Is There a Doctor in the House?

Dr. Thomas L. Chapman (1817-1889)

Collection of the Longmeadow Historical Society

The town of Longmeadow has had many doctors in the past, some formally trained and others who gained their knowledge by mentoring with a more experienced physician. Thomas Luce Chapman (1817-1889) originally planned to study to be a missionary. During a prayer meeting, Chapman was badly burned when lightning "went down his back and [out] his boot, seriously affecting his heart."

One report noted, "A pretty full prayer meeting, supposed to number three hundred, were in attendance at the lecture-room [in the meeting house], when the lightning struck and descended the rod to the eaves. The rod had become detached from the building, and swung loose. There the lightning parted. One portion descended the rod to the earth, and there made a mighty display of its wonderful power. The other portion entered the lecture room...[and followed a system of stove pipes from the second floor to the first floor] and passed out through the underpinnings."...several were severely injured. (From the History of Pittsfield (Berkshire County) Massachusetts, 1876).

Inspired by his brush with death, Chapman decided to study medicine at the Berkshire Medical Institute in Pittsfield, MA. At the time, medical treatment was primarily an attempt to determine which of the four humors in the body were out of balance by blood-letting, blistering, and the administration of purgatives and emetics. When Chapman studied at the Berkshire Medical Institute, formal study at a medical school was not a large part of most doctors' professional preparation. As late as the Civil War, only 50% of all doctors had graduated from a medical school. The rest had become doctors by "reading" with an established local doctor. Chapman graduated from BMI in 1842 at the age of 25. Chapman came to Longmeadow to practice medicine after his graduation.

"By Medicine and Medical Attendance"

The California Gold Rush began January 24, 1848 when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, CA. Thomas Chapman joined thousands of others who went west searching for treasure. He left on February 5, 1949 on the steamer S.S. Crescent City bound for the Isthmus of Panama, carrying with him a letter of recommendation from the Reverend Samuel Wolcott of Longmeadow. While thousands of others were stranded at Panama awaiting passage up the Pacific coast, Chapman hired on as the ship's physician on the S. S. Oregon, bound for San Francisco.

After returning to Longmeadow, sadly without a fortune in gold, he married Charlotte Langdon in 1850. He and Charlotte lived at 788 Longmeadow Street. The Chapmans had stillborn twins, and then lost a six-year-old, Lillie, to "Scarlatinna" or scarlet fever, which was one of the leading causes of death in children at the time.

788 Longmeadow Street

Doctor Chapman tended to the healthcare of Longmeadow residents for nearly thirty years. He as also elected to the state senate in 1863. After his wife, Charlotte, died in 1874, he remarried to Mary Chapin of Springfield, the daughter of Marvin Chapin, proprietor of the Massasoit Hotel.

Mary kept a diary, and recorded the remarkable life of her husband. The reverse of the wedding photo dated December 27, 1876 included a description of her wedding dress "the lace...was combined with a garland of apple blossoms and draped on the skirt..wedding dress of pearl gray silk." She described their winter wedding: "I have had often in mind the events of our wedding day...Our departure in an open sleigh, with our trunk on behind, gliding over the beautiful snow--under the brilliant moon to our home."

Dr. Chapman and his second wife, Mary Chapin, 1876

Early medicine, and Thomas Chapman's interesting life is featured in an exhibit at the Storrs House Museum, home of the Longmeadow Historical Society, along with stories of other interesting characters from Longmeadow's past, including gravestone carvers, and early merchant, and artist and a pigeon racer. 

Contributed by Betsy McKee/ Al McKee, Longmeadow Historical Society Board Members

Originally published June 3, 2021

Granny Notes and Bough Pots

Have you ever heard of a granny note? This is what historical societies and museums call the little slips of paper that come with treasured heirlooms, explaining their stories. Things like "this quilt belonged to great-grandmother Lucy and was made from scraps of cloth saved from her childhood." Sometimes the notes are helpful, sometimes humorous, and occasionally frustratingly vague--like a photo of a woman simply captioned as "mother." Whose mother??? This author was so frustrated by cryptic notes on old photographs that I meticulously labeled every photo I took with full names, even if the people in them were as familiar as, well, my mother. Then there are the granny notes with delusions of grandeur--you know what I mean--"this ballpoint pen was used to sign the Declaration of Independence."

The Longmeadow Historical Society is blessed with many helpful bits of information recorded on scraps of paper, backs of photographs and tucked into lovingly preserved clothing. We treasure these notes, for they often are the only links to the people who owned, used and loved these everyday objects. However, and you knew there was going to be a BUT, right?... One of my favorite granny notes, written carefully in old-fashioned script on several small pieces of paper, describes a lovely piece of ceramic. The "D-shaped" receptacle is white ceramic with silver and orange designs, sitting on little round feet. The design is of graceful flowers and vines, and a shining shield. The silver gilt shimmers in candlelight.

Bough pot, silver luster, 19XX-75

The note proclaims "This Vase is one half of a circular centerpiece once used on Governor Bradford's table. It is a relic of the Mayflower and has been transmitted from one person to another, being last used by Governor Winthrop." Governor William Bradford (1590-1657) arrived in Plymouth on the Mayflower in 1620 and served as Governor of the Plymouth Colony. Governor John Winthrop (1588-1649) was governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony for 12 years. The note goes on to say that "William Winthrop, a grandson of the Governor, gave this to his housekeeper after the article became imperfect." After that, it descended to the donor, who presented it to the Historical Society sometime before 1930 (Accession #19xx-75).

So how do we know this story isn't accurate? Some thirty years ago, a member of the historical society must have wanted to verify the Mayflower claim. Two area experts, Gregory Farmer, then of the Connecticut Valley History Museum and Elizabeth Fox, then of the Wadsworth Athenaeum said the story was incorrect. Another expert, Lita Solis-Cohen, a noted antiques expert and writer, wrote a letter explaining further: "You have a bough pot. It is not part of a centerpiece but was meant to be used on a mantelpiece...The screw that attaches the feet are common in this form which was made in England, in the Leeds and Staffordshire areas. Circa 1790-1820. Most have polychrome floral designs, and some are decorated with silver luster like yours." A bough pot was meant to hold flowers or bulbs for forcing.

Bough pot, with cover, collection of Historic Deerfield (69.0171)

In fact, further research revealed that lusterware, though seen earlier, didn't reach commercial production levels until after 1805. Silver luster was introduced at Wedgewood in 1805 and was in mass production in the 1820's. The metallic luster, or shiny elements, were produced with powdered metals in acid, with gold producing a purple/pink, iron a gold/yellow, and platinum producing the silver color.

Platinum as a metal was used in South America by pre-Colombians, and began to be investigated by European scientists after a report in 1748 by Antonio de Ulloa was published about the new metal of Colombian origin. So where does that leave us with our lovely bough pot? It is likely one half of an early 19th century silver luster flower pot, made two centuries after the Mayflower made its epic voyage. Europeans did not have a method for refining platinum ore until later in the 18th century. Neither Governor Bradford or Winthrop ever saw this pot.

But it is a lovely thing, isn't it?

Contributed by Betsy McKee, LHS Board Member

Originally published May 27, 2021

WWII Air Raid Wardens in Longmeadow

Alice Atkinson's resignation letter from her Air Raid Warden position February 1942

The “Longmeadow Civilian Defense Committee” distributed these Air Raid Warden signs to be displayed in the windows of homes of the residents appointed and trained as precinct Air Raid Wardens. They indicated to the bearer, “you are qualified to take charge of your neighborhood during a raid and are responsible for keeping householders on your beat informed on A.R.P matters.” A letter sent to Mrs. William Leete on Lincoln Park from Mrs. Alice Atkinson on Norway Street shows Mrs. Atkinson, age 62, “obliged to give up my post as Air Warden of Norway Street. I find that the other War activities which I am engaged in are more to my aptitude than that of an Air Raid Warden.” What a polite way to resign from a volunteer position! It’s easy to understand why Alice may have found the position more than she wanted to manage. Per the 1942 Annual Town Report, the precinct Air Raid Warden was trained to administer first aid and “to contact each household or to pass on to him suggestions and advice for the protection of his home. At the time of a raid the post warden enforces blackout, patrols his post, reports damage and directs the A.R.P. services to the scene of the incident.” This was serious business. The Annual Report mentions that Longmeadow participated in several successful regional and state blackouts in 1942, “The cooperation of the townspeople was excellent, there being only minor violations.” Good work, Longmeadow … although we’d love to know what those minor violations were.

Sources: 1. Longmeadow Historical Society Archives 2. 1942 Annual Town Report for Longmeadow

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

Originally published May 20, 2021