Alice F. Willard 1866-1946

Alice Faith Willard, daughter of Mason and Aurelia Coomes Willard, was born in 1866 and was a lifelong resident of Longmeadow. When she died in 1946 at nearly 80 years old, her estate was worth more than $600,000. Her passport is among the items donated to the Historical Society, and it shows her to be a world traveler well into her 60s.

She lived at 260 Longmeadow Street and sold part of the family property in 1941 for what later became Warren Terrace. She was a graduate of several art schools, and taught art in Longmeadow and Hampden schools. A newspaper article from the Springfield Republican on May 22, 1894 describes a "Public Day" celebrating the schools on "Old Longmeadow Street." It mentions "notable among the exhibits of school work was that of the pupils in free-hand drawing under the direction of Miss Alice Willard. This is the first year that drawing has been systematically taught in the Longmeadow schools, and the results are of a very promising character."

She never married, and in 1999, a family member donated dozens of pieces of her artwork, among them pencil or charcoal sketches, watercolors and oils. Her subject matter was mostly what was in her immediate surroundings: people she knew, local landscapes and flora. She drew scenes in Forest Park, Longmeadow and Mount Holyoke. She painted flowers, trees, landscapes and still lifes. Her skill drawing people was quite amazing--she drew children, the elderly, women in fancy hats, marble statues and nudes. What would Victorian Longmeadow have thought of that?

Contributed by Betsy McKee, Board Member, Longmeadow Historical Society

Originally published August 20, 2020

Sarah Storrs, 1832-1907

Today's History Note tells the story of an unsung hero of Longmeadow's cultural life, Sarah Storrs.

The Storrs name is a recognizable one in the life of Longmeadow’s residents today because of the important role of the Storrs Library in our community. But how did the library come to be called the Richard Salter Storrs Library? It may surprise some to learn that it is a woman, Sarah Storrs, who is behind the founding of Longmeadow’s town library.

Sarah Storrs circa 1844. Signing the letter 'A'

Sarah Storrs was born in 1832, the granddaughter of the town’s 2nd minister, Richard Salter Storrs. As a baby, Sarah lost her hearing after contracting whooping cough. Deafness and blindness were common results of many childhood illnesses in the days before vaccinations. At age eleven, Sarah was enrolled at the American Asylum for the Deaf in Hartford, CT. She was a bright student, and was asked to stay on as a teacher as well. On faculty was her brother, also named Richard Salter Storrs. Sarah and “Salter” were important faculty members at a time of incredible growth in the field of deaf education. Though they lived and worked in Hartford during school terms, the Storrs’ parsonage at 697 Longmeadow Street was always home.

Professor Richard Salter Storrs and his sister Sarah Storrs

Both teachers at the American Asylum for the Deaf in Hartford.

Photo credit: Archives/American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, CT

When Salter Storrs died in 1884, Sarah knew it was his wish to establish a town library with a permanent home. Sarah died in 1907 and upon her death, her will stated, "Desiring to perpetuate a name dear to my family for three generations I wish to establish The Richard Salter Storrs Library of Longmeadow.” She left the family’s land, house and a sum of $5000 to make that wish a reality. The town raised a matching $5000 and in 1910 the first Richard Salter Storrs Library opened. That first library building stands today in the parking at the rear of the current library building. Directly next door stands the Storrs House Museum, home of the Longmeadow Historical Society. Contact us to visit this museum of Longmeadow’s history and learn more about Sarah at an exhibit created in her honor.

Sarah Storrs/ Early 20th Century Exhibit

Storrs House Museum

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

Originally published August 13, 2020

State Line House

In 1896, the Springfield Street Railway Company began trolley service down Longmeadow Street to the Connecticut state line. At the state line, you could pick up a streetcar run by the Hartford Street Railway Company and continue your journey through Connecticut to Thompsonville, East Windsor, Hartford, and beyond. The two companies agreed to build a transfer station at the south end of Longmeadow Street. The State Line House transfer station was to contain a waiting room and the second floor was to be devoted to tenements (rooms) for street railway employees. The 1910 map of Longmeadow shows the transfer station as well as a trolley hangar that was located just north of the State Line House.

The 1900 U.S. Census lists seven single men employed as either conductors or motormen by the Electric Railway Co. who boarded at the State Line House. William Sullivan was the proprietor. Other boarders included his brother, John Sullivan, and four members of the St. Denis family. Minnie St. Denis and her children (Josephine, Napoleon, and Mary) had emigrated from French Canada 2 years before. Minnie was the cook and John, Josephine, and Napoleon were table waiters for the restaurant at the State Line House. In addition to the restaurant, the waiting room also had a fruit stand and confectionary. 

1900 US Census (Longmeadow, MA)

In 1901, the two street railway companies merged, becoming the Hartford and Springfield Street Railway. The State Line House continued as a trolley stop and commercial establishment, but it ceased to be a boarding house for railway employees. William Donnelley was the proprietor of the State Line House in 1905 and, starting in 1910, James J. Sharkey was the proprietor.

Mr. Sharkey was the last proprietor and he named it for himself –“Sharkey’s State Line House”. Sharkey’s was known for its hot dogs and it was said that many people traveled the trolley just to get one. And, as more and more automobiles shared the roads with trolleys and horses, Sharkey’s started selling Socony motor gasoline in 1916.

By 1919, Mr. Sharkey had opened up the Dance Palace on the grounds of Sharkey’s. A.J. Giaconia, the manager of the Dance Palace, gave dance lessons and organized events and fundraisers.

John Sharkey died in 1925 and in 1933 the town sold the property at a Tax Collector’s Sale for nonpayment of taxes. Sharkey’s State Line House and Dance Palace are now gone, but we can still fill our tanks and buy food at the state line where they used to stand – at the Pride station.

Sources: Longmeadow Historical Society archives 1900 U.S. Federal Census 1910 map of Town of Longmeadow 1901/1905 Street Directory Springfield Republican: Nov. 11, 1896; April 11, 1912; Feb. 17, 1925; Sept. 13, 1933 Springfield Daily News: July 31, 1912; Aug. 11, 1916; Nov. 22, 1919

Connecticut Trolley Museum

Contributed by Elizabeth Hoff, Board member, Longmeadow Historical Society

Originally published August 6, 2020