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By DOMENIC POLI

The Franklin County Fair Museum’s chilly confines are filled with posters, brochures, ribbons and other pieces celebrating the history of the cherished event that started as a cattle show 177 years ago. But in December the museum added to its collection a first of its kind – an antique silver pitcher that made its way home from England, having been bestowed upon one of the Fairgrounds’ founding fathers on Jan. 3, 1863.

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

SHELBURNE FALLS — The Mary Lyon Foundation is marking 35 years of supporting education across western Franklin County and carrying on the legacy of its namesake.

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — After a decade of use as a staff office, the Carnegie Library in Turners Falls has opened the Local History Room to the public for a study and local history research space.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

LEVERETT — An archaeological survey and mapping of the historic Graves Ironworks site, located downstream from the 1774 Slarrow Sawmill, will be supported by a contribution from a National Trust for Historic Preservation grant program.

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — Beginning Feb. 1, the start of Black History Month, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association will begin a multi-year effort to bring to life a project exploring the experiences of Lucy Terry Prince, the earliest identified African American writer.

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

CHARLEMONT — With their “Ladies Moral Compass Quilt,” local historians Mary Boehmer and Bambi Miller are highlighting the political actions of 19th-century women.As part of their effort, residents who are interested in seeing the quilt for themselves...

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

In the Ashfield town archives exists a special treat for local history enthusiasts: a one-of-a-kind history book with photographs, newspaper clippings and letters from the early 1900s. “History of Ashfield” is a three-volume series covering the town’s...

By DOMENIC POLI

WENDELL — Recent receipt of $25,000 as part of the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget is driving renovations forward at the 466 Wendell Depot Road site slated to become a historical museum and gift shop. Wendell Historical Society President Ed Hines...

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — The documentary “Far Out: Life On & After the Commune,” co-produced by Charles Light of Guilford, Vermont, and Dan Keller of Wendell, will experience a Montague homecoming on Friday with a screening at the Shea Theater Arts Center. The...

By CARLA CHARTER

I saw a cardinal at the feeder today, which I thought was a bit ironic after searching the web and learning that they are believed to symbolize new beginnings and transitions. You see, this winged sign appeared at the same time I had decided to...

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

ERVING — Assisted by Brian Knight Research of Manchester, Vermont, the Historical Commission is starting a project to document 140 historical properties and create a cultural resources report that would include land on Routes 63 and 2, as well as the...

By DOMENIC POLI

This year’s Quabbin History Calendar is the 40th annual edition, and it could also be the final one.J.R. Greene has produced a calendar every year since the mid-1980s and, as a result, is running out of photos of the towns and villages that were...

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

The 2025 Franklin County Railroad Calendar is now available in stores and online. The calendar includes photos of trains and trolleys traveling throughout the region between 1897 and 1970, alongside historical commentary by historian Alden Dreyer of...

By CARLA CHARTER

The Trustees of Soldiers’ Memorials in Orange are tasked with the upkeep and maintenance of all veterans memorials in town, including an ongoing project to expand the Honor Roll Wall in Memorial Park. The monument lists Orange residents who served in...

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — The state’s remaining Strathmore mills are dwindling, with the former mill complex at 20 Canal St. on track for demolition next year and its only other counterpart, located in Russell, having partially collapsed on Monday.According to...

By GREG VINE

BARRE — Just over two years ago, on Nov. 5, 2022, Barre’s Woods Memorial Library returned more than 130 items to the Oglala Lakota Nation that were connected to the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre that killed nearly 300 Native Americans.It was thought at...

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

ORANGE — Residents gathered behind Orange Town Hall on Monday afternoon to celebrate the installation of a bronze plaque on the stone monument commemorating the former Memorial Hall at Prospect and High streets, which was torn down in 1996. The work...

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

MONTAGUE CENTER — An effort to preserve the stories of Montague Center residents through audio storytelling is beginning community outreach efforts with a kick-off event at the Montague Common Hall this week. Starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov....

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

About a year into her tenure as the new Ashfield Historical Museum curator, Sky Suslov is making good progress on her goal of decolonizing the museum.In addition to the mock general store storefront, along with artifacts from wars throughout...

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — After a successful return in 2023, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association’s (PVMA) Eastern European Heritage Day is back this weekend.The public is invited to PVMA, 10 Memorial St., on Sunday, Oct. 20, from 1 to 5 p.m. for the free...

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

CHARLEMONT — A group of people with Indigenous ancestry hopes to bring back the powwow and revitalize the Indian Plaza in Charlemont as a hub for celebrating Native American culture.It began with a dream. Theresa “Star” Stewart recounted having a...