Upcoming Events in 2021

We plan to have a full schedule of speakers for 2021.  However, due to the likely continuation of COVID-19 restrictions, we expect that lectures in the 1st half 2021 will be held remotely via ZOOM.

• The Durability of a Kennedy: JFK at War, Phil Goduti
  Wednesday May 26, 2021.

Please check our event calendar and/or Facebook page for additional details.

2020- Year in Review

The COVID-19 health crisis forced us to cancel Long Meddowe Days in May and Ghosts in the Graveyard in October.  Despite this situation we have:

• Opened the Storrs House Museum to visitors in January and February.  We were closed to visitors for the remainder of the year.
• Shared interesting research on Longmeadow homes through our weekly “History Notes” Facebook posts and email blasts
• Partnered with Storrs Library to bring speakers to the public. Talks in the second half of the year were virtual presentations via Zoom.
  
  The Longmeadow Historical Society greatly appreciates the co-sponsorship and assistance by Storrs Library and its staff to allow the following talks to take place.
  
  Speakers and Presentations
  - January – “Polio: History, Vaccine, and Near Eradication” (Dr. Daniel Skiest)
  - February – “Stories from the Census” (Beth Hoff)
  - February - "Little Women Book Club” (Melissa Cybulski)
  - September – “The Connecticut River from the Air” (Jerry Roberts)
  - September – “Life in Longmeadow During the 1918 Flu” (Melissa Cybulski)
  - October – “Longmeadow and the Suffrage Movement” (Melissa Cybulski)
  - October – “The History and Geology of the Connecticut Valley Surrounding”
  (Prof. Steve Winters)
  - November – “The History of Radio” (John Ellsworth)
  - December – “Entangled Lives: Women and Work in the Connecticut Valley 1770–1820": (Marla Miller)
  - December – “Finding Slavery in New England” (Ian Delahanty)

2019- Year in Review

2019 was a year of both returning favorites and newly expanded programming initiatives for the Longmeadow Historical Society.

Throughout the year we have:

• Opened the Storrs House Museum to visitors at least twice per month
• Shared interesting research on Longmeadow homes through our weekly “Throw Back Thursday” Facebook posts and email blasts
• Collaborated with Storrs Library and Longmeadow Adult Center to bring speakers to the public
• Entertained patrons at our annual Long Meddowe Days event
• Given architectural tours of the Green and tours of the Longmeadow Burying Ground
• Assisted interested parties with research
• Completed creation of a climate-controlled museum, enabling us to better protect our collections and open the Storrs House Museum to the public year round.
• Speakers and Presentations
  January – “’ In Flew Enza’: The 1918 Flu Epidemic & Beyond” (Reba Jean Shaw-Pichette)
  February – “ Discovering New England Stone Walls ” (Kevin Gardner)
  February – “ An Afternoon with Sarah Storrs” (Melissa Cybulski)
  March – “Local Architectural Styles” (Bob McCarroll)
  April – “ Massachusetts in the Woman Suffrage Movement” (Barbara Berenson )
  September – “Red Summer: Racial Turmoil of 1919” (Cliff McCarthy)
  November – “Treasures in the Attic III” (Dennis Picard)
• Shared interesting research on Longmeadow homes through our weekly “Throw Back Thursday” Facebook posts and email blasts.
• Collaborated with The Storrs Library and the Longmeadow Adult Center to bring many more speakers to the public.
• Long Meddowe Days
• Architectural tours of the Green.
• Assisted visiting scholars and hobbyists with research.

All of this outreach helps to fulfill our mission. Reaching further, our new Finding Aid “catablog” gives researchers around the world unprecedented access to archival documentation about Longmeadow.

2018- Year in Review

With rapt attention, Center School students watched Sarah W. Storrs, as channeled by Board Member Melissa Cybulski, explain what it was like to be a deaf woman growing up in Longmeadow in the 1800s. The story of Sarah Storrs is also part of our new exhibit, “Through the Lens: Longmeadow Into the New Century 1890–1920.” Since May, hundreds have toured the Storrs House Museum to view “Through the Lens” and our collections as the Longmeadow Historical Society has opened its doors to visitors 3 or 4 days each month.

2018 Event Highlights

Past Events

Long Meddowe Days 2019- May 18-19, 2019
This was our 40th year for this annual event which is the primary fund raiser for our organization. Check out our event website at www.LongMeddoweDays.org and our event Facebook page for additional information.

This Longmeadow Historical Society event was held on January 22, 2018 at Storrs Library . This program was supported in part by a grant from the Longmeadow Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council , a state agency. The Longmeadow Historical Society is very appreciative for this financial support.

CPA Funding

2019 Community Preservation Act Funding
The Longmeadow Historical Society submitted a request to the Longmeadow Community Preservation Committee for 2019 CPA funding of improvements to Storrs House Museum which included installation of screen doors and batten doors.  The committee recommended funding of $5460 which was approved at the Longmeadow Annual Town Meeting on May 14, 2019.  Work is underway.

2017 Community Preservation Act Funding
The Longmeadow Historical Society submitted a request to the Longmeadow Community Preservation Committee for 2017 CPA funding of improvements to Storrs House Museum which included second floor climate control (heating + A/C).  The committee recommended funding of $22,300 which was approved at the Longmeadow Annual Town Meeting on May 9-10, 2017.  Work has been completed.

2015 Community Preservation Act Funding
The Longmeadow Historical Society submitted a request to the Longmeadow Community Preservation Committee for 2015 CPA funding of improvements to Storrs House.  These improvement included the completion of work in the basement initiated in 2014 to convert it into a more suitable environment for storage of records and artifacts as well as a work space for research and cataloging. The committee recommended funding of $18,345 which was approved at the Longmeadow Annual Town Meeting on May 12, 2015.  Work has been completed.

Past Exhibits/ Events

Storrs Library Exhibit
The Longmeadow Historical Society sponsored an exhibit of old Longmeadow maps and photographs entitled Longmeadow- A Small Town Becomes a Suburb in the Betty Low Room at Storrs Library, 693 Longmeadow Street, Longmeadow, MA. during the month of May 2015.

In addition to a series of five maps covering the period from 1831 through 1920 there was a collection of old photographs on display- some of which were taken by Paesiello Emerson during the 1900 - 1925 time period and donated to the Longmeadow Historical Society. The late 19th century through the early 20th century was a dramatic period of change for Longmeadow including its separation from what is known as East Longmeadow.

Storrs Library Exhibit
The Longmeadow Historical Society sponsored an exhibit at Storrs Library entitled Through the Lens- Longmeadow 100 Years Ago during the month of May 2014. During this exhibit a series of Emerson photos were displayed.  There was a Community Reception on May 12, 2014 at Storrs Library with invited speaker Bill Fournier speaking about vintage cameras and photography. Plans are in place to have permanent displays of some of these photos at Storrs Library, Longmeadow Adult Center and Longmeadow High School.

Architectural Walking Tour
The Longmeadow Historical Society conducted an exterior Architectural Walking Tour of 18th and 19th century homes with a variety of architectural styles located around the Longmeadow Town Green on Sunday, December 7, 2014.  Interested people met at the First Church of Christ (763 Longmeadow Street) at 1 PM where a brief history of the First Church buildings was presented.

Following that there was an exterior walking tour of The Old Parsonage (1857) at 777 Longmeadow Street and The Old Red House (1734) at 787 Longmeadow Street (the building that is on the Longmeadow town seal). The tour continued traveling south to the Jonathan Hale House at 873 Longmeadow Street (1756), the Stephen Hale House (1831) at 891/893 Longmeadow Street and the Bliss/Keep House (1713) at 909 Longmeadow Street.  From there the tour crossed Longmeadow Street to the Downing House (1850’s) at 826 Longmeadow Street (1850's) and the Daniel Colton House (1829) at 788 Longmeadow Street. 

The tour then concluded in the Buxton Room at First Church for some light refreshments.   This event was FREE and open to the public.

2014 LHS Annual Meeting
The Longmeadow Historical Society held its Annual Meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at the Williams Middle School, Longmeadow, MA. 

In addition to the usual business, the meeting included presentation of a gift of appreciation to Ms. Linda Abrams and Mr. Crawford Lincoln for their many years of dedicated work as they both retire from active roles.  There was also election of new officers and addition of one new member to the Board of Directors.

John Demos- Professor Emeritus of History at Yale University was the guest speaker who spoke to a large audience of 150- 200 people about his book The Unredeemed Captive which won the Francis Parkman Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award.