town of northfield finding aid

8/9/2019 Town of Northfield Finding Aid

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TOWN OF NORTHFIELD COLLECTION

DICKINSON MEMORIAL LIBRARY

115 Main Street

Northfield, MA 01360

413-498-5615

http://www.northfieldpubliclibrary.org/


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Historical Note:

In 1673 as the first white English colonists arrived in the area that would become known asNorthfield, the Pocomtuc tribe then living there called their village Squawkeag. Though the

local Indian peoples resisted white settlement and more than once white colonists fled south to

avoid death or captivity, by 1723 the town of Northfield was officially incorporated. Well intothe next century, the town prospered as an agricultural community. Many Northfield farmers

also worked as skilled tradesmen, such as the builder Calvin Stearns (1778-1857), the man

responsible for several of the early-nineteenth century houses that still grace the towns historical

Main Street. Later in the nineteenth century, the evangelist Dwight Moody returned to hishometown to open the Northfield School for Girls (1879). For years, Moody also hosted

religious conferences that brought thousands of visitors to Northfield each summer which in turn

led the town into its resort phase, particularly after construction of the NorthfieldHotel in1887. While the schools (Moody opened the Mount Hermon School for Boys across the river in

Gill in 1881) and the summer revivals provided increased employment opportunity, agriculture

would remain an important part of Northfields general prosperity into the twentieth century.

After World War II, as local agriculture went into decline, increasing numbers of Northfielderswould commute to work outside of town but the sense of community would be maintained

through town institutions such as the library, the elementary school, and its churches. Today,

Northfield remains a vibrant community, proud of its long history on the banks of theConnecticut River.

Scope and Content Note:

The Town of Northfield Collection is a rather eclectic one, reflecting all manner of Northfield

activities, as a town and by individuals. There are library, church and school records, somepersonal papers, and much documentation of town celebrations and club activities.

The Town of Northfield Collection is divided into the following series:

I. TOWN OF NORTHFIELD

II. NORTHFIELD PEOPLEIII. CHURCHES

IV. SCHOOLS

V. CLUBS and ASSOCIATIONSVI. PUBLICATIONS and UNPUBLISHED DOCUMENTSVII. ORIGINAL ARCHIVIAL RECORDS

VIII. PHOTOGRAPHS and OTHER IMAGES

IX. AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS

X. OVERSIZE


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Box list

Series I. Town of Northfield

Box 1,

Folder No.

1. A Bibliography of Northfield, n.d., c.1970s

Chateau

2. Carl C. Compton, The Story of the Northfield Chateau, 1963; n.a., The Chateau,1949

3. Assorted newspaper clippings, 1949-1993

4. Commune: Spirit in the Flesh, 1970s newspaper clippings compiled by Shauna Tillson-

Griffin5. Concerts and Plays, Handbills, 1859-1928, n.d.

6. Descriptive Guide to Archival Public Records of Northfield, 1982

Dickinson Memorial Library (see also Box 1a)

7. Northfield Social Library correspondence and meeting notices, 1814-18588. E.M. Dickinson to D.L. Moody, 26 May 1896

9. Book receipts, 1813-1822

10. Northfield Social Library catalogues, 1853, 1866

11. Northfield Public Library catalogs, 1878-189712. Bookplates, 1866, n.d.

13. Christiana Stockbridge, The Northfield Public Library, a paper read at theFortnightly, 1929

14. Descriptive Guide to Northfield Archival Personal Papers and records, 1993

15. Newspaper clippings, 1940, 1993, n.d.

15a. Memorabilia16. Guide to Northfield, 1898

17.Historic Main Street, 1977

18. List of Residents, 2004, 2006, 200819.Metacomet Monadnock Mattabesett Trail System: National Scenic Trail Study and

Environmental Assessment(2006)

Natural Disasters

Floods, 1927-193620. Railway Mail Service,Mail Story of the[1927]Flood(1928)

21. New England Power Association, The Great Flood of 1936, ContactVol.

17, no. 4 (April 1936)


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Box 1a,Folder no.

Dickinson Memorial Library

1. Computer logs, 1997-2001

De-accessions

2. Miscellaneous, 1979-19923. Cookbook collection, 1992

4.Doings at Dickinsonnewsletter, 1987-1988, n.d.

5. Gifts, 1976-1984

6. Northfield Fact Sheet, 1990-19977. Library policies, 1982-2000, n.d.

Box 2,

Folder No.

Natural Disasters

Floods, 1927-1936

1. Massachusetts Geodetic Survey,High Water Data: Flood of March 1936 in

Massachusetts(1936)

2. Flood Views: Franklin County and Vicinity(1936) [4 copies]

3. Pictorial Flood Souvenir,Boston Globe(1936) [2 copies]

Hurricane and Flood of 1938

4. Telephone Topics, Vol. 32, no. 6 (October 1938) [2 copies]5. Hurricane-Flood Views, 1938

6. New England Power Association, Flood and Hurricane Issue, Contact, Vol.

19, no. 11 (Nov. 1938) [3 copies]7. The Flood and Hurricane of 1938: Being the Twin Disasters in Brattleboro

and Surrounding Towns(1938) [2 copies]

8. The Complete Historical record of New Englands Stricken Area, September

21, 1938(1938) [2 copies]

9.

Assorted newspaper clippings re: Hurricane and Flood of 1938

10.Northfield, Yankee MagazineVol. 51, no. 9 (Sept. 1987)

Northfield Inn11.Postcards, pamphlets, maps

12.Newspaper clippings, 1949-1976, n.d.


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Box 3,

Folder no.

1. The Northfield Mountain Interpreter(1981)

Schell Bridge

2. Assorted images and articles, 1949-2009, n.d.

3. Strategic Plan, Friends of Schell Bridge, draft and final version, 20074. Scrapbook: Garages in Northfield, compiled by Shauna Tillson-Griffin, 2008

5. Services and Businesses, n.d., circa 1930s

Town Celebrations6. Miscellaneous, 1872-1953

7. Old Home Week, 1902-1906 (multiple duplicates)250

thAnniversary, 1923

Correspondence

8. General, 1923-1924, n.d.

9. G. Glenn Atkins, 1923

10. Leila M. Church, 192511. Pamphlets, flyers, stationery

12. Newspaper clipping, 1923

13. Pageant of Northfield script14. Speeches, sermons, and remarks

15. Short histories

16. Notes re: Story of Northfields 250thAnniversaryCommonwealth of Massachusetts Tercentenary, 1930

17. Northfield Tercentenary Celebration program, 1930

18. Mailing list used at time of the Tercentenary Celebration, 1930

19. Newspaper clippings, 193019a. Handbills and flyers, 1930

300th

Anniversary, 1973

20. Official Souvenir Tercentenary Program, 197321. Board of Selectmen resolution, 1973

22. Printed schedule of event, 1973

23. Newspaper clipping, 1972-1973

24. Northfield history, 1924-1969

Box 4,

Folder no.Genealogical Questionnaire, alphabetical by family surname, 1973

1. A

2. B

3. C-D


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Box 4, contd

Folder no.

4. E-G5. H6. J-K

7. L-M

8. N-R

9. S10. T-Z

Town of Northfield

11. Report of the Community Preservation Act Subcommittee of the

Northfield Open Space Committee, December 2006

Series II. Northfield PeopleBox 5,Folder No.

1. Miscellaneous Newspaper clippings, 1971-1989, n.d.

Individuals

2. A-C

3. Belden, 19684. Bixby-Lynde, 1850-1865, n.d.

5. Bixby-Lynde genealogical information (see also Merriman, below)6. D-H7. Obadiah Dickinson, legal documents, 1809-1810

8. Seth Field (1712-1792), genealogy

9. Charles Field, penmanship chapbook, 1810

10. Charlotte Field, Last Will and Testament, 185611. Dr. Philip and Mary Hall, correspondence, 1813-1877, n.d.

12. Beth Hapgood, 88 Main Street: Crossing the Threshold

12a. Holton Family, 1859-1974, n.d.13. Letters of Lydia Hosmer, 1830-1832, transcribed and annotated

14. K-M

15. Merriman family, genealogical information16. John Nevers, correspondence, 181317. P-S

18. Mary Percival, Prologue, Inscribed to the Soldiers Aid Society in Northfield, 1861

19. Clarence and Rollin Randall, Rewards of Merit, n.d.20-21. What the Stearns Family Was Like, by Ethel Jackson, 1968

22. Three Centuries of the Stearns Family, 1600-1900, by Ethel Jackson, 1959

23. W


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Series III. Churches

Box 6,

Folder No.

1. Parish Tax Records, 1826, 1829

2.227 Years of the First Parish Church, n.d., circa 1945

3. Annual Report, Franklin Conference of Congregational Churches, 1892-1893

(2 copies)Trinitarian Congregational Church

4. Miscellaneous, 1925-1951

5. Carl C. Compton, The Story of the Congregational Church, 1825-1975(3 copies)

6. Membership Directory, 1988

7. Church history update, 2008

Series IV. Schools

Private

Northfield Institute

8. Miscellaneous, 1851-18589. Original subscribers, 1851

10. Catalogue, 1851, 1853

Northfield Mount Hermon

11. Correspondence, 1929-1938

12. Dwight L. Moody, biographical material

13. Dwight L. Moody bibliography compiled by Carl C. Compton, 197414. Elliott Speer, In Memoriam, 1898-1934

15. Various histories prepared by Elsie Scott, 1957-1970, n.d.

16. Assorted programs, 1898-195517. Northfield Seminary School Bulletins, 1926-1943

18. Northfield School for Girls, Yearbook, 1948

19. Course Catalogs, 1968-1983

20. Postcards, note card, and map, 1908, 1929, n.d.21. School publications, 1937-1977

22. Newspaper clippings, 1955-1980


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Box 7,

Folder No.

Public

1. Annual Report, School Committee, 1860-61, 18632. Report of the Superintendent of Schools, 1911

Northfield Elementary School

3. Promotion Day programs, 1930-19384. Newspaper clipping, 1991

Northfield High School

5. Concert and Play programs, 1907-1953

6. Class Day programs, 1951, 19547. Graduation invitations, 1909, 1914, 19268. Graduation programs, 1908-19579. The Tattler, 1913-1915, 1926-1927

10. The Review, 1946, n.d., circa1947-1948

11. Christmas issues of The Review, n.d., circa1946,1948

12. The Echo, 1951-195313. Class songs, 1948, n.d.

14. 50th

Class reunion material, Class of 1923, Class of 1945

15. Miscellaneous

Pioneer Valley Regional School16. Concerts and play programs, 1960, 1962

17. Graduation programs, 1958, 1961, 1969, 198118. Serendipity: A Literary Magazine, n.d., circa1998-1999

19. Class Notes, n.d., circa 1965-1966

20. Miscellaneous

Box 8,Folder No.

Series V. Clubs and associations1.Miscellaneous, 1856-2008Daughters of the American Revolution, Northfield chapter

2. Correspondence, 1954-19633. Memorabilia

4. Chapter reports, 1955-1962

5. Dues reports, 1955-19626. Information re: applying for membership


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Box 8, contd

Folder No.

7. Membership applications, 1955

8. State and National Society literature, 1954-19629. State and National Society handbooks, 1940-1961

10. Ritual, prayers, and other pamphlets, 1936-1956

10a. Fortnightly Club, 1927-1931, 1997, n.d.

10b. Friends of the LibraryGrand Army of the Republic, Henry H. Johnson Post No. 171

11. Correspondence, 1917-1927

12. Financial records, 1922-1926

13. Minutes, Franklin County Civil War Veterans, May 6, 1926

14. Memorabilia15. Membership applications, 1919-192316. Insurance policy, 191117. Record of Company H, 36

thMassachusetts Volunteers, prepared by Samuel D.

Dutton, n.d.

18. Report of Post Quartermaster, 1917-1927

19. Representatives elected to Department Encampment, 1922-192420. Post Chaplins Memorial Day Report, 1901-1904

Box 9,Folder no.

Rustic Ridge Association

1. Maps and directories, 1945-19762. Rev. Robert Bonner Jack,Rustic Ridge Association, 1905-1945(1946),

[3 copies]

3. Historical Committee, The Story of Rustic Ridge, 1901-1976 (1976) [3 copies]4. Unpublished and drafts of histories, 1976-1999

5. Lists of Members, 1948-2000

6. Legal documents, 1949-2000

7. Rules pertaining to the Representative of the Rustic Ridge Association, Inc.

8. Security, 19829. Ridge Runner newsletter, 1975-1980; 2000-200110. Newspaper clippings, 1955-2001

Financial

11. Bank records, 1964-1997

12. Dues, 1970-197713. Cash Accounts, 1909-1921

14. Assessments, 1908-1927


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Box 10,

Folder no.

1. Assessments, 1927-1971

2. Treasurers reports, 1941-2000

Committee reports

3. 1927-1939

4. 1940-19445. 1945-1950

6. 1951-1956

7. 1957-1962

8. 1963-1971

9. 1972-197710. 1978-1983

Box 11,

Folder no.

1. 1984-1987

2. 1988-20003. Committee Assignments, 1945-1996

General correspondence4. 1948-1969

5. 1975-19786. 1992-1995

7. 1996-2000

Correspondence from the Association to the members8. 1909-1975

9. 1976-1993

10. 1994-200011. By-laws, 1944-1978, n.d.

Minutes12. Annual and Executive Committee meetings, 1905-1921 [bound vol.]13. Annual and Executive Committee meetings, 1922-1936 [bound vol.]

14. Executive Committee meetings, 1936-1944

Board of Directors meetings

15. 1945-195616. 1957-1967

17. 1968-1981


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Box 12,

Folder no.

Board of Directors meetings, contd1. 1981-1989

2. 1990-2000Annual meetings

3. 1936-1944

4. 1945-1954

5. 1955-19646. 1965-1975

7. 1977-1989

8.1990-2000

9. Miscellaneous

Series VI. Publications and unpublished documents10. Schell Chateau and Bridge, Rev. Arthur L. Winn (1949)

11. Assorted unpublished papers, Elsie Scott, 1973, n.d.

12. Pamphlets, Friends of Northfields Old Cemeteries, n.d.13. Men of Northfield, various authors, n.d., circa 1989

14. Women of Northfield, various authors, 1989

15. A Narrative by Hugh Eastman, n.d., circa 2002

15a.Reminiscences of Men and Things in Northfield(1875)

Box 13 Northfield Newsletter, June 1951-September 1983 (missing some issues)

Box 13a Northfield Community Newsletter, 1996-2011 (missing some issues)

Series VII. Original archival records

Box 14,

Folder no.

1-2. Descriptive inventories

3. Microfilming informationDescriptions and lists

4. Colton Collection

5. Webster Collection6-8. Land Grants, 1672-17209. Town Warrants, 1720-1781

10. Town and School Reports, 1873-1975

11. Assorted transcriptions12-19. Miscellaneous


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Box 15

Folder no.

Vertical subject files

1. Alexander, Caleb2. Architecture, Northfield

3. Beaman, Waldo Gamaliel4. Bennett Brook Watershed Association

5. Bennett, Col. John Wesley

6. Bibliography, Northfield

7. Birch Tree8. Blacksmiths

Bridges

9. Bennett Meadow Bridge

10. First Railroad Bridge

11. Schell Bridge12. Carr family13. Communes14. Community Preservation Act

15. Connecticut River

16. Cooper Bolt, or Mud Turtle

17. DeVeer, Elizabeth18. Dickinson, Elijah

Dickinson Memorial Library

19-20. Catalogues21. Centennial

22. Clippings23. History

24. Librarians25. Ina Merriman, trustee

26. Native American remains

Box 16Folder no.

Dickinson Memorial Library, contd

1. Newsletters2. Dunnell, Leon

3. Field, Seth

4. First Parish Church of Northfield, Unitarian5 Galford Lumber Company6. Glazier, Lyle

7. Honor Roll

8. Hostel

9. Ice Cave10. King Phillips Hill

11. Leather-man


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Box 16, contd

Maps

12. Historic13. Recreational

14. Masonic mural15. Microfilm

16. National Library Week

17. Northfield Elementary School

18. Northfield Mountain Project19. Northfield Seminary

20. Parsons, Herbert C.

21. Pine Street School

22. Pioneer Valley Regional High School

23. Pioneer Valley Regional School District24. Public Records25. Reed Family26. Rikert, Emory

27. Satans Kingdom

28. Speer, Elliott

29. Squakheag Village30. Swan, Timothy

31. Swinerton, Gerald Lee

32. Trinitarian Congregational Church33. United Boys Brigade

34. Walking Tour35. Webster, Bernice

VIII. Photographs and other images

Box 17

People

Northfield baseball team, 1907-1908 (2 copies)G.A.R WomensRelief Corps picnic, c.1910

Holton Family Reunions, n.d. (c1920s/1930s), 1946, 1948

Col. Paul J. Norton 1922Northfield boys (unidentified) reenacting World War I, at the 250th

Anniversary,1923

Women rolling bandages, n.d., c.World War I (3 photos)

Thomas Talbot, son of George Talbot, n.d.

Homes, buildings and vistasDickinson Memorial Library, misc. photos, 1991

Dickinson Memorial Library, two post cards, n.d.


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Box 17, contd

Flood, 1936

Hurricane, 1938Floral cottage, residence of Charlie W. Matoon, n.d.

ChurchesMain Street in Northfield, 1890s

Memorial Day parade, 1906

Parade, 1904unidentified house, n.d

Rustic Ridge, people and vistas

Miscellaneous

Box 18

Northfield schoolsRalphs School (NES?), June 1926 (some students identified)Northfield High School (exterior), n.d.

N.H.S graduating class, 1913-1931 (some students identified)

N.H.S graduating class trip to Washington D.C 1928 (some students identified)N.H.S graduating class trip to Washington D.C 1942 (some students identified)

N.H.S., Class of 1957

Unidentified

Framed images (against wall)

Genealogy of Holton family 1668-1869

Wallpaper fragment found underneath six layers of later wallpaper from the hallof the old parsons homestead in 1830

Eighth grade poster board school assignment: Northfield by Holly Bressett and

Luke Trill, c.1997

Commonwealth of Massachusetts official proclamation in recognition of the town

of Northfields centennial celebration ofthe Dickinson memorial library, 1998

IX. Audiovisual materials

Microfilm (in file cabinet)

Title Dates Reel # Description

Assessors Records 1827 - 1832Births, Deaths, & Marriages 1717 - 1895 1 Town Hall Northfield, MA

Births, Deaths, & Marriages 1717 - 1895 2 Town Hall Northfield, MA


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Microfilm (in file cabinet), contd


Historic Deerfield Inc. Deerfield, MA 1 Stearns Bros. Documents

The Northfield Press Jul 17, 1909-Jun 17, 1910The Northfield Press Jun 23, 1911-Nov 16, 1928

The Northfield Press Apr 5, 1929-Nov 14, 1930

The Northfield Press Apr 10, 1931-Dec 30, 1932

The Northfield Press Jan 6, 1933-Dec 28, 1934The Northfield Press Jan 3, 1936-Dec 30, 1938

The Northfield Press Jan 6, 1939-Dec 26, 1941

The Northfield Press Jan 2, 1942-Dec 15, 1944 1943 Box 5The Northfield Press Jan 5, 1945- Dec 26, 1947

The Northfield Press Jan 2, 1948-Sept 30, 1949

The Northfield Press Nov 2, 1956-Jan 2, 1959

The Northfield Press 1 Town Boundaries Journal of Martin Brown Indian DeedsThe Northfield Press 2 Framed Land Deeds Writs of Attachments 20A

The Northfield Press 3 Writs of Attachments 20B Sankey's Story of the Gospel

HymnsThe Northfield Press 4 Sankey's Story of the Gospel Hymns- Misc

Town of Northfield, Northfield MA 1864-5 - 1922 1 Town Reports

Town of Northfield, Northfield MA 1923 - 1943 2 Town Reports

Town of Northfield, Northfield MA 1944 - 1962 3 Town ReportsTown of Northfield, Northfield MA 1963 - 1975 4 Town Reports

Town of Northfield, Northfield MA 5 Town Reports, Misc. Webster Collection

Town Meetings 1821 - 50 apprx. 33 Warrants, minutes, proceedings, misc.Town Meeting Records 1723 -1850 1 Town Hall Northfield, MA

Town Meeting Records 1850 - 1907 2 Town Hall Northfield, MA

Town Meeting Records 1908 - 1947 3 Town Hall Northfield, MATown Records, History, Geneology 1672 - 1875 History of Northfield by Temple and

Sheldon

Town Records Personal Property Records 1832 - 1862 1 Town of Northfield

Town Records Personal Property Records 1862 - 1890 2 Town of NorthfieldTown Records Personal Property Records 1890 - 1919 3 Town of Northfield



Town Records Personal Property Records 1921 - 1949 6 Town of NorthfieldValuation Lists 1737 -1822 1

Valuation Lists 1823 -1839 2

Valuation Lists 1827 - 1841 3Valuation Lists 1840-1847 1 Northfield, MA Missing 1845, 1846, 1848

Valuation Lists 1849-1856 2 Northfield, MA Missing 1853


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Microfilm (in file cabinet), contd


Valuation Lists 1857-1861 3 Northfield, MAValuation Lists 1861 - 1899 1861 - 1865 1 Board of Assessors Northfield, MA

(Missing 1866)

Valuation Lists 1861 - 1899 1867 - 1870 2 Board of Assessors Northfield, MAValuation Lists 1861 - 1899 1871 - 1874 3 Board of Assessors Northfield, MA

Valuation Lists 1861 - 1899 1875 - 1878 4 Board of Assessors Northfield, MA


Valuation Lists 1861 - 1899 1883 - 1886 6 Board of Assessors Northfield, MA(Missing 1887)


(Missing 1891)Valuation Lists 1861 - 1899 1893 - 1896 8 Board of Assessors Northfield, MAValuation Lists 1861 - 1899 1897 -1899 9 Board of Assessors Northfield, MA

Vital Records and Marriage Intentions , Births, Deaths and Marriages,1862-1952, 1903-1931

Vital Records, Northfield Vital Statistics 1750-1795 886783

CDs (on shelf)

Existing Northfield Inventories on file at the Massachusetts Historical Society, 10/12/11

(2 disks)

Northfield Historical Maps

DVDs (on shelf)

Produced by the Northfield Historical Society, 2006-2007 (date following title is date of originalprogram):

African American Carpenter and Landowner: Calvin T. Swan, 1799-1875 (2004)The Centennial House Bed and Breakfast & Major John Nevers (2005)

Crossing the Connecticut River by Ferry Boat (2003)

Families, Farms, Bottles (2007)Hearts Touched with Fire: Northfield Men in the Civil War (2007)Howes Brothers Pictorial Photos, Northfield, 1882-1907 (2006)

Ice Cream Social and 75th

Anniversary of the Society (2003)

Life and Death in Nineteenth-Century Northfield (2005

The Northfield Grange Advertising Curtain (1988)The Prior House Bed and Breakfast & Northfield Cemetery Report (2003)

Rustic Ridge and its People (2006)


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DVDs (on shelf), contd

Produced by the Northfield Historical Society, 2006-2007 (date following title is date of original

program):

Slavery in the Connecticut Valley in the 1700s

Spirits of 76 (2006)

What We Used to Have in Northfield (2007)

Produced by others:

An Evening with Author Roland Merullo (2009)Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Main Street Sidewalk Project (2009)

Schell Memorial Bridge Documents, 1901-2007 (n.d.)

Schell Memorial Bridge Slide Show, n.d.

X. Oversize materials

Scrapbooks

Box 19 1673-1923

Box 20 187?-1896

Box 21 1891-1905

Box 22 1904-1909

Box 23 1905-1911

Box 24 1976-1983

Newspapers (incompletesee also microfilm)

Box 25 1939-1941

Box 26 1939-41, 1948-1949

Box 27 1929-1930, 1936-1938

Box 28 1909-1910, 1933-1934

Box 29 1930-1931, 1942-1943

Box 30 1912, 1924-1925, 1956-1958


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X. Oversize materials, contd

Town CelebrationsBox 31 300th

Anniversary, 1973


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