Mourning Adolphus

This poignant little mourning painting from the collection of the Longmeadow Historical Society reminds us of the frailty of children's lives in earlier centuries. Folk art commemorations like this one were common ways for family members to memorialize someone dearly loved. They were tangible keepsakes for the bereaved. It’s easy to imagine that the process of creating the piece of art was a way to come to terms with the grief; each careful stroke of the paintbrush allowed the artist to reflect on the life and love they shared with the deceased. If received as a gift, pieces like this could help the bereaved feel the compassion and support of those around them in remembrance of their loved one.

In the case of this mourning scene, an inscription reading “A.C. Died July 13th 1782 Aged 2 years” gives enough clues to be able to identify the memorialized child. Adolphus Colton (b. 1780) was the young son of Deacon William and Hannah Colton of Longmeadow. They were also the parents of William (b.1778), Hannah (b.1782), Rhodolphus (b.1784), Sophrone (b. 1786), and Jeduthan (b. 1791).

Though we don’t know anything about the cause of little Aldolphus’ death that July of 1782, whether illness or accident, we do know that his mother surely must have had little time to devote to mourning with a four year old son and a five month old baby at home at the time of his passing. Of her six children, it seems that Adolphus is the only one who did not survive childhood.

The watercolor painting is on paper but at some point was pasted onto a wood background. From a distance it appears that only the oval portion is painted, but in fact the entire brown surround is watercolor as well. It measures approximately 7” x 9” within the frame and features the image of a woman wearing a short sleeved, black dress. Her head appears draped with a black veil. She stands beneath a willow tree, leaning against a memorial tomb with a large Grecian-style urn. To the left at the foreground is a large thorny rose bush, with one rose in full bloom and several others in bud, not yet open to the world.

A thorny rose bush, symbolic perhaps of the beauty and pain of life

Though more grand on paper, in reality Adolphus Colton’s headstone in Longmeadow Cemetery is much more modest. A simple redstone grave marker is inscribed, “In Memory of Adolphus, Son of Mr. William and Mrs. Hannah Colton who died July 13th 1782 in His 3rd Year.” The stone’s epitaph, nearly entirely covered by the earth around it reads, “Tis God that lifts our comforts high/ Or sinks them in the grave.” It was a line from a hymn by Isaac Watts, popular at the time of the child’s death. Though these lines in particular may appear somber to us, the larger context of the hymn is one of faith and confidence in God’s choices. Many years later, in 1808 (Hannah) and 1825 (William), his parents were buried next to him in Longmeadow Cemetery where they remain to this day.

Contributed by Melissa Cybulski, LHS Board Member

Originally published October 28, 2021

Play Ball!

Are you one of countless people tuned into the Red Sox/ Astros American League Series this week? Then perhaps you’ll enjoy these two easily overlooked relics of baseball's past.

Long part of our collection, two small, oddly-shaped, hand-sewn dark brown balls were objects without a story. No one in our group knew what they were. Then, as part of our Treasures in the Attic Series, local historian (and our go-to-guy on all of our “what is this?” questions)

Dennis Picard was able to shed light on them for us. We sure are glad he did. Treasures they truly are! Dennis identified them as two very early baseballs, likely dating between 1840 and 1860. We have no accession records indicating when they came into the historical society’s collection, so we are not sure how they came to be here. Perhaps they “came with the house” as they say?

Early baseballs c.1840-1860

Some credit a Stoughton, MA man named Ellis Drake (1839-1912) with creating the form of the baseball cover. His father was a boot manufacturer, so leather surely would have been readily available to him. Per a 1905 story in the Boston Journal Ellis Drake recalled, “During the decadence of round ball and the advent of baseball, my father, John E. Drake of Stoughton was a shoemaker. From his shop I secured all kinds of leather. My comrade and myself used it in covering balls in the old forms, known as the 'Lemon Peel' and 'Belt'. My experience revealed to me that the corners and joints give out first, and quick at that, and when we threw a ball at an opponent we could inflict a black and blue spot on him to emphasize a brilliant victory. ...One day in school when the teacher was not looking - it was a rare moment - I took a sheet of paper and made a diagram of a baseball cover in its present form. ...It was just a thought that came to me. Later I made sample covers out of paper and then cut up some of my father's leather, until at last I had a baseball cover that was serviceable. We boys used the baseball with the covers in the present form and they lasted well and gave us a chance to play the game with old-time enthusiasm and without injury.”

Examining the two balls in our collection, it would seem they are not of Ellis Drake’s design, but the earlier ”lemon peel” style. A strip of leather is hand-stitched together around a central core of an unknown, though lightweight, substance. Peeking through torn stitches on the larger of the two baseballs one can see a sort of bird’s nest-like cluster of thread and twine. The baseballs are much smaller and lighter than today’s standard issue ones.

According to 19th Century Baseball historian Eric Miklich, on his fascinating website all about the first century of the game, “Early baseballs were made simply by surrounding a core, which could be any solid substance, with hand wound yarn or string. Oftentimes the baseball would also contain some form of stuffing. The cover was a one piece cover, usually some form of brown leather, which was stitched in a fashion known as a "lemon peel" or "rose petal." The four sides of the single piece of leather were sewn to enclose the baseball's core and the stitching formed an "X" configuration. These early baseballs were extremely light and soft and prior to 1845 runners were allowed to be "soaked" or hit with a thrown ball as a way to be put out. With all baseballs being hand made by players and local merchants there was no standard size or weight. From 1845 - 1853 "unofficially" most balls were quite small as compared to today's model and were considerably lighter. The covers were now all made of leather and the shade varied from medium brown to dark brown.”

We sure hope some Longmeadow children had fun with them during recess and after school! Enjoy a glimpse of baseball from another era. Go Sox! To read more about 19th Century Baseball visit http://www.19cbaseball.com

Contributed by Melissa Cybulski, LHS Board Member

Originally published October 21, 2021

Home Sweet Homing Pigeon

Home Sweet Homing Pigeons

Believe it or not, there were people in the area who used to raise and race pigeons! Thomas Edward Cordis (1884-1936) raised pigeons, in fact, according to the 1983 Town Report, his "racing pigeons were nationally renowned, having won many racing diplomas. His birds were registered with the U. S. Government for communication purposes throughout World War I. T. Edward Cordis' farm was known as the 'Longmeadow Poultry Farm'. It housed prize Rhode Island Reds."

In 1912, Thomas and his wife Annie purchased 705 Longmeadow Street, a house that had been owned by other family members going back to 1845. According to his family, he kept a journal in 1896 (making him 12 years old) where he kept track of his pigeons, their names, birthdates and deaths.

Thomas Edward Cordis, 1884-1936

One event was written up in the Springfield Republican in 1912: "Sunday morning at 7:45, the young birds were released at East Pembroke, N.Y., by the American Express company agent, and it was just seven hours and 17 minutes later than the winning bird came to rest in the loft of Thomas Brouillette in Middlesex Street, Springfield. The winner's average time was 1204.54 yards to the minute, which is considered very good with the poor weather conditions which prevailed. The lack of a strong wind at their backs prevented their approaching a record, for some birds from this city have gone as fast as a mile a minute. The speed of the other birds and the names of their owners are: Thomas Cordis of Longmeadow, 1200: Peter Brouillette of Springfield, 1169; Thomas Orr of Holyoke, 1168..."

Two years later, the Springfield Union reported on another race; "one of the entries of Thomas Cordis, Longmeadow, was the first arrival, coming in at 11.43 o'clock, after covering the distance at an average of 1295.199 yards. Mr. Cordis also owned the second bird to arrive, which averaged 1291.291 yards. Eighty-five per cent of the starters returned and is considered a good percentage. The local club will fly its 300 mile race next Sunday, from East Pembroke, N. Y."

When Thomas died in 1936, his pigeons were part of his funeral services:

Contributed by Betsy McKee, Longmeadow Historical Society Board Member

Originally published October 14, 2021