston. At Texarkana we were allowed to debark for a period of about three hours while waiting for another train that would take us to Corpus Christi. We were warned to make sure we arrived back on time. At that stage of my life I tended to be more of a follower than a leader. I would usually go along with the big city guys who seemed to be more sophisticated and persuasive – anyway, in this case I got mixed up with two other cadets, one of whom was my buddy Votolato. They enticed me to go along with them – their destination was a bar advertised as the “Longest Bar in Texas”. At that tender age I had never consumed more than one beer at a time and even that would set me spinning. I don’t recall how many drinks I had - probably one or two but they were hard liquor. I remember being deathly sick after finally boarding the train. Getting inebriated was bad enough but all three of us failed to return to our train on time so technically we were now AWOL (Absent without leave). Votolato, being a good talker (and still is!) discussed our predicament with the Texarkana Train Master who was very sympathetic. He took us under his wing and rerouted us on another train so we could catch our missed train. With the Train Master’s help we caught the proper train at the next stop and nothing was ever said – I suspect that whoever was in charge had failed to take a muster so we were completely overlooked. If anything like this had happened at any time while at our previous duty stations it would have been curtains for our short career in Naval Aviation. The rest of the trip was uneventful and we arrived in the city of Corpus Christi on April 21, 1945. We were met by a bus driven by an enlisted man who took us to the Naval Air Station, a distance of about ten miles. Our stay at the Naval Air Station was only for a few days where we occupied transient barracks. They were of the same type of construction as those we had experienced in Pensacola during 1943. Adjacent to our barracks was another similar barracks, which was briefly occupied by recently commissioned naval officers. We would observe these young ensigns with envy as they strutted about in their snazzy new uniforms upon which were pinned shinny wings of gold. After a short stay at the main base we were transported by bus to Cuddihy Field.
Naval Auxiliary Air Station Cuddihy Field
Cuddihy was one of several Auxiliary Air Stations remotely located from what in Navy language we called “Mainside” or the main Naval Air Station. Cuddihy was only about eight miles from Mainside while others such as Kingsville and Beeville were located over forty miles away. I remember it being located close to an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico. The body of water was called Laguna Madre, obviously named during the time when Mexico ruled this area.
The Routine
The routine at Cuddihy wasn’t all that different from what it had been at our previous duty station. The class was divided into two groups with one group flying in the morning and spending the rest of the day in ground school while the other group did the opposite. Ground school was a continuation of most of the subjects to which we had been previously exposed. For a Navy Pilot there were two subjects that you could never learn too much about – (1) during war time being able to immediately and positively identify an enemy fighter and know it’s wingspan – (2) in peace or war, possess a thorough knowledge of navigation so you can find your way back to the ship during inclement weather or with limited fuel. The main subjects I remember at Cuddihy were different forms of navigation such as dead reckoning and celestial navigation, search missions, maximum distance problems - also code and semaphore. In aircraft and ship recognition different views were flashed on a screen at 1/100th of a second. A lot of time was spent in describing the basics of the plane we would eventually get to fly. We spent a considerable amount of time in ground school being briefed on the various instrument flight patterns we would be required to perform after being checked out in the new SNJ Texan. Next to qualifying for solo in the plane the most important mission while at Cuddihy was to learn how to navigate and control the plane while under instrument conditions (without reference to the outside world). Here, while at ground school, we actually got to experiment with a sextant by shooting certain stars and plotting our position on a chart. Of course, we knew where we were – it was only done to prove that the system worked. Learning the locations and shapes of the various constellations such as Orion (the great hunter), Taurus (the bull), Canis Major (the dog), Scorpio (the scorpion) and Ursa Minor (the little dipper) which housed selected navigational stars was interesting and fun. The stars included Capella (and the seven kids), Arcturas, Polaris, Bellatrix, Pollux, Vega and Castor. In the constellation Canis Major was located the brightest star in the heavens (Sirius) and in the Ursa Minor it was easy to locate Polaris (the North Star). Then there were the bright stars Betelgeuse (we called it beetle juice) and Rigel. At the time we knew many more but several stars and constellations have long since faded from memory. Votolato and I did not realize how valuable this knowledge would become at our next duty station when we would try to impress certain girls about how much we knew about astronomy while gazing at the heavens under romantic Texas skies.
Flight Operations
The SNJ Texan
Before getting near an airplane we went through the usual ground school briefings on the new airplane as well as being instructed on the location of the various outlying landing strips. The airplane was bigger and much more complicated and advanced than anything we had flown to date and to us young cadets it really looked like a fighter. In fact it looked so much like a fighter that in the movie “Tora Tora Tora” this same plane took the place of the Japanese Zero. The cockpit contained scores of unfamiliar instruments, knobs, gadgets and controls making it much more complicated than the plane we had flown at Bunker Hill. The entire exterior was polished aluminum – it had a retractable landing gear system with a constant speed propeller. With a constant speed propeller you control the RPM of the engine with the propeller control. In reality it is used like the transmission of an automobile. When starting off with high power such as for take off you put the propeller in low pitch (or maximum RPM) and advance the throttle for maximum power. This more or less corresponds to putting a car in low gear when starting off. When cruising you reduce the throttle setting first and then you adjust the RPM by retarding the propeller control. If you should reverse this order it is possible to over boost and ruin the engine. This would correspond to starting a car out in high gear. While you would probably get away with it in a car it can be disastrous, especially in large two thousand horsepower aircraft engines. We were in the training phase and the Navy was trying to develop and promote good habits that would apply to all aircraft types. The Texan was powered by a nine cylinder five hundred-fifty horsepower Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine and had a rated top speed of 205 miles per hour. With the exception of putting the plane in a dive we never got anywhere near that speed. About one hundred fifty-five miles per hour while in a cruising mode was typical. The landing gear and flaps were activated by hydraulic pressure. It was necessary to activate the hydraulic system by depressing a lever before engaging either the landing gear or the flap handle. North American Aviation Corporation built thousands of these aircraft for the Navy and Army Air Corps for training pilots during World War II. In addition to ground school flight preparation we had to pass a blindfold check in the cockpit of the SNJ before getting to fly. While blindfolded each cadet had to point and touch each of the important instruments, knobs, levers or controls as called out by the instructor and there were many important items. Needless to say it took a considerable amount of study and practice while sitting in the aircraft on our own before we felt ready to take the blindfold check with the instructor pilot. In this airplane, during the check out phase, the instructor sat in the back seat when flying dual and we had real electronic earphones and a real intercom system as well as a radio as opposed to the gosport tube we used at Bunker Hill. During qualification flights and later when flying solo the cadet flew from the front seat.
(Continued to the April - 09 issue)
This week, the Society has received three filing cabinets, a copy machine and several other items that were donated to us. These will all be organized and arranged at our area in the CDC warehouse and in next month’s newsletter the donors will be properly thanked.
We have also been given a cartoon of books, entitled “Third Strike”, the last of three books about Lee written by R. W. Smith. These books will probably be sold by the Society in the future and if anyone is interested in obtaining one, let us know and your name will be placed on a list for the future sale of these books. At this time no information on price or available selling date is known.
If you are one of the members who have not sent in their 2009 Membership fees, please do so. All types of memberships expired on 12/31/2008 and must be renewed. Letters will be sent out next month to those who still have not renewed. Because of the price of postage we have not sent out reminder letters yet.
Please support our
Officers of the Lee Historical Society for 2009
Officers of the Lee Historical Society for 2009“Business Members”Gary Allen – President - 413-243-2140 or garywallen@earthlink.net
Gary Allen – President - 413-243-2140 or garywallen@earthlink.netwho support us.Myron Hood – Vice President – 413-243-2470 or MYRONSCALL@verizon.net
Myron Hood – Vice President – 413-243-2470 or MYRONSCALL@verizon.netOpen – Mary Hood
B & B Landscaping Mal Eckert – Treasurer – 413-243-1797 or MalEckert@msn.com
Mal Eckert – Treasurer – 413-243-1797 or MalEckert@msn.comand Excavation
475 Pleasant StreetBoard of directors of the Lee Historical Society
Board of directors of the Lee Historical SocietyLee, MA 01238Ethel Noon/2009 Marion Leach/2010 Mary Morrissey/2011
Ethel Noon/2009 Marion Leach/2010 Mary Morrissey/2011James Di Mario/009 Danna Snow/2010 Peg Biron/2011
Bartini Roofing Co. Mary McGinnis/2009 William Clarke/2010 Josh Hall/2011
Mary McGinnis/2009 William Clarke/2010 Josh Hall/2011290 Pleasant Street Matt MacNayr
Matt MacNayrLee, MA 01238Immediate Past President & Board of Director – Stephen Cozzaglio
Immediate Past President & Board of Director – Stephen Cozzaglio Society Historian – Charlotte Davis
Ben’s Shop Newsletter Editor – Mal Eckert
Newsletter Editor – Mal Eckert68 Main Street
Lee, MA 01238
The purposes of the Lee Historical Society are to promote and fosterCharles Flint Antiques greater knowledge and appreciation of the unique history of the Town
52 Housatonic Street of Lee to friends, students and citizens through research, lectures,
Lenox, MA 01240 exhibits, acquisitions and preservation of the historical material and
exhibits, acquisitions and preservation of the historical material and sites for future generations. We also offer assistance to those in pursuitCountry Curtains of local historical information.
of local historical information.Route 102
Lee, MA 01238 The funding that the Lee Historical Society receives is strictly from
The funding that the Lee Historical Society receives is strictly from membership dues, donations and other private sources. There is noDevonfield Innfinancial support received by the Lee Historical Society from the Town
financial support received by the Lee Historical Society from the Town85 Stockbridge Road of Lee or any governmental source or agency. The Lee Historical
Lee, MA 01238 Society is listed as a non-profit corporation in the Commonwealth of
Society is listed as a non-profit corporation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, classified as a 501 (c) (3) charitable organizationDresser Hull Company under the United States Revenue Service Code.
60 Railroad Street
Lee, MA 01238
Greylock Federal Credit UnionOur Meetings
Our Meetings47 Main StreetMeetings of the Lee Historical Society will take place on the second
Meetings of the Lee Historical Society will take place on the second Lee, MA 012138 Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Business meetings will be held in the old courtroom at Memorial Hall on Main Street in Lee. Some of
Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Business meetings will be held in the old courtroom at Memorial Hall on Main Street in Lee. Some ofQuality Plus Program Meetings may take place on the site of the subject matter of
Program Meetings may take place on the site of the subject matter of260 Chestnut Streetthe meeting. We will try to advertise all meetings in various places in
the meeting. We will try to advertise all meetings in various places inLee, MA01238town. We will also try to advertise in the local media and on local TV
01238town. We will also try to advertise in the local media and on local TV stations. Our Program Meetings are free and open to the public and people are encouraged to attend. The schedule will be updated as more speakers and locations are confirmed.Kelly Funeral Home
3 Main Street
Lee, Ma 01238
L. V. Toole Insurance Agency Paperdilly, Inc Lee BankThe Jonathan Foote 1778 House
The Jonathan Foote 1778 House195 Main Street74 Main Street 75 Park Street1 East Street
74 Main Street 75 Park Street1 East StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238 Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238 Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Sullivan Station RestaurantRobert M. Kelly Paperhanging
Robert M. Kelly PaperhangingRailroad StreetSouth Prospect Street
South Prospect StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Become a member or enroll an out of town friend or relative to a gift membership. Maybe you or a friend would like one of our cookbooks, picture packets or refrigerator magnets of “Old Lee”, our tribute to Betty Dennis, “Historical Lee” or one of our 2008 commemorative mugs with the image of Memorial Hall on it.
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?____________________
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(1.)Picture Packet – Six, 8” x 10” colored pictures of “Old Lee” for $10.00 or 3 for $25.00
Picture Packet – Six, 8” x 10” colored pictures of “Old Lee” for $10.00 or 3 for $25.00 plus $2.50 if shipped.
(2.)Refrigerator Magnets – (approx. 2” x 3”) Street scenes of early Lee for $3.00 each or a set of 3 different scenes for $7.50. No shipping charges.
Refrigerator Magnets – (approx. 2” x 3”) Street scenes of early Lee for $3.00 each or a set of 3 different scenes for $7.50. No shipping charges.(3.)Cookbook “Boiling Water” – A 400 recipe cookbook, put together by the ladies of the Society for a price of $10.00, plus $3. 50 if shipped.
Cookbook “Boiling Water” – A 400 recipe cookbook, put together by the ladies of the Society for a price of $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 written between April 1971 and August 1977 that appeared in the Penny Saver - $10.00 plus $2.50 if shipped.
“Historical Lee” – A tribute to the late Betty Dennis. A seventy-three page book containing the articles written between April 1971 and August 1977 that appeared in the Penny Saver - $10.00 plus $2.50 if shipped. (5.) A 2008 Commemorative Mug, first in a series, with an image of Memorial Hall for $10.00, plus
$3.00 if shipped.
Please send me (amount)____________of (item)__________________________________
Enclosed is my check for (No cash please) ______________________________________
Name___________________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________________
City_____________________State___________Zip______________________________
LEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
P. O. BOX 170
LEE, MA 01238
