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Jan 139 min read
The Gang of "01067"
I'm sure we were just one of many neighborhoods in the old postal zip code of "01067" with kids who roamed its many streets, but as I dig...
Jan 26 min read
Masters of Stone and Time: Chronicles of the Pioneering Gravestone Artisans
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the towns located along the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts were a unique region within...
Dec 1, 20246 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 18, 202410 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 23, 20249 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 29, 20247 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 29, 20242 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 31, 20242 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 25, 20243 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 7, 202462 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 7, 202444 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 5, 20242 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 28, 20245 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 16, 20245 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 30, 20245 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 29, 20246 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...
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