On September 28, 1853, in the quiet town of Wilbraham, nestled among its hills and wooded paths, a tragedy unfolded in the early autumn that would be spoken of for generations. Charles Brewer, Jr., a well-respected and hardy man of 78 years and eight months, was known for his independence and resilience. He lived just south of the old Methodist meeting house, in a modest home later owned by F. A. Gurney. Despite his age, Brewer remained active and often tended to chores that

Historical records and local traditions indicate that during the mid-18th century, approximately between 1745 and 1780, at least five families in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, held enslaved people in their households. Among them was the Reverend Noah Merrick, who is believed to have had three individuals in servitude, likely inherited by his wife from her family estate in Haddam, Connecticut. David Merrick reportedly had one enslaved person, as did Captain John Shaw. Dr. Samuel F

The storm that swept through the region on October 3rd and 4th, 1869, would soon etch itself into the annals of local memory as one of the most devastating weather events at that time ever recorded in Western Massachusetts. Beginning before dawn on Sunday, torrential rain poured relentlessly through the day and deep into the night. Not until the middle of Monday afternoon did the skies finally begin to clear. For nearly two days, the rain fell not in drops but in torrents, sh

The Connecticut River Valley has been inhabited by humans for at least 6,000 years. Numerous Native American tribes lived throughout the fertile valley before the arrival of European explorers. In 1614, Dutch explorer Adriaen Block became the first European to chart the Connecticut River, sailing as far north as the Enfield Rapids. By 1623, Dutch traders had constructed a fortified trading post at the site of present-day Hartford, Connecticut, known as the "Fort House of Hope

Wesleyan Academy, affiliated with the Methodist Society and now known as Wilbraham & Monson Academy, has been a highly respected private educational institution since its founding in 1817. In 1825, the academy was relocated to the Town of Wilbraham, thanks in large part to the efforts of Reverend Phineas Peck. Reverend Peck, who also supplied the local church, reported that the people of Wilbraham were enthusiastic about the academy’s move and generously offered their support

In the late 17th century, the King of England claimed all large Eastern White Pines as property of the Crown. Surveyors were dispatched to New England’s forests, marking pines of at least 24 inches in diameter with a “broad arrow” — three axe slashes indicating royal ownership. This decree, codified by the Mast Preservation Clause of 1691, applied to all suitable trees within 10 miles of navigable waterways in British territories, though it excluded private lands. Anyone foun

Henry Knox was indeed a significant figure in early American history. Born in Boston in 1750, he played crucial roles in both the Revolutionary War and the early years of the United States government. Henry Knox, a Boston bookseller and artillery expert who would achieve fame in General Washington's army, was painted by Peale at Valley Forge in late May 1778. Knox began his career as a bookseller in Boston but soon became involved in the patriot cause. During the onset of the

When the New England Hot Rod Hall of Fame welcomed its newest inductees during the summer of 2009, one name stood out among the crowd of legends: a man whose racing career had become synonymous with innovation, consistency, and dominance from the early 1960s through the 1970s. Ralph H. Ridgeway, Jr., a longtime resident of Wilbraham, Massachusetts, was the middle of three children born to Gladys and Ralph Ridgeway in Springfield. His father, a self-made businessman who found

Between 1840 and 1860, a wave of apocalyptic fervor swept across North America, fueled by the teachings of William Miller, an American clergyman. Miller is credited with founding the mid-19th-century religious movement known as Millerism. His bold proclamations predicted the imminent Second Coming of Christ, leading many to believe the world would soon come to an end. When his prophecy failed to materialize in 1844, a day that became known as the "Great Disappointment," new m

In early 1946, Carl Alsing, the owner of the land where a rock shelter stood in Wilbraham, contacted the Springfield Museum of Natural History to report a discovery on his property. He believed that what had been uncovered beneath a rocky overhang might be Native American remains. Eager to see the site properly investigated, Alsing welcomed the involvement of any qualified group willing to undertake a thorough exploration. The museum’s Mrs. Johnson relayed this information to

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the United States experienced an unprecedented terrorist attack. Nineteen men associated with the extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airliners. Their goal was to use the planes as weapons against symbolic American landmarks. At 8:46 a.m., the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Seventeen minutes later, a second plane hit the South Tower, confirming that the country was under attack

The Glendale neighborhood has always held a special place in the history of the Town of Wilbraham, even before Reverend Haskell gave it the name Glendale in 1867. Primarily agricultural, the area was also home to several small granite quarries operated by local family farms. Many of the homes in this region used locally sourced granite for their foundations, reflecting the industrious spirit of its early residents. Glendale Church, circa 1914 (Wilbraham Public Library) Glenda

At the start of the American Revolution, the British recognized the strategic significance of controlling the water route connecting Lake Champlain, Lake George, and the Hudson River. They believed gaining control of this route would sever communication and supply lines between the northern and southern colonies, weakening the rebellion. Trouble had primarily brewed in New England, so the British aimed to quell the rebellion there, expecting the rest of the colonies to follow

Around 1850, persistent rumors circulated in numerous New England towns suggesting that portions of "Captain Kidd's gold" lay buried within their borders. In Wilbraham during this era, one particular individual harbored a firm belief or perhaps a fantastical dream that some of this legendary treasure was concealed atop our local mountain. Specifically, he envisioned its presence within an ancient cellar hole situated on the eastern slope of Ridge Road, just north of the prese

Old houses often feature architectural elements with evocative names, and one such feature is the "coffin door." Most commonly associated with 18th- and early 19th-century homes in New England, this exterior door is typically positioned at the corner of a side wall, leading directly into the parlor rather than through an entrance hall. Also referred to as a death door, end door, corner door, or funeral door, it reflects traditions and practical design considerations. Although

Timber framers historically developed various marking and matching systems to assemble structures, with Roman numerals being the most commonly used, although other methods existed. As European carpenters migrated to the New World, they brought these techniques, leaving behind examples in 17th and 18th-century roof timbers along the East Coast. These markings, known as "marriage marks" or "carpenter's marks," were crucial for identifying how different pieces fit together, ofte

Over centuries, early New England farmers meticulously stacked rocks they unearthed while tending their land. Today, many of these stone walls still scatter Wilbraham and Hampden, a testament to the region's enduring history. Constructed primarily between 1750 and 1850 by European settlers, these walls served to clear fields for farming. Originally seen as nuisances in fertile soil, rocks were removed and repurposed into boundary markers and home foundations. The stone supply

In 1941, as the United States faced the growing threat of World War II, the Wilbraham Fire Department responded to the escalating national emergency with foresight and determination. Recognizing the potential for wartime crises, the department established the Auxiliary Fire Department to strengthen the town's emergency preparedness. This newly formed unit is comprised of twenty-three dedicated volunteers who are trained and equipped to assist the main fire department with fir

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 deeper into the history of my beloved hometown, North Wilbraham, Collins Depot, something both startling and comforting becomes clear: I am now a part of that history. Growing up there in the '60s, '70s, and '80s, I was unknowingly leaving my own unique imprint on the rich, ever-evolving story of its past. Our little corner of North Wilbrah

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the towns located along the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts were a unique region within the Bay Colony. While these towns were politically part of Massachusetts, they were separated from Boston by over 80 miles of sparsely populated hill country. Due to the distance and rugged terrain, the Massachusetts River towns had closer ties to Connecticut. From the beginning of settlement, family ties, trade, and communication bound the se