The Robbery of 1888

The Springfield Republican reported in an article published on December 22, 1888, “doubtless the world will be much older when the good folk of Longmeadow, that drowsy village of elm trees and May breakfasts, cease to recount the startling events which happened there in a few moments’ time early yesterday morning.” December 21, 1888, just after the village clock struck 4 am, a dull heavy explosion startled residents near the Longmeadow green. Burglars blew open the safe at William Wallace Coomes’ spectacle factory and shop which was located on the side of the commercial building at 776 Longmeadow Street. This part of the building no longer exists.

In the 19th century, Longmeadow had a very active thimble and spectacle manufacturing industry (see related article here). According to the 1855 census, at least sixteen Longmeadow residents listed their occupation/profession as spectacle manufacturing.

After hearing the explosion, James W. Coomes, a 22-year-old who resided with his uncle Willam W. Coomes across the alley from the spectacle shop, “leaped from his bed and looked out from his room to see a cloud of smoke issuing through the shattered office windows … The young man hastily dressed, snatched up his revolver, and reported what he had seen to his uncle who handed him a shotgun to augment his armament.”

James encountered one of the burglars, Frank Richie, outside the spectacle shop, and “a lively duel ensued.” Frank Richie was struck in the face with birdshot, while JamesCoomes was shot in the foot. The burglars took a six-pound silver brick and four $20 gold pieces. The thieves did initially escape, but Richie’s wounds were noted by a police officer when his train bound for Hartford stopped at Warehouse Point. Richie was arrested while still armed with two revolvers and half a bottle of gunpowder. He and his accomplice, Thomas Conarty, were involved in an earlier attempted robbery in Springfield on Lyman Street where a police officer named Thomas Coote was shot. Richie and Conarty were eventually sentenced to seventeen years in state prison for the Longmeadow and Springfield crimes.

 Sources

Longmeadow Historical Society Archives

Springfield Republican

Waterbury Evening Democrat

Worcester Evening Gazette

The Longmeadow Waterworks

In 1894, Longmeadow was poised to begin its rapid expansion from a small farming community to the fully built-up suburb of today. Streetcar trolley tracks were being laid the length of Longmeadow Street and farmland was being sold to housing developers, both measures enabling people to work in Springfield while living in Longmeadow. Town records for the next decades reflect officials’ busy efforts to create the infrastructure needed to support both the existing and the new sections of town.

One of their concerns was the sufficiency of water supplies to support both drinking water and firefighting efforts. A committee was formed to explore available options; this committee recommended using water from the existing mill pond (today, part of the Longmeadow Country Club). At a contentious “long town-meeting” in early September, this solution was rejected and the town voted instead to acquire water from Thompsonville, Connecticut. After the town meeting, officials quickly determined that Thompsonville did not have the capacity to provide for Longmeadow’s water needs. Another town meeting was quickly held on October 4 and the town decided on a third solution - creating its own water facility by damming up Cooley Brook.

The new waterworks on Cooley Brook included a dammed pond, a screen, a steam pump, a water tower, a standpipe storage tank, and an engineer’s house.

The newly established Water Board reported in the 1894-1895 Annual Report that “we believe unhesitatingly that the Town has a sufficient supply of the best of spring water to serve a place of three times the population…”

The Water Board, however, was overly optimistic and additional facilities were soon needed. In 1911, the town voted unanimously to build a new pumping station and a new concrete reservoir.

Yet, even this new capacity was insufficient to provide for the burgeoning town’s drinking water and firefighting needs. In 1926, the town voted to join the Springfield water system and the waterworks were abandoned. 

In 1934, Longmeadow transferred the Water Commission lands to the Parks Department. Having no need for a waterworks facility, the Parks Department either removed or repurposed the existing buildings. 

The concrete reservoir built in 1911 became the town swimming hole, known to all as “The Pump”. It served this purpose until 1954 when the wading pool portion of The Pump collapsed into a sinkhole. Thankfully for children who wished to swim, the nearby pools at Bliss Park were nearing completion. 

The brick pumping station was repurposed as bath houses for children using The Pump. 

• The water tower, which loomed 105 feet over the surrounding neighborhood, was slated for demolition, a process more challenging than expected. The initial attempt to dismantle it on July 25, 1936 was unsuccessful.

For nine days, The Springfield Republican cheerfully reported on the durability of the tower which simply refused to fall. No longer capable of storing water, the tower had become home to a flock of pigeons. Because of the tower’s close proximity to St. Andrew’s Church and the swimming pool, the demolition contractor was hesitant to use destructive technology such as dynamite. Finally, on August 3, the tower fell, forcing all of those pigeons to find new lodging.

Today, Laurel and Bliss Parks are on the land of the former waterworks. Though most of the waterworks has disappeared, traces remain if you know where to look. The western dam of Laurel Pond was originally the dam of the 1895 reservoir, and portions of the 1911 concrete reservoir are still visible in the pond. Another remnant, the plate listing the initial Water Board (originally attached to the water tower), is now part of the collections of the Longmeadow Historical Society.

Originally published May 23, 2024

Sources:

Archives of the Longmeadow Historical Society

Springfield Republican: September 6, 1894; October 5, 1894; July 26, 1936; July 30, 1936; August 1, 1936; August 4, 1936

Enhancing Ecology in the Heart of Longmeadow: Two Visions for Bliss and Laurel Parks

Revitalizing Cooley Brook in Bliss and Laurel Parks, Savannah Bailey and Brett Towle, Spring 2023

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Longmeadow, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Sanborn Map Company, Aug, 1924. Map

"Here, can you put this in your purse?"

Ask any woman you know, and she will confirm that someone has asked her to put something in her purse for them. Today’s purses can be quite large affairs, holding all manner of useful things like wallets, cell phones, tissues, coupons, pens, makeup, grocery lists and breath mints!

In time past, small purses, or “reticules” were used to hold a woman’s essentials. The dictionary defines “reticule” as a small woman’s purse, typically having a drawstring and often decorated with embroidery or beading. The Longmeadow Historical Society’s collections include several of these small purses. One notable example from the late 1830’s has a mourning scene complete with a cemetery plinth, made with tiny glass beads. These purses were made by first stringing the tiny beads onto a thread and then knitting them into place! Not being a knitter, the mind boggles at the miniscule work that was surely done by the light of a handy window or a candle!  These purses are typically finished with silk fabric. The heavy beads were a strain on the delicate silk, so few of these special bags survive. As time went on, larger beads became more available, which can be a clue to a purse’s age. 

This lovely beaded creation features a plinth such as would be commonly seen in a cemetery, with the letter “S” marked on it. This purse was donated by a Mrs. B. B. Stewart, so perhaps it descended in her husband’s family.

These beaded purses continued to be popular into the 20th century, although I doubt many of them are big enough to hold a cell phone!  This special remnant of women's history is currently on display at the Storrs House Museum as part of our exhibit, The Ages of Women.  Check out  our website for information on making an appointment or attending an Open House.