A Look Back, July 2

The story beneath our feet: Easthampton celebrates America's 250th anniversary with look at local history

EASTHAMPTON — Imagine Easthampton in 1900. West Boylston Manufacturing Company had just moved its fabric-producing business to one, lone-standing mill building. The company would soon build five more factory buildings, creating the community’s first million-dollar corporation. The company — employing mostly French Canadian and Polish immigrants, male and female, old and young — then built more than 400 […]

Public safety officials: Leave fireworks to the pros

As families across Massachusetts prepare to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary this Fourth of July, public safety officials are warning residents to leave fireworks to the professionals. Each year, State Fire Marshall’s Office Spokesperson Jake Wark said emergency personnel respond to anywhere between 30 and 50 firework-related incidents in Massachusetts on Independence Day. He said […]

Northampton man gets prison sentence for child abuse material

NORTHAMPTON — A 35-year-old Northampton man was sentenced to three and a half years in the Hampshire County House of Corrections and five years of supervised probation after police found more than 3,000 child sexual abuse material (CSAM) images and videos and six improperly stored firearms in his home. Adrian Cook was sentenced in Hampshire […]

Guest Columnist Barbara A. Rouillard: Lessons in time

When I was in elementary school, probably fourth or fifth grade — that would have been the years 1963 to 1964, or 1964 to 1965, respectively — we had a lesson on calendars. I remember nothing about the lesson, but I do remember sitting at my little desk thinking ahead to the year 2000. Daydreaming, I thought […]

Fourth of July celebrations span Hampshire County this weekend

Whether you’re looking for fireworks, to sit down with others to read Frederick Douglass and the Declaration of Independence, or to show off an antique car or decorated boat, there’s a little bit of everything in store across Hampshire County this Fourth of July weekend. This year’s celebrations also coincide with the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding in 1776. Amherst fireworks, readings Fireworks, church bells, conch shells, live music, readings of the Declaration of Independence and Frederick Douglas are all taking place in Amherst over the weekend. Several road closures will be in effect beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, as […]