Newsletter-Jan-2011

Lee Historical Society

Newsletter

Vol. 8, No. 1

January 2011

Lee Historical Society, Inc.

P. O. Box 170

Lee, MA 01238

www.leehistoricsociety.homestead.com

We hope that everyone had a great holiday experience and now can settle down for the rest of the cold weather that is ahead of us. How about that snow storm? Wasn’t that something? Today it is much easier to get over the storm and back to everyday business than it was a few years ago. A storm like the one we had on the day after Christmas would cause a lot of problems and sore backs. Today, many homeowners have snow blowers or have someone plow them out. When I was a little kid, I can remember walking in snow up to my waist………..but, of course. I was only about three feet tall back then! We would get out of school, run home and grab our sled and head for the biggest hill that we could find and slide until dark.

How about some stories on how you spent your snow time? Everybody has a sliding, skating or winter story. How about sharing them with the members? Anybody ever break bones, wreck their new sled by hitting a tree or rock or go through some thin ice while skating?

Our December meeting was held on December 9th in the cafeteria of the Senior Center. A short business meeting was held and then adjourned so that the attending people could enjoy some Christmas refreshments and holiday conversation. We would like to thank all the members who brought the delicious, but not too nutritious goodies. We especially thank those who brought food items for the local food pantry. During the business part of our meeting the members discussed possible projects for the coming year and created the new position of Collections Manager, and named Marion Leach to that post. Marion has been in charge of logging in new articles and items to our collection for quite a few months and has now earned an official title.

Our January Meeting will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at the cafeteria in the Senior Center at Crossways Village starting at 6:30 p.m. It will strictly be a business meeting for Board members, officers, committee members and interested members. We will be brainstorming for new ideas for new programs, looking for speakers and ideas for our Program Meetings and new ways to put some money in our treasury as we try to find a “home” for our society. If anyone has an idea and can’t attend a meeting let us know by email or write us a note. We are only as strong as our members make us!

The Lee Historical Society would like to express condolences to the family of Board of Director Robert Kelly and the entire Kelly and Tyer family on the passing of Mrs. Kelly’s mother, Francis A. Tyer on January 2.

The Milk Truck Run

My earliest memories of Tyringham are clear and vivid, as if it were just yesterday. Most weekends, school vacations and the summers of my young years under the age of ten were happily spent either at my grandparent’s farm, where Clifford, Abbie and my Aunt Carolyn lived, or at the home of my great-aunts, Lena Garfield and Blanche Rouse, across from the Cobble and Hop Brook. This house was later left to Carolyn about forty years ago, and where she spent the rest of her life.

When at the farm, I always rode the milk truck every day from Tyringham to the Pittsfield Milk Exchange with my Aunt Carolyn. This adventure never met with my mother’s approval, as she had no faith in Carolyn’s driving expertise nor in her common sense, so I always had to “duck down” in the cab while driving through Lee and at various local stops. Carolyn, of course, maintained a running conversation from the time we left the farm driveway in the early morning hours throughout the entire round trip. She was always dressed in the most outlandish outfit, which was totally fascinating to me, and much to my mother’s dismay, one which I frequently tried to emulate.

Along the route we dropped off the glass quart bottles of the raw milk with the thick cream topping and fresh eggs to the Great-Aunts, Nort and Eleanor Canon, May and Henry Mougin, my maternal grandparents in Lee, and, of course, at our house on Prospect Street. Once in Pittsfield, we backed up to the loading dock of the Exchange with our rich treasure of raw milk in the large galvanized cans along with many other farmers from throughout the County. There, I got my hair ruffled, my cheeks pinched, received an endless supply of Chicklets and heard my first off-colored jokes courtesy of the other drivers, all of whom Carolyn knew on a first name basis. She was the only woman driver and was just “one of the boys”. She would joke, tease and bully all of them around and tell one or more of them on many an occasion to “do us all a favor and take a hot bath once in a while” or “don’t you dare spit that juice anywhere near my truck!”

Carolyn was privy to most of their personal histories and would relate these “epics” to my young ears on the way home, unexpurgated and most certainly, greatly embellished. You might say I received some of my higher learning from my slightly zany dear aunt during those milk runs. We always had an ample supply of “unauthorized treats” in the truck, which kept my sugar energy level on a constant high and probably led considerably to the early demise of my teeth. The cab of the truck never seemed to have heat in the winter, so Carolyn maintained a large thermos of extra-rich cocoa on board, complete with bullet-hard marshmallows, of unknown duration, in the glove compartment.

We waved, tooted, stopped and chatted with all sorts of folks, both familiar and strange, along the way, even at stop signs and red lights. Whenever we got “pulled over” by the state police on the Pittsfield-Lenox Road (which was often) for “weaving”, “driving on the shoulder” or “exceeding the limit”, Carolyn could always outtalk the officer and convince him of her innocence. We never received a ticket…

We filled up all of the family members’ water bottles at the spring on the Tyringham Road home and arrived back in town with stories to tell and news to relate to the old great-aunts, who clucked and shook their heads in mock disapproval, but hung on to every word.

Those were the days….

Christina Canon Craighead

The above article was sent to us by Christina Canon Craighead, who graduated from Lee High School in 1957 as Christina Canon, the daughter of Garfield and Dolly Mougin Canon. We thank her for sharing her story with us and certainly agree with her………Those were the days!!

If you have a story or article about Lee that you would like to see printed, send it to us. Maybe you have a question about Lee that you would like answered or an ancestor that you are searching for, we might be able to help. Let us also know if there is a certain subject that you would be interested in us writing about. We are all interested in learning about the history of our little town.

Many members have already sent in their membership dues for 2011 and we thank them for sending them in early. We are now asking members that are due for renewal to, please, follow suit and send in your membership fees for 2011. If we do not hear from you by February, we will drop you a reminder, which many members have asked us to do. If you are not sure if your membership is going to expire, contact us and we will look it up for you.

Recollections VIII

By U. S. Navy Retired Commander Vic Mottarella,

A native of Lee (Continued from the December -10 issue)

The Executive Officer was a small blond Texan by the name of Willie Williams who had flown in the war. While I had great respect for the Skipper I developed a strong dislike for the Executive Officer. He reminded me of a cantankerous, obstinate, mean spirited individual who took great pleasure in satisfying his prejudices. It became apparent to me that he didn’t like Italians because he seemed to show distain for both John and I and seemed to harass us continuously. At the time a good portion of Texans looked down on the Mexican population. I could only assume that Williams associated Italians with Mexicans. While I knew I was far from perfect, particularly when carrying out administrative assignments, he always seemed to find something wrong with whatever situation I might be in. I would compare him to a nagging wife of which I have only read about.

Gene Berger was the Administrative Officer of the squadron and I was his assistant during my early days in the squadron. I ended up doing a lot of boring and unimportant tasks such as making corrections and additions to various documents that were being continuously promulgated by the Navy Department. At that point in my career it was almost more than I could handle. He was all business and seemed that he assigned more importance to his administrative duties than his flying. At that time in my career any priority that surpassed flying was an enigma to me. I never knew much about Gene’s flying skills because I hardly ever flew with him but he was a decent sort of guy and treated me fairly. I wanted to fly and not do paper work because I loved flying and hated paper work. Both Gene and George Veiling were later killed in accidents while flying in the Pacific. George was the commanding officer of an A4 Skyhawk squadron and was killed as a result of a cold catapult shot while being launched at night. I believe Gene was killed in a twin-engine anti-submarine aircraft while flying from a carrier.

“Whiskey Mason” was a Senior Lieutenant and a Naval Academy graduate. Don’t ask me where he got the name but I surmise it had something to do with drinking. Back in those days heavy drinking seemed to be a sign of manhood especially among fighter pilots. I did not measure up in that respect. At the beginning I felt that “Whiskey” and some other Senior Lieutenants, especially the Naval Academy Graduates, seemed to look down at us junior Ensigns. We lowly Ensigns called the Naval Academy types “ring knockers” behind their backs, of course. Most of them wore graduation rings from the Naval Academy. Later, I noticed that most of them became very friendly and I felt that I had earned their respect due to my flying skills. Sadly “Whiskey Mason” was killed in a Corsair about a year after he left the squadron while instructing cadets at Corpus Christi.

Fred Carment was an Ensign. Although his hair had turned prematurely gray he must have been at least a couple of years older than John and I because he had some college under his belt. The event that I remember most about him was that he refused to ride to New York with me because I apparently had scared him on several previous trips. We both had girlfriends in the New York area. Later, Fred ended up crashing on the USS Kearsarge in a Bearcat. Fred Carment, not an Annapolis graduate, finished his naval career as a Captain, which seemed to show that he had the “Right Stuff”. We keep in touch via e-mail. He still mentions the notorious rides to New York.

One of the most colorful pilots was Senior Lieutenant Bob Hoppe. He was an excellent pilot and had a great sense of humor. He was about twenty-seven years old and was the Operations Officer (third in command). Bob had considerable combat experience during the war. He was a great party guy but had a little too much one night and had a mishap when driving home following a gala event. He flipped his car over but neither he nor his wife was injured. Bob later barely survived a midair collision when flying in my Bearcat that had Ensign V. G. Mottarella printed in big letters on its side. At the time we were participating in a fleet exercise while flying from the carrier Kearsarge near Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The plane now sits on the bottom of the Caribbean. I was flying at the same time but in another Bearcat. Bob and I were to meet again about twelve years later. He was on the Admirals inspection team when I was a Jet Training Officer at NAS South Weymouth, Mass. He was the inspection officer for my unit. He awarded me an outstanding – don’t know if I really earned it or if it was because of our previous acquaintance.

Leo Krupp, a Lt. Junior Grade fellow, who had fought in the carrier war, was a great pilot and a nice guy. He too was from Toledo. Later on he became my section leader and we became quite close. He and his wife (Dorothy) would occasionally invite John and I to his house for spaghetti dinner. He did the cooking and had some kind of a contest going with someone from our sister squadron (VF-3) as to whom was the best Italian cook. Votolato and I served as judges. Leo later became a test pilot and after retiring from the Navy worked for an aerospace company and appeared several times on national television with Walter Cronkite during several Saturn moon launches. Leo died of leukemia about five years ago.

Jack Armstrong was a red headed Senior Lieutenant who became my division leader. Jack had been a Blimp pilot during the war and somehow got himself into fighters. I never thought he was a particularly good pilot but he treated me well and usually took my side in any disputes that might develop. The fourth fellow in our division was Ensign Davidenas. He was of Greek descent and was Armstrong’s wingman. Jack, Dave, Leo and I formed a division and served together as a unit during a couple of foreign cruises on two different carriers. Ensign Jim Petty was a Southerner from Tennessee. For some reason he seemed to be put in an even lower category than John and I by the Executive Officer and others.

Frank Posch was the oldest Ensign in the Squadron. He was about thirty years old and was almost bald. He had been an enlisted man and earned a selection to the Aviation Cadet Program. Having been an Aviation Machinist Mate he was assigned as the Assistant Maintenance Officer. He did an outstanding job in this respect and his knowledge was frequently sought out by most of the pilots. We later became roommates and good friends. He was the most mature and straight-laced Ensign in the squadron but he went astray on one occasion when flying with me. I will describe this event in detail later. He attended our wedding as an usher on August 30, 1950.

Dick Linnekin was a Senior Lieutenant and a Naval Academy graduate. He had served in the fleet earlier in the war and went through the flight-training program at the same time as John and I. Of the “ring knockers” I would have to say that he was the quietest and most courteous of the group. I only flew with him a few times and don’t remember anything in particular about his flying. I had almost completely forgotten about him until about ten years ago when a friend approached me and mentioned a book written by Linnekin in which he referred to Votolato and me several times. The name of the book was “Eighty Knots to Mach 2 – Forty Five Years in the Cockpit”. One chapter was entirely devoted to VBF-3 covering the time that John and I were in the squadron. It flattered me that he remembered so much about me forty years after the fact. At the time I was quite mischievous both on the ground and in the air. While certain stunts were not overlooked I was particularly interested in a sentence in which he referred to me as “a cool head and a precociously good pilot”. I didn’t even know what that long word meant. After looking it up it pleased me to no end. He mentioned both John and I individually and also as a couple of Italian pals who always hung out together. He did not overlook Votolato’s cow incident as well as his crash on the USS Kearsarge.

Lastly, I mention Lieutenant Junior Grade Jim Dillingham. During the fall of 1947 the squadron was assigned two Hellcats. These were not rigged as fighters but instead were fitted with sophisticated photographic cameras. Dillingham and I were selected as the photo pilots. This was in addition to our normal Bearcat duties. He served as my section leader but only when flying the Hellcats. This meant that we would be flying both the Hellcat and the Bearcat off the carrier and sometimes on the same day. Dillingham was a pretty nice guy when sober but I have seen him become quite mean and boisterous when drinking and he liked to drink. Will mention more about him later.

(Continued to the February –11 issue)

RESEARCH HELP NEEDED:

My 2nd great-grandfather and grandmother George O. Rummell and Jane E. Little were married in Lee on July 2, 1846 and lived in Lee for several years. Their first five children were born in Lee. I suspect, although I have no proof as yet, that she was involved in the textile mills. He was a blacksmith.

Since he is recorded as being born in Dalton and she in Lenox (and in some records in Lee) I am making plans to come to Lee in 2011 to do some research on their early lives. I would be most appreciative if anyone has any information that would assist me in my genealogical research into their lives. I believe the connection to the Little family might be the best avenue for anyone in Lee who might have helpful information.

Thank you.

Jane Preston

1 Bartlett's Reach

Amesbury MA 01913

978-273-9986

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.

(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 $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.

(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.

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/2011

Josh Hall/2011

Peg Biron/2011

Matt MacNayr/2011

JoAnn Zarnoch/2012

Maria Hopkins/2012

Robert Kelly/2012

Ethel Noonan/2013

Annette Perilli/2013

Dolores 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 Company

Ben’s Shop

Charles Flint Antiques

290 Pleasant Street

68 Main Street

52 Housatonic Street

Lee, MA 01238

Lenox, MA 01240

Greylock Federal Union

Quality Plus

L. V. Toole Insurance Agency

47 Main Street

260 Chestnut Street

195 Main Street

Lee, MA 01238

Sullivan Station Restaurant

Paperdilly, Inc.

Dresser Hull Company

Railroad Street

74 Main Street

60 Railroad Street

Lee, MA 01238

Robert M. Kelly, Paperhanging

Kelly Funeral Home

The Jonathon Foote 1778 House

South Prospect Street

3 Main Street

1 East Street

Lee, MA 01238

Morgan House Restaurant & Pub

Lee Bank

Devonfield Inn

33 Main Street

75 Park Street

85 Stockbridge Road

Lee, MA 01238

Hunter & Graziano P. C.

Myron’s Call

Locker Room Sports Pub

10 Park Place

49 Fuller Street

232 Main Street

Lee, MA 01238

Monk’s Professional Barber Shop

Frank Consolati Ins. Agency

91 Main Street

71 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 - $5.00

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_______________________________________________________________________

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City____________________________State__________________Zip____________________

Telephone____________________Email___________________________________________

Is this a renewal membership?__________

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Or helping out at one of our fundraisers? ____________________