The title of this research is a collection of names, locations, and references that we may or may not hear today. Many old local history books and town records refer to these old names, places, and references.
Listed in alphabetical order, we will discover many things about the communities that make up Wilbraham and Hampden today. Some of these names, places, and references go back as far as the 1640s and up until the early twentieth century. For researchers of local history, you must have an understanding of this old terminology. This will aid in further understanding our local history. This list is but a few that are most common. Most of these names, locations, and references have been lost to time.
Allotments: By this word in the records is meant the early grants to the Outward Commons, to individuals which were made without compensation and upon no other condition than that the grantee should become or remain a citizen and use the land. These allotments hastily made, were ridiculous for their proportionate length and width, all of them extending four miles in length from the eastern line of the Inward Commons to the Wilbraham Mountains. A good example of an unrealistic lot is that of William Brooks, lot 111, in the second division. It was four miles long by eight feet and nine inches wide.
American Chestnut Tree Blight: Wilbraham. In 1909 a scaly, blistery band was observed on a small chestnut tree standing on, the east side of Glendale Road, close to the Wilbraham-Hampden town line. Experts from the State and Federal Departments of Agriculture came to examine it. The fungus of this disease, which is wind-borne, had its first known victim in Massachusetts. Since the surface of the tree is vulnerable to the white-tendriled parasite, birds aided the wind in this mass destruction. Efforts to control this disease were futile. By the end of World War I, there were thousands of chestnut skeletons scattered all over town.
Bald Mountain: Hampden. Today Bald Mountain is called Rattlesnake Hill with an elevation of 1,040 feet elevation. This same mountain is also located in Connecticut.
Bald Mountain: Wilbraham. Today Bald Mountain is called Sunrise Peak with an elevation of 913 feet elevation.
Baldwin Maple, The: Wilbraham. This great tree once stood in the yard of Joseph and Maria Baldwin who lived in the house that is located at 43 Maple Street.
Bask Hampden. A bathing place used as a course point on the layout of Middle Road (Ridge Road), now the abandoned part of Peak Road, Wilbraham. This location is about east of Mount Vision on North Road in Hampden, near the headwaters of Big Brook, a tributary of the Scantic River.
Beaver Brook: Wilbraham. See Pole Bridge Brook.
Beaver Dam: Wilbraham. There was a cart path running off westerly from Main Street, on the farm of John Bliss, 288 Main Street. About one-third of a mile north on Main Street the path traveled west and crossed a narrow strip of swampy land on the ground that has been since filled in, the Decorie Drive area. This area was known as Beaver Dam due to much activity of the beavers.
Birch Run: Wilbraham. The area known as Birch Run extended from Monson Road, halfway from the top on the east side of the mountain to the old Glendale Church. Today this would encompass the Hollow Road area and Glendale Cemetery.
Boat Swamp Brook: Hampden. Now called Watchaug Brook, its headwaters start up on Wilbraham Mountain cutting across Great Horse Country Club and flowing southwest into Baptist Village, East Longmeadow. This is a tributary of the Scantic River.
Boiling Spring: Wilbraham. A spring that feeds a small brook that is today located at 188V Stony Hill Road. The brook goes under Stony Hill Road at this point and eventually flows into the North Branch of the Mill River in Springfield.
Burt's Mills: Hampden. A hamlet of South Wilbraham, centering around the water power of the Scantic River and Rock A Dundee Brook. Also, Burt's Mill's location was within a tract of land from the Connecticut border a mile or so north into Hampden, from the town boundaries, east and west, which were known as Oblong or Wales in 1763. This area was not part of the original survey of the Outward Commons completed in 1729. It was believed that this track of land was in Connecticut at the time of Newbury's survey.
Butlerville: Wilbraham. See Sodom.
Castalian Brook: Wilbraham. Today this brook is called Maxwell Brook. Castalian Brook received its name in 1735. This brook enters Twelve Mile Brook and its source is in the swampy land less than a mile west of Bald Peak Mountain in Monson.
Center Village: Wilbraham. The center of Wilbraham.
Chestnut Grove: Wilbraham. This area is located on the crest of the westerly slope overlooking the valley on Ridge Road about opposite Cadwell Drive. This area was the favorite place for hikers and picnickers until the trees died from the chestnut tree blight in about 1915.
City, The: Hampden. See South Village.
Collins Bridge: Wilbraham/Ludlow. The Collins Bridge is a covered bridge that was built in 1852 at a ford in the river. It was named after Warren Collins, the first station agent and it was located at Collins Depot. In 1938 the bridge abutments were washed out by the floods of the hurricane. Shortly after in 1939, a new steel structure was built and named the Green-Town Bridge in memory of two veteran selectmen, Fred W. Green of Wilbraham and Frank Towne of Ludlow. The bridge still stands today and is located on Cottage Avenue.
Collins Depot: Wilbraham. When the first railroad station in Wilbraham was moved in 1851, to Oak Street in Indian Orchard, Springfield, a new site was chosen. This new location was in the north village, North Wilbraham, which was once called Collins Depot, in honor of the first station agent.
Collins Grove: Wilbraham. Before the building of the Collins Manufacturing Company and the grain mills of the Cutler Company, now where Dollar Avenue is today, there was a large growth of trees on this land. The Springfield District of the Methodist Conference began to hold camp meetings there in August 1857. The ground was leased at one dollar a year and meetings were held there until 1864.
Collins Pond: Wilbraham. This is the old mill pond on Twelve Mile Brook in East Wilbraham. The Collins Manufacturing Company received its clean water supply for manufacturing from this pond. This was a popular recreational spot from the 1920s to the 1940s. Many town organizations held their functions at this location. For example, the Firemen's Relief Association held its clam bake fundraiser on August 20, 1933. The price of a ticket was $1.75 which would include one glass of beer. The profit from this event was $1.85. See Twelve Mile Brook.
Cow Pen Meadow Swamp: Wilbraham. This location was off Faculty Street, about one-third of a mile west of Wilbraham Monson Academy, Rich Hall. There was a spring house located there that used to be the Wilbraham Mountain Spring Water Company site on Wesleyan Academy Farm. Today this area is still very swampy.
Cranberry Pond: Wilbraham. This pond at the rear of 9 Bittersweet Lane was once a cranberry bog from which cranberries were harvested.
Dell, The: Wilbraham. This is a secluded hollow, covered with trees This place is located at the end of Woodland Dell Road. The stream, Merrick's Brook, has cut a path down from the mountain to create this feature. Woodland Dell Cemetery was located there in 1858, due to its beauty.
Dipping Hole Road: Wilbraham. The name of this road was given from a story long ago. On a Sabbath morning, Miss Peggy mounted her horse and started the long nine-mile journey to the Meeting House in Springfield. While crossing a shallow marsh, over which the path led, the thin ice broke and Miss Peggy was dipped into the freezing water. The place has since been known as Peggy's Dipping Hole or Dipping Hole Road today.
Dugway: Wilbraham. This section of Boston Road travels parallel to the Chicopee River. The name was given to this half-mile of heavy excavation that was done in 1798 when improvements were made to the first Massachusetts Turnpike that was chartered in 1796.
East Road: Wilbraham / Hampden. One of the early established roads. This was the third road of the three roads, along and on top of the mountain. Today it's called Crane Hill Road, and Glendale Road.
Eight Mile Gutter: Wilbraham. This old valley of erosion crosses Boston about 520 feet east of Brainard Road. The term gutter was used by the early inhabitants to describe a small shallow valley of erosion, usually containing the small stream that had created it. If the sides of the valley were higher and the valley of erosion larger, it was called a dingle. If you were to follow this stream south you would come to a handmade ditch coming from the east. This ditch was dug in 1799 with hopes of draining Nine Mile Pond to find the body of sixteen-year-old Abigail Merrick, who drowned along with five others on April 29, 1799. Much of this ditch is gone due to the housing development in the Manchonis Road area back in the 1950s.
Elbows: Wilbraham. This tract of land is located in the northeast part of Wilbraham. It lies in what was the first division of the Outward Commons. Its borders are the Chicopee River to the north and west, the Town of Three Rivers to the east, and the south border is where Maynard Road enters the Three Rivers Road, which was the Shaw Sessions survey line of 1795. In 1799 this land was added to the Town of Wilbraham. Previously it was part of the Town of Springfield and called Kingsfield.
Eleven Mile Brook: Wilbraham. Today this brook is called Twelve Mile Brook. See Twelve Mile Brook.
First Brook: Hampden. Today the brook is known as West Brook. It travels south down from the mountain just west of Mountain and North Roads. It cuts through Hampden Memorial Park just before going under Main Street and flowing into the Scantic River.
Footpath: In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries a common name for an undeveloped road.
Ford: A Ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading. A ford may occur naturally or be constructed. Fords may be impassable during high water. Before the first bridge was built, a well-known natural ford crossed the Chicopee River at the same spot where the green bridge on Cottage Avenue crosses the river today. See Collins Bridge.
Fort, The: Hampden. The house located at 438 Main Street was once called the Fort. This is where the South Wilbraham Militia stored its ammunition between the years of 1792 and 1812. The "South Company" MilItia trained during this same period on the "Green" with the Wilbraham Company. See the "Green."
Glendale: Wilbraham/Hampden. The hills, ravines, and wooded areas of this section of town are located along Glendale Road. It was said that fleeing slaves would head eastward from Springfield or north from Connecticut to seek shelter and safety in this area. This was part of the Underground Railroad.
Goat Rock: Hampden. A perpendicular ledge of about 30 feet at the south end of Wilbraham Mountain. This ledge is just east of Country Club Heights Drive. The namesake derived from a story in the late 1700s. “Goat Rocks,” received its name after one of William King's goats became caught in the rocks and died.
Grassy Hollow: Wilbraham. This recreational area was located where the Town's transfer station and solar fields are today, 2720 Boston Road. It contained two baseball fields. In 1925 the North Wilbraham Baseball team became the Quaboag Valley League champions.
Green, The: Wilbraham. In 1769, the town voted that the "Green" should be common Land or Highway. This triangular piece of land was located on the east side of Main Street where Tinkham Road comes out. Back in the day, Tinkham Road split in two, the northern section dating back to 1742, and the southern section, which is in use today, dating back to 1749, thus creating the Green between the three roadways. At one point this was one of three locations selected for the first Meeting House to have been built in the 1740s. In 1880, schoolhouse No. 3 was built on this site. The schoolhouse was called Mile Tree, due to the area of town it was located in. See Mile Oak Corner, Mile Tree.
Green-Town Bridge: Wilbraham/Ludlow. See Collins Bridge.
Grotto, The: Wilbraham. This rock outcropping is located near the Upper Reservoir located on the south side of Mountain Road. See Upper Reservoir.
Grove in North Wilbraham, The: Wilbraham. This location is just east of Grace Union Church, in the area where Poplar Drive is today. Religious organizations would hold camp meetings here in the summer months. Temperance meetings were held and many prominent speakers toured the country, speaking out against the liquor traffic.
Hampden: Wilbraham and Hampden. The county and town were named for the English patriot John Hampden, (June 1595 – June 1643). He was an English landowner and politician whose opposition to arbitrary taxes imposed by Charles I made him a national figure. An ally of Parliamentarian leader John Pym, and cousin to Oliver Cromwell, he was one of the Five Members whose attempted arrest in January 1642 sparked the First English Civil War. See also South Wilbraham.
Harmony Grove: Wilbraham. In and about the 1850s the Millerites, or Adventists, as they were afterward called, held meetings in the summertime. On the east side of Main Street, just about where Old Orchard Road is today was a narrow lane leading up to the grove. Around the turn of the century, the grove was cut down by Lee W. Rice, and a peach orchard was planted, thus the name of the road today.
Hampshire County: Wilbraham and Hampden. This is a historical and judicial county located in the state of Massachusetts. It was founded in 1662 and the county seat is Northampton. Hampden County was formed and split from Hampshire County in 1812 because Springfield grew at a pace far quicker than Northampton and was granted shire town status over its own, southerly jurisdiction. In the case of the Marcus Lyon Murder that took place in Wilbraham in 1805, the trial took place in Northampton being that Wilbraham was located in Hampshire County at the time.
Hunting Hill: Wilbraham. This area is known today as Sunset Ridge located in the back of the old Memorial School, 318 Main Street.
Ice Pond: Hampden. See Third Brook.
Indian Rock: Wilbraham. The area known as Indian Rock was located just west of today's Hefferon Road. It is said that a family or several Native Americans lived in this area and that some of them frequently came over into the center village, to Charles Brewer's tavern (473 Main Street), to procure supplies in the mid-1700s.
Kilburn's Bridge: Wilbraham. This bridge crossed the Worlds End Brook, today called the North Branch Mill River. It is just a culvert today that goes under Springfield Street near 557.
Kingsfield or Kingstown: Wilbraham. See The Elbows.
Lakes of Wal-a-mu-sa: Wilbraham. Native American name of two bodies of water located in North Wilbraham, Nine Mile, and Spectacle Ponds.
Manchonis or Massaconis: Wilbraham; The spelling is various in the old records:- Manchonis, Machonis, Massaconus, Monchonis. A locality at Nine Mile Pond and the neighboring cedar swamps, which gave its name to the mountains, as in the phrase "Manchconis Mountains". A pondy and swampy region would present to the Native Americans the character of a stronghold, which is perhaps the meaning of the word.
Manchonis Lake: Wilbraham. See Nine Mile Pond.
McCray's Corner: Hampden. An old tavern stood here on the northeast corner of Somers Road and Main Street. The tavern was kept by Col. John McCray in 1850 and the the corner was then called McCray Corner and the school across the way was called the McCray Corner School.
Meeting House Lane: Wilbraham. The road was laid out on March 8, 1749, to the site of the first Meeting House on Wigwam Hill. Today the road dead ends and no longer meets up with Tinkham Road. The original road came off of West Road (Main Street) very near where Monson Road leads off. The road traveled east then shifted south to enter the current Meeting House Lane.
Merrick's Brook: Wilbraham. The brook comes down from Wilbraham Mountain and travels along the south side of Woodland Dell Road crosses Main Street and drains into Bruuer Pond in the Center Village. Most of this property belonged to David Merrick in the 1700s. He and his descendants, lived in that area for about one hundred and sixty years, until about 1893. Today the brook remains nameless.
Merrick Elm Tree: Wilbraham. The long-gone Merrick Elm was 18’ 6 1/2” in girth. This once mighty tree stood in the area on the south side, partly up Woodland Dell Road today. David Merrick owned much of this land in the 1700s.
Middle Brook: Hampden. See Second Brook.
Middle Road: Wilbraham / Hampden. One of the early established roads. This was the middle of the three roads, along and on top of the mountains. Today it's called Mountain Road, the northern section, Ridge Road, and Peak Road in Wilbraham. North Road and South Road in Hampden.
Mile Oak Corner, Mile Tree: Wilbraham. This was located on the west side of Main Street at Tinkham Road. When the selectmen of Springfield altered the road, running east and west near Reverend Noah Merrick's house on Wigwam Hill, in 1749, they came down to the West Road (Main Street) near a black oak tree. This gave the name to this area in town.
Minnechaug: Wilbraham / Hampden. This area was called Minnechaug by the early Native Americans. The word means, "Berry Land".
Minneola's Mirror: Wilbraham. A Native American name was given to the Lower Reservoir, located off Mountain Road in the center of town. See Upper Reservoir.
Monument Lot: Wilbraham. Now called Crane Park in the center of town, it was purchased by the town between 1885 and 1886 for $500.00 from brothers, James B. and Zenas Crane. The Civil War monument was erected in 1894 and dedicated on July 4, 1894. This was accomplished through the efforts of Mrs. Lucia S. Foskit, wife of Dr. S. Foskit of Wilbraham.
Mountains or The Mountain Parish: Wilbraham / Hampden. The name of this area was given when we were a precinct of Springfield. See also Springfield Mountains and the Outward Commons.
Moran's Bridge: Wilbraham. The Old Boston Road bridge passes over the railroad tracks. Before the bridge was built, there was a railroad crossing just east of this location called Moran's Crossing. Patrick Moran's house was very near this spot, thus his name being attached to this area.
Mount Vision: Hampden. It is part of the Wilbraham Mountain range. It is approximately 745 feet in elevation and just south of Rattlesnake Peak.
Newbury Ditch: Wilbraham / Hampden. Lieutenant Roger Newbury established certain lines of the Inward and Outward Commons on the east and the ditches making the line received his name.
Nine Mile Pond: Wilbraham. A pond located in North Wilbraham just off Boston Road. It received its namesake by being nine miles from the settlement of Springfield. A sad catastrophe took place here in 1799 in which six young people drowned. A drainage ditch was dug in 1799, on the west side of the pond to recover the body of sixteen-year-old Abigail Merrick. Even later maps show this pond as one of the sources of the North Branch of the Mill River but this is no longer the case. The ditch and the draining of the Cedar Swamp in about 1890 have made essential changes. Other names for this body of water are Manchonis Pond, Manchonis Lake, and Lakes of Wal-a-mu-sa.
North Villiage: Wilbraham. See Collins Depot.
Oblong: Hampden. See Burt's Mills.
Outward Commons: Wilbraham / Hampden / Ludlow. The Outward Commons or Springfield Mountain was wilderness land that was east of the Connecticut River and the settlement of Springfield. This land measuring twelve miles long and for miles wide was purchased by William Pynchon, Elizur Holyoke, and others in 1674, from the Native Americans. This became part of the town of Springfield. In exchange, they paid the local Agawam Indians 18 fathoms of wampum, 18 coats, and several hoes, hatchets, and knives.
Overplus Land: Wilbraham / Hampden. The land was located on the southern portions of the second and third divisions of the Outward Common. This land was not divided or allotted. It was the common property of the town of Springfield. Interesting note: The Overplus Land located in the second division was granted to the first settled Orthodox Minister, Reverend Noah Merrick, in which to be held by his Heirs and assigned to his and their use benefit. In addition to having the minister's home located on said property, there shall be land for a meeting house and burying yard. This land encompassed about 875 acres.
Peggy's Dipping Hole: Wilbraham. See Dipping Hole Road.
Pines, The: Wilbraham. This area is located in the far northwest corner of town. There was a very large pine grove covering this area of town. In 1886, a schoolhouse, District No. 2, was built and appropriately called the Pines. This area of town was also known later on as "Little Poland" due to a large number of Polish immigrants moving to this part of town. Many of them worked in the mills in Ludlow just across the river.
Pine Hill: Wilbraham. A small hill located off of Tinkham Road in the area of Echo Hill Road. This was one of three sites considered for the building of the first meeting house in 1748.
Pine Island: Wilbraham. This land area was a higher elevation point in the Cedar Swamp. Today it would be in the area of High Pine Circle, Marilyn Drive, and Blueberry Hill Road. This term would be mentioned in old deeds. The white pine grew plentiful on these higher elevations in the swamp. There was a great peat fire in 1912 that occurred in this area which burned deep in the ground causing many of these trees' roots to be burned. These very old and large trees that were affected by the fire were salvaged for lumber.
Pokeham: Hampden. Formerly applied either in humor or derision to the South Parish of Wilbraham, "poke fun." The settlers in the North Parish may have the desire to poke fun at their neighbors living on what they thought was less productive soil. The name pokeham is traceable as far back as the Revolutionary War.
Pole Bridge Brook: Wilbraham. The name of this brook now goes by the North Branch of the Mill River. Pole Bridge Brook derived its name from the lightweight structure that spanned the brook at Springfield Street. This brook was also called Beaver Brook. The brook drains from the Cedar Swamp and flows southwesterly, crossing under Springfield Street and then Stony Hill Road. The brook turns north at this point and it was once known as Worlds End Brook before it crosses Springfield Street once again, then flowing northwest into Springfield.
Potash Hill: Hampden. Is located between Somers Road and Potash Hill Lane. William King manufactured potash in this area of the south village, thus giving it its name.
Proposed Electric Trolly Line: Hampden: In 1912 a proposal was to establish an electric street railway line from East Longmeadow to Hampden. This line would have come down East Longmeadow Road turning south on Somers Road then turning onto Main Street and terminating in the center of town.
Proposed Railroad: Hampden. In the 1870s a proposal was to establish a railroad from East Longmeadow through Hampden and into Stafford Connecticut. This railroad would have run between East Longmeadow Road and Allen Street then crossed East Longmeadow Road near the intersection, then crossed Somers Road and parallel to the north side of Main Street a short distance. The railroad would then cross Main Street and the Scantic River and run on the south side of the river into the center of town. From there it would continue, then crossing South and Chapin Roads, following the Scantic River on the south side. It would then cross Thresher Road (Rockadundee Road) and then into Stafford Connecticut. The railroad never materialized, this was the main reason why the mills along the Scantic River and the granite quarry on Chapin Road closed. They just could not compete with other communities that have this important mode of transportation of goods and materials.
Rattlesnake Peak: Wilbraham. Located in the Wilbraham Mountain range at an elevation of 794 feet just southwest of Wigwam Hill. The name derived from a rattlesnake that was killed there and it is also believed that the rattlesnake that killed Timothy Merrick in 1761, came down from this mountain searching for water due to the dry spell that year.
Red Bridge: Wilbraham. The covered Red Bridge that crossed the Chicopee River in the northeast part of town had been in existence at least before 1836. In 1838 it was rebuilt and again in 1873. This bridge was replaced in 1900 by a steel bridge which was destroyed by the spring floods of 1936. In 1937 the present concrete bridge was built. This area still retains the name of Red Bridge. See Elbows.
Rill of Rubic or Rubicon: Wilbraham. Two streamlets, one flowing northward and the other flowing southward out from the mountains form the Rill of Rubic. Today that small stream flows alongside Main Street on the property of Wilbraham and Monson Academy. The academy still refers to this stream today as the Rubicon.
Rindge Oak: Wilbraham. This oak tree once stood at the intersection of Glendale and Crane Hill Road. This red oak had a circumference of sixteen feet, at three feet above the ground. It was named after the Rindge family who occupied the house located at 471 Glendale Road for well over a hundred years. It was appropriately called "Century Homestead" in the early 1900s.
Rocky Dundy or Rocky Dunder: Hampden. The name applies to the mountainous region of the easterly slope southeast of the center of Hampden and extending into Stafford, Connecticut. Possibly named for the sound of thunder among these hills or of the huntsmen's guns, or the stream tumbling rocks upon each other. This name still applies to the area today.
Round Cedar Swamp or Cedar Swamp: Wilbraham. The ditch (see Nine Mile Pond), and the draining of the Cedar Swamp in about 1890 have made essential changes to the swamp. In addition, the white cedar swamp was damaged by a large fire back in 1912. All this has contributed to the growth of invasive red maples which has displaced the regeneration of new white cedar trees. It is bounded by Nine Mile Pond to the north, Main Street to the east, Stony Hill Road to the west, and Faculty Street to the south.
Scantic or Scantuck: Hampden. The headwaters of this river start in Stafford, Connecticut, and after a circuit in Massachusetts, it eventually flows back into Connecticut again. The good lands upon the river, after it emerges from the "Great Hills" made the locality called by its name.
Second Brook: Wilbraham / Hampden. This brook was also known as Middle Brook. Today the brook is known as Big Brook. It travels south from the eastern hillside of Mount Chapin and its headwaters are in the area of 843 Glendale Road, Wilbraham. Other smaller brooks feed this brook at various points and follow Hollow Road on the east side. It continues flowing south on the east side of North Road before going under Main Street and flowing into the Scantic River.
Shunpike: Wilbraham. In 1796 when the first Massachusetts Turnpike was chartered to improve the County Road from Warren to Palmer, then Wilbraham in 1798. A toll house was constructed about 1814 at the foot of Butler Hill, just west of today's Crane Hill Road. Interestingly, there was a bypath circumventing the toll house, which destitute travelers sometimes used as a "shunpike." This bypass was located off of what is Three Rivers Road today in the area across from Circle Drive and headed southwest to the County Road just west of the toll house. The toll house was discontinued in about 1847. Reverend Gates who was a frequent traveler of that road wrote a small poem to give a sense of what it was like.
"The Old Turnpike Gate,
Long have I stood there to wait
For change, in rainstorm or snow.
Gladly felt to see it go."
Soap House: Hampden. The Lacowsic Woolen Company owned many homes and barns in the area where the mill complex was located. One such building directly across the street was a house owned by Robert A. Sessions who then sold the house in 1848 to the owners of the woolen mill. Both the house and its barn were very important to the mill’s operation. The house was known as the “Soap House”, its product was used in washing the wool for the mill. The barn was used for storing wool. In addition, before the mill bought the house, it was used for the manufacture of soft soap.
Sodom: Wilbraham. A hamlet on the Boston Post Road in the East Wilbraham section of town. The name is believed to have been applied by a zealous minister to a tavern in the vicinity, the name disseminating to designate the whole of Butlerville or Butler Hill, as it was called at one point, or East Wilbraham, as it is called now. The East Wilbraham Cemetery was also called Sodom Cemetery and Butlerville Cemetery.
South Village: Hampden. This is the center of town, along the Scantic River. It was also known as "The City" possibly due to its bustling commerce from manufacturing. A proposed railroad in the 1870s was mapped out linking the town of East Longmeadow to the west and the town of Stafford Springs, Connecticut to the south. It would have run along the south side of the Scantic River in the center of town linking the mills and granite quarry to the outside world. This railroad was never built.
South Wilbraham: Hampden. In 1782 the town of Wilbraham was divided into two parishes, the North Parish ( Wilbraham) and the South Parish (South Wilbraham) The South Parish of Wilbraham was made an independent town in 1878 under the name of Hampden; the advocates of this name carried the day within the town as against the name of Dayton. See Hampden.
Spectacle Ponds: Wilbraham. The origin of the name is evident to any passengers on the Boston & Albany railroad remarked in 1916, the shape in the form of reading spectacles.
Springfield Bicycle Club: Wilbraham. In 1894, the Springfield Bicycle Club erected a clubhouse on the east side of Nile Mile Pond. In the early 1900s the name of the club was changed to Manchonis Cub, so the original name of the pond, "Manchonis Pond," is preserved. On October 15, 1935, a spectacular fire of undetermined origin swept through the two-story building. This club was one of the oldest organizations in the area.
Springfield Elbows: Wilbraham. See Elbows.
Springfield Mountains: Wilbraham / Hampden. The range lies east of West Road (Main Street and Wilbraham Road). This name applied to the prescient of Wilbraham before its incorporation in 1763. Today it's called Wilbraham Mountains. See Outward Commons, Mountains, or the Mountain Parish.
Spruce Island: Wilbraham. See Pine Island.
Squire Pond: Wilbraham: This pond was once located at the rear of where the Civil War monument is located in the center of town. The old center post office building now occupies this area. The pond was filled in the early to mid-1900s.
Stebbins Pond: Wilbraham. This is a small mill pond located at the rear of 215 Soule Road where a sawmill was once located across the street in the 1870s. It was operated by Stebbins. family. Today it's called Sawmill Pond.
Stony Hill Road: Wilbraham / Hampden. The name most likely derives from which the road leads north, to a settlement at Ludlow, so-called Stony Hill Parish in 1751.
Street, The: Wilbraham. The Street was another name for West Road, now our Main Street. This road was laid out by the town of Springfield in 1739.
Ten-Mile House: Wilbraham. John Baldwin and his wife Philena lived in this house located at 10 Maple Street and operated it as a tavern from 1836 to 1860 or 1865. It was formerly called the Ten Mile House, ten miles from the Town of Springfield, on the river. This building is still standing today.
The Coachmen: In 1952 the Wilbraham Academy student body adopted the name The Coachmen for all their sports teams. The school colors were also garnet and blue. The name derived from the stagecoach which was used to transport students to and from the railroad station in North Wilbraham.
Third Brook: Hampden. Today the brook is known as East Brook or Laughing Brook. It travels south just on the west side of Beebe Road in Wilbraham and Ames Road in Hampden. It's part of the Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary which was home to Thornton W. Burgess, the children’s author who wrote his tales around the wild animals that live here. At this point, it goes under Main Street and flows into the Scantic River. A small pond called Ice Pond is also located on this brook, just west of Glendale Road where another brook, unnamed, flows into this pond.
Third Road: Wilbraham / Hampden. See East Road.
Twelve Mile Brook: Wilbraham. Various ponds and streams were named for their distance from the Town Plantation (Springfield). Twelve Mile Brook would be the limit for the number if it were not for Twenty Mile Pond, in Blandford. The brook has also been called Eleven Mile Brook in older days.
Upper Reservoir: Wilbraham. In 1884 or 1885, the Wilbraham Aqueduct Company was formed and built a reservoir about halfway up the mountain on the south side of Mountain Road. The purpose of this company was to supply water to the Center Village. This company only lasted a few years due to the expense of repairs. The wooden log pipe system was abandoned, and the reservoir was sold later to Wilbraham Academy around 1878. At about that same time, the academy pushed an iron pipe through the center hole of the wood log pipe to convey water to their boarding house, Rich Hall. There is also a Lower Reservoir just downstream on the north side of Mountain Road.
Wales: Hampden. See Burt's Mills.
Wau-shu-man: Wilbraham / Hampden. The blind "Indian" who, according to tradition, sold the mountain part to the "White Men".
We-sha-u-gan: Wilbraham. The name of the "Indian" woman who lived on Wigwam Hill. See Wigwam Hill.
Wesson Four Corners, The: The intersection of Tinkham Road and Stony Hill Road. J.L.S. Wesson lived at the corner, 808 Tinkham Road. The house was built in about 1822 by Roswell Phelps.
West Road: Wilbraham/Hampden. One of the early established roads of 1739. Today it's called Main Street in Wilbraham, Wilbraham Road, and Somers Road in Hampden.
West Street: Wilbraham/Hampden. Stony Hill Road was called this in the early 1900s. See Stony Hill Road.
Wigwam Hill: Wilbraham. The name of this hill goes as far back as 1744. It is located between Rattlesnake Peak and Mount Chapin and has an elevation of 889 feet. It was said the name Wigwam Hill derived from the American Natives abandoning the mountains soon after King Philip's War of 1675. One "Indian" squaw alone remained after the settlement was established. Her wigwam was on a little brook on the hill and the name Wigwam Hill stuck. This was also the site of the first Meeting House (1748) and parsonage (1741) erected for Reverend Noah Merrick, in the Outward Commons.
Wilbraham Mountains: Wilbraham. See Springfield Mountains.
Wilbraham Fish and Game Club: Wilbraham. This organization used to be located on the Egan Estate. The Egan Estate was located at 119 Silver Street. Many other organizations such as the Wilbraham Lion's Club would use this place for events. It was a very popular spot.
World's End: Wilbraham. Meadowland east of Sixteen Acres on the North Branch of the Mill River at the bend of the stream where it dips southerly and returns to the north. This stream was called Words End Brook and Pole Bridge Brook.
Worlds End Brook: Wilbraham. See Kilburn's Bridge, Worlds End Meadow, and Pole Bridge Brook.
Worlds End Meadow: Wilbraham. Is a Meadow, through which the Worlds End Brook runs. This brook was often called this name in early records. It was located in the vicinity of 557 Springfield Street. The early inhabitants thought this area was the "end of the world" for its remote location.
This is the end for now but will update you as more research is done on this subject.
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