"Lovely Old Church Deteriorating," Jan. 1954 article on the South Worthington Church
Springfield Union article dated Jan 27, 1954 about deteriorating conditions at the Methodist Church in South Worthington. It mentions the 1927 formation of the South Worthington Church Building Association. Worthington names mentioned: Arthur Coddings, Rev. and Mrs. James Burke, C. Byron Smith, Mr. and Mrs. william Sanderson, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Seederholm (sic, it should be Cederholm), Arthur Capen, Mr. and Mrs. William Barton, Mrs. Bell Brewster. Various members of the Conwell family and people from other communities mentioned as well. Also photograph of the church in the snow.
Electronic file. Original article 4.25 x 12 in
7 black and white photos showing Art (A. Q. ) Smith's (1897-1986) train layout.
7 black and white snapshot images. AQ Smith's model train setup. One image dated 1955. One shows Smith working on his train setup.
Black and white photograph taken in summer of Ashmore Lodge/Creelman, now (2019) owned by Robert and Sandy Epperly. The photograph shows a view of the side porch which has since been enclosed with louvered glass.
Congregational church annual meeting, town officer nominations, 1928
Two anewspaper articles, January 1928. 'Church Has Annual Meeting'. Names include: Mrs. James H. Burckes, Mrs. Eugene Stevens, Miss Bessie A. F. Ames, Rev. James H. Burckes, Mrs. Ernest Thayer, Miss Susan Rice, deacon Clyde Jones, Mrs. Franklin Burr, Katherine McD Rice; Arthur G. Capen, Mrs. Leland Cole, Miss N. S. Heacock, Mrs. Nima Conwell Tuttle, Miss Josephie Hewitt, Mrs. Horace Cole, Miss Elsie V. Bartlett, Mrs. Charles Kilbourn, Mrs. Eben Shaw. Russell H. Conwell's 'little church' mentioned. Conwell Sunday service established. 'Town Officers Nominated' names include Lou C. Sweet, Franklin H. Burr, Henry Snyder, Charles M. Cudworth, Aldon Cady, Fordyce Knapp, Anna A. Cole, Imogene Shaw Cole, John Frissell, Harry W. Hollison, Wells Magargal, and Clement F. Burr. Also mentions Women's Benevolent Society, Mrs. Winfield Drake, and Mrs. T. C. Martin.
Springfield Republican (presumed, not cited)
Daniel Okrent (left) and Charles Raymond (Ray) Magargal Town Meeting: 1987
Elsie V. Bartlett travel diary 1945-1950
This diary dates from 1945-50. It is a travel log written by Elsie V. Bartlett. It is black leather bound with the words 'Note Book' embossed on front cover.
John Jarvis feeding large flock of turkeys
John Jarvis feeding large flock of turkeys on property on Old Post Road. Black and white snapshot.
Round Barn, ca. 1920, Worthington Corners, built by Noyes and John Bartlett
Black and white glossy photograph of Round Barn on Old North Road. Barn owned by John and Noyes Bartlett; it was located on the now Shaw property and according to John and Noyes was torn down in 1925 . There are two smaller versions of this barn in the same envelope (M1 and M2). On the back of one of the copies: 'Built by John and Noyes Barltett about 1892. This building was a Worthington landmark until it was torn down in 1925 and sold to Homer Frissell of Peru. Stanchions for cows & stalls for horses were arranged in a circle on the first floor. Hay was brought in over the ramp to a sort of gallery on the second floor from were it was lowered to the center area of the floor & there fed to the stock.'
Scan only of blue-toned photograph, postally used. On front: 'Old Stone Chimney, Mt. Parnassus, Worthington, Massa.'No publisher. Postmarked Ringville, Aug 12, 1908. To Miss Mabel Barney, Middlefield, Mass. Mt. Parnassus does not appear on any Worthington maps, but it was apparently located on the road heading into what is now Fox Den from "Parker Four Corners," at the intersection of West Street and Almon Johnson roads. The site is at a high point on the right (north) side of the road, about 300 yards in. Barely any evidence of a home site remains. The same chimney appears in the publication The Western Hampshire Highlands Massachusetts, published by the Western Hampshire Board of Trade in 1912. This publication places Mt. Parnassus near West Street, south of Curtis Road, and describes the site as "the windiest spot in town," with panoramic views. The site described above would have had views in all directions when the forests were cleared. Also corroborating the location is that Ben Brown remembers a very large cellar hole at this location in the 1970s. This hole was filled in by a logging company before the state acquired the land. The 1873 map shows no home sites at this location, so the chimney might have been built by the original purchaser of the land, whose name was Partridge, according to Ben Brown.
'225th Birthday Celebration' poster, 1993
Poster announcing events for the 225th birthday celebration of the town. Events included: parade from the fire house, dedication of memorial plaques in honor or Snyder/Rolland and Packard bequests, Elm tree planting ceremony at library to honor Lafayette Elm, Band Concert by 'Thunder Mountain' Bluegrass, winners of Town Essay Contest on what makes Worthington special, a community picnic. Poster design by Scott Heyl.
'Anne Rausch, Artist' by Elizabeth Payne, 1987
Article in the Fall 1987 Stone Walls magazine by Elizabeth Payne, titled 'Anne Rausch, Artist.' Describes the background of the artist, with photograph of her painting and two examples of her work.
Scan only of black and white real photo postcard showing man leaning on bridge, looking at stream? wood and metal bridge. On front: 'Centerbridge' Worthington Mass.. Publisdher: Thrasher Post Card Co., Mt. Clemens, Mich. and Worthington, Mass. Postally used. Postmarked South Worthington, Jul 20, 1910. Affressed to Mrs. S. W. Miles, Westfield, Mass. Message: 'I want Sam to make me a big letter 'J' about 2 in. wide. I want to embroider some stockings for the boys. Send it as soon as possible. Did two washings and now going to do two today. It was awful hot here yesterday. How is Dorothy? July 25, 10. Libbeon.' Currently in collection of Gary Roy.
'Chester Ripley', One of W. G. Rice's Horses
Black and white photograph. Written on back: 'Chester Ripley - 1904 - May - H. L. P. R' . Also written: 'One of W. G. Rice's horses' . Mounted on gray cardboard.
Editorial in the September 29, 2000, Hampshire Gazette opposing fine of $1000 issued against Highway Superintendent Ernest (Ernie) Nugent, for purchasing a woodchipper for the town from his brother Albert (Bert) Nugent, Jr. in 1998. Fine was issued by the state Ethics Commission.
'Cold Spring Farm and Its People,' Connie Dorrington, 1988
Article from Stonewalls (Winter, 1988-1989): 'Cold Spring Farm and Its People, taken from an account by Effie Scott Burkis, descendant of John Kelly' by Connie L. B. Dorrington. The former Kelly farm is located 200 Scott Road and was Dorrington's home at the time this was written.
Sepia postcard titled: 'Elmsted, Worthington, Mass. #31.' Written on bottom is "J. Ross Stevenson home." On back, along left side: Thrasher Post Card Co., Mt. Clemens, Mich. and Worthington, Mass.' Cyko stamp box. This home is known in 'Forty Houses' as the Buck place and, after restoration, is currently the Four Corners Farm run by the Shaw family.
'Historic Trail Proposed,' Lafayette's Route close to Rt. 143
Photocopy of multiple newspaper articles on the origins of the Lafayette Trail. Scott Heyl was involved in this. Article written by Joan Livingston; date and newspaper not identified. Includes mention of General Lafayette and his conditions during his march.
'Starkweather Place,' drawing' by Guy Bartlett, 1898
Color pastel and pencil drawing of 'the Starkweather Place,' 1898, by Guy Bartlett (1882-1970). Pictured are farmhouses, barns, mountain, stone wall. It is in a frame that is too large for its size. Pencil lines indicate size to be cut. Hanging in the main room of the Historical Society