Historical Tidbits | Wilbraham Tidbits

Dec 16 min read

The Historic Flood of 1955

In August 1955, within just over a week, two hurricanes passed through Southern New England, causing devastating flooding across much of...

Nov 1810 min read

Adams Cemetery Walking Tour

Credit for creating this tour and its documentation must go to Jim Clark, Past Chairman of the Wilbraham Historical Commission, the...

Oct 239 min read

New England Funeral Traditions in the 18th Century

In 1700, English law changed to allow everyone, regardless of status, to be buried in a coffin. Before this, coffins were typically...

Sep 297 min read

Letters Through Wilbraham: Tracing the Pioneering Postal Routes

The Boston Post Road, also known as the Upper Post Road, stands as the pioneering postal route linking Boston and New York, traversing...

Aug 292 min read

What Lies Beneath Adams Cemetery?

Well besides the obvious, we are going to talk about soil. Adams Cemetery is situated within the Connecticut Valley Lowland, a region...

Jul 312 min read

The Unspeakable Murder in the Hollow of Wilbraham Mountains.

The chilling events of Tuesday, July 26, 1881, on Hampden Road (Hollow Road) in Wilbraham cast a dark shadow over the small community....

Jun 253 min read

Is it Possible that the Beeline March of 1775 came through Wilbraham?

In June 1775, responding to the urgent call for aid from George Washington's besieged forces in Boston, Massachusetts, the Continental...

Jun 762 min read

The George M. Kingdon Fire Company, Part II

By Retired Fire Chief David F. Bourcier The Bicentennial, Continuing Growth and Advancements: In 1963, the Town of Wilbraham marked its...

Jun 744 min read

The George M. Kingdon Fire Company, Part I

By Retired Fire Chief David F. Bourcier Acknowledgments: Growing up near the North Wilbraham Fire Station, I was captivated by the rich...

Jun 52 min read

A Remarkable Journey through History

On a beautiful winter day, my wife Kelley and I set out to explore the remnants of an old sawmill that once stood on Big Brook in the...

May 285 min read

Wilbraham's Gold-Headed Boston Post Cane

The Boston Post Cane, introduced in 1909, was a unique tradition sent to the selectmen of 700 towns across Massachusetts, New Hampshire,...

Apr 165 min read

Victory's Ascent: The 1908 Wilbraham Mountain Challenge

On Friday, September 11, 1908, the small town of Wilbraham buzzed with excitement as the sun rose over the mountains, casting a golden...

Mar 305 min read

The Mysterious Apotropaic Marks that can be found anywhere

In the quaint town of Wilbraham, nestled within historic houses that stand as silent witnesses to centuries past, mysterious apotropaic...

Feb 296 min read

Whispers of Liberty, Wilbraham and Hampden's Connection to the Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party was not solely a response to a tax on tea but was deeply rooted in broader political and economic issues. The Tea...

Dec 29, 20233 min read

The legend of Kibbe's shirt

The Kibbe family name goes way back in time. In 1743, Israel Kibbe of Somers, Connecticut purchased a large tract of land near the...

Nov 30, 20237 min read

The First Church of the Outward Commons on Springfield Mountain

The land comprising the present towns of Ludlow, Wilbraham, and Hampden was originally known as the Outward Commons of Springfield,...

Sep 29, 20233 min read

The Wilbraham Aqueduct Company

In the January session of 1796, the Senate and House of Representatives in the General Court assembled and granted the act to incorporate...

Aug 30, 20234 min read

Abraham Avery III and his devious saddle.

Abraham Avery III moved to Wilbraham from the Montville Connecticut area, sometime in the early 1800s. The home he lived in Wilbraham was...

Jul 29, 202324 min read

Historical Tidbits, did you know...

Did you know that Wilbraham almost had an airport? In 1957 Waldemar Hagerman was granted a variance under the Zoning By-Law to establish...

Jun 29, 20236 min read

The Grace Chapel Parish of Collins Depot

As we learn the history of this small church, we have to understand the area in which this church is located. Will discuss the colonial...