by Matt Verson
The Beaver Brook Greenway located in Leeds along Rt. 9 across from National Grid, has been undergoing some transformations this past season. First, the erection of an informational kiosk next to Northampton’s Corrosion Control Facility, and secondly, a timber framed wildlife blind. As of this writing, the blind is under construction. Both of these projects are the result of the Beaver Brook Working Group receiving CPA funds to develop this 100 acre parcel for people to enjoy the unique natural setting found there. Although this was the site of a working farm about 40 years ago – it’s main feature now is a bit of open water – frequented by birds and wildlife. The purpose of the blind is to allow for people to sit comfortably out of the weather, and afford a good viewing perspective of the water.
When the Beaver Brook Working Group first started discussing a blind, we thought it would be cool to keep our funds in the communityandemploylocaltradespeopletoshowwhattheycould do. Wally Halva at the Hampshire County Jail donated shop time and services by building the kiosk, and Joel Strate transported the kiosk. In April, Tom Jenkins of Westhampton felled the trees and dragged them to the landing with his oxen, Rock and Star. In August, Neil Godden of Goshen with his portable sawmill milled the logs into timbers and boards. A host of other folks participated by donating time or materials to the project including Dave Bowman for the roof boards, Goshen Stone for plinths and stair landing, Hathaway Construction for gravel, RK Miles for the metal roofing material. Underground Supply helped erect the structure, and Bob Marvel planed the floor boards.
The relationship between Tom Jenkins and his oxen, the way they silently moved the massive walnut, cherry, and locust logs through the forest, it was unassailable the special husbandry a teamster develops. The interest that the oxen took in their surroundings – nibbling on the emerging garlic mustard, tasting a twig here and there, was a reminder that animal traction is not just a blast from the past, but an invitation to ground oneself in the here and now.
To watch Neil Godden operate his mill on-site, visually scanning the logs and then physically working them with his hatchet and hewing axe to accommodate their natural features, was a testament to Neil’s skill, taught from master to journeyman and apprentice down through the mists of time in ancient Europe. Later, the intricate layout of non-linear timbers, each weighing several hundred pounds that would later come together to within a 32nd of an inch – while a hardy volunteer crew held them overhead – all of this was a connection, to craft, community, and nature.
The objective now is safe parking off the road near the kiosk, and clearing some trails to avoid having to wade through the undergrowth. Picnic tables andabenchwillfollownext season, and some folks are working to clear invasive species, and rehabilitate the old farmstead garden that still provides a variety of blooms.
Robert’s Hill Gets Some Trail Love
David Litterer, friend to the LCA and trail enthusiast from UMass has done a remarkable job defining the major and minor trails on Robert’s Hill over the past four years. He worked his magic again on a warm Saturday in November. Finally, the Robert’s Hill trail network is complete! You can download the newly updated Robert’s Hill trail map at LeedsCivic.org.
IMPROVED RED TRAIL AND NEW PINK CIRCLE TRAIL – The Red Triangle trail that extends east of the Blue trail was not well defined and a bit confusing as it rounded down to the Fire Road. Now with the easment path properly relocated the path is much easier to follow. Without having to do too much work, thanks to neighbors who helped with the clearing, David blazed a beautiful new trail loop off of the Red trail. This new trail is blazed with PINK CIRCLES.
NEW YELLOW CONNECTOR TRAILS TO NEW PINK CIRCLE TRAIL – Two new yellow paths makes for easy access from the long yellow path to the new pink loop. After working on the trails and painting the new blazes David did a bit more exploring and ran into two groups who had just discovered the new blazes and walked the trails, literally while the paint was still drying! He said they were absolutely delighted. David thinks these trails will be very popular – they’re very nice walks.
NEW ICE POND YELLOW CONNECTOR TRAIL – David painted small yellow marks along the small loop west of the Ice Pond. That path was very hard to follow otherwise, and in fact, a hiker he met on that trail said he had spoken to a couple cyclists who had gone there and struggled to find their way through. It’s very easy to follow now, and hopefully this loop will get more traffic.
Download the map
Wildlife blind takes form in Leeds
by Matt Verson
When the Beaver Brook Working Group first started discussing a blind, we thought it would be cool to keep our funds in the communityandemploylocaltradespeopletoshowwhattheycould do. Wally Halva at the Hampshire County Jail donated shop time and services by building the kiosk, and Joel Strate transported the kiosk. In April, Tom Jenkins of Westhampton felled the trees and dragged them to the landing with his oxen, Rock and Star. In August, Neil Godden of Goshen with his portable sawmill milled the logs into timbers and boards. A host of other folks participated by donating time or materials to the project including Dave Bowman for the roof boards, Goshen Stone for plinths and stair landing, Hathaway Construction for gravel, RK Miles for the metal roofing material. Underground Supply helped erect the structure, and Bob Marvel planed the floor boards.
The relationship between Tom Jenkins and his oxen, the way they silently moved the massive walnut, cherry, and locust logs through the forest, it was unassailable the special husbandry a teamster develops. The interest that the oxen took in their surroundings – nibbling on the emerging garlic mustard, tasting a twig here and there, was a reminder that animal traction is not just a blast from the past, but an invitation to ground oneself in the here and now.
The objective now is safe parking off the road near the kiosk, and clearing some trails to avoid having to wade through the undergrowth. Picnic tables andabenchwillfollownext season, and some folks are working to clear invasive species, and rehabilitate the old farmstead garden that still provides a variety of blooms.
Leeds Historical Signage is up!
Finally, after nearly two years, the Leeds Historical Interpretive Signage project is complete! You may have noticed the sleek black posts with signs postioned around the village at key locations of historical signifance to Leeds. These signs were designed to inform and inspire an appreciation for our village’s vibrant manufacturing past, and an understanding of the devastation inflicted on Leeds by the 1874 Mill River Flood, and maybe even a bit of awe as to how the town’s manufacturing base bounced back bigger and stronger after the Flood. Signs are located at both ends of the Mulberry Street Bridge, along the bike path at the Mulberry Street garden, across from the Hotel Bridge on Main Street, at the Flood Memorial on Main Street, on Front Street near Grove Ave, at Memorial Park across from Leeds School, and at Cook’s Dam. The project was funded by a 2016 Northampton Community Preservation Act grant. If you would like a Self-Guided Leeds Historical Walking Tour brochure to take along with you as you tour the new
2018 Membership
Our Membership page is here.
Thank you.
Pumpkin Party 2016 Photos
Click on thumbnail to enlarge.
Hotel Bridge, Leeds MA
HeatSmart Northampton Kickoff Event
Tuesday, September 12 from 7-8:30 pm
Northampton Senior Center at 67 Conz St.
Learn how to reduce your heating bill, ditch the window air conditioner and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time! HeatSmart Northampton is the latest City program to help residents and businesses save on their heating and cooling costs by providing discounted pricing on cold climate air source heat pumps. Learn more about heat pumps and generous state and utility rebates that reduce installation costs, meet Northampton’s competitively-selected installer, hear from your neighbors on their experiences with heat pumps, and get your questions answered!
For more information go to: HeatSmartNorthampton.org.
Eclipse Glasses to be Collected for Reuse
The City of Northampton will collect eclipse viewing glasses through September 15, 2017 for reuse. Drop off locations are at Northampton City Hall, 210 Main Street, and at the Northampton Department of Public Works (DPW), 125 Locust Street.
Pioneer Valley residents are encouraged to bring their usable eclipse viewing glasses to City Hall or to the DPW.
Transfer Station permit holders may also drop them off at the Glendale Road Transfer Station on Wednesdays from 8:00am – Noon and on Saturdays from 7:00am – Noon, or at the Locust Street Transfer Station, Monday through Saturday 7:00am – 4:00pm.
Collected glasses will be donated to Astronomers Without Borders, which will arrange for them to be reused in South America and parts of Asia, both of which are anticipating eclipse events in 2019.
Glasses that are torn, scratched, or are otherwise rendered unusable can be recycled by removing and discarding the dark lenses and recycling the paper- board portion.
Outdoor Theatre Production in Leeds
The title is The Mill Project and the performance invites the audience to place themselves in history while imagining our shared future.
The Mill Project, presented by Theatre Truck, is an original new play featuring five local actors and was devised by the ensemble using historical research. The result is an exploration of the first generation of American women who worked away from home: their freedoms and exploitations, their strengths and the dangers they faced, and the expectations society held for them.
The play deconstructs the historical record, remembering women’s experience of labor in the textile mills of nineteenth century New England through a “performance-collage” drawing on letters, newspapers, pamphlets and etiquette books. Woven in a tapestry of original music and movement, the play puts the “mill girls” of factory towns like Leeds into relationship with the experience of American women today. The rebellion of these early female communities against exploitation led to the early labor movement in the United States.
There will be four performances, June 22, 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30pm on the Leeds Common across from the historic Nonotuck silk mill. The audience is invited to bring a blanket or chair and a picnic in the tradition of outdoor Summer theatre. This performance is recommended for ages 14 and up. Parking is available in the Chartpak lot. In the event of heavy showers or storms, Rain Date Friday June 30.
Theatre Truck is a collaborative of multidisciplinary artists crafting mobile and site-specific performance, sustainably and playfully. Their inaugural production, The Emily Dickinson Project (2015), took place in the house and grounds of the poet’s Amherst homestead. The Water Project (Immersive) took place in New Salem, MA last September and was set to live music.
Oh sing me the song of the Factory Girl! The honest and fair and true! — J.H. Warland, 1846
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Tickets available at Brown Paper Tickets:
$20 in advance, $15 students/seniors in advance
$25 cash only at the door, $20 students/seniors at the door. For more info contact: www.theTheatreTruck.com
Collage Art by Nancy Meagher
Local to be Hero Honored at Leeds Memorial Day Ceremony – May 28, 1:00
Renee (Mac) LeVay, a life long resident of Leeds served in WWII as a paratrooper. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, helping to defeat Germany in their last major offensive of that awful war. When Mac returned home from the war he married his Leeds’ sweetheart, Annette Bachand, and raised three children. Mac was the very first custodian to work at Leeds Elementary School. In fact, in 1953, it was Mac who opened the doors for the first time to students and staff!
Did you know that the Veteran’s Memorial was once located on the Leeds Main Street Green? It was Mac LeVay who took care of that Memorial, raising and lowering the flag, year after year. Unfortunately, the Green became a hang out for wild kids–graffiti and vandalism ensued, so Mac formed a committee with his brother Brad, a Korean War veteran, and other veterans of other wars to research and record the names of all Leeds residents who served their country. Working with the LCA and City Council they relocated an updated Memorial to the current location across from the Leeds School.
The 2017 Memorial Day Ceremony will have a special dedication by Brad LeVay to honor the service of his brother, Renee (Mac) LeVay. Please bring your family and join your Leeds neighbors to honor all who served our country so bravely. Jane Bowie, VA nurse, will be the speaker. There will also be a color guard and a wreath laying ceremony. Hope to see you on Sunday, May 28th!