"Working on the Railroad: Thomas Murray 1848-1926"

Longmeadow resident Thomas Murray kept a diary in 1887, and like many of his time who kept diaries, included mostly comments on the weather "January 3, zerow morning, N.W. cold, cold, cold."

Thomas Murray, a native of Roscommon, Ireland immigrated to the United States in 1871. He was born in 1848, just 3 years into the potato famine that devastated Ireland. It is estimated that Ireland lost 2 million citizens to starvation or emigration by 1851. According the Longmeadow census records, the number of residents who were born in Ireland peaked in the 1850's and 1860's.

Like many Irish immigrants, Thomas Murray found work on the railroad. His diary entries mentioned details of his daily tasks like "repairing track, removing snow, and surfecing track." He also occasionally would add details of what his neighbors were doing, "Peter Wards childe babtised" and "Emerson died 81 years at 9 p.m. William H. Emerson."

This entry from May 3rd, was particularly telling: "Mrs. John McCarty tuck Paris green from which she died. 34 years." Paris Green was a poison often used as an insecticide, as described by this Springfield Republican newspaper listing:

Thomas' wife Catherine Ward immigrated from Ireland in 1881. She and Thomas married and had 7 children, two sons, Bernard and James, and five daughters; Mary, Margaret, Elizabeth, Anna and Agnes. Only Bernard had children, and the 5 unmarried girls lived out their lives in their childhood home, the last survivor, Agnes, dying in 1989.

In addition to the more ordinary entries about weather and work, Thomas also added comments on national and world events, including this notation on March 8, "hennery ward beecher died, " and this one on March 14th: "accidence on the Boston and Providence RR Roslindale. 24 cild and 100 injured. 5 miles from Boston."

Obviously railway accidents were of special interest to him, but he also noted his brother James' trips to confession, a dance in nearby East Longmeadow (at that time still a part of Longmeadow), and "James Cook in jail second time for 3 months." A neighbor, perhaps? At the end of the diary he summarized some yearly expenses: haircuts cost $.20, pew rent was $1 a month, and he spent $9.95 that year for drink and $2.43 for tobacco!"

Thomas obviously thrived in the new world, as the 1900 census lists him as a homeowner, owning his home free of a mortgage. In fact, his diary entry of October 20, 1887 says "Thomas Murray bought his house $8.40 ($840 according to the deed)" on Williams Street.

His diary survived because it somehow fell behind the mantel in the house and was discovered over a hundred years later by the new owners of the house.

References

Thomas Murray's diary (collection of author)

Hall of Records Deeds

Genealogybank.com

United States Census (with annotations by Beth Hoff)

St. Michael's Cemetery in Springfield

Ancestry.com

Contributed by Betsy McKee, Board member, Longmeadow Historical Society Originally published March 4, 2021

The 1831 Map of Longmeadow

1831 Map of Longmeadow

The 1831 map of Longmeadow, the earliest map of our entire town, shows a Longmeadow that is both similar to and different from a map of today's Longmeadow. Geographically larger, it includes the land that is now East Longmeadow as well as land that is now in the Forest Park and Franconia sections of Springfield. And, note that, across the river, Agawam was still part of West Springfield.

Jonathan H. Goldthwait, a noted engraver from our town, drew the 1831 map. Jonathan was born in 1811 to Erastus and Rhoda Goldthwait of Longmeadow, so he was only 20 years old when he created this treasure.

Of particular interest is the line down the middle of the map which roughly mirrors the current division line between Longmeadow and East Longmeadow. Longmeadow and East Longmeadow did not separate into two political entities until 1894, so why is the town divided on the map? This "Division Line between Longmeadow and East Longmeadow" indicates different settlement areas of the town. It also shows the boundaries for the two Congregational Church parishes.

In looking at the map, it is clear than the two halves of town were settled in different patterns.

• Longmeadow residents in the western part lived along Longmeadow Street and Williams Street, almost exclusively in the area between the Connecticut River and what is now Shaker Road. Housing was concentrated around the Longmeadow Green. The land east of Shaker Road to the division line was not arable and this part of town remained largely uninhabited into the twentieth century, a time when most Longmeadow residents were no longer farmers.

• Most of the land land in the eastern half of Longmeadow was arable and farmers settled in a more scattered fashion throughout the community, primarily living on their farms.

As mentioned above, the division line also indicates the two Congregational parishes in town. In early Longmeadow, the church served as both the social hub and the religious center for the community. Weekly, residents from all parts of Longmeadow would gather together, socializing, sharing news (and gossip), and maintaining contact with friends who lived fairly far away.

First Congregational Church, established in 1716, was for over a century the only church in Longmeadow and it served all residents of the town. Located on the Longmeadow Green (and noted as “Meeting House” on the map), folks who lived in the western part of town could easily get to church.

First Congregational Church, West Village- Longmeadow

However, it was difficult for those who lived in the eastern half of the town to get to services in the western half of town – especially in inclement weather. So, in 1827, residents formed a second parish in the eastern part of town. This Congregational church was located on what is now Somers Road (noted as “Meeting House” on the map below).

Second Congregational Church, East Village- Longmeadow

When Longmeadow residents lost the frequent social contact of weekly gatherings with members of the entire town, they started to lose the sense of community that bound both halves of the town together. And this loss of social connectivity contributed to the push 57 years later to separate into two different political entities.

Today, the First Congregational Church of Christ in Longmeadow has moved off the Green and is at the corner of Longmeadow Street and Williams Street. The Second Congregational Church in East Longmeadow has moved up the road to the south end of the East Longmeadow rotary.

The 1831 map also shows a third church, the "Baptist Meeting House", in the southeastern portion of the map, located right next to the "7th D. School House". First Baptist Church is still located on what is now Parker Street.

Baptist Meeting House, East Longmeadow

The 1831 map is beautiful in it's detail and it shows streets, homeowners, businesses, schools, brooks, meadows, swamps, and other geographic features of both communities. Most streets, while unnamed on the map, can be easily connected to roads on today’s maps. Streams and waterways largely invisible to us today are prominently featured. And, the famous East Longmeadow rotary was already in place, though probably not yet a challenging traffic conundrum. We invite you to explore this wonderful map in greater detail by following this link to an expandable version (click here). Hover over the bottom left hand corner of the map shown on this link and you will see a drop down menu from which you can select the 1831 map. You can also explore our other Longmeadow maps at this link. And, please contact us if you would like to purchase a print of any of our maps.

Contributed by Elizabeth Hoff, Longmeadow Historical Society Board Member

Originally published February 18, 2021

Cats of Longmeadow

perhaps Tommy Cordis (b.1884) Cordis Family Collection

Upon hearing that the Dogs of Longmeadow were highlighted in a recent History Note, the cats of Longmeadow took umbrage, as they are inclined to do. So in an effort to be fair and just, this week the Longmeadow Historical Society brings you… The Cats of Old Longmeadow. Unlike their canine counterparts, cats are notoriously more private, and thus there are far fewer images of them in our archives. After all, it seems one can never find a cat that does not wish to be found. Make no mistake, though. Cats have been welcome and helpful members of Longmeadow households for generations.

"Mr. Comstock and cat" December 1913 Emerson Collection/ Longmeadow Historical Society

The Longmeadow Historical Society also has several 19th century children’s books in our collection, and within their pages are charming stories and illustrations of children and their cats. Cats have always made wonderful subjects for children’s books. The word “C-A-T” is a friendly one to an early reader, and the antics they can get into often spell humorous “T-R-O-U-B-L-E.” One charming little book titled “Ann and Ellen and the Little Kitten” tells a tale of the woe that falls upon little Ann who doesn’t heed her mother’s instructions to admire, but not pick up, the kitten. Inevitably, the girl disobeys her mother’s command. The kitten scratches the young Ann's face, and when she cries to her mother she is reminded that had she obeyed her mother in the first place the injury never would have happened. Exactly the moral lesson these books were made to impart.

A popular moral: Obey your parents or pay the price. Longmeadow Historical Society Collection

Grandmamma's Book of Rhymes, 1848

Longmeadow Historical Society Collection

The Child's Guide, 1849 Longmeadow Historical Society Collection

No doubt, the many farms in Longmeadow would have had cats around to keep the mice at bay, rather than for the companionship they are so prized for today. The Storrs House Museum could certainly benefit from a good cat or two these days to handle the mice. Alas, that task has fallen to our board president, Al McKee, who comes to check the traps on a regular basis. A fine mouser indeed!

Booth Family Photo Album

Longmeadow Historical Society Collection

Booth Family Photo Album

Longmeadow Historical Society Collection

Contributed by Melissa M. Cybulski, Board member, Longmeadow Historical Society

Originally published February 11, 2021