At the History Project's kick-off party on April 22, Walter Zalenski reminded us that the police department has not existed forever. It was created in the mid 1960s. Walter himself was the first chief of police in Ashfield, and for many years our sole paid officer. (Elected constables had always attended to certain responsibilities, as they do to this day.)
This summer, following up on the energy displayed at the kick-off party, we will organize several focus groups. Each group will have a scribe who will take notes and write up a summary. Meetings will be posted, and we will try to insure that key people are invited. But we strongly encourage anyone interested in a topic to attend these meetings.
One such group will be devoted to the police department. What led to its establishment? How were duties handled? What kinds of crimes were most common then? How has the situation evolved.? When and how did policing become professionalized? What growing pains were experienced? How did we cope with them?
Another group, taking Phil Nolan the Younger's suggestion, will consider the town dump (or whatever euphemism you prefer). We recently obtained some file cases there, left by some kind soul for recycling. Where did trash go before we had a dump? (Why do we have so much more of it now?) When were fees introduced? When was it regionalized? How did the dump begin to serve as a meeting place, a book exchange, a place for fund-raising for Mohawk's sports teams?
Several people have expressed interest in “Save the Hills,” the project that blocked the Pentagon's plan to build guidance towers on potato fields on the Ashfield-Hawley line. The citizen uprising was reminiscent of Daniel Shays' rebellion. We need to make a record of that event.
Schooling is a huge topic. We would like to start by looking at the emergence of a preschool toward the end of the 20th century. What created the need for such a school? Who organized it? How did it evolve? How was it financed? What skills did the teachers bring? How would we measure its success?
No doubt other groups, following other stories, will begin to emerge, more or less formally. Let us know if we can help. Together we can build a strong archive, the basis for the history of the past 50 years we will soon begin to compose.
by Don Robinson
Friday, June 1, 2007
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
First Meeting News
It was a beautiful Ashfield day (perhaps the best so far of the year) for being outdoors, for being in the garden or walking or just basking in the Sunday sun. But more than fifty of us chose to go to Elmer's in the afternoon instead, to talk about writing our new history book. And talk we did, and we listened too.
Over coffee and cake folks eagerly got right down to the work of filling in the answers to a clever pop quiz that Don put together based on facts about Town elections. It was pretty tough, but a lot of fun. We had invited Ruth Craft, Susan Todd, Aaron Clark, Roland Taylor and Arnold Jones to speak, which they did, giving us brief perspectives on long experience in their varied fields: farming, Fall Festival, town government and history and, town buildings. Paul Lacinski volunteered to give us his own view of exciting new approaches to farming today.
Then we got down to lively discussion. Some folks were there to find out more about what we've been doing so far, but most had some very specific and creative ideas about how the third history of our town should look, feel and be structured. It was gratifying to know how much thought has been given to the venture. There was general agreement that the book should be a full and forthright picture of everything that has touched and shaped us since 1965, and that it is important to get this work done.
We handed out a survey asking people to flesh out their suggestions and to let us know where they might fit in to the effort. We got some extremely interesting feed back, which we are now poring over. For those of you who were there, we heartily thank you for taking time out of the afternoon to show us how much you care about the project. We know there were quite a few of you who had intended to come, but life, as it has a habit of doing, intervened. We hope to catch up to you too and get your ideas. More surveys will be placed around town shortly. We ask that those of you who haven't had a chance to express yourselves yet, will do so. We need as many of us to come on board as we possibly can get. There are many, many ways that you can be part of this adventure.
We're also pleased to offer a charming set of note cards featuring Mimi Pieropan's original drawings for the second history of Ashfield, published in 1965. She has graciously offered them to us for use in raising funds for the project.
You will see them on sale in the village.
Over coffee and cake folks eagerly got right down to the work of filling in the answers to a clever pop quiz that Don put together based on facts about Town elections. It was pretty tough, but a lot of fun. We had invited Ruth Craft, Susan Todd, Aaron Clark, Roland Taylor and Arnold Jones to speak, which they did, giving us brief perspectives on long experience in their varied fields: farming, Fall Festival, town government and history and, town buildings. Paul Lacinski volunteered to give us his own view of exciting new approaches to farming today.
Then we got down to lively discussion. Some folks were there to find out more about what we've been doing so far, but most had some very specific and creative ideas about how the third history of our town should look, feel and be structured. It was gratifying to know how much thought has been given to the venture. There was general agreement that the book should be a full and forthright picture of everything that has touched and shaped us since 1965, and that it is important to get this work done.
We handed out a survey asking people to flesh out their suggestions and to let us know where they might fit in to the effort. We got some extremely interesting feed back, which we are now poring over. For those of you who were there, we heartily thank you for taking time out of the afternoon to show us how much you care about the project. We know there were quite a few of you who had intended to come, but life, as it has a habit of doing, intervened. We hope to catch up to you too and get your ideas. More surveys will be placed around town shortly. We ask that those of you who haven't had a chance to express yourselves yet, will do so. We need as many of us to come on board as we possibly can get. There are many, many ways that you can be part of this adventure.
We're also pleased to offer a charming set of note cards featuring Mimi Pieropan's original drawings for the second history of Ashfield, published in 1965. She has graciously offered them to us for use in raising funds for the project.
You will see them on sale in the village.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
A Chance To Make Some History (from Ashfield News, April 2007)
On Sunday afternoon, April 22, the Ashfield History Project will host a community get-together at Elmer's Store. The festivities begin at 3 p.m. There will be refreshments and a chance to visit. The centerpiece will be a conversation about what we need to include in our account of life in this town over the past half-century (since 1960).
Several people who have played prominent parts over this period will be on hand to give brief accounts of their activities. We will hear stories about the origins of Fall Festival, the renovation of the Town Hall steeple, the challenge of farming under modern conditions, and the planting of new businesses.
Mainly, though, we want to hear from people who have lived here, about people, projects, and events that helped to shape the town we live in.
History sometimes seems remote. When we focus on the past half-century, we are talking about people we know and events we ourselves have experienced. In producing a new history of the town, we are building a collective memory. We do this as a community, together.
We pride ourselves on being a radical democracy. Nowhere else do communities govern themselves by assembling, as many as choose to come, and deciding laws and public budgets together.
Our third history volume should partake of the same spirit. It should be made democratically.
Inevitably, much of what happened over the past five decades is already forgotten. In collecting the town's history, we are deciding what we think needs to be remembered. The book we produce will have to be highly selective. We hope you will join us in making the choices.
See you on Sunday afternoon, April 22, at Elmer's.
by Don Robinson
Several people who have played prominent parts over this period will be on hand to give brief accounts of their activities. We will hear stories about the origins of Fall Festival, the renovation of the Town Hall steeple, the challenge of farming under modern conditions, and the planting of new businesses.
Mainly, though, we want to hear from people who have lived here, about people, projects, and events that helped to shape the town we live in.
History sometimes seems remote. When we focus on the past half-century, we are talking about people we know and events we ourselves have experienced. In producing a new history of the town, we are building a collective memory. We do this as a community, together.
We pride ourselves on being a radical democracy. Nowhere else do communities govern themselves by assembling, as many as choose to come, and deciding laws and public budgets together.
Our third history volume should partake of the same spirit. It should be made democratically.
Inevitably, much of what happened over the past five decades is already forgotten. In collecting the town's history, we are deciding what we think needs to be remembered. The book we produce will have to be highly selective. We hope you will join us in making the choices.
See you on Sunday afternoon, April 22, at Elmer's.
by Don Robinson
Friday, December 1, 2006
Mary Priscilla Howes Grant awarded
At the last meeting of the Town Finance Committee, our application for a grant from the Mary Priscilla Howes Fund was considered and, with whole-hearted support, approved. The application requesting $1.900 was approved in full. The funds have been used for the purchase a powerful IMac computer, capable of generating and manipulating everything from designs to text to photographs and moving pictures on DVD, VHS and more; a scanner; a separate, large hard-drive with the capacity to safely backup a large amount of data, and a color ink-jet printer. Kit Nylen, new to the Board, has well researched the equipment on the market and skillfully matched it up to our anticipated needs. She’s found the best prices and sources, and allowed us all a sigh of relief. Kit is incredibly skilled and experienced when it comes to the application of technology in the field of publication and we are fortunate indeed to have her.
It is very fitting that the fund Mary Priscilla established, before her death, be used to help underwrite the publication of the third History of Ashfield. Our town, its history and its people embodied her most precious pursuits. She was seminal in the writing and publication of the second volume of our history as well as in the establishment of the Ashfield News.
by Phyllis Kirkpatrick
It is very fitting that the fund Mary Priscilla established, before her death, be used to help underwrite the publication of the third History of Ashfield. Our town, its history and its people embodied her most precious pursuits. She was seminal in the writing and publication of the second volume of our history as well as in the establishment of the Ashfield News.
by Phyllis Kirkpatrick
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Preparing the Headquarters
The Ashfield History Project has spent much time and effort during the past month preparing space for the Project’s headquarters, the space so generously offered in the basement of the Ashfield Historical Society building on Main Street.
Stuart Harris has been doing most of the work of renovation. Several file cabinets have been donated by Hans Teensma, a graphic artist whose firm, Impress, is moving to new quarters in Northampton.
We expect to be “open for business” at our new headquarters before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, work has gone forward on collecting materials to document the history of the last half-century in Ashfield. We have been talking with David Gold about organizing and indexing the audio-visual tapes he has made of important events of recent decades, including “Save the Hills,” the sewer project, and other sagas. David’s tapes contain a remarkable record of democracy in action.
We continue to do live oral interviews with the Town’s leading history-makers, ably assisted by Hannah Robertson. Most recently, Janice Scott told of her work with the Girl Scouts and the Town Ambulance service, and provided rich background generally regarding the Town’s development over the past half-century.
We continue to look to Town residents for suggestions about stories that need to be included in this survey. Please contact any member of the Editorial Board (Tom Carter, Stuart Harris, Grace Lesure, Kit Nylen, Eleanor Ward, Phyllis Kirkpatrick or Don Robinson) if you have suggestions.
by Don Robinson
Stuart Harris has been doing most of the work of renovation. Several file cabinets have been donated by Hans Teensma, a graphic artist whose firm, Impress, is moving to new quarters in Northampton.
We expect to be “open for business” at our new headquarters before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, work has gone forward on collecting materials to document the history of the last half-century in Ashfield. We have been talking with David Gold about organizing and indexing the audio-visual tapes he has made of important events of recent decades, including “Save the Hills,” the sewer project, and other sagas. David’s tapes contain a remarkable record of democracy in action.
We continue to do live oral interviews with the Town’s leading history-makers, ably assisted by Hannah Robertson. Most recently, Janice Scott told of her work with the Girl Scouts and the Town Ambulance service, and provided rich background generally regarding the Town’s development over the past half-century.
We continue to look to Town residents for suggestions about stories that need to be included in this survey. Please contact any member of the Editorial Board (Tom Carter, Stuart Harris, Grace Lesure, Kit Nylen, Eleanor Ward, Phyllis Kirkpatrick or Don Robinson) if you have suggestions.
by Don Robinson
Sunday, October 1, 2006
A special tribute to Ashfield’s Annual Fall Festival
Of all the stories to be told during the period covered in our new history book, few are more beloved than this one. But how much do we know or remember of when and how it started? Was it in 1967 or 1968? Did it spring forth as the fabulous event that it is today, or was it very different? Did it spread the length of Main Street and beyond as it currently does? Or did it really grow out of a little rummage sale run by St. John’s Church?
What did it have to do with Citizen Scholarships then and now? Who had the inspiration, and who made it a reality?
We want this story in the new book, and we need a few of you to help dig up all the background. Find the people who know what happened – they are still around - interview them, get photos, discover the craftspeople and services, the volunteers who facilitated everything, and even what the weather was like. In other words try to present anything that can be found to explain this miracle for our town and what the impact for us has been and might be.
We can give you lots of leads. Let’s talk.
What did it have to do with Citizen Scholarships then and now? Who had the inspiration, and who made it a reality?
We want this story in the new book, and we need a few of you to help dig up all the background. Find the people who know what happened – they are still around - interview them, get photos, discover the craftspeople and services, the volunteers who facilitated everything, and even what the weather was like. In other words try to present anything that can be found to explain this miracle for our town and what the impact for us has been and might be.
We can give you lots of leads. Let’s talk.
Friday, September 1, 2006
Board Changes
As summer winds down, the Ashfield History Project reports two changes in its Editorial Board.
Kit Nylen, of Bug Hill, has joined the Board. She brings considerable experience and expertise in publishing, as well as involvement in a number of community organizations, including service as an elected member of the town’s Finance Committee.
Also, in late August, Alden Gray resigned from the Board, effective “immediately.” In his letter to the Select Board, Alden took the Board gently to task for a lack of progress and for the “autocracy” of its leadership, and noted that he had not been able to make the Project a priority in his own life at this time. Happily, however, he did promise to help whenever he could, from his position within the Historical Society.
Meanwhile, the work of the Project proceeds on a number of fronts. David Newell has agreed to work, with others, assembling data relating to the Town’s finances over the past half-century. The public-finance research team will trace the changing allocation of budget resources (proportions spent on roads, schools, town government, etc.), and movement in assessments and the tax rate, as well as other sources of income to the Town.
Another intriguing effort will look at changes in Ashfield’s climate over the pasty half-century. We were delighted to learn that Harriet Sears kept daily records of high, low and mean temperatures and rain-fall, beginning in 1960. Later Russ Fessenden took up that effort, and about ten years ago, the baton passed to Steve Sauter. As a result, we may be able to report the truth, whether convenient or not, about warming in our own neck of the woods. Steve reports that other nearby towns have maintained similar efforts, so we may have some good comparative data, as well.
Board member Grace Lesure has been working on a filing system for the Project’s body of materials. Her initial index will be ready when the Project moves into its new quarters in the basement of the Ashfield Historical Society, we hope sometime early this fall.
by Don Robinson
Kit Nylen, of Bug Hill, has joined the Board. She brings considerable experience and expertise in publishing, as well as involvement in a number of community organizations, including service as an elected member of the town’s Finance Committee.
Also, in late August, Alden Gray resigned from the Board, effective “immediately.” In his letter to the Select Board, Alden took the Board gently to task for a lack of progress and for the “autocracy” of its leadership, and noted that he had not been able to make the Project a priority in his own life at this time. Happily, however, he did promise to help whenever he could, from his position within the Historical Society.
Meanwhile, the work of the Project proceeds on a number of fronts. David Newell has agreed to work, with others, assembling data relating to the Town’s finances over the past half-century. The public-finance research team will trace the changing allocation of budget resources (proportions spent on roads, schools, town government, etc.), and movement in assessments and the tax rate, as well as other sources of income to the Town.
Another intriguing effort will look at changes in Ashfield’s climate over the pasty half-century. We were delighted to learn that Harriet Sears kept daily records of high, low and mean temperatures and rain-fall, beginning in 1960. Later Russ Fessenden took up that effort, and about ten years ago, the baton passed to Steve Sauter. As a result, we may be able to report the truth, whether convenient or not, about warming in our own neck of the woods. Steve reports that other nearby towns have maintained similar efforts, so we may have some good comparative data, as well.
Board member Grace Lesure has been working on a filing system for the Project’s body of materials. Her initial index will be ready when the Project moves into its new quarters in the basement of the Ashfield Historical Society, we hope sometime early this fall.
by Don Robinson
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