Lee Historical Society
Newsletter
Vol. 7, No. 3
March 2010
Lee Historical Society, Inc.
P. O. Box 170
Lee, MA 01238
www.leehistoricsociety.homestead.com
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The March meeting of the Lee Historical Society will be strictly a business meeting for Officers, Board Members and interested members. It will be held on Thursday, March 11th in the cafeteria of the Senior Center at Crossway Village starting at 6:30 p.m.
New Members to Welcome:
Diane Barkett, P. O. Box 874, Lee, MA 01238 (Welcome back to an old member who has moved back into town.)
“Please” send in your 2010 membership dues.
Members who have had their memberships expire on 12/31/2009 need to renew for the year 2010. If you are not sure when your membership expires, let us know and we will look it up for you. The Society will send out notices starting next month to the members that have not paid.
FLORENCE N. CONSOLATI, 1914 – 2010
Florence Naomi Consolati was a member of the Lee Historical Society along with just about every other organization in Berkshire County. She was born in New York City on July 10, 1914 and at age six, moved to Lee to live for the rest of her life. In 1931 after graduating from Lee High School, where she was editor of the school magazine, she became the Lee editor of the weekly Berkshire Gleaner. For most of her life she reported news for The Springfield Union, The Springfield Republican and The Berkshire Eagle. She also wrote a column for a Berkshire Country publication, The Advocate, entitled “Walkabout Slowly”. Florence authored the book, “See All The People” for the town’s bicentennial in 1977, which many people reference today. She sang in St. Mary’s choir and had leading roles in many entertainments, including the Town Players’ productions. During her lifetime, she was heavily involved with Laurel Lake as a swimmer, director of a waterfront Girl Scout Camp and as Chairman of the Sandy Beach Committee. She leaves her husband of 91 years. John, a former Lee High School Coach and teacher, six children, 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She will be missed greatly by people in the Town of Lee and they will no longer be able to say, when looking for answers of questions about Lee, “Call Florence, she’ll know”.
COPIED FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES ARCHIVES OF JUNE 29, 1860:
Boiler Explosion in Lee, Mass.
Stockbridge, Thursday, June 28
One of the boilers at Plattner & Smiths’ large new paper mill exploded at 6 O’clock tearing the boiler house in pieces and doing great damage. No person was injured, as it happened just before the hands were to commence work.
Recollections VII
By U. S. Navy Retired Commander Vic Mottarella,
A native of Lee
(Continued from the February-10 issue)
Unforgettable Incidents
Ensign Chapman got himself into serious trouble when someone at a nearby Catholic College copied a part of the side number of a Hellcat that was flying very low over the school. With over two thousand horsepower grinding away at full power, full RPM and at minimum altitude you can imagine how much racket and disruption was provided for the college classes. Chapman was in the air at the time of the accusation but he denied that he was involved in the dirty deed. The investigation carried on for about three weeks but never did come to a final conclusion so he received the benefit of the doubt and no disciplinary action was ever taken against him. We knew that Chapman had been seeing one of the girls at the school so there was not any doubt in our mind that he was the guilty party. We never did relay this to the authorities. Votolato reminded me of another incident that occurred one dark night while we were entertaining a couple of gals on the patio of the officer’s club. The clear but dark sky was full of planes landing and taking off while practicing night flying. The navigation lights seemed brighter than ever and from our location seemed like many busy fireflies. After a few drinks Votolato suddenly yelled: “Look Out” and grabbed hold of me and yanked me down on the concrete. As we looked up he blurted out “I was sure that damned fool was going to land right on top of us”. I heard someone in the background yell out “How many drinks did you say you could handle, Votolato”? He had exceeded his maximum stinger capacity! He apologized to me and disappeared in the head (navy bathroom) while his embarrassment dissipated. Another incident mentioned by Votolato was the time he practiced scaring motorists while buzzing the highway that extended from Miami to the west coast of Florida. “It was great fun scaring the drivers until I caught a sight of a big tree out of the corner of my left eye. I was just barely able to lift the wing in time to miss the tree”. The incidents that happened in the 1934 Chevrolet at Miami are almost too numerous to indicate but a few must be mentioned here with more to follow. John and I tinkered with just about every part of the car that could be disassembled. At that point I was still learning and that probably compounded minor problems into more serious conditions. We had several clutch problems caused by oil leaking through the rear main bearing so it was not unusual to see a couple of young Ensigns of Italian descent flat on their backs in front of the Bachelor Officer’s Quarter’s removing the transmission so that a new clutch plate could be installed. Oil on the clutch plate caused the car to jerk violently when starting off. Another major problem was with the electrical system. The generator and voltage regulator continuously malfunctioned. On one occasion the headlights failed while we were driving along Miami Beach at night. Fortunately, we were able to avoid the police. Another problem that progressively worsened was the amount of free play in the steering wheel. I kept tightening the adjustment screw in the steering box but the amount of play continued to increase. With about three inches of free play in the wheel, steering the car on roads or streets with curves became somewhat difficult. We had several beach parties on both the north and the south beaches. On one occasion we were walking barefoot on the north beach when suddenly our feet starting burning like hell. We had stumbled on several Portuguese Men of War.
Socializing
Neither John nor I had any particular girl friends while at Miami. We frequently talked about the two girls (Mabel and Shirley) who we left in Texas. We missed them greatly and corresponded with them frequently but this did not keep us from exploring new territory or in other words playing the field. After all, we had just turned twenty. When not assigned to night flying duties we would normally go into town. Miami Beach was the place to go because that’s where all the big hotels and nightclubs were situated and that’s where the northern girls vacationed. We met a couple of cousins whom we dated frequently but it wasn’t the same and they just didn’t mean as much to us as the Texas gals. Just prior to leaving the Miami area I dated a blond gal by the name of Joy Toner a few times and drove back to see her later on a couple of occasions.
Transfer to Naval Auxiliary Air Station Cecil Field
The last eight Hellcat flights that I flew at NAS Miami were all at night and the final one was flown on June 13, 1946. On June 18 John and I received orders to proceed without delay to Naval Auxiliary Air Station Cecil Field where we would undergo field carrier landing practice. We were ordered to report to Cecil before midnight on June 19, 1946. This base was located about twenty miles west of Jacksonville, Florida. John and I hit the road after gathering our belongings and packing all into our trusty (usually!) 34 Chevrolet. The distance from Miami to Cecil Field was about three hundred sixty miles. We arrived at Daytona Beach at dusk. At that time the beach was wide open and anyone could drive cars on the sandy beach. Later they actually conducted auto races on the same beach. We had fun driving at full speed along the beach and occasionally allowing one wheel to penetrate into the water causing a huge spray. Later, after dark, we picked up a couple of gals and demonstrated our daring feat to them. I was driving and cut into the water at full speed when I must have run into a submerged rut. This time a huge volume of water gushed up and killed the engine – not a problem at that point. We just waited for the engine to dry off while we talked and smooched with our new friends. It wasn’t until about an hour later that we became concerned because we noticed that our feet were getting wet! We were having too much fun to realize that high tide was fast approaching. The engine started immediately but when the transmission was put into low gear the wheels kept spinning and digging deeper into the sand. A short while later a good Samaritan came along and warned us of the ominous happening that was about to occur and offered to pull us out with his new 1946 Buick. He attached a line to our old Chevrolet but he not only couldn’t move us but also nearly got himself stuck. He lived in the area and knew that the local fire department had frequently towed others out under similar circumstances. He offered us a ride to the fire department and the chief was more than willing to pull us out for a price. Beggars couldn’t be choosers so that’s what happened. By this time the tide had risen so that it was about six inches higher than the floorboard. The wench on the huge fire truck easily pulled our 1934 Chevrolet out of the water and after a short period of time we were on our way to Cecil Field. We made a stop in St. Augustine where we made a short visit to the historic Fountain of Youth. It didn’t work for us!
(Continued to the April –10 issue)
WHO WAS JOHN JOSEPH HASSETT?
John Joseph Hassett was born in Stafford Springs, Connecticut on September 7, 1862. He prepared for college at Monson Academy and was graduated from Middlebury College with A. B. degree. He then entered the University of the City of New York as a medical student, and received his M. D. degree there in 1887; and specialized at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City.
In November of 1887, Doctor Hassett moved to Lee as a practicing physician, in which capacity he remained until his death on October 11, 1918. Dr. Hassett was elected to the School Board on April 6, 1891 and served the town on that board for twenty-four years. He was a member of the Board of Health in Lee, and from 1893 to 1907 was the examining physician for the United States Department of Pensions.
Between the years of 1907 and 1917 he served as Associate Medical Examiner of the Third Berkshire District, and was a member of the Berkshire Medical Association, acting as President in 1908 and 1909.
There is a tablet in the Lee Library that honors Doctor John Joseph Bassett.
Officers of the Lee Historical Society for the year of 2010
President – Gary W. Allen – 413-243-2140 or garywallen@earthlink.net
Vice- President – Ethel Noonan – 413-243-0263
Treasurer – Mal Eckert – 413-243-1797 or MalEckert@msn.com
Secretary – Bambi Johndrow – 413-243-2845 or disdeer62@netzero.net
Board of Directors of the Lee Historical Society
Marion Leach/2010William Clarke/2010Mary Morrissey/2011
William Clarke/2010Mary Morrissey/2011Peg Biron/2011Josh Hall/2011Matt MacNyar/2011
Josh Hall/2011Matt MacNyar/2011JoAnn Zarnoch/2012Maria Hopkins/2012Robert Kelly/2012
Maria Hopkins/2012Robert Kelly/2012Immediate-Past President and Board Member – Stephen Cozzaglio
Society Historian – Charlotte Davis
Newsletter Editor – Mal Eckert
The Society is always looking for articles and small pieces of information to print about Lee.
If you have anything that you would like to share with our readers or any questions that some one might know the answer to, please let us know. Please let the Society know if there is a specific subject that you might be interested to hear about as we are all interested in learning more about the history of Lee.
HORSES AT HIGHLAWN????
When most people think of High Farm, they think of cows and the Wilde family. As I was fumbling around on the Internet, I came across a book, that can be easily copied, titled “1888 Catalogue of Trotting Stock at Highlawn” by Elizur Smith. I knew that “Pleasure Park”, where our water treatment plant now stands on Pleasant Street was once home to horse races, but I never knew that the Town of Lee and especially Elizur Smith was so involved with trotting horses. I have found that Mr. Smith, a local businessman and President of the Smith Paper Company, was the proprietor of Highlawn and was one of the first members of the New England Association of Trotting Horse Breeders. The catalogue which he authored in 1888 included a vast number of trotting horse that he owned and housed at Highlawn. If anyone has any information or pictures and are willing to share this knowledge with us, please contact us. This is just another story in the amazing history of Lee.
GOOD JUDGEMENT COMES FROM EXPERIENCE, AND A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM BAD JUDGEMENT.
The Lee Historical Society has the following items for sale. Any one of these would make a great gift for an out of town friend or relative.
(1.)Picture Packet – Six, 8” x 10” colored prints of “Old Lee” for $10.00 each or 3 packets for $25.00, plus $2.50 if they need to be shipped.
Picture Packet – Six, 8” x 10” colored prints of “Old Lee” for $10.00 each or 3 packets for $25.00, plus $2.50 if they need to be shipped.(2.)Refrigerator magnets – (approx. 2” x 3”). Three are of old street scenes from the early 1900’s and one is an “Entering Lee” replica sign. They are $3.00 each or buy a set of three of your choice for $7.50 with no shipping charges.
Refrigerator magnets – (approx. 2” x 3”). Three are of old street scenes from the early 1900’s and one is an “Entering Lee” replica sign. They are $3.00 each or buy a set of three of your choice for $7.50 with no shipping charges.(3.)Cookbook – “Boiling Water” – a 400 recipe cookbook, put together by the ladies of the society for $10.00, plus $3.50 if shipped.
Cookbook – “Boiling Water” – a 400 recipe cookbook, put together by the ladies of the society for $10.00, plus $3.50 if shipped.(4.)“Historical Lee” – a tribute to the late Betty Dennis. A seventy-three page book containing the articles that Betty wrote between April 1971 and August 1977 that appeared in the Penny Saver. Price is $10.00, plus $2.50 if shipped.
“Historical Lee” – a tribute to the late Betty Dennis. A seventy-three page book containing the articles that Betty wrote between April 1971 and August 1977 that appeared in the Penny Saver. Price is $10.00, plus $2.50 if shipped.(5.)“Third Strike”- a book, the last of three written by Ralph W. Smith that was published in 1984. It contains stories of people and tales of earlier days in Lee. The price is $15.00, plus $2.50 if shipped.
“Third Strike”- a book, the last of three written by Ralph W. Smith that was published in 1984. It contains stories of people and tales of earlier days in Lee. The price is $15.00, plus $2.50 if shipped.(6.)Commemorative Mugs.
Commemorative Mugs.(a.)a 2008, #1 in our series, mug with a replica of Memorial Hall embossed on the side.
a 2008, #1 in our series, mug with a replica of Memorial Hall embossed on the side.(b.)a 2009, #2 in our series, mug with a replica of Central Fire Station embossed on the side.
a 2009, #2 in our series, mug with a replica of Central Fire Station embossed on the side. These mugs can be purchased for $10.00 each, plus $3.00 shipping or both
mugs for $18.00 and $5.00 shipping.
Please send me (amount)______________of (item/items)__________________________
Enclosed is my check for (no cash please)______________________________________
Name_____________________________________________________________________
Address___________________________________________________________________
City_________________________State_______________Zip________________________
Mail to:
Lee Historical Society
P. O. Box 170
Lee, MA 01238
For those of you who are looking for information about Lee, you can click on Google and look around. You can find some pretty interesting information as well as books about Lee that you can download. This will save you quite a bit of money rather than buying the book as most people only use the books for research.
Please support our “Business Members” that support us.
Bartini Roofing CompanyBen’s ShopCharles Flint Antiques
Ben’s ShopCharles Flint Antiques290 Pleasant Street68 Main Street52 Housatonic Street
68 Main Street52 Housatonic StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lenox, MA 01240
Lee, MA 01238Lenox, MA 01240Greylock Federal UnionQuality PlusL. V. Toole Insurance Agency
Quality PlusL. V. Toole Insurance Agency47 Main Street260 Chestnut Street195 Main Street
260 Chestnut Street195 Main StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Sullivan Station RestaurantPaperdilly, Inc.Dresser Hull Company
Paperdilly, Inc.Dresser Hull CompanyRailroad Street74 Main Street60 Railroad Street
74 Main Street60 Railroad StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Robert M. Kelly, PaperhangingKelly Funeral HomeThe Jonathon Foote 1778 House
Kelly Funeral HomeThe Jonathon Foote 1778 HouseSouth Prospect Street3 Main Street1 East Street
3 Main Street1 East StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Morgan House Restaurant & PubLee BankDevonfield Inn
Lee BankDevonfield Inn33 Main Street75 Park Street85 Stockbridge Road
75 Park Street85 Stockbridge RoadLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Hunter & Graziano P. C.Myron’s CallLocker Room Sports Pub
Myron’s CallLocker Room Sports Pub10 Park Place49 Fuller Street232 Main Street
49 Fuller Street232 Main StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Monk’s Professional Barber ShopFrank Consolati Ins. Agency
Frank Consolati Ins. Agency91 Main Street71 Main Street
71 Main StreetLee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
Lee, MA 01238How about becoming a member to help support our Society? Do you have an out of town friend or relative that might enjoy our newsletters? Sign him/her up as a member.
Student Membership - $5.00Senior Membership (one person over the age of 65) - $5.00
Senior Membership (one person over the age of 65) - $5.00Business Membership - $25.00Individual Membership (one person under the age of 65) - $10.00
Individual Membership (one person under the age of 65) - $10.00Family Membership (All members of one family living at home) - $15.00
Please circle one:Student Senior Individual Family Business/Corporate
Student Senior Individual Family Business/CorporateName_______________________________________________________________________
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City____________________________State__________________Zip____________________
Telephone____________________Email___________________________________________
Is this a renewal membership?__________
Would you be interested in serving on a committee?__________
Or helping out at one of our fundraisers?____________________
Lee Historical Society
P. O. Box 170
Lee, MA 01238
