As the blossoms bloom and the days lengthen, two significant celebra-tions remind us of the interconnected nature of life: Mother’s Day and Earth Day. Though seemingly distinct, these observances share a deep-rooted theme—honoring the nurturing forces that sustain us, be it the mothers who guide our lives or the planet that supports our very existence.
Motherhood has been revered throughout history, with mythology painting grand por-traits of maternal devotion. In Greek mytholo-gy, Gaia, the primordial Earth goddess, is often seen as the mother of all life, embodying fertility and protection. Similarly, Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, demonstrated the undying love of a mother in the tale of her daughter Perse-phone. Her grief over Persephone’s descent into the underworld brought about the changing seasons—a reminder that a mother’s love influ-ences the world in profound ways.
In our everyday lives, mothers continue to shape futures through sacrifice and care. From single mothers working tirelessly to provide for their families to grandmothers who weave wisdom into generations, their dedication is a force of stability and strength. Mother’s Day al-lows us to reflect on these contributions, offer-ing a day for gratitude and appreciation. When expressing love, flowers and chocolate stand out as traditional gifts, both deeply intertwined with nature. Flowers, in their delicate beauty, symbolize growth, renewal, and love—reflect-ing the nurturing essence of motherhood. Roses, lilies, and tulips, each with their own meanings, remind us of the gentle care mothers provide. Similarly, chocolate—originating from the cacao tree—offers a sweet indulgence that connects us to the earth’s gifts. Ancient civilizations, such as the Maya and Aztecs, revered cacao as a sacred plant, linking it to health, vitality, and spiritu-al significance. By gifting chocolate, we honor both nature’s bounty and the simple pleasures that make life richer.
Just as mothers nurture their children, Earth sustains humankind by providing the air, water, and resources we need to thrive. Earth Day, cel-ebrated every April 22nd, serves as a wake-up call, urging us to protect our shared home from threats like pollution and climate change. An-cient civilizations recognized the sacred bond between humanity and nature. Indigenous cul-tures worldwide continue to honor the Earth as a maternal figure, emphasizing respect and sus-tainability. The concept of “Mother Earth” is not merely poetic; it underscores the responsibility humans hold in safeguarding the environment for future generations.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day and Earth Day, let’s embrace the dual responsibility of caring for both our personal and planetary mothers. Whether it’s planting a tree in her honor, ad-vocating for environmental change, or simply expressing gratitude for the unwavering sup-port she provides, small acts of appreciation can ripple outward. This season, let us not only recognize the love we receive but also commit to giving back—to our mothers, our Earth, and the generations yet to come.
By Todd Shiveley
All through the winter of 1774 - 1775, sullen grumblings of hatred against the British grew louder. The tension continually grew and caused grievous hardships among it’s colonists, especially in Boston after the Port bill, part of the intolerable acts passed by the British Parliament in March 1774, closed Boston Har-bor to all trade until the colonists paid for the tea destroyed during the Boston Tea Party.
No one could estimate how many Bostonians had been rendered jobless, with nothing to do but lounge in taverns and brood about condi-tions. The unemployed were ready recruits for Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty. Inflamma-tory leaflets came off the so-called rebel presses; the sparks of revolution found dry tinder in dis-gruntled Boston. - Irving Werstein.
The Port Bill was the tipping point after five years of intense strain with the British. During the previous 5 years, the British began build-ing up troops, often called Lobster-backs by disgruntled colonists, increasing their presence in the American colonies to enforce control and tax collection. A Stamp Act passed in 1965 im-posed a direct tax on the American colonies re-quiring a tax stamp on various printed materi-als and legal documents. The Townshend Acts, a series of British legislative acts passed in 1767 and 1768 imposed taxes on goods imported into the American colonies, including tea, glass, lead, paint, and paper, to raise revenue for the British Empire. The Intolerable Acts, a series of laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party, aimed at punishing Massachusetts and reasserting Brit-ish control over the American colonies. The Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770, when Brit-ish soldiers fired on a crowd of colonists, killing five and wounding several more. The tension struggled to hold; the fuse was lit!
Information reached Dr. Joseph Warren and other Boston Patriots on April 15th that British General Gage was planning on sending 700 in-fantry and troops to seize Adams and Hancock, and then to Concord for the arsenal. Three nights later, with news that British troops were start-ing to cross the Charles River for their march on Lexington and Concord. The famous ride took place for Paul Revere’s shouts to minuteman militia members and other concerned proud true patriots – “The British are coming along every Mid-dlesex village late at night”!
In the crisp morning dew of Wednes-day, April 19th 1775 in Lexington, the Royal Marines branch of the British military arrived and standing before them on the village green, two companies of First alarm minutemen, un-der the control of Captain John Parker, firm and ready to start a war long brewing! A shot rang out, by who was unknown, but though we were outnumbered held our own ground!
“The shot heard around the world”, a re-sounding trigger of rebellion spread across the British Empire, the strongest force at the time with its influence nearly circling the globe. Word soon had also reached the French, with it holding a close second in the known world affairs. Ironically, it would be the French who helped us, providing troops and naval support as well as arms, ammunition, uniforms, and other essential war materials to fight and defeat our tyrannical motherland and King George III. Eventually, with their backing, we gained our freedom and true Independence!
With this monumental year of 2025 unfold-ing before us with political tensions increasing, it should call attention to our history and to ap-preciate what it took to get this far and to be grateful for! While our own town of Southwick, saw its 250th anniversary in 2020 – despite the difficulties of the onset of the pandemic; this 250th semiquincentennial of our County’s past Revolution and its start. We should celebrate and take into account how many lives it took to become free.
With plans to visit Lexington and Concord with friends in April, the crowd numbers have already outsold the weekend events. But visit-ing this year, I think, should provide greater appreciation of our own lives during this 250th semiquincentennial to say you were there for this monumental and national event.
By Clifton (Jerry) Noble, Sr.
April 2 be-fore going up the mountain I wrote some pre-lude music. Eighty people filled the church for Easter Sunday. I played the Conn organ. Minister Shears and his wife helped with the anthem, so music went well. My choir girls disappeared with boyfriends promptly at noon. It was snowing hard as I came up Carrington Road’s steep hill on the way home. For her 74th birthday tomorrow I took a shoe bag and small table to my mother at Sarah Gillette old ladies home on Broad Street in Westfield.
Rather than be alone in the country and “ex-pecting” my wife Elizabeth decided to stay with father and mother Atwater on Hawthorne Av-enue. I took her to Westfield on way to work.
Surveying on Plumtree Road in Springfield last week I left my big book of logarithms on the curbing and it disappeared. We questioned playground kids and mentioned raising the re-ward from fifty cents to a dollar. When we asked boys from Lancaster Street one ran to the end of the street and came back with the book.
I had supper at Atwaters and said “Good-night” to E by telephone from Montgomery.
April 5 I met Art Smith in Springfield. He was “Cowardly Lion” when I was “Tin Man” in Hayle’s Wizard of Oz show. He’s looking to change cars. As surveyor for Springfield Gas Company he gets 7 cents a mile.
The boys size 18, white ducks I got for $2.98 at Gordon’s Army Navy store fit perfectly. I got my “twice-a-year” inspection sticker for the car at Westfield Ford on East Main Street.
Leaving survey work in Springfield, my men noticed tire thump. I got out and looked. Sure enough! On the undercar side of rear tire was a baseball-size bulge. Frank’s “Post Office Service Station” in Westfield replaced the tire.
At Atwaters Elizabeth and I had tuna fish, peas, celery and raisin bread for supper. We took a short walk. Then I did our daily Bible reading and read Alcott’s Little Women aloud to her be-fore I went home.
Friday the 7th I got Alcott’s Little Men for $1.95 and a Russian grammar for 50 cents at Conners Bookstore. Saturday I drained our water tank to get more air into it for pressure. I fed my long-haired, black and white cat at the well house. Then he followed me through the woods loving to have someone to play with. I found an arbutus blossom to take to E. Uncle Ralph Em-erson stopped. We talked of people crav-ing affection. He said his mother never showed him any, but cried when as a boy he cut him-self. He told her then, “Don’t cry mother. I’m not afraid to die>”
Sunday, before going to play organ, I shook rugs and dusted. I gave Eddie Howland a ride to church and took him home afterward. 50 cars were parked along the river by Whippernon Golf Club in Russell for the end of the canoe race. I made “Tiger Milk” with brewers yeast. (Months later I discovered this caused painful gout in my feet from TOO MUCH protein.
When it’s cold I leave my cat Fluffy in the old schoolhouse with his litter box and the pot type oil stove for heat.
On way to our survey job on Greenwich Road I showed Al Kacavich the Longmeadow estates. In the afternoon I used vacation time to take Elizabeth to Dr. Wonson. He says the baby has a strong heart beat and is ready to be born.
April 11, on way to work, I took my mother to Bessie Sibley’s egg farm in West Springfield, and back to Sarah Gillette old ladies home on return. At Atwaters I got a tiny piece of graphite out of my leg where I stabbed myself with a pen-cil, and Elizabeth put on a Bandaid.
April 18 I talked to Elizabeth about pain she might anticipate. Surprisingly she hadn’t thought about it and was suddenly afraid. I told her to prepare by trusting God to build quali-ties to make the birth easier and detach attention from areas where pain might be expected.
Mid April brought a lot of snow and rain. I leave a ladder leaning against the back of the house. The slope of the main roof is only one foot in four so it’s easy to walk on and shovel. Later I was up there clearing snow.
April 19, Patriots Day, I.took car to Westfield Ford to get broken tail pipe replaced.
About 11:30 p.m., Thursday, April 20th, I re-ceived a phone call from Atwaters that Eliza-beth needed to get to the hospital. I got her into a private room at half past midnight on the 21st, and waited in the lobby, reading magazines and chatting with receptionist Karen and an orderly. At 2 a.m. the maternity nurse sent down coffee for me.
The mural decorating the back wall of the lobby was an enlarged colored photo of moun-tains taken by Ross Conner (I learned later). The highest mountain I suddenly recognized as Rus-sell’s Mount Shatterack and realized that MY Montgomery house was directly behind it a little right of center It almost seemed as if NOBLE Hospital had planned it that way.
At 2 a.m. the principal of Huntington High School, Mr. Canavan, brought his wife in, and at 4 a.m. the owner of Soo’s Restaurant, Chan Hui, and wife arrived.
At 7:15 I phoned Al Kacavich to tell him where he and my other men could work.
At 7:30 Elizabeth’s Doctor Wonson came. Heart problems forbid his climbing stairs and he had a little trouble getting the elevator.
8:45 Elizabeth’s father, Collins Atwater ar-rived. He kept asking the receptionist questions until, at 9:05 she called across rhe lobby to me, “Mr. Noble, you have a son.”
It was suggested that Elizabeth couldn’t see anyone before ten so I planned to leave and come back. When I did I saw my lively little son in the nursery. I got permission to stay that night in case we couldn’t get a private nurse, but we did. Elizabeth was tired and couldn’t talk much but insisted on naming the baby Clifton Jerome Noble Junior.
By Debbie Patryn
My sister, Doreen, was 3 years younger than me. Be-ing the older sister I sometimes played pranks on her which usually caused her to go running and crying to our par-ents.
One such prank turned out in an unexpect-ed way. In the early 1960’s Doreen and I were given matching bathrobes made out of quilted nylon and printed with pink flowers. We loved those bathrobes but soon discovered they had an unknown capability. Turns out that if you crinkled them just right they sent out sparks in a dark room. I didn’t know at the time it was stat-ic electricity but I thought it was cool to watch in the dark. Doreen, however, not as wise as me was afraid of the sparks at night.
Of course at 8 years old I thought this was a perfect opportunity to play a prank on her.
So one dark and stormy night I carefully hid my bathrobe under my covers and waited till Doreen settled down to sleep. As soon as she was quiet I took out my bathrobe, rolled it into a ball and threw it at her. All she saw was the sparks heading right for her head. She started screaming and flailing her arms to try and get that bathrobe off her. I was laughing so hard I almost wet the bed.
Then I heard footsteps stomping up the stairs. “What’s going on up there?” my father thundered. I pulled the blankets over my head and pretended to sleep while Doreen kept try-ing to fling the bathrobe off her sparks flying all the time. My father came in the room. “You girls quiet down and go to sleep.” Doreen immedi-ately cried, “Debbie threw her bathrobe at me!”
At that point Dad decided we both deserved a spanking. So he came over to the beds and spanked Doreen which caused her to cry more.
Next he turned to me and said, “Debbie you should know better. Those bathrobes are com-ing with me!” Then he spanked me, took the robes and left the room stomping down the stairs.
The Electric
Bathrobes
April 2014
Intolerable Acts:
When our Revolution Began
By Southwick Historical Society, Inc.
On a day predicted to be rainy, a group of peo-ple instrumental in the purchase of the 10.5 acres of land at 74 College Highway in Southwick, now named Moore Meadows, gathered behind the Southwick History Museum to dedicate the site. Present were all three members of the Southwick Select Board and several members each of both the Community Preservation Committee and the Southwick Historical Society, Inc. A new banner, designed by Denise Muldrew, Society President, was on display.
The story began when the property that had been approved for a marijuana-grow facility, originally offered for sale for $900,000, was sub-sequently reduced to $250,000 during the late summer of 2024. The Board of Directors of the Southwick Historical Society, Inc. appointed a subcommittee comprised of Denise Muldrew, Lee Hamberg, Marcus Phelps, Linda Wonson-Schom-er, and Pat Odiorne to handle the myriad details involved in attempting to purchase the property at 74 College Highway. Norman Storey, a local realtor, was hired to help with negotiations for that purchase. The final price was $175,000, and many other costs would be involved. The histori-cal society applied to the Community Preserva-tion Committee for that amount plus some extra costs, and the application was approved. Sabrina Pooler, CPC Coordinator, did some research and discovered that CPC funds could not be used to purchase land for a non-profit organization such as the Southwick Historical Society, Inc. In rec-ognition of this critical finding, the society pre-sented Sabrina with a bouquet of flowers at the dedication. Sabrina was a guiding force to change the focus of the CPC to funding a conservation re-striction instead. The Conservation Commission became involved at that point, and the members voted to hold the restriction. Two appraisals were taken, one if the land were used as commercial property and the other if it were open space. The difference was $125,000, so that is the amount the CPC could offer. The Select Board voted to ap-prove that also. A Special Town Meeting was held on January 14, 2025, and the voiced “Aye” votes were so strong that a counted vote was not nec-essary. Lee Hamberg contributed to this positive result with a well-crafted article that appeared in Southwoods November 2024 issue describing the value of preserving the parcel as open land. We thank Buzz and Carole Caron and the staff at Southwoods for their steady support of the soci-ety for many years.
The Special Town Meeting confirmed the $125,000 funds toward the purchase price of $175,000, leaving the historical society needing the other $50,000 to complete the transaction. As a non-profit corporation, the Southwick Historical Society, Inc. does not make very much of a profit each year, using its funds to maintain and im-prove its two buildings, the Joseph Moore House and the C.J. Gillett Cigar Factory/Warehouse, and the grounds nearby. Thanks to the empathy and efforts of Nancy Mirkin, Commercial Lending Of-ficer at the Polish National Credit Union, a mort-gage of $37,500 was secured. A public-spirited citizen who wishes to remain anonymous offered the society a challenge: if the society could raise $10,000, that person would match it. The donor support was amazing, and the challenge was met. As donations continue to arrive, they will be used toward paying the mortgage sooner than its full term.
Processing paperwork for obtaining the Con-servation Restriction and developing a plan for the site are the next steps. Society member and Master Plan Chair Marcus Phelps is using his ex-pertise to guide this process. A kiosk describing the history and importance of the property will be installed, and trails for hiking and enjoying nature will be laid out.
A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who sup-ported the efforts of The Southwick Historical Society, Inc. to purchase the property and enable the land to be enjoyed soon and by generations in the future.
On March 7 at 3:30 am the winds from nature frac-ture three trees, that crashed onto our home in Westfield. Susanna and I were sleeping, when the extra loud tree landed on our roof, side entry way porch ripping siding and exterior north wall just six feet from our sleepy heads. Wow!
Looking outside I observed extensive damage to our water front home. Thank-fully and with a little divine intervention, were not injured. My mind started the process of who can help after calling in a insurance claim.
I went hunting for Rene, a contractor I had worked with three years prior to install the pre-vious roof. I quickly struck gold and found the kind experience gentleman and immediately started the road to recovery. General manager Brian followed me home and snap hundreds of pictures outside and inside our home. The fall-en trees were removed.
An insurance adjuster arrived a few days lat-er and gave us the go ahead, to remove the dam-age and rebuild. The entire roof 30’ x 8’ needed to be removed and brought up to current build-ing codes. I thank the team with super attitudes, confidence, skills, and knowledge of building and dealing with insurance companies.
Our skies were lit by a rare seven planet pa-rade February 28, 2025. With a telescope and getting away from city lights on that Friday evening, there’s was a chance you’d see seven planets parading through the sky. Most of the planetary alignment, which is colloquially re-ferred to as a planet parade, was visible to the naked eye just after sunset Friday, according to Preston Dyches, writer and producer of NASA’s monthly sky-watching series,
“Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter will be visible without a telescope Friday. Saturn will be faint and difficult to view. Uranus and Nep-tune require dark skies to be visible, and Mer-cury will have already set before it gets dark, meaning it won’t be possible to see all seven planets in an arc at one time”.
The arc which the planets appear on is the plane of the solar system, Dyches said. They all move at different speeds — Mercury takes 88 of our days to orbit all the way around the sun, while Neptune takes about 165 Earth years to do the same. As each planet follows its path at its own speed, they can appear for brief periods to line up next to each other from our perspec-tive on Earth.
The remarkable aspect of this celestial event is attributed to luck and timing, according to Tracy Becker, a lead scientist at the Southwest Research Institute. “We all just happen to be in the sky on this side of the sun at this time,” Usually, the planets are in different places all at once as they orbit the sun. The planet parade means that, for a certain amount of time, the or-bits seem to align. An amazing site to behold.
When I was a younger man I had opportuni-ty to be at Chicopee’s Szot Park observing color loaded lights, beaming on the upward streams of water. The deep color lights are alternating power shots every 30 seconds. Wow! Water sprays powered by accelerating water jets, hit with strong colors, with a required dark sky. Not only were the sights a turn on your mind and spirit, but the natural sounds of water fall-ing from about forty feet, landing on hard sur-faces, create musical tones. As you exit the lo-cation stimulation and relaxation seem to work together for your good. Much like a colorful rainbow in the sky on a rainy day. One provides visual stimulation during the day and the other triggers off relaxing sounds and a gentle rota-tion of colors.
May brilliant, consistent light, guide your days ahead. Smile, be diligent and take a stand for truth.
Fear is a natural and necessary emotion. It helps to protect children from potential dan-gers.
However, when fear becomes overwhelming, it can prevent children from engaging in new experiences, making friends, or developing re-silience. As a parent, you play a crucial role in helping your child navigate fear in a way that fosters confidence and courage. This guide will provide you with insight into childhood fears, strategies for supporting your child, and practi-cal steps to encourage bravery.
Understanding Childhood Fears
Children’s fears evolve as they grow, reflect-ing their cognitive and emotional development.
Common fears include:
• Toddlers (1-3 years old): Loud noises, separation from caregivers, and unfamiliar people.
• Preschoolers (3-5 years old): Imaginary creatures (monsters, ghosts), the dark, and being alone.
• School-age children (6-12 years old): Real-world dangers like natural disasters, peer rejection, or failure at school.
• Adolescents (13+ years old): Social acceptance, performance anxiety, and the future.
While some fears are temporary and fade with time, others may persist and interfere with daily life. Recognizing when fear is excessive or limiting is key to providing the right support.
The Impact of Fear on Development
When children frequently avoid feared situations, their anxiety can intensify, reinforcing a cycle of avoidance. This can affect:
• Social skills: Fear of rejection may lead to social withdrawal.
• Academic performance: Anxiety about failure can reduce motivation.
• Emotional resilience: Avoidance can prevent children from learning how to cope with challenges.
Encouraging your child to gradually face fears in a safe and supportive environment can help them build resilience and adaptability.
Strategies to Support Your Child
1. Validate Their Feelings
Dismissing or minimizing your child’s fears can make them feel unheard. Instead, acknowl-edge their emotions by saying, “I see that this is really scary for you. Let’s work through it to-gether.”
2. Model Courageous Behavior
Children learn by observing their parents. If you approach challenges with a calm and posi-tive mindset, your child is more likely to do the same. Share stories about times when you faced fears and overcame them.
3. Gradual Exposure to Fears
Encourage your child to face their fears in small, manageable steps. For example, if your child is afraid of sleeping alone, start by having them spend a few minutes in their room with the door open before gradually increasing the time they stay on their own.
4. Teach Coping Strategies
Equip your child with tools to manage fear, such as:
● Deep breathing exercises
● Visualization (imagining a positive out-come)
● Using a comfort object (a stuffed animal, special blanket)
● Practicing positive self-talk (e.g., “I can do hard things.”)
5. Reinforce Bravery with Praise
Celebrate small victories. Acknowledge their efforts rather than the outcome. Say, “I’m so proud of you for trying,” rather than, “See? That wasn’t scary.” This reinforces their bravery rather than down playing their fear.
6. Provide a Safe and Supportive Environ-ment
Let your child know that fear is a normal part of growing up, and reassure them that they are not alone. Create a home environment where they feel comfortable discussing their worries.
When to Seek Professional Help
While most childhood fears are a normal part of development, some may require professional intervention if they:
● Persist for an extended period—typically three to six months or longer—while adjusting the pace based on your child’s comfort level and progress. Some children may need more time, and that’s okay.
● Interfere significantly with daily activities
● Lead to panic attacks or extreme avoidance behaviors
● Cause distress that impacts physical health (e.g., stomachaches, headaches, trouble sleep-ing)
A child psychologist or counselor can help develop tailored strategies to support your child’s emotional well-being.
Final Thoughts
Helping your child face their fears is a jour-ney that requires patience, understanding, and encouragement. By providing a nurturing en-vironment and equipping them with coping skills, you empower them to build confidence, resilience, and bravery. Over time, they will learn that fear is not a barrier—it is an opportu-nity for growth and self-discovery.
By standing beside them in their journey, you help them transform fear into courage, setting them up for success in childhood and beyond.
A Psychologist’s Guide
Inside the Young Mind:
Facing Fears & Nurturing Bravery
By Dr. Simone Phillips
By Lee David Hamberg
It was a cold morning that April 19, 1775, just before sunrise, about 6:00 A.M. There had been various reports and warnings that British troops stationed in Boston were on the march. It was obvious to most folks that the “British Regulars” were going to Lexington to arrest rebel leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock, as well as to continue to Concord to capture or destroy arms which had been amassed there by the Massa-chusetts colonists. Members of the local mili-tia who lived near the Lexington Green were in their homes, dressed and ready “at a min-ute’s notice,” while those who lived a distance away gathered in Buckman Tavern, an old stop for wayfarers adjacent to the Lexington Green. When the town bell was rung, men scurried out to the town green to form into a company.
What they saw marching toward them un-doubtedly scared them to their core. A contin-gent of 700 professionally trained British sol-diers in their bright red wool uniforms bearing muskets fitted with bayonets marched in for-mation toward them. Lexington’s militia was ordered to lay down their arms and return back to their homes. This was not a warning to take lightly. While there were no arms laid down, they did start to back off from the British Regu-lars. No one knows where or by whom, but a shot was fired. Like a knee jerk reaction, British muskets opened fire. 3/4” round lead volleys found their targets, and eight Lexington men were fatally shot. Only one British sol-dier received a minor wound. After a few minutes, the British officers regained control over their units. They then marched on to Con-cord, where they had limited success in finding munitions. At the Old North Bridge, the minutemen gave battle, “the shot heard round the world.” The British then hurriedly evacuated back to the safety of Boston, encountering resistance at numerous sites along the way. The American Revolution had begun.
While the Battles of Lexington and Concord flared up, the district of Southwick, 100 miles to the west, was quite unaware of the momentous events happening in Middlesex County. That wouldn’t be the case for long. The colonists had developed a method of emergency communi-cation in case 500 or more British troops sta-tioned in Boston went on the move. It consisted of church bells, musket fire, drums, bonfire, even trumpets, to spread the news. Combined with express riders who shared the news both verbally and in writing, the greater Springfield area was warned, about dawn, on April 20, 177 5. One can see an actual handwritten copy of the express news of that fight at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum in Lexington from April 14-26, 2025.
While no Southwick diaries or letters survive, the diary of Rev. Stephen Williams, minister for the Longmeadow parish of Springfield, still ex-ists in the Longmeadow Historical Society col-lections. His entry for April 20 reads in part:
“This morning- as soon as it was light, the drum beat and three guns were fired as an alarm. The story is that some of the troops had marched from Boston to seize some military stores of Lexington or Concord and that some men had been killed but he accounts are vague- and as yet uncertain--we must wait. .. “
Within a couple of hours of that, Southwick was certainly warned. A “legal [town] meeting” was called that day, and the transcript reads as follows:
“Southwick April Ye 20th 1775 at a legal meeting held at the meetinghouse.
1. Robert Campbell chosen moderator for said meeting.
2. Voted to raise a number of minnet men.
3. Voted to pay the minnet men according to the recommendations of the Provential Con-gress, Voted to have 25 minnet men.
4. Voted that the minnet men shall Reg their guns upon the towns cost that aint able to reg their own guns and the cost to be taken out of their wages.”
An 1855 transcript reads “rig,” rather than “reg,” suggesting that the guns were to include gunpowder and lead.
While it was easy to vote for “minnet men,” it raises the question: did Southwick actually raise and send men to Lexington and Concord? The answer to that question came a few days later on April 24th, at another “legal meeting”:
3. Voted to raise seven pounds ten shillings to send to the men that are gone to Boston as minuet men...
This leaves no doubt that Southwick did indeed send men to the Lexington Alarm. In 1951, town historian Maud Gillett Davis com-piled a list of 25 Southwick men who may have marched toward Boston. After checking that list of names against the service records document-ed in Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the American Revolution (17 vols.), the following sixteen men definitely marched: John Campbell, Moses Campbell, Thomas Campbell, William Campbell, Silas Fowler, Ezekiel Graves, Zenas Graves, Elijah Harmon, Israel Hayes (Haies), Amos Ives, Amos Loomis, Israel Loomis, Noah Loomis, James Nelson, Samuel Olds, and Roger Root. There is no record of service beginning April 20 or 21, 1775 for the other nine.
The Southwick farmers formed the South-wick · 1st Company of Minutemen. Their rank and chain of command was as follows: Captain, Silas Fowler; Corporals, Amos Ives and John Campbell; fifers, Zenas Graves and Roger Root (privates); all other men, privates. The offices of lieutenant, sergeant, and drummer were not among those names. The men may have gath-ered immediately after the “legal meeting,” but didn’t march until April 21.
A long-standing New England tradition was that prior to leaving town, soldiers would gather at their local meetinghouse and receive prayer and words of support from the minis-ter, which in the case of Southwick would have meant Rev. Abel Forward. It’s likely that he per-formed such a task.
Although the soldiers were days late for the Lexington and Concord engagements, they con-tinued to march to Roxbury (now part of Bos-ton), arriving on April 29. There they joined Col. Timothy Danielson’s regiment. After a few days with no other battle imminent, they were dis-charged. Most returned home at that point, for a total service, including travel, of 21 days.
There were exceptions. William Campbell, Ezekiel Graves, Amos Ives, Noah Loomis, and James Nelson, enlisted in Capt. Lebbeus Ball’s Company. Ball was from Granville, and served at various times under Col. Timothy Daniel-son of Brookfield and Col. William Shepard of Westfield. Those Southwick men continued their service for several months and may have been engaged at the Battle of Bunker Hill, which occurred on June 17, 1775.
Southwick, indeed the colonies that would become the United States of America, would never be the same after that fateful spring day.
Reports from Southwick:
An American Revolution
View of Lexington Meetinghouse and Buckman Tavern 1775
Minutemen Statue at
Lexington Green
Nature’s
Shadows and Light
By Michael Dubilo
Moore Meadows Dedication
From left: Community Preservation Committee Coordinator Sabrina Pooler, CPC members Dennis Clark, John Whalley III, Richard Harriman, Southwick Historical Society, Inc. President Denise Muldrew, SHS Board member Marcus Phelps, SHS Archivist Lee Hamberg, SHS Secretary Barbara Phelps, CPC member David Spina, Select Board Member Douglas Moglin, SHS Treasurer Patricia Odiorne, Select Board Member Diane Gale, CPC Chair Christopher Pratt, Select Board Chair Jason Perron.
Happy Easter! I heard about an American tourist who was going through a cemetery in Europe. All of a sudden, he heard music play-ing. He thinks, That’s odd. I wonder where that music is coming from.
He finally locates the spot. It’s coming out of a grave – a grave with a headstone that says, Ludwig van Beethoven. Then he realizes the music is actually Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony – his greatest composition – but it’s being played backwards. Backwards! He thinks, That’s even more odd.
Puzzled, he goes and gets the cemetery’s caretaker, and he asks him for an explanation. “I would have thought it was obvious,” the caretaker says. “Beethoven is decomposing.”
Is that how it all ends? We just die and de-compose? That’s it – lights out. Is that it? No. No!
Your soul will never die. Never.
Your soul – that one-of-a-kind, unique part of you that makes you essentially you – never dies. It goes on. Perhaps one day you’ll see what Vicki saw ...
Vicki was born blind. In fact, she was born without any optical nerves, so she never saw anything during her 22 years of life. No colors. No shapes. Nothing. That is … until that fateful night at the age of 22. Vicki was involved in a deadly car crash. Upon impact, she was hurled from the car, and she broke her back, broke her neck, and broke her skull.
The next thing Vicki knew, she was outside her body and, for the first time in her life … she could see! She watched as the doctors were working frantically on her body. Moments lat-er, Vicki began to float upward, moving toward a point of light that was getting brighter and brighter. There was no pain – only peace. And love – more love than she had ever known.
Soon, she was inside that light … but she wasn’t alone. Family and friends were there. They had died, but now they were young and beautiful and vitally alive. And next to her … next to her stood a Man who shined brighter than all the others. Immediately, she knew it was Jesus. “He actually hugged me,” Vicki said. “I felt His beard and hair. He wrapped me in such warmth and love, and His eyes were so piercing.”
Jesus said, “Isn’t it wonderful, Vicki? Isn’t it beautiful? But it’s not your time to be here.”
Vicki said, “But I want to stay.”
Jesus promised that one day He would come back for her again. She then felt like she was on a rollercoaster going backward and she found herself back in her body, feeling heavy and full of pain … and, once again, blind.
Amazing? Yes! But one day you and I will have our own amazing story. The point is: Your soul never dies. Never.
But that’s just anecdotal. We don’t base our faith in Vicki. We base our faith on the Bible. What does the Bible say? The Bible says there will be a day in your life when you will never again feel pain or sickness or sorrow.
The Bible says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Death can’t kill you. Death has been defeat-ed. You and I will never die. Never. But there’s a second part to this …
One day even your physical body will live again.
One day, at some pre-determined point in the future, on that awesome day when Jesus comes back in glory, your physical body will be reani-mated, raised from the grave, and rejoined with your soul.
You say, “Jeff, that sounds impossible.” Well, consider this before you say it’s impossible …
There was an award-winning chemist named Michael Farraday who was honored with a sil-ver trophy for his achievements. One day a worker accidentally knocked that silver trophy off the shelf into a vat of acid. The acid bubbled and steamed and completely dissolved the sil-ver.
The worker confessed to Farraday what had happened. Farraday said, “Don’t worry.” He mixed a few chemicals in a glass beaker and poured it into the acid. Immediately, the acid started to again spit and sputter – and, amaz-ingly, that dissolved silver began to reappear and reform. Farraday reached in with his tongs and plucked the silver from the acid and had it recast.
Now, I ask you, if a chemist can do that in a laboratory, don’t you think our Creator can do that with us – though our physical body may be long dissolved to dust and ashes. Is that so hard to believe?
God is going to reform and recast our mortal bodies. One day we will walk out of the tomb just as Jesus walked out of the tomb on Easter Sunday!
Still sound impossible? Consider this before you call it impossible …
When archeologists discovered the tomb of King Tut, one of the treasures they discovered in that burial chamber was a jar of seeds – seeds that had been buried for 3,000 years. Though the seeds had been sealed in the darkness of that tomb for centuries, when they were brought out of the darkness and exposed to the sunlight, they came alive again and began to blossom.
If God can do that with a seed, don’t you think He can do that with you? Though your body may be dead and buried for centuries, sleeping in the darkness of the tomb, when the light of God shines on you, you will spring to life!
Again, is this so hard to believe?
Do you ever hear those commercials on TV that tell you that 99% of people over the age of 50 already have the shingles virus living in their body? (Now, there’s a pleasant thought!) Can I tell you something? 100% of you already have the Resurrection Gene living in your body. You can’t be killed. You can’t stay dead.
One day, when Christ returns, you are going to get your glorified body. Won’t that be awe-some! A body which is strong and young and in its prime. Clear eyes and sharp mind. Knees that don’t creak.
One day you will hear that Jeff King has died. Don’t believe it. Don’t believe a word of it. I will be more alive than ever.
I will never die. And you will never die. One hundred years from now, everyone reading this article will be more alive than ever, living in one of two places. With God … or separate from God. In light … or in darkness. God wants you to be with Him. He loves you. He sent Jesus to tell you that. Happy Easter! Deth is defeated. We win.
Death is
Defeated
10-5
Granville Federated Church
Upcoming Events
17th – Maundy Thursday Dinner/Service 5 p.m.
20th – Easter Sunrise Service on Blueberry Hill 6 a.m.
Breakfast All are Welcome! 7 a.m.
Easter Service in the Sanctuary 10 a.m.
To include your event, please send information by the 1st of the month. We will print as many listings as space allows. Our usual publication date is around the 10th of the month. Email to: magazine@southwoods.info.
Rockwood Farm / Wooders
Benefit Breakfast
Saturday, May 3rd: Benefit Breakfast for Rockwood Farm/Woodger’s from 8am to 11am. Pancakes with bacon or sausage, home fries. Choice of orange juice or milk, coffee or tea. Event is at Fellowship Hall, Granville Federated Church. $10.00 per plate, Children under 10 - $5.00
Our Lady of the Lake Church
“Remembering the Last Supper” Soup & Bread Meal
April 17th at 5:30 pm: (Monetary donations to defer cost will be graciously accepted) Last year our Soup & Bread Meal was a big hit. Everyone that attended thoroughly enjoyed the homemade soups and homemade bread. We had a wonderful variety of soups to choose from. We will be meeting on Wednesday, April 16th at 1:00 P.M. to prepare soup and to set up. Please feel free to bring your soup prepared from home. You can bring it in a crockpot or in the pan. We ask that you please bring a soup ladle. We will also need people to serve and clean up. If anyone has any questions, ideas, thoughts, or concerns please let me know 413- 537-3249 or dlmdavid555@gmail.com.
Southwick Lions Club
Chicken & Pasta Dinner
April 26th 5-7pm: The Southwick Lions Club will be hosting a Chicken and Pasta dinner on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at the Southwick American Legion Hall Post #338, 46 Powder Mill Road from 5-7 pm. Cocktail hour is from 5-6 pm and dinner will be served at 6 pm. Dinner will include chicken, pasta with herb-butter sauce, salad, bread and dessert. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased at the door or from a Lions Club member ahead of time. Proceeds will be returned back to the community in-kind through programs in need and scholarships.
Copper Hill United Methodist Church
Tag and Bake Sale
May 3rd: Join us for a tag and bake sale on Saturday May 3, 2005 from 9am to 3pm at Copper Hill United Methodist Church, 27 Copper Hill Road, East Granby, Ct. We will have lots of ‘Treasures’ for you to look through, as well as great baked good choices! For information call Susan at (860) 668-1031
Salmon Brook Historical Society
Tag Sale
May 17th, 2025 in Granby, CT: Discover Unique Finds at the Salmon Brook Historical Society Flea Market! Join us on Saturday, May 17th, from 9 AM to 4 PM for an exciting and fun-filled day at the Salmon Brook Historical Society Flea Market! We’ll be at 208 Salmon Brook Street, Granby, CT, where you’ll find an incredible variety of items that are sure to spark your interest. We invite you to donate gently used items to help support the Salmon Brook Historical Society. If you’d like to contribute, please drop off your donations at SBHS on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM to Noon. Note that we are unable to accept clothing donations.
Southwick High Class of ‘75 Reunion
Saturday, July 19th: Southwick High School’s class of ‘75 is holding their 50th class reunion on Saturday July 19th from noon to 6pm. at the Lake George Sports on North Loomis Street in Southwick. Further details will e posted on the reunion’s Facebook page: Southwick Class of ‘75. If you are on Facebook join that page by clicking “Follow”. If you are not on social media but want to attend email SHSfifieth@gmail.com and information will be emailed to you as it becomes available.
Southwick Community Episcopal Church
Financial Seminar
April 24, 6:30-8:30 pm: Financial Peace Seminar Series is being offered by Southwick Community Episcopal Church (in New Fellowship Hall of Southwick Congregational Church, 448 College Hwy) on Thursday evenings staring on April 24th and continuing for 9 weeks. Cost is $60 registration and materials for first 10 registrations. $80 after these slots are filled. Some scholarships available if cost is an issue. Contact Mary at 413-250-1996 or mcurran@comcast.net
Cub Scout Pack 118
Bottle and Can Drive
Saturday, April 26th: Come by Southwick Congregational Parking lot on April 26th from 10am - 2pm to support Cub Scout Pack 118’s Bottle and Can Drive.
Southwick Historical Society
Amelia Earhart & Roast Pork Dinner
Thursday, April 24th: Join us April 24th at 6:00pm for a business meeting followed by a delicious pork dinner from 6:30-7:30pm, and stay for a talk about Emilia Earhart. Our dinner will be catered roast pork with all the fixings. $25 per meal and reservations are required for the dinner. Please call 413-210-5870 by April 15th, 2025.
Our presenter Mallory Howard will be discussing aviatrix Amelia Earhart whose life was cut tragically short, but was ultimately a triumph in a male dominated field. Learn about her personal life as well as her accomplishments in the air and on the ground and news regarding the latest claims of what happened to her after she perished. It is exciting, interesting, and bittersweet exploration of the famous aviatrix and why she is remembered today. Presentation is free and open to the public.
COUNTRY PEDDLER
CLASSIFIEDS
GOODS & SERVICES
traprock driveways built & repaired. Gravel, loam, fill deliveries. Tractor services, equipment moved, York Rake. Bill Armstrong Trucking. 413-531-0498.
DELREO HOME IMPROVEMENT for all your exterior home improvement needs, ROOFING, SIDING, WINDOWS, DOORS, DECKS & GUTTERS extensive references, fully licensed & insured in MA & CT. Call Gary Delcamp 413-569-3733
RECORDS WANTED BY COLLECTOR - Rock & Roll, Country, Jazz of the 50’s and 60’s All speeds. Sorry - no classical, showtunes, polkas or pop. Fair prices paid. No quantity too small or too large. Gerry 860-668-5783 or G.Crane@cox.net
GOODS & SERVICES
Lakeside Property management - For all your landscaping needs. Mowing, new lawn installs, sod, mulch/stone installation, bush trimming, retaining walls, snow plowing/removal, etc. Serving Southwick, Suffield, Granby, Agawam, Westfield, Simsbury. Residential and commercial. Call Joe 413-885-8376. Give us a call and let us get that property looking the way you want it! Now accepting major credit cards.
St. Jude’s Novena - May the sacred heart of Jesus adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now, and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus pray for us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day. By the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you St. Jude. ..- GR
St. Jude’s Novena - May the sacred heart of Jesus adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now, and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus pray for us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day. By the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you St. Jude. ..- MM
treadmill for sale Horizon T101 Treadmill for Sale. 4 years old. BEST OFFER. Call 860-463-4342
