In August 1955, within just over a week, two hurricanes passed through Southern New England, causing devastating flooding across much of the region. The first, Hurricane Connie, arrived on August 11 and 12, delivering 4 to 6 inches of rainfall. This heavy rain saturated the ground and raised river and reservoir levels to above normal, setting the stage for even worse flooding. Only a week later, Hurricane Diane struck, dealing a massive blow to New England. Rainfall from Dian

Credit for creating this tour and its documentation must go to Jim Clark, Past Chairman of the Wilbraham Historical Commission, the contributing authors, and Charles Merrick, editor of The History of Wilbraham, published in 1964. This walking tour is dedicated to the memory of Jim Clark, who died in February 1994. The village set aside this land for the Burying Ground in 1736, at the foot of a hill that would later lead to the site of the future Meeting House. The first recor

In 1700, English law changed to allow everyone, regardless of status, to be buried in a coffin. Before this, coffins were typically reserved for the wealthy, while poorer individuals were usually wrapped in a shroud and laid directly in the ground. The only coffin they might encounter was the "parish coffin," a communal vessel used to transport the deceased to their burial place. This practice extended to the British American Colonies, whereby in 1704, coffins were widely ado

The Boston Post Road, also known as the Upper Post Road, stands as the pioneering postal route linking Boston and New York, traversing through Wilbraham. It represents a significant historical artery alongside two other notable routes: the Lower Post Road and the Middle Post Road. Over time, segments of these pivotal postal roads evolved into prominent trails and pathways, laying the groundwork for several U.S. and interstate routes. The Upper Post Road, the eldest among the

Well, besides the obvious, we are going to talk about soil. Adams Cemetery is situated within the Connecticut Valley Lowland, a region shaped by geological events spanning tens of thousands of years. Approximately 70,000 years ago, as ice and snow accumulated across New England, it exceeded the rate of summer melting. Over time, this ice thickened to over a mile in depth, reshaping the landscape beneath it. The glacier, at its peak around 35,000 years ago, extended across Mas

The chilling events of Tuesday, July 26, 1881, on Hampden Road (Hollow Road) in Wilbraham cast a dark shadow over the small community. The lifeless body of Rueben S. Cadwell, a 73-year-old town pauper residing with Cyrus Day of Monson, was discovered the following Wednesday evening by two men passing through a nearby pasture. Cadwell, known for undertaking side jobs for Mr. Day, met a gruesome end. His face and head bore brutal bruising, while the marks of strangulation on hi

In June 1775, responding to the urgent call for aid from George Washington's besieged forces in Boston, Massachusetts, the Continental Congress took decisive action, ordering the formation of two companies of Virginia riflemen. Recognizing the importance of capable leadership, Washington handpicked Hugh Stephenson and Daniel Morgan to command these vital units. Stephenson set about raising his company in the Shepherdstown area, while Morgan undertook the same task in Winchest

By Retired Fire Chief David F. Bourcier 1963 George M. Kingdon Fire Company, W.F.D. Headquarters The Bicentennial, Continuing Growth and Advancements: In 1963, the Town of Wilbraham marked its Bicentennial amidst a time of remarkable growth. The community was experiencing a significant surge in population, prompting various departments, including the fire department, to seek additional personnel to meet the increasing demands. Despite these challenges, the town remained commi

By Retired Fire Chief David F. Bourcier                              The George M. Kingdon Fire Company 1919             Acknowledgments: Growing up near the North Wilbraham Fire Station, I was captivated by the rich history and dedication of the organization. The men and women of this department have made significant contributions both to the emergency service and to the community they serve. Within these pages, the remarkable accomplishments of this fire department, often p

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 mountains of Wilbraham. Built by Moses Hancock in the 1800s, this sawmill was an intriguing piece of local history we were eager to uncover. We started our journey on the old Third Road, where Moses himself had once lived. The area was lined with ancient stone walls, a testament to the early farming life of this community. Some majestic trees h

The Boston Post Cane, introduced in 1909, was a unique tradition sent to the selectmen of 700 towns across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island. Its purpose was to honor the oldest citizens in each community. This iconic cane was the brainchild of Edwin Grozier, the publisher of the Boston Post, who was inspired by the promotional stunts of his former employer, Joseph Pulitzer. The canes, crafted from ebony imported from the Congo in Africa and adorned with a

On Friday, September 11, 1908, the small town of Wilbraham buzzed with excitement as the sun rose over the mountains, casting a golden hue on the rolling hills that framed the horizon. The air was electric with anticipation as townsfolk and visitors alike gathered along Monson Road, eagerly awaiting the historic hill climb race about to unfold. Organized under the auspices of the prestigious Springfield Automobile Club and proudly sponsored by the Automobile Club of Massachus

In the quaint town of Wilbraham, nestled within historic houses that stand as silent witnesses to centuries past, mysterious apotropaic marks (from Greek  apotrepein  "to ward off") are symbols or patterns scratched into a building or other objects to keep witches out through apotropaic magic. These symbols grace walls, doors, and attic beams alike. Known by many names, one common mark—hexafoil, witch mark, six-petaled rosettes, or six-lobed stars—these enigmatic daisy wheels

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 Act of 1773, which imposed taxes on tea and granted the East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies, was perceived by the colonists as an infringement on their rights and a consolidation of British control. The protest was fueled by a combination of factors, including the resentment of taxation without representation, t

The Kibbe family name goes way back in time. In 1743, Israel Kibbe of Somers, Connecticut, purchased a large tract of land near the southwest corner of the precinct, which today would be in Hampden. In 1764, he sold this land, along with more land, to his son Gideon Kibbe. From this point on, the Kibbe family grew and settled all over these parts. Many generations later, the family lives on today in this area. The first settlers of the Outward Commons settled in 1731 in what

The land comprising the present towns of Ludlow, Wilbraham, and Hampden was originally known as the Outward Commons of Springfield, Springfield Mountain, or the Mountains. Nathaniel Hitchcock, with his family in 1731, settled on the west side of West Road, currently 603 Main Street, Wilbraham. By 1740 twenty-five other families had also settled here. They all attended religious services at the First Church in Springfield which was about nine miles from their homes. On January

In the January session of 1796, the Senate and House of Representatives in the General Court assembled and granted the act to incorporate a company by the name of Aqueduct in Wilbraham. The grantees were Samuel Fisk Merrick, Gideon Burt, Jonathan Merrick, Solomon Warriner, Jason Chapin, Joel Lyman, James Hammon, Moses Warriner Junr, Moses Burt, William Brewer, Nathan Ainsworth, John Adams, Augustus Sisson, all of Wilbraham in the County of Hampshire. The purpose of this ventu

Abraham Avery III moved to Wilbraham from the Montville, Connecticut area sometime in the early 1800s. The home he lived in, Wilbraham, was located at 239 Main Street. This home was built circa 1785, and it is unknown who lived in that house before Abraham. His first wife, Elizabeth Bliss Avery, was from Wilbraham and was born on January 29, 1788. Her father was Abel Bliss Jr., and her grandfather, Abel Bliss, the one who built his home taller than that of the Meeting House.

Did you know that Wilbraham almost had an airport? In 1957 , Waldemar Hagerman was granted a variance under the Zoning By-Law to establish an airport for private planes. This would have been located on the north side of Boston Road in the area of 2420. The reason for its failure was that a serious flaw was discovered in the land title. This could have been corrected, but it would have required a long and expensive legal action. Did you know that Wilbraham had two steamboats

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 and industrial periods, which will help us have a better understanding of this section of town and the church itself. Chapel Street, as you can guess, is why this small road in North Wilbraham was named as it was, but it did not always go by that name. In the early to mid-1700s, "the road that led to the mountain" was what it was called by m