Continued from July newsletter –
Leeds named for settlers English homeland
Many of the workers who had come from England to work in the mills stayed on to make their homes and became an important part of the community’s everyday life. Among this group, there was an understanding man, Thomas Musgrove. He was president of the woolen mill and did much for the welfare of the villager and the improvement of the village. He realized that people were anxious to receive news from family and friends, and that traveling some four miles to the nearest post office was a real hardship. In 1849 he encouraged the citizens to petition the United States government for a local post office. To do this a proper name had to be given to the village.
Musgrove, who had come from Leeds, England, as had many other workers who came with him, was eager to have the village bear the name of the manufacturing town from which they came. The request for a post office to Leeds, Massachusetts was granted on May 27, 1850 . Thomas Musgrove was appointed the first postmaster. Benjamin North, who had left the factory to manage the general store, had a new building constructed in 1843 to replace the one that had been destroyed by fire. His store, being the newest building in the village was chosen as the seat of operation for the new postal facility.
The post office was discontinued for nearly five years from September 7, 1858 to March 3, 1863. An item appearing in the Hampshire Gazette September 21, 1858 tells, “the post office at Leeds has been discontinued. The postmaster having resigned, and there being a dearth of “furriners” just now, may possibly be the cause of discontinuance.” The Northampton Directory and Historical Register published by the Gazette Printing Company explains it this way: “In 1859, the Post Office was discontinued. The failure of the Woolen Manufacturing Co. and the consequent decline of business in the place rendered the Post Office unnecessary. It was, however, re-established in 1863.”
Since that time the Leeds Post Office continued to serve the village through the boom, the depression, two world wars, and the village has continued to honor Musgrove and the other skilled workers who came from England by using the name, Leeds.
-to be continued in next newsletter
Ward 7 City Councilor Debate Night – October 24th
Questions from Ward 7 residents are being collected in advance and will be passed along to the moderator to organize prior to the debate. If you have a question or concern, please consider writing it down and sending it to one of the two options listed below. Toward the end of the debate questions will be opened up to the audience. At that time, if you have a question that has not yet been addressed this will be a good opportunity to have the candidates respond.
We are very happy that our media sponsor is NCTV(www.northamptontv.org). The debate will be rebroadcast at a later date and that time will be posted on the LCA website.
Thanks for your participation!
email questions to: LeedsCivicAssoc@gmail.com
mail questions to: LCA, Box 114, Leeds MA 01053.
Great Leeds Pumpkin Festival Marks 20 Years!
Saturday evening, October 26th (rain date 27th), the place to be between 5:00 and 9:00 is where Upland Road meets Chestnut Ave. in Leeds. It is the place where pumpkins rule and pumpkins roll. It is the spot where creativity, community and really nice people meet and have a great time. It is the spot of the 2013 Great Leeds Pumpkin Fest!
There will be home made soups, baked potatoes, cider and sweet treats to enjoy, all of which are provided by generous volunteers. There will be a bit of haunting music provided by another wonderful volunteer who will be our mc for the evening.
It has been a long-standing tradition that last years’ first prize winner bakes next years’ first place prize. I am not certain that last years’ winner, Jim Montgomery, is a pie maker, but I know for certain that his lovely wife, Linda Butler, is an excellent pie maker! Along with several tasty prizes there will be funny and practical ones too.
The party starts at 5:00 with the kid’s pumpkin roll which is hilarious and heartwarming to watch if your not a kid and a ton of fun if you are a kid. Eating, meeting and laughing happens throughout the party. Voting begins at 6:00. Vote tally is at 7:30. This year there will be three categories: KIDS (ages up to 6), YOUTH (ages 7-12), ADULTS (ages 13 and up).
I hope this build up has gotten you excited to carve. You have plenty of time to start thinking about what to carve, collage or paint on a pumpkin. Anything goes in this event and every pumpkin displayed adds to the heart of the party. Your creations and your neighbors’ will be lined up and on display. They will be lit, highlighted and numbered…and they will all be oooohed and aaahed over.
Happy carving!
Bowl left at Block Party
if you are the chef that made the pasta salad for the Block Party and are looking for the beautiful bowl you served it in, look no more. It is safe and sound at 8 Upland Road. Please call Heidi at 585-9923 or email heidi@heidistevens.com to arrange a time to pick it up.
AUTUMN MOVIE NIGHT!
…
October 5th at 7:00 pm
Back yard of 32 Upland Road
Bring your chairs or blankets, drinks and jammies.
For Children and Adults!!
Hot Chccolate and Popcorn is provided!
Homemade Jam Trade at the Block Party
Yum! Who doesn’t like homemade preserves! And when opened on a cold winter day the delicious bounty of summer comes rushing back. If you made pickles, jams or preserves this summer, please bring a labeled jar or two to the block party and swap it for something different. For those of you who don’t make jams, you may be able to buy a jar of homemade. Jams and preserves will be displayed on the “Jam Table” until the trading begins at 5:30ish.
Everyone who brings a homemade jar of preserves will get a chance to win the Energy Grab Bag, a selection of useful and environment-friendly items.
Leeds Block Party 2013
Award Winning Facility
Caring for our seniors is important work whether done at home, out in the neighborhood, or in a care facility, The LCA and Linda Manor are reaching out to the community inviting you to share some time and something you like to do with the seniors who are convalescing in this excellent facility. Linda Manor won the coveted Gold Award from the American Health Association this year. Only 17 facilities nationwide have earned that distinction!
I spent several hours this summer visiting with a friend at Linda Manor. Walking down the halls, I was consistently met with smiles and greetings from the nursing, therapy, and service staff. The atmosphere was both relaxed and efficient. A distinct effort is made to make families and friends feel welcome and patients comfortable. Linda Manor would love to have volunteers from Leeds. They are looking for people to call bingo, take residents outside for walks, and next spring hope to create a garden.
If you can share an hour or so of your time with the folks at Linda Manor, I encourage you to contact:
Pam Hamberg, Activities Director phamberg@bhs1.org
Gazette Series about Leeds By Alice Manning, 1975
Continued from July newsletter –
Leeds named for settlers English homeland
Many of the workers who had come from England to work in the mills stayed on to make their homes and became an important part of the community’s everyday life. Among this group, there was an understanding man, Thomas Musgrove. He was president of the woolen mill and did much for the welfare of the villager and the improvement of the village. He realized that people were anxious to receive news from family and friends, and that traveling some four miles to the nearest post office was a real hardship. In 1849 he encouraged the citizens to petition the United States government for a local post office. To do this a proper name had to be given to the village.
Musgrove, who had come from Leeds, England, as had many other workers who came with him, was eager to have the village bear the name of the manufacturing town from which they came. The request for a post office to Leeds, Massachusetts was granted on May 27, 1850 . Thomas Musgrove was appointed the first postmaster. Benjamin North, who had left the factory to manage the general store, had a new building constructed in 1843 to replace the one that had been destroyed by fire. His store, being the newest building in the village was chosen as the seat of operation for the new postal facility.
The post office was discontinued for nearly five years from September 7, 1858 to March 3, 1863. An item appearing in the Hampshire Gazette September 21, 1858 tells, “the post office at Leeds has been discontinued. The postmaster having resigned, and there being a dearth of “furriners” just now, may possibly be the cause of discontinuance.” The Northampton Directory and Historical Register published by the Gazette Printing Company explains it this way: “In 1859, the Post Office was discontinued. The failure of the Woolen Manufacturing Co. and the consequent decline of business in the place rendered the Post Office unnecessary. It was, however, re-established in 1863.”
Since that time the Leeds Post Office continued to serve the village through the boom, the depression, two world wars, and the village has continued to honor Musgrove and the other skilled workers who came from England by using the name, Leeds.
-to be continued in next newsletter
Summer MOVIE NIGHT!
…
August 31 at 7:45 pm
Back yard of 32 Upland Road
Bring your chairs or blankets, drinks and jammies.
For Children and Adults!!
Popcorn is provided!
Public Forum
To Launch Northampton On Our Next Phase Of Clean Energy Improvements
Northampton Senior Center, Wed. 8/21
You are invited to join with your friends and neighbors in an evening of inspiration that will launch Northampton on the next phase of its journey to a clean, secure and affordable energy future.
Propelled by its citizens, businesses and elected officials Northampton is already nationally recognized as a clean energy leader. But there is more we can do.
Please join us at the Northampton Community Energy 101 Forum to kick-off the Northampton Community Energy Strategies Program.
The Forum will provide the Northampton community an opportunity to share ideas for the development of a comprehensive, community-wide Clean Energy Roadmap.
The Northampton Community Energy Strategies Program is an initiative developed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Green Communities Division. It provides local residents and businesses an opportunity to work with city leaders to identify, assess, and enable new energy efficiency, renewable energy, and renewable heating and cooling projects and programs to serve the Northampton community.
Please RSVP by visiting:
www.masscec.com/northamptonforum
When: Wednesday August 21st 7-9pm
Where: Northampton Senior Center
67 Conz Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Directions: www.northamptonseniors.com/Directions.html