Agawam Historical Association

Agawam Paranormal's recent investigation into paranormal activity at the 267-year-old Thomas Smith House will be featured at Thursday's meeting of the Agawam Historical Association.

Join us as we learn for the first time what they discovered!

Thursday
18 January 2024
6:30 pm
Captain Charles Leonard House
663 Main Street
Agawam

Free | Open to the public

There will be a raffle for a chance to accompany Agawam Paranormal on a future investigation at the Thomas Smith House.

Results of Paranormal Investigation at Historic Thomas Smith House to be Presented at January Meeting of Agawam Historical Association

Thursday
18 January 2024
6:30 pm
Captain Charles Leonard House
663 Main Street
Agawam

It was a cloudy Autumn evening last October when members of Agawam Paranormal began arriving at an ancient Feeding Hills farmhouse, soon to be joined by news anchor Chris Pisano and a film crew from Western Mass News. Case after case of equipment was unloaded, and cameras and sensors set up in every room of the Agawam Historical Association’s 267-year-old Thomas Smith House. Once everything was connected to the command post trailer, their investigation into paranormal activity at the house began: working in total darkness, team members took readings and recorded their surroundings for the next several hours. It wasn’t until after 1:00 am that Agawam Paranormal founder and lead investigator Rob Goff Sr. was satisfied all necessary information had been collected and the OK given for everything to be packed up and the Smith House locked up for the night.

A brief segment of the investigation appeared on Western Mass News on October 30, 2023, but a full assessment of data collected that night has not yet been made public.

The Agawam Historical Association invites you to attend its first meeting of the new year when Agawam Paranormal will present for the first time the full results of their investigation: equipment used in the investigation will be displayed; processes detailed; and findings explained; followed by a question and answer session. A raffle will also be held for a chance for two to accompany Agawam Paranormal on a future investigation at the Smith House.

The Thomas Smith House, built c. 1757, remains in largely original condition, without central heat or plumbing. No one has spent the night at the house in decades; the house has not been lived in since the 1960s.

An interactive virtual tour of the Thomas Smith House, created by photographer Fred Gore, can be found at https://mls.kuu.la/share/collection/7Jq2q?fs=1&vr=1&initload=0&thumbs=1, and offers basement to attic access.

Agawam Paranormal, founded by Rob Goff Sr. in 2007, is a family and friends-based team that conducts investigations locally, at the request of a client, for both commercial, residential, and historic sites that are suspected of having paranormal activity. Learn more at agawamparanormal.com.

Thank you for your support!
Best wishes for the new year!

A 60-year-old wool jacket from the Agawam Fire Department formerly belonging to Matthew “Babe” Blackak is part of the collection of the Agawam Historical Association. The jacket was covered with mold and other stains, so we brought it to Anna’s Drycleaning and crossed our fingers. We couldn’t believe all the stains came out — there’s just one stubborn spot, but the jacket looks like new! We didn’t think to take a “before” photo, but we do have one of the end result. And they generously donated the cost of cleaning! They couldn’t have been easier to work with or more accommodating. We now know where to go for all our cleaning needs. Thank you!

Celebrate Autumn as the Agawam Historical Association holds its last event of the season on Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 1:00 pm to 4:00pm at the Thomas Smith House, 251 North West Street, Feeding Hills.

Local educators and historians Stan and Steve Svec, who spoke about the History & Wildlife of the Lower Westfield River at an association event earlier this year, will speak about the area’s Native Peoples. Stan is the chair of the West Springfield High School history department, and Steve teaches biology there.

Homemade pies are also sought for the association’s apple pie contest to take place that afternoon. Pies must be dropped off at 12:30 pm, and judging will begin at 1:30 pm.

Entries will be judged on flavor, filling, crust and overall appearance, and creativity by Donald Anderson of the Agawam Historical Association, Agawam Mayor William Sapelli, and Mark Tansey, owner of Agawam’s Partners Restaurant.

Contest rules and information can be found on the Agawam Historical Association’s page, by texting Katy at (413) 297-4967 or emailing David at [email protected].

The historic Smith House, which was built c.1757 and remains in largely original condition, and its newly restored 1920s garage will be open for tours. The property was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 and is a rare, unrestored example of 18th century architecture. The garage was built specifically for automobiles and connects the property’s agricultural origins to the Agawam’s suburban present.

If you missed the 11 o'clock broadcast of Western Mass News on Monday, you can see the results of Agawam Paranormal’s investigation at the Thomas Smith House here: https://www.westernmassnews.com/2023/10/30/paranormal-group-prepares-ghost-hunt-historic-agawam-house/

Thanks again to Rob Goff and Agawam Paranormal and Chris Pisano and Western Mass News for coming out to the Thomas Smith House!

Rob Goff and his crew from Agawam Paranormal and Chris Pisano from Western Mass News were out at the Thomas Smith House a couple weeks ago to conduct an investigation, which will be featured on Western Mass News on Monday, October 30, 2023 during the 5:00-6:30 newscast and concluding during the 11:00 news.

The Paranormal folks were at the house from about 7:30 pm to almost 1:00 am — and the preparation, work, and thoroughness that goes into an investigation is pretty impressive.

Thank you Rob and Chris; it was a great night and we are looking forward to seeing what you've found!

The association will be having Rob out to speak about his findings in the new year – stay tuned for details!

In the meantime, feel free to visit the Thomas Smith House online at https://mls.kuu.la/share/collection/7Jq2q?fs=1&vr=1...

Happy Halloween!

Who doesn’t love a good ghost story?

Spend an evening with the Agawam Historical Association as we offer A PEDDLER’S PACK OF SPOOKY TALES FROM HILL & VALLEY, which is COMPOSED of LEGENDS and GHOST STORIES from AROUND NEW ENGLAND, presented by retired director of Storrowton Village Museum Dennis Picard.

Thursday, October 26, 2023
6:30 pm
Captain Charles Leonard House
663 Main Street
Agawam

Light refreshments will be served following program
This meeting is free and open to the public. New members welcome!

Dennis D. Picard has been a museum professional in the living history field for over forty years. He began his career in 1978 at Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and spent twelve years filling various positions including lead interpreter, where he researched and designed many public programs which are still offered by that institution today.

He also served on the staff of Hancock Shaker Village as a historic trade craftsman and site interpreter.

Picard is the recipient of various grants that allowed him to serve as project coordinator for research and implementation of programs and events at several historic sites and museums. He has served as a consultant for many historical societies and museums. His museum experience afforded him the ability to author many articles on the lifestyles and folkways of New England. He has edited film scripts and reviewed historic novels for accuracy of content.

Picard held the position of Assistant Director and Director at several sites including Fort Number Four in Charlestown, New Hampshire and the Sheffield Historical Society in the Massachusetts Berkshires. He recently retired after 27 years at Storrowton Village Museum, West Springfield, Massachusetts.

During the 2017-2019 academic years Picard taught Museum Studies & Historic Site Interpretation at Westfield State University in Massachusetts. He was also a member and president of the Board of Directors of the Pioneer Valley History Network. He serves as a member of the editorial board of the Country School Journal and grants committee of the Country School Association of America.

We're excited to share an amazing, interactive virtual tour of the Thomas Smith House created by Fred Gore Photography.

Now you can visit the Smith House at your convenience! We hope to add historical information to the tour in the future, so check back with us when you can.

Thank you, Fred, for this incredible opportunity to showcase this fascinating, National Register-listed property!

Access the tour at: https://mls.kuu.la/share/collection/7Jq2q?fs=1&vr=1&initload=0&thumbs=1

A reminder to our members; It is now October and everyone should have sent in their membership renewals. Thank you everyone for your support! We've had a great year and expect this one to be even better!

Don't forget our Museum Deaccession Sale this Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the Agawam Historical & Fire House Museum, 35 Elm Street in Agawam.

Items range from WWI and WWII era litters, firefighting-related items, old newspapers (1978 Blizzard, 2011 tornado, 9/11, political & more), old cameras, Agawam town reports dating back to the 1890s (with specially-priced decade bundles from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s), Smokey the Bear posters, and a bunch of odds and ends like a well-used Delta Air Lines ballast bag, a (parts only?) Uunderwood (?) typewriter, and an antique German aluminum ladle - all neat stuff.

Agawam history books by Edith LaFrancis and David Cecchi will also be on sale.

We won't be able to respond to facebook inquiries about specific items before the sale - please attend the sale in person on Saturday. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

All proceeds benefit the Agawam Historical Association and the Agawam Historical & Fire House Museum.

Thank you for your interest and your support!

Our sincere appreciation goes to Aprell May Munford for her excellent story about our upcoming Deaccession Sale and to Leon Nguyen for the great photos – and The Republican for putting it on the front page!

Read all about it in today's (9/5) paper or on MassLive:

https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/09/agawam-historical-and-fire-house-museum-holds-deaccession-sale-ahead-of-reopening.html

We hope to see you Saturday!

Agawam Historical and Fire House Museum holds deaccession sale ahead of reopening The museum has been closed since 2020, and the goal is to reopen the museum next Memorial Day.

Museum Deaccession Sale
Saturday, September 9, 2023
10:00am to 2:00pm

Agawam Historical & Fire House Museum
35 Elm Street, Agawam

photos, maps, newspapers, books, town reports, ornaments, fire-related collectibles, museum commemorative items, assorted odds & ends

Author David Cecchi will be on hand to sign his four local history books - "Agawam and Feeding Hills," "Agawam and Feeding Hills Revisited," "Riverside Park," and "The Big E: Eastern States Exposition," and copies of Edith Lafrancis’ "Agawam, Massachusetts" will also be available.

All proceeds benefit Agawam Historical Association

Quilt Show & Open House
251 North West St
June 24th, 1-4pm

The public is invited to an open house and quilt show at the Agawam Historical Association’s c. 1757 Thomas Smith House, located at 251 North West Street in Feeding Hills, from 1:00-4:00 pm on Saturday afternoon, June 24, 2023. Approximately two dozen quilts, both old and new, including children’s & doll’s quilts, will be on display inside and out (weather permitting) of the National-Register listed structure. Historical association members and area quilters will be present to answer quilting questions, identify patterns, and provide some history of the older quilts. Tours of the Thomas Smith House and its recently preserved 1920s garage will also be offered. This program is free and open to the public. Copies of Edith LaFrancis’ town history Agawam, Massachusetts, and David Cecchi’s Images of Agawam: Agawam and Feeding Hills, and Agawam and Feeding Hills Revisited will be available for purchase.

MAY MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

If you’d like to support the efforts of the Agawam Historical Association, please consider becoming a member! Additional information about the association and membership rates can be found on the membership application accompanying this post. If you join before May 31, 2023 you will receive a free "Agawam Historical & Fire House Museum" mug!

Don’t forget the open house at the Thomas Smith House this Saturday from 1-3 pm. Members of the 25th Continental Regiment will be joining us!

Join us at our historic Thomas Smith House for a SPRING OPEN HOUSE on Saturday afternoon, May 13, 2023 from 1:00-3:00 pm.

The c. 1757 house and the recently preserved 1920s garage will be open for tours, and members of the 25th Continental Regiment will be on hand to portray both the military unit of 1776 and civilian aspects of 18th century life with demonstrations of open hearth cooking and 18th century crafts. Member reenactors will conduct a military drill and present their equipment.

The 25th Continental Regiment has participated in events such as the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia, the 225th anniversary of the taking of Fort Ticonderoga, and the 220th and 225th anniversaries of the Battle of Saratoga.

The Thomas Smith House is located at 251 North West Street in Feeding Hills

We hope to see you!

The Agawam Historical Association has been chosen by Stop & Shop in Feeding Hills, for the entire month of March, to receive a donation for every reusable bag that is sold. Thank you to Stop & Shop management for choosing us and everyone be sure to buy some bags!