May-Newsletter-2012

Lee Historical Society

Newsletter

Vol. 9, No. 5

May 2012

Lee Historical Society, Inc.

Crossway Tower

P. O. Box 170

Lee, MA 01238

Visit us: www.leehistoricsociety.homestead.com

A very Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers

Remember our Troops

The May Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 17th in the cafeteria of the Senior Center at Crossway Village. A business

meeting for the Board of Directors, Officers, Committee Members and interested society members will start at 6:30 sharp

followed by a Program Meeting starting at 7:00 p.m. which is free and open to the public. This month the guest speaker wil

be Neil Merwin, a retired employee of the Lee public School Systems. Neil is probably better known for his service as a

member of the Lee Ambulance Service. Neil was one of the founders of the ambulance squad and is still a fixture with

his first aid bag at most of the sporting events around the town. He will speak on how the service was started and how

it has grown over the years. Please attend and hear about the history of our dedicated Lee Ambulance Service and its

EMT’S and workers.

BEST WISHES:

We send out our best wishes for a speedy recovery to society member Bruce Zarnoch (Jonathon Foote 1778 House)

after his recent operation. Get well soon!

ON THE MOVE:

Business Member Karen Keenan is moving her business, Karen Keenan Gifts and Home, from 151 Main Street down

to 69 Main Street in the middle of the business district, so drop down and visit Karen at her new location.

QUESTIONS:

(1.)

Has anyone ever heard of Green Water Pond called Pasumpsic Lake? Please. Let us know. Thanks.

(2.)

I asked a question a couple of months ago about your fondest memory of Lee and received quite a few answers,

now I would like to know who your favorite or least favorite teacher in your years in the Lee schools.

MEMORIES OF LEE;

Vic Mottarella, Grass Valley, CA – While I have many memories of Lee, most of them good and a few not so good, the event

I remember most was the big fire in 1932 when the Eaton Dikeman Paper Company burned down. It was during the depression

and many jobs were lost which the town could ill afford. I was six years old and that evening we happened to be visiting the

Sacchiero family on Prospect Street, who were friends of my father. We heard the fire alarm and went outside to see the

enormous inferno taking place. I had never been that close to such a large fire and have not been since. Among other

papers, the company produced ink blotting paper. As a youngster I remember stopping after school and walking down (now

Consolati Way) where a very old man, probably in his eighties would hand out a few blotters to the kids. Now that I am past

86, he probably look that old.

Susie Brown, Lee – Pete Shaker’s Store; My Dad brought me there every weekend for Table Talk pies and birch beer in a

bottle. Bartini Meat Market on Main Street; Delivered milk through the back ally with my Dad. I remember walking by what I

remember to be a little bathroo0m sink and it always had whole chickens with blood all over the sink and floor there that Julie

was washing (probably would not fly with the Board of Health these days). My mother also always sent me in for cornmeal to

make polenta. Lee News Room; Penny Candy. I do remember the owners were pretty grouchy. (Maybe that should not be a

good memory). Jack’s Department Store; Once a year for school shopping. George Brooks Jewelry Store; and the other

jewelry store across the street (cannot remember the name) and of course Johanssons. The A & P, where Carr’s Hardware

is now. Dr.Devanney, the dentist, and The Son’s of Italy Club, where I took ballet lessons.

Very few days in our lives can be remembered as "PERFECT DAYS." About 15 yrs ago, when I was a widow I decided to go visit a friend of mine in Maine. I invited a male friend along and we left Syracuse early in the morning. He asked if I would mind making a few

stops along the way such as a tour of Lee, MA. and a few surrounding towns. This was in August and the weather in Lee was

picture perfect; sunny and not too hot. First my friend drove me to see some beautiful homes with white picket fences and

geraniums in window boxes. Then he insisted we stop at Joe's Diner. I was enamored of the place because I had never been

in a diner with swiveling stools and a menu written on a blackboard before. I was thrilled when I found out Norman Rockwell had done some of his drawings while sitting in Joe's. While we were eating lunch a marching band came marching through the Diner,

resplendent in their uniforms, to celebrate Joe's birthday.

When we left Joe's, we went to a nearby museum type establishment; I believe it was called the Gingerbread House (my

memory isn't very good). From there we went to the Norman Rockwell Museum. Every memory of that day is what I call

"THE PERFECT DAY."

A few years after my perfect day in Lee, MA, I married a man who had attended college at Williams and I vowed then to go

to one of his reunions and stop in Lee and recapture my perfect day. Fate had a way of intervening though. Ten years ago

I began researching my family tree and found all of my roots are in LEE, MA!!! One of the stories I just couldn't get over was

that my 4th great grand uncle enlisted in Lee to fight in the Civil War and was killed at Port Hudson, Louisiana in 1863 but

his body was never recovered. There was a place next to my 3xgreat grandmother for him to be buried (if his body had been

recovered) in Lee's Fairmount Cemetery. I worked with the Veteran's Administration and a member of Fairmount Cemetery's

Committee, Mal Eckert, to have a Civil War Marker in honor of my 4xgreat grand uncle placed next to my 3xgreatgrandmother.

In a very short time I was told the Civil War Marker was in place in Fairmount Cemetery. My husband and I went to Lee and met Mal Eckert at the cemetery and he showed us to the HARRINGTON graves where my 3xgreat grandmother, Louisa Harrington's,

grave was and the marker for her son John Harrington Jr. was. Having the Civil War marker placed in Fairmount Cemetery is

to this day my favorite genealogy accomplishment. Again my visit to Lee was another "PERFECT DAY." I got to meet Mal

Eckert for the first time when he was showing us the graves in Fairmount

Cemetery. Since then he has become a dear, and valued friend. I had the privilege of meeting a local history buff and

prominent citizen, Charlotte Davis, and had a lovely visit about the town's history. The day wouldn't have been complete

without a stop at Joe's Diner. Before heading back to Syracuse, NY we did manage to do a tour of the Williams College

campus. If asked what my favorite memory of Lee was, I just wouldn't know exactly which memory is my favorite. It would

probably be a toss up between meeting my lifelong friend for the first time, visiting my ancestors graves, or maybe it would

be that long ago "PERFECT DAY" complete with the marching band. I've always meant to get back to enjoy the hospitality of

a local BED AND BREAKFAST. I will get back some day. But for now as the saying goes, "Life is what happens when you are

busy making other plans." Renne Harrington Blocker, Syracuse, NY

(Continued from the April – 2012 issue)

Four Bearcats Appear Over Fairview Street in Lee

I was at my home in Lee and preparing to attend church one Sunday morning when suddenly four Bearcats appeared out

of nowhere. When they broke into a tail chase formation I knew they had to be from my squadron because they buzzed the

house at very low altitude where I could see the big K (Standing for Kearsarge) on the tail and proceeded to put on a vigorous aerial demonstration that included slow rolls, loops and immelmanns. After the third slow roll that commenced at very low altitude

over the house, I noted that the fourth plane in the formation disappeared upside-down behind a knoll in an inverted position.

My heart stood still because from my perspective it looked like the plane would surely crash. I looked for a fireball but after

a couple of seconds it reappeared but far out of formation. At that time I had no idea who the pilots were but surmised the

leader had to be one of my squadron mates who had accompanied me on one of my previous visits to the hometown. On the

following day I returned to Quonset Point and learned that LTJG Jim Dillingham led the flight while the “Tail End Charlie” was Midshipman Jesse Brown, the first black Naval Aviator. Jesse was later shot down and killed in Korea. His wingman (LTJG

Tom Hudner) was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for a valiant but futile rescue attempt.

The Otis Air Force Base Incident

On June 6, 1949 I flew four Rocket delivery flights towards targets located at Otis Air Force Base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. This was during the middle of the Air Force and Navy controversy. Our new Executive Officer, LCDR Stanek who was leading the

flight briefed us prior to takeoff. The first item mentioned was that our division of four Bearcats would make a very fast and

sharp break over Otis prior to landing just to impress the Air Force folks. Inter-service rivalry was at its zenith. Upon landing

at Otis after our fourth mission and prior to our return to Quonset Point the Executive Officer briefed us again. He had heard

about my slow roll on takeoff at Charlestown, R.I. and thought that would be a good way to impress Air Force pilots while taking off for our return to Quonset Point.

With adequate interval between the four planes to avoid the other’s prop wash each of us was directed to perform a slow

roll on takeoff. I was the last plane in the flight. Since the maneuver was directed by the Executive Officer I was delighted to

able to do this legally. I observed each of the three planes as they took off before me but noted that each had at least five

hundred feet of altitude before starting their roll. I started mine as the wheels were still retracting as I had done at Charlestown, Rhode Island.

Upon our return to Quonset Point we were advised that the Commanding Officer of Otis Air Force Base had called the Admiral

to advise that one of the Bearcats under his command had performed a dangerous slow roll on takeoff. He further indicated

that it was the last plane of the four-plane division. The Admiral’s office called the Carrier Air Group Commander and things

started to happen real fast. It put the Commanding Officer of our squadron in a dilemma when he learned that it was his own

Executive Officer who directed that the rolls be performed. On the following day a closed-door session for all involved was held to determine what course of action should be taken. Commander Hatcher, the Air Group Commander, directed our commanding

officer to prepare some kind of disciplinary action. The least action that could be taken for an officer was to restrict him to his

room for a certain number of days. Everyone involved thought that it would be unfair to penalize only me since three other

pilots were involved. One of the four pilots (LTJG Bill Bache) had submitted a letter of resignation from the Navy. He was to be separated from the Navy shortly. He volunteered to take the rap and was restricted to his room for about a week. He knew

that I was already in a lot more serious trouble for a flight that occurred a couple of days before. This I will call the Bennington College incident.

The Bennington College Incident

My roommate (Frank Posch) had met the sister of a member of our sister squadron (VF-31). She was attending the very

exclusive girl’s college in Bennington, Vermont. At the time it was noted for being the college with the highest tuition in the

United States. Apparently she really impressed Frank. I don’t remember her name but her brother was LTJG George

Sidenberg. Since Frank didn’t have a girl friend he thought it might be a good idea to put on a demonstration over the college. This really surprised me because Frank was a very mature and stable individual who had always played by the rules. Of course, for me, little encouragement was required. He was like my big brother. He was highly respected by all and as far as I was concerned he

couldn’t do anything wrong. We decided that I would lead the flight for a short demonstration over my hometown where my

new girlfriend lived. I would then pass the lead to him during our fifty mile trip north to Bennington. It was a great opportunity

to impress both of our girl friends.

Everything went as planned until we experienced a low overcast after departing the hometown and passing just east of Mount

Greylock. Mount Greylock is over thirty-four hundred feet high and is the highest peak in Massachusetts. At that point, after

some discussion on the radio, he passed the lead over to me since I was more familiar with the area. I was able to fly under

the overcast at about five hundred feet while keeping Mount Greylock off my left wing. Shortly after passing Mount Greylock

the weather cleared. We passed the town of Williamstown and about fifteen miles later while approaching the city of

Bennington I passed the lead back to him. I had no idea where the college was located. Besides, it was his show. I did not

know any of the girls at the college. I then took up a “tail chase position” and followed him at very low altitude as he

proceeded to roll over the school at maximum speed. With the Bearcat at maximum power and RPM I’m sure we were doing

at least four hundred miles per hour. The noise on the ground must have been deafening.

What surprised me was that he turned back and repeated the same maneuvers two more times. I had learned early in the

game from pilots with much more experience that you did not give anyone a chance to read your plane number if you were

doing something naughty at very low altitude. I reluctantly followed him and on the third pass I could see the girls running

out of the dormitories while waving enthusiastically. I had my fingers crossed as we returned to Quonset Point. On the

following day our friend in VF-31 advised us that his sister had called and mentioned that we were probably in big trouble

because the college president made a giant fuss over the fact that classes had been disrupted on two successive days. It was at this point that we learned that George Sidenberg and Lt. “Bud” Bowler had also buzzed the college on the day before our flight.

We waited with great anxiety pending possible actions.

(Continued to the June – 2012 issue)

SOLDIERS OF LEE IN THE CIVIL WAR

Private William Ross – 31st Massachusetts Infantry Regiment – GOLD STAR SOLDIER

The 31st Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was raised in the fall and early winter of 1861 at Camp Seward

in Pittsfield by General Butler. It was at first known as the Western Bay State Regiment and its members were mustered into

service mostly during November and December of 1861. The Regiment fought its battles mostly in Louisiana.

Found in the U. S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles:

Name: William Ross

Residence: South Lee, Massachusetts

Occupation: Papermaker

Age at enlistment: 20

Rank at enlistment: Private

State Served: Massachusetts

Survived the War: No

Service Record: Enlisted in Company I, Massachusetts 31st Infantry Regiment on 28 January 1862. Mustered out on

20 April 1862 at Ship Island, Mississippi.

Birth Date: About 1841

Private Ross served only until April 20th of 1862 when he died of disease in Ship Island, Mississippi. The 31st never lost an

officer to battle but lost 3 officers to disease They lost 52 men in battle but lost an incredible I52 men to disease and accident.

I do not find anything of Private Ross’s family in Lee. He may have been a young man who was born elsewhere and came to

the area for work in one of the area paper mills.

A QUOTE FROM PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN:

“The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

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 $8.00 each or 3 packets for $20.00, 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.

(3.)

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 $8.00, 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 $10.00, plus $2.50 if shipped.

(6.)

Commemorative Mugs;

(a.)

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.

(c.)

A 2010, #3 in our series, mug with a replica of the Lee Library embossed on the side.

(d.)

A 2011, #4 in our series, mug with a replica of the Hyde School embossed on the side.

These mugs can be purchased for $8.00 each plus $3.00 shipping or two mugs for $15.00 and $5.50 shipping, three mugs

for $22.00 and $6.50 shipping or all four mugs for $25.00 and $7.50 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

The Newsletter of the Lee Historical Society is published monthly by our non-profit organization, Our society’s mission is

to foster a greater knowledge and appreciation of the history of the Town of Lee through research, lectures, and exhibits,

and of the acquisition and preservation of material and sites. The overall object and purpose of our society shall be exclusively educational and charitable consistent with 501 (C) (3).

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 Hopkins

Peg Biron

Matt MacNayr

JoAnn Zarnoch

Marion Leach

Robert Kelly

Ethel Noonan

Annette Perilli

Dolores Eckert

Brenda Liebenow

Society Historian – Charlotte Davis

Newsletter Editor – Mal Eckert

Please support our “Business Members” that support us.

The following is a list of the area businesses that are current members of the Lee Historical Society for 2012.

If you would like your business listed here, fill out the membership application on the back page and send in the dues

of $25.00.

Bartini Roofing Company

Ben’s Shop

Charles Flint Antiques

290 Pleasant Street

68 Main Street

52 Housatonic Street

Lee, MA 01238

Lenox, MA 01240

413-243-0570

413-243-0242

413-637-1634

Karen Keenan Gifts & Home

Quality Plus Custodial

Locker Room Sports Pub

69 Main Street

260 Chesnut Street

232 Main Street

Lee, MA 01238

413-243-2689

413-243-2197

413-243-2662

Frank Consolati Ins. Agency

Paperdilly, Inc.

Dresser Hull Company

71 Main Street

74 Main Street

60 Railroad Street

Lee, MA 01238

413-243-0105

413-243-1928

413-243-1400

Robert M. Kelly, Paperhanging

Kelly Funeral Home

The Jonathon Foote 1778 House

South Prospect Street

3 Main Street

1 East Street

Lee, MA 01238

413-243-3489

413-243-0204

413-243-4545

Monk’s Professional Barber Shop

Lee Bank

Devonfield Inn

91 Main Street

75 Park Street

85 Stockbridge Road

Lee, MA 01238

413-243-3341

413-243-0117

413-243-3298

Hunter & Graziano P. C

Terrace Hair Studio

Wilcox Plumbing & Heating

10 Park Place

135 Housatonic Street

P. O. Box 561

Lee, MA 01238

413-243-0789

413-243-1799

413-243-2494

Deely & Deely, Attorneys

Matt Liebenow Jr., Trucking

218 Main Street

P. O. Box 72

Lee, MA 01238

413-243-2720

413-347-7048

Check out TownOfLee.Com for information about Lee, where to eat, places to stay, shopping, etc.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 - $5.00

Senior Membership (one person over the age of 65) - $5.00

Business Membership - $25.00

Individual Membership (one person under the age of 65) - $10.00

Family Membership (All members of one family living at home) - $15.00

Please circle one:

Student Senior Individual Family Business/Corporate

Name_______________________________________________________________________

Mail to:

Address_____________________________________________________________________

Lee Historical Society

City____________________________State__________________Zip____________________

P. O. Box 170

Telephone____________________Email___________________________________________

Lee, MA 01238

Is this a renewal membership?__________

Would you be interested in serving on a committee? __________

Or helping out at one of our fundraisers? ____________________