In formation an essence of purity,
floating across the breathtaking blue sky
I spy marshmallow fluff a gentle puff of cotton
with cauliflower borderlines in various designs.
Angelic chariots following each other, I think I see my mother!
her beautiful face outlined in the clouds.
Shrouds of gray attempt to penetrate
and surround the magnificent floaters.
The infiltrating rays of the sun
cast the lengthy shadows beneath.
Bequeath unto we an everlasting visual
tempting the naked eye
coupled with a soul-filled sigh
like a deep breath released.
Each patterned-like creation
akin to a carousel turning slowly around.
Revolving mounds of elegance in silent sounds.
With each expulsion of the Zephyrus-like wind
urging them forward in a harmonious parade.
‘Tis no charade as they turn like a spinning wheel
in slow motion. If you have a notion if you have a chance
take a glance and maybe you might see
a spiral staircase to Heaven.
by Janice Baronian
Feb 2013
1959
Wedding
Back row, left to right: Lester Emerson, best man, Mabel Emerson, maid of honor, Elizabeth Atwater Noble, bride, Clifton Jerome Noble, groom.
Front row: Flowers girls Pamela Atwater and Marian Atwater.
By Clifton (Jerry) Noble, Sr.
For this February piece I’m skip-ping ahead six years from events of 1953 (60 years ago) at the request of good friends. Perhaps the month of Saint Valentine’s Day is as appropriate as June for telling about a wedding that didn’t actually occur until November. Anyway here’s how it came about.
Having started work as rodman in the survey section of Massachusetts Department of Public Works in October 1947 I had progressed to chief of my own party. About $70 a week net income enabled me and my widowed mother, Minnie E Noble, to purchase, remodel and occupy an aban-doned Montgomery schoolhouse on Carrington Road. We got along from April 30, 1949 without in-house water and drainage, and electricity was not available for the first five years. Then, with the help of my cousin, Lester Emerson, I built “Pink House” by 1957 on the opposite corner of intersecting Her-rick Road. Since losing 21 High Street, Westfield, to mortgage foreclosure this was the first brand new house we had lived in for 17 years.
Taught at home by mother with correspondence from the Calvert School in Baltimore, Maryland, until my father died in 1936, I had graduated from high school at age 16 in June 1942. Then we had spent war years in Fresno, California, and returned to Western Massachusetts in 1945. Up to age 28 I had been too busy earning a living and acquiring living quarters to consider girls or marriage. My former classmates were most all married and some had even gone through their first divorce.
On returning to New England in 1945, Westfield Athenaeum (library) had been my first employer, and I still went back on occasional Saturday morn-ings to help Helen Wolcott and Lil Albrecht with “Story Hour” puppet shows. I even encouraged my cousin Lester’s wife, Mabel, to work for the library.
When I finally felt the need to look for possible dates Uncle Ralph Emerson suggested I ask a fami-ly friend living in Springfield. However, that young lady smoked and I was getting all the smoke I could stand from my survey crew. At that time mother and I were living in the waterless schoolhouse and I don’t think Virginia was well impressed.
I took a few ball room dance lessons from the Arthur Murray studio in Springfield and met a for-mer teacher. She was a super dancer, but several years older, and romance fizzled.
While pianist/organist for the Montgomery Church I got a telephone query about my own pup-pet show from a voice I thought to be that of a lo-cal boy. Instead I discovered it to have come from a 16-year-old girl in my choir. She turned out to be more interested in me than puppets and we dat-ed for months. Age discrepancy (16/29) made me cautious, and, as things heated up, I felt I must do something.
Cousin Lester’s wife, Mabel, suggested that I ask a new library assistant for a date. Elizabeth At-water lived on the “Highlands,” where Westfield’s more prosperous citizens were to be found. When I objected to dating a wealthy girl who might not appreciate what I could do for her, Mabel disagreed and gave me information that Elizabeth might not be as rich as I thought.
Meanwhile, Lil Albrecht, for whom I had done typing, published her first book. One Saturday I picked up a copy before taking mother to visit Mrs. Beach, who lived with Lester and daughter Mabel at their new house in Southampton. During the visit I sat in the car on the driveway. To pass time I prayed for guidance about my girl problem. I picked up Lil’s book, opened it and put my finger at random on the page. Under my finger was the name “Atwater.” This erased all doubt about the rightness of phoning Elizabeth.
I did. She was just about to leave for a few weeks in Christmas Cove, Maine, with her parents, Collins and Helen, but told me when she would be back. Though I’d remet Elizabeth as she worked in the library I did not recognize her at first as the sev-enth grader I had seen while I was in eighth grade. In early teens she had often looked ready to burst into tears, and I then thought of her a “pie-face,” Now she had -grown into a beautiful young lady only two months older than I. Office work for a dentist as well as for the Springfield Symphony had given her confidence and charm. This was early September, but I was ready with engagement (and wedding) ring, and we set the date for Saturday November 21st. When I told my choir girl friend that I was going to be married she said, “If I didn’t love you so much, I’d shoot you.” I had been tell-ing her she needed someone younger than I, and, once, while out with Elizabeth, I did see that she had found a nice local boy and was making him look like a two-headed driver. They were married soon after Elizabeth and I.
In 1959 both Elizabeth and I were 33 years old. She was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Atonement, but neither of us wanted a big church wedding so Father William Hale and Mrs. Hudson, organist, did their professional parts at 8 Hawthorne Avenue, Westfield. For a home wedding we had to keep the guest list small. Of course, Elizabeth had brother Jim, from West Springfield, wife and two boys while daughter Pamela was flower girl with her cousin Marian. Brother Shipley brought wife, two boys and daughter from Connecticut, and took eight millimeter movies. Aunt Martha Mon-roe came from Cincinnati, and Elizabeth’s cousin, Marth Ann Mason arrived just short of being late.
My father’s sister, Aunt Florence Boyce, had died in April, but Uncle Sam brought old friend, Maude Raymond. Father’s cousin, Mildred Moore and her driver friend Marion Shaw came from West New-ton and took my mother home with them so Eliza-beth and I could have “Pink House” to ourselves till Thanksgiving. (Due to snowy weather we took local trips.) Uncle Ralph and Aunt Georgia Em-erson, from Southwick, were “musts” on our list. Cousin Lester Emerson was my “best man” and his wife, Mabel, was Elizabeth’s maid of honor.
My only survey coworkers we had room for were good friends Thomas Cooney (who gave me valuable advice about pre-wedding etiquette) and John Manzi.
Mother Atwater’s house-helper, Nellie Burt, helped serve and keep things in order.
Weather was gray, but even our cake-cutting went smoothly, and Mrs. Kinard, directly across the street, had plenty to watch and stimulate her curiosity.
Louise Hartley and Frances Clark became life-long friends during childhood. Louise grew up in Wyben, the small rural hamlet in Westfield’s north-western corner. Fran grew up about 10 miles away in West Springfield. Both earned 4-year degrees in home economics at Massachusetts State College. After marriage, their families both eventually set-tled in Southwick.
This is the story of two friends, mostly lived out in Southwick. They were dedicated to their fami-lies. Both were proud to be called “Home Econo-mist,” to use these skills to support their families and for the good of their community. It’s also a story about the home economics profession, once greatly respected but now largely forgotten. At the end of our story, there’s a special Southwick twist.
Country Life, Home Economics, and 4-H
Let’s set the stage. The late 1800s and early 1900s were a time of major economic, technological, and societal change in America. The gap in living con-ditions between rural America (e.g., Southwick as farming town) and the rapidly growing towns/cit-ies of industrial America was widening.
Rural America being “left behind” was rec-ognized as a major problem, not just by farm/ru-ral groups but by progressive political leaders. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned a thorough, nationwide sociological study: the Re-port of the Country Life Commission. There is fre-quent reference to the inadequacy of rural living conditions within its 64 pages.
The home economics profession had come into being in the late 1800s, mostly instigated by wom-en leaders who recognized the need for organized education in food preservation and preparation; family health; sanitation; child rearing; and sew-ing. The teaching of home economics found fertile ground at the nation’s land-grant agricultural col-leges. These colleges, one in each state, developed full-fledged degree programs to train home econo-mists. This was highly significant in an era when women were only permitted to pursue teaching and nursing education post-high school.
Around 1900, the 4-H club movement started. It was primarily a farm/rural movement to teach children better farming practices. The goal was to not only make young 4-Hers better farmers when they grew up, but it was hoped that some of what was taught might rub off on their fathers. It was not long before 4-H clubs for girls also sprang up, focused on “homemaking” skills. The goal was the same – train girls with the hope that their mothers might also gain some practical knowledge.
The Country Life Movement embraced the val-ue and need for the home economics profession, further elevating its status. It also advocated for practical vocational education delivered through rural organizations, such as the budding 4-H movement.
These movements combined in the Smith-Le-ver Act passed by Congress in 1914. It created the Cooperative Extension Service, a nationwide sys-tem of practical education in farming and home economics for adults and children. It provided federal funding to each of the land-grant colleges, although states and local government were also expected to support these programs. Smith-Lever also provided professional staff and funding to support the local 4-H clubs across the nation. In the following decades, this expanded job oppor-tunities for home economists, almost all of them women. It also enabled local 4-H clubs to flourish in most rural communities, including Southwick and our surrounding rural towns.
Childhood
Both Louise Hartley and Frances Clark were born in 1920. The “Roaring 20s” were an era of prosperity for most of America. However, in the fall of 1929, the Great Depression struck, devas-tating nonfarm and farm economies alike. Wide-spread unemployment sharply reduced purchas-ing power, even for food and other farm produce. Bank failures meant that there was no credit avail-able, and people often lost whatever savings nest egg they might have deposited with their local bank. Both women remembered how their families were impacted by the rapid swing from the Roar-ing 20s to the Great Depression.
Louise’s family operated a well-known local farm which later became known as Wyben Or-chards. In those days, most New England farms were still a combination of cash crop and subsis-tence production. Grandpa Ed Hartley had been a milk deliveryman throughout Wyben and Mont-gomery, eventually saving enough money to buy a farm. At the time, it was only a dairy farm. In the 1920’s the Hartley’s dairy and fruit earned the nec-essary cash to pay bills, provide working capital for next year’s crops, and buy needed farm equip-ment. The family’s subsistence probably relied on a large garden; putting up dry hay for horses and cattle; and apples, pears, peaches, and strawberries. Some products such as flour and sugar were pur-chased from local merchants. The farm was deeply affected by the Great Depression and this affected the family’s finances for many years, with limited cash to pay off-farm bills. Co-author Anna recalled the large dairy barn and cows from her childhood. Later, perhaps in the late 1950’s, the cows were sold and still later the barn torn down.
Fran’s family earned their living from the home building business. As a young man, Grandpa Ralph Clark migrated to the booming Springfield area from a hardscrabble farm in East Charlemont on which he had grown up. He was a carpenter, and the economic prosperity of the 1920s created demand for new homes in West Springfield. He was apparently quite successful until the Great Depression hit in 1929. Then, nobody could afford a new house, and many of those who had bought new homes during the good times were unable to make their mortgage payments. Within a few years, the Clark family was bankrupt, eventually losing their own home.
No doubt, the Clark family had always had a large garden and perhaps a few farm animals. Fran later recalled her family going into the Springfield wholesale produce market on Saturday evenings to get deals on unsold produce, often already par-tially spoiled. Returning home, Fran, sister June, and mother Emma would get to work with their peelers and paring knives to” rescue” the edible portions of these bargains.
4-H
Home canning of fruits and vegetables was critical to these families’ health and diet during the long months until another harvest. (Home freezers were still 20 years or so in the future.) Also, the care-ful preparation of food to avoid waste, whether produced on the farm or purchased at a store, was critical to a family’s stan-dard of living.
At an early age, both Louise’s and Fran’s moth-ers would have taught them to help prepare meals and bake; can and preserve the bounty of garden and orchard; sew their own clothes; and help care for younger siblings. With the onset of the Great Depression around their 10th birthdays, their “homemaking” activities took on added im-portance to the well-being of their respective fami-lies.
These developing skills naturally led both to join their local 4-H clubs. There they would have interacted with other girls, expanding, and hon-ing their skills while also growing their circle of friendships. Wyben, a farming community, would undoubtedly have had multiple 4-H clubs, each led by one or more local adult volunteers. Louise’s brothers Ed Jr. and George and sister Evelyn were all active in 4-H. Grandma Emma Clark led a 4-H Homemaking club in West Springfield, so it was natural that Fran and her sister June would have become members.
A key part of 4-H was for members to compete with their projects at local farm fairs in the late sum-mer and fall. Louise and Fran would have entered sewing projects, different types of canned goods that they had “put up,” and probably baked goods such as pies, cakes, and breads. Each item was in its own class, anonymously judged and ranked by an adult home economist. Best of category earned a blue ribbon, second earned red, and third earned white. Often the judge provided constructive writ-ten comments such as “cake underbaked,” “canned green beans overmature,” or “hemming of apron uneven.”
Who knows…perhaps Louise or Fran noticed that this girl from another club had scored the blue ribbon while she only received the red! It is quite likely that they met for the first time at one of these fairs competing against each other.
As they got older, 4-H kids had more oppor-tunity to interact at the Hampden County level. There were demonstrations and workshops led by extension home economists at the Hampden County Improvement League in West Springfield. There was a summer overnight “Camp Moses” at a lake in east Springfield. If they had not already met, Louise and Fran must surely have met along the way at one of these events. What we do know is that they were already good friends with a com-mon bond by the time they went away to college. To be continued in March’s Issue
Fran in 4-H Dress she made
Louise Haire (Right)
and Martha Utzinger (Left)
by Jim Putnam &Anna Haire Cole
Our
On June 19, 2022, Christ Church, United Meth-odist in Southwick held its final worship service. For many people in the local community, including myself, this was a sad occasion. This community of faith had been a component here for 206 years It had been known as the Southwick Methodist Episcopal Church, College Highway Methodist Church, as well as Christ Church.
How many people had been baptized, con-firmed, married, or buried from there? How many sermons, hymns, prayers, and acts of worship had flowed from the hearts, minds, and souls of its ministers, laity, and constituents?
Then there were the numerous church activi-ties outside of worship. Sunday school, Methodist Men’s Club, Methodist Women’s Club, youth fel-lowship, and choir ... Bible studies, prayer groups, administrative council, trustees, and other assort-ed committee meetings.
There were also the connections with the broader community. How many people ate at its various strawberry dinners, pot luck suppers, or Mother’s Day pancake breakfasts? Did you ever go to one of its rummage sales, auctions, holiday sales, or “Meet the Candidates” nights? How many lives were physically saved by Alcoholics Anonnymous, pounds lost by individuals in several weight loss groups, or educational programs offered by the Southwick Historical Society? And what about its sponsoring Boy Scout Troops 118 then Troop 818, numerous Girl Scout units, and other community organizations?
Its history had deep roots in the community. In 1816, bi-weekly Methodist prayer meetings were first held in the home of Samuel T. Vining (former-ly located at 126 Vining Hill Road). After some of the Southwick youth attended an inspiring Meth-odist camp meeting held on the east side of the Connecticut River that same year, an enthusiastic preacher named David Miller aided in forming the Southwick Methodist Church with eight members.
They were baptised in the Congamond Lakes with Rev. Billy Hibbard officiating. Membership increased rapidly, despite having to meet in private homes and local district school houses. These early years bore witness to numerous prayer meetings, and a congregation that was vital to the commu-nity. Preaching was done by Methodist ministers who traveled by horseback throughout numerous towns, known as a “circuit,” hence the early min-isters were known as “circuit riders.” Early preach-ing in Southwick fell on a weekday, but beginning in 1822 charter member Amasa Holcomb began preaching in Southwick, predominantly on Sun-days, at no cost.
In June of 1823 the Southwick Congregational Church (located just west of the southwest corner of College Highway and Bugbee Road) was de-stroyed by fire. Southwick citizens voted to con-struct a new meetinghouse in present-day South-wick center in 1824. Disagreement over the new location resulted in the Episcopalians and Meth-odists, predominantly living in the southern part of town, to work together and build the present meetinghouse at 222 College Highway. Episcopa-lian minister Rev. Warner officiated at the laying of the southeast cornerstone, while Joseph Forward, an important Southwick merchant, placed a silver dollar under it. In 1826 the edifice was dedicated. Under an agreement, the Episcopalians worshiped in the new church one half of the Sabbath, and the Methodist the other half.
While Episcopalians preachers from Bloomfield and Granby, Connecticut periodically preached, the number of Episcopalians became smaller in number and eventually the building was used solely as a Methodist house of worship. The archi-tect for the church was the same one used for the Southwick Congregational Church, Capt. Isaac Da-mon of Northampton, although the plan was much more modest in size, detail, and cost. Damon was also responsible for the design of numerous other churches in the region, including Congregational churches in Springfield, Blandford, Simsbury, and East Granby.
The physical changes to the sanctuary, as well as the construction of new buildings, reflected the spiritual, financial, and membership growth of the congregation over the years. In 1865, a small piece of land on the west side of what’s now College Highway was acquired and horse sheds were con-structed. In that same year, the Methodist women formed the “Ladies Benevolent Society,” which provided both spiritual and financial support for both local and international ministry. About 1876 there was a spiritual renewal, which manifested itself in the renovation of the sanctuary in 1877. The “box” pews with doors were removed, and re-placed by “slip” pews with no doors. A platform was built for the minister, lectern, and choir.
One incident that was not planned for occurred sometime around 1900. A bolt of lightning struck the steeple, destroying the upper section. It was re-moved, leaving just the lower square plan tower or cupola. There may have also been damage to the roof and ceiling, for a slate roof was installed about that time, and the old plaster ceiling was replaced by a painted “headboard” ceiling. That lower stee-ple section was ultimately removed about 1954-55.
For years, the balcony, which had a flat floor, was filled with tables and chairs. Various 10 cent suppers, strawberry suppers, and bean dinners were held there. The late Evelyn Anderson recalled the hard work that the women of the church did to put on those meals, for they not only had to prepare the food, but also had to carry all of the dishes, food, beverages, etc. up the old staircases, as well as clear all of the plates, silverware, and glasses af-terwards. When the church was renovated in 1923, resulting in the space being divided into two floors (the space between the balconies was floored over), the worship space was moved upstairs and the dining/social hall downstairs. Evelyn, as well as most Methodist women, were mighty happy with the results! This major renovation was no doubt a result of both church growth following World War I, and the strong leadership of Rev. H. A. Kilmer. A few years later, in 1937, additional renovations were completed to the upstairs sanctuary.
While early Methodist ministers were itinerant “circuit riders” and didn’t require the Southwick Methodists to provide housing, in 1842 the church was established as a “station,” meaning that a single minister was appointed by the Conference to this congregation. At some point a small cape cod house (located about where the Ocean State Job Lot is) was rented as a “parsonage” for hous-ing the minister. Eventually a parsonage commit-tee was appointed in 1876, and between 1882 and 1884 a parsonage was built on land just north of the church at 230 College Highway. It was eventually rented out and sold in the 1920’s when the minister at the time was living in Springfield.
Following the return of veterans from World War II and the resulting “baby boom,” the church was splitting at the seams. The sanctuary barely held the congregation; every nook and cranny on the first floor had a Sunday school class; social events were cramped; a house being rented at the time for the minister on “the road to Congamond Lakes” proved less than satisfactory. To address these needs, three construction projects were un-dertaken.
The first was the construction of the parsonage to the south of the church about 1954. For the first time in thirty +/- years, the minister was now on-site for his/her parishioners. The parsonage garage, added nearly three decades later, provided space not only for the minister’s vehicle, but also for tools and lawn equipment.
The second big project was to build the Wesley Fellowship Hall in 1957. While several plans were drawn up, a simple ranch-like building with par-tially raised basement was chosen. This provided Sunday school classrooms in the basement and a large social hall with kitchen, stage, and bath-rooms on the main floor. Now there was a place for the kids, as well as a space to have dinners, Lenten talks, church events, and room for civic organiza-tions to meet in.
The third project addressed the worship area. For a while there was consideration of demolish-ing the 1824-26 sanctuary and replacing it with a modern A-frame church. Costs, design, and famil-ial ties to the old church resulted in the demolition proposal being scrapped, and the renovation of the existing church building being done in 1961, with dedication in 1962. The first floor was converted into a secretary’s office, pastor’s study, choir room, nursery, and entry foyer. The second floor sanctu-ary was fitted with a drop ceiling, new lighting, raised floor for the choir, minister, pulpit, altar, and organ. The old 1877 pews were reconfigured, new pews installed in the rear, and aisles carpeted. Even with these improvements, on many Easter Sundays the pews were full, folding chairs came out, and space was tight.
In the 1980’s, making the fellowship hall and sanctuary accessible to all people became a pri-ority of the congregation. One project in this line was in 1987-88 by the installation of a ramp and elevator for the church, through the generosity of George M. Steere. This not only allowed for the el-derly or other individuals with mobility issues to attend worship in the sanctuary, but also caskets could be brought up and funerals held in the sanc-tuary for the first time since the building was split into two floors. This was followed by a steel and concrete ramp up to the main floor of the Wesley Fellowship Hall.
Beginning in 1993, the parsonage was not needed as a residence by the minister, and the church rented it out to individuals for a period of time. Ultimately it began renting it out for a food pantry and counseling site. Since 2011, it has been used by “Our Community Food Pantry,” which addresses food insecurity in Southwick, Granville, and Tolland.
Paralleling national trends in many denomina-tions, local church membership began a steady de-cline starting in the 1970’s. This was despite mak-ing the facilities more accessible and providing space for numerous community groups, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Pioneer Girls, The Growing Together Group, Weight Watchers, T.O.P.S. (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), Southwick Historical Society, Southwick Family Support Co-alition, and Girl Scouts, to name a few. About 2007, they started sharing a minister with the Agawam United Methodist Church. By 2021 it was apparent that Christ Church lacked the critical numbers to sustain its work, and lamentably voted to formally dissolve.
In some of the final acts of the congregation, local church funds were distributed to several non-profit community organizations, and the church members communicated the desire that the prop-erty be sold to the Southwick Civic Fund to meet the needs of area residents. On June 9, 2022, Christ Church legally closed, and the regional New Eng-land Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church gained title. The annual conference agreed with the wishes of the local congregation, and on October 19, 2022, the Southwick Civic Fund for-mally gained ownership of the property.
Since then, that organization has continued programs or initiated several improvements. The sanctuary has been used for a jazz rehearsal space. The damp, musty cellar of the fellowship hall was purged of moldy materials. The Civic Fund con-tinued providing space for Our Community Food Bank in the 1954 cape cod-style parsonage. That facility, however, was never designed to be either a food pantry warehouse or distribution site. The Civic fund ultimately applied for and received grant funding to build a new separate building for storing and distributing food for Our Community Food Bank, which it constructed just north of the fellowship hall. In January of 2024 the new facility opened its doors.
While an active congregation of the United Methodist Church in Southwick no longer exists, the Southwick Civic Fund continues to preserve and utilize the historic Methodist Church property for the good of area citizens.
Editors Note: Approaching two years after the Southwick Civic Fund purchased the United Methodist Church many changes have been made. First, the new building for Our Community Food Pantry has been com-pleted and is now open featuring many upgrades for bet-ter servicing those in need. The church’s facade remains the same however the building and the old food pantry building have been renamed to the Southwick Meeting House and is planned to host many events in the future. As of the publishing of this article, the Southwick Meet-ing House hosts a number of community events includ-ing a “Jam Session” every Thursday evening for local musicians and music lovers alike and a family movie night every couple of weeks on Saturday evenings. For more details visit facebook.com/southwickcivicfund.
Methodist Church road sign with carsparked along College Highway
(Photo Credit: Southwick Historical Society)
By Lee David Hamberg
Above: 1918 inte-rior of the United Methodist Church with balcony seating. Photo Credit: South-wick Revisited by Lee David Hamberg
Right: Current interior of the Old Methodist Church now Southwick Meeting House. Picture by South-wick Civic Fund on Facebook
Once a dad came to Jesus. He said, “My little daughter is dying. Je-sus, can You come to my home and pray for her?”
Jesus said, “Okay.” But along the way, He kept getting stopped. There was one inter-ruption after another. Finally, word came back to Him say-ing, “No need to come. You’ve waited too long. The little girl … is dead.”
The dad was distraught. But Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid. If you will only be-lieve, the little girl will be fine.” Notice: “only believe.”
Jesus went to the home and prayed for the little girl, and she came back to life.
You may be facing some situation right now that looks impossible. You may think: I don’t see how I’ll ever be healthy … how I’ll ever overcome this addiction … how I’ll ever be able to afford a new home. But God is saying to you: “If you will only believe, nothing is impossible! If you will only believe, breakthroughs are heading your way!”
Folks, it’s not complicated. God didn’t say, “If you pray three hours a day” or “If you memorize thirteen chapters of the Bible, I’ll do it for you.” No, He said, “If you’ll only believe.”
Believe it’s going to be okay.
A young couple dreamed of buying their first home. For ten years, they worked hard and saved their money. At one point, everything came to-gether. They found the house they liked. They had the money for the downpayment. They had an accepted offer. They were so excited.
But when they went to close on the home, there was a problem. While the young woman was at the real estate agent’s office waiting for her husband to arrive to sign the paperwork, her husband texted her. He said, “Hold on. Don’t sign anything. I just got laid off.”
He had worked for that company for six years. He always worked hard and had a good attitude, but he never really clicked with his immediate su-pervisor. Over the years, his wife kept on encour-aging him. “Just do your best,” she said, “Keep your head down, and stay on the high road.”
But it seemed like he was let go at the worst possible time. To make matters worse, it happened on his birthday! So, he lost his job and the house of his dreams on the same day. Happy Birthday to you!
They could have easily gotten bitter. They could have been angry with God and dropped out of church. But they understood this principle: If you believe, you will see the goodness of God.
Instead of staying home every day depressed, in self-pity, the young man was either out looking for a new job or at church volunteering, week after week, month after month.
Five months after the husband got fired, he got a call from his old company. He hadn’t talked to them since they let him go. It was an executive from the corporate headquarters. They had fired the old management team, and the new boss want-ed him back. They not only restored his job, they also restored all of his benefits, all of his retire-ment, and all of his seniority.
The house they’d wanted to buy had been sold by that time. But they found a better house in a better neighborhood for a better price. Today, that young husband has his job back, and they are liv-ing in their dream home.
Isaiah 3:10 says, “Say to the righteous, ‘It shall be well with you.’” You may go through some dif-ficulties. People may do you wrong. But it’s going to be okay, because you’re a believer, it shall be well with you.
You may have been praying about your situ-ation for a long time. But you don’t see anything happening. Just like that young couple trying to buy their first house, God is working behind the scenes right now, arranging things in your favor. The answer is already on the way. It’s just a matter of time before it shows up for you. It shall be well with you.
Set your thermostat.
Having faith is like setting the temperature on a thermostat. You set the temperature to 70 degrees. Now, it may be 86 degrees in the room; it may be far off from what you set it at. You could think, This isn’t working. It’s not matching up. Instead, you know it’s just a matter of time before the air conditioning brings the temperature in the room down to match the temperature that you’ve set.
In the same way, we should set our thermostats on what God says about us. God says it’s going to be okay – “It shall be well with you.” I’m setting my thermostat right there. That’s what I’m choos-ing to believe. I may be struggling, but that’s okay. I’m not worried. As long as I’ve set my thermostat, as long as I keep believing, keep doing my best, I know it’s just a matter of time before conditions in my life match up to the conditions in my thinking.
You say, “I don’t know, Jeff. Jeff, it doesn’t work like that in my life. It hasn’t happened for me yet.” But I want you to know that it can happen … “even now.”
Have an “even now” faith.
In John 11, Jesus’ friend, Lazarus, was sick. His two sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word to Jesus to come to their home and pray for Lazarus. But Jesus waited four days, which was way too long. Laza-rus had already died when Jesus finally showed up. Martha was very upset. She said, “Jesus, if You had been here sooner, my brother would still be alive.”
Have you ever felt like God showed up too late for you? You prayed. You believed. But you still didn’t get the job you applied for. You worked hard. You had a good attitude. But the company still let you go. You believed God’s promises. You quoted Scripture. But your prayers went unanswered.
That’s the way Mary and Martha felt. They were discouraged and depressed, and probably a little bitter. But Jesus looked at them and said, “Take me to his tomb.” In other words, “Take me to the place where you stopped believing. Take me to the place where hope died. Take Me to the place where you decided it was over.”
You have to go to the place in your life and ask yourself, “Is my God still on the throne? Is my God still all-powerful? Is my God still the One who loves me?” You have to stir up your faith.
Faith began to rise in the hearts of Mary and Martha. Martha said, “Jesus, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know God will give You whatever You ask.”
Sometimes you have to have an “even now” faith. Just say: “God, it looks impossible. It looks like it’s over and done. But I know that You are a supernatural God. I believe that even now You can turn my finances around. Even now You can heal my body. Even now You can restore this relation-ship.”
Mary and Martha shook off the doubt and be-gan believing again. You know the rest of the sto-ry: Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
But wait, it gets even better! Back in those days, the Jewish people believed that the spirit left the body on the third day after a person died. It wasn’t a coincidence that Jesus waited until the fourth day to show up. He waited on purpose so that when He raised Lazarus it would be an even greater mir-acle and He could silence the doubters!
Sometimes God will wait on purpose – not only so you know that it’s His power, but so your doubt-ers, your naysayers, and your unbelieving relatives won’t be able to deny that God has done something amazing in your life.
Moments before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He said, “Did I not tell you if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
Mary and Martha at first were disappointed because Jesus didn’t show up in time to heal Laza-rus. They were disappointed that their prayers weren’t answered in the way they wanted. But all along, God knew what He was doing. He wasn’t planning a healing. He was planning something better. He was planning a resurrection.
Here’s my encouragement to you … If God can do it for them, He can do it for you. Keep believ-ing. Keep that thermostat set. Right now, behind the scenes, God is working in your life, arranging things in your favor.
It’s all going
to work out
Do Animals Love?
The Language of Love: HowAnimals Express Affection
If love is life’s greatest mystery, then perhaps its second-greatest mystery is whether humans are alone in experiencing it. We often talk about lovebirds and puppy love, but do they really feel love or are we anthropomorphizing animals and assigning human traits where they don’t belong. Yet the evidence in the animal kingdom provides intriguing glimpses into emotional bonds that echo our own.
When we think of love and affection, our minds often conjure images of tender embraces, whispered endearments, and shared moments of warmth. But did you know that animals, too, exhibit behaviors that mirror these expres-sions of love? From playful interactions to acts of selflessness, the animal kingdom is teeming with examples that evoke feelings of tenderness and connection. Let’s delve into this fascinating world where emotions transcend species bound-aries.
But first, to understand love in animals, we must first grasp how scientists define and mea-sure love in humans. One widely accepted per-spective slices love into two categories: passion-ate/romantic love and companionate love. The former involves intense desire for emotional and cognitive union with a specific individual, while the latter mirrors the bonds we feel toward sib-lings, children, parents, or friends.
Many animals form strong social bonds with their fellow kin. These bonds are not mere acquaintanceships; they run deep, akin to the bonds we share with our closest friends and family. Imagine a group of chimpanzees me-ticulously grooming each other’s fur, removing ticks and debris. Or a pair of wolves playfully nipping at each other’s ears, their eyes dancing with joy. These interactions serve a purpose be-yond aesthetics—they strengthen social ties and foster trust.
For animals, these connections are essential for survival. Take elephants, for instance. These gentle giants form tight-knit family units led by a matriarch. They communicate through low rumbles and gentle touches, expressing care and concern. When a calf stumbles, the entire herd rallies to its aid, lifting it back onto its feet. It’s a beautiful display of collective love and support.
Altruism isn’t exclusive to humans. Animals, too, exhibit selfless behaviors that defy survival instincts. Picture a group of meerkats huddled together, standing guard while others forage for food. When a sentinel spots danger—a circling hawk or a slithering snake—the alarm is sound-ed, and the entire clan scurries to safety. Their sacrifice ensures the well-being of the group rather than the individual itself.
Similarly, vampire bats share blood meals with hungry companions. If one bat returns empty-handed from its nightly hunt, its roost mates regurgitate a portion of their meal to sus-tain it. It’s a stark reminder that love transcends individual needs—it’s about the collective good.
In times of distress, animals reach out to one another. Picture a pod of dolphins encircling an injured member, supporting it as it struggles to breathe. Or a mother gorilla cradling her sick in-fant, her eyes filled with concern. These gestures go beyond mere survival—they speak of empa-thy and compassion.
Bonobos, our closest relatives, engage in rec-onciliation behaviors after conflicts. They hug, kiss, and groom each other, mending emotional wounds. It’s as if they understand that relation-ships need nurturing, even in the wild.
As we explore these heartwarming exam-ples, we must tread carefully. Attributing human emotions directly to animals has its limitations. While their behaviors resonate with our under-standing of love and affection, we must remem-ber that their experiences are filtered through a different lens. Their love may not mirror ours precisely, but it’s no less genuine.
So, next time you witness a pair of swans en-twined in a graceful dance or a dog nuzzling its owner’s hand, pause and appreciate the univer-sal language of love. Whether furry, feathered, or scaled, these creatures remind us that affec-tion knows no boundaries—it’s a symphony that echoes across species, connecting us all.
A ground-breaking ceremony for what would eventually become known as The New Haven and Northampton Canal took place at the boundary between Connecticut and Massachusetts on the Fourth of July in 1825. The Governor of Connecticut and representatives of both the Farmington Canal Company and the Hampshire and Hampden Ca-nal Company were present. (Those two companies were in charge of the Connecticut section and the Massachusetts section respectively.)
There were several engineer-ing challenges in-volved. Crossing the Farmington River was one—an aqueduct was built where the water flowed and a tow path for the horses to tow the canal boats was on the edge. Another difficult situation was crossing the Congamond Lakes from the Connecticut side to the Massa-chusetts side. A bridge was built as a tow path for the horses to use and the water was the lake itself. What a marvel!
A cut was made near what is now Island Pond Road in Southwick so that it would not be neces-sary to go around that small peninsula. (The cut is still there, with the residents crossing a footbridge to get from the mainland to the island.)
On July 3, 1999, an organization called Citizens Restoring Congamond hosted an event in the north part of Middle Congamond Lake, with a flotilla of pontoon boats connected to each other from the Connecticut shore to the Massachusetts shore, to simulate the bridge that had originally been built for the New Haven and Northampton Canal so many years ago. The selectmen of the two towns crossed the pontoon bridge and met to honor the event.
When the event described as the “Widest Pon-toon Boat Chain” was submitted to the Guiness Book of World Records for consideration, the gov-erning board denied the request and told the mem-bers of CRC that they would need to replicate the event in the future with a longer pontoon bridge. In 2000, history was made when a wider pontoon bridge chain was completed, and the selectmen of the two towns crossed the bridge and met in the middle. A memorial of that event hangs in the meeting room of the Select Board in the Southwick Town Hall.
Carl E. Walter of North Granby, Connecticut has been studying the New Haven and Northamp-ton Canal, walking the terrain, and gathering pho-tographs and information for over 30 years. Dr. Walter has given the Southwick Historical Society, Inc. a precious gift: a MAC computer on which is a program that he created that provides access to his acquired knowledge of that topic. In order to make the information more accessible, the South-wick Public Library will have custody of the com-puter and its contents and make the same available to any person who has an interest in the canal that is such an integral part of Southwick history.
by The Southwick HistoricalSociety, Inc.
When the early spring came tripping
So lightly through the wood,
And all the air was fresh and clean,
And all the world was good;
My father got the buckets out,
My brothers tapped the trees;
I loved to stand upon the hill,
And smell the sweet spring breeze.
After a frost so crisp and hard,
When came a sunny day,
We gathered sap in great big cans,
The horses drew the sleigh.
The vats were filled up to the brim,
The sugar house was heaven;
I’d love it now – I loved it then,
When I was only seven.
The roaring fire under the pans,
The steam-fogged little room;
Voices out of the dimness,
Whose faces oft would loom
Before us for just an instant,
As when they poked the fire,
Or a huge log shoved within it,
To make it burn still higher.
In the coals we baked potatoes,
And boiled eggs in the sap;
And if thirsty we took a drink
From the honey-laden tap.
My father boiled the whole night long,
When we had a sudden run;
And us kids would stick around,
Boy, we had lots of fun.
And all this work was not for naught,
When draw-off times came round,
Syrup, as fresh and sweet and clear,
As spring itself was found.
Drift back in “years ago thinking” and travel to your favorite playground. Clean, safe, and full of adventurous joy. Good place to develop physical skills, endurance and mental engagement with people and nature. The location presented easy access and welcoming spirits. Now imagine that playground as an allegory of love. There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear. We invite you walk with us to see what the “Playground of Love” has to teach.
Entering the playground we hear sounds of people and music, gentle and upbeat. I recognize a beautiful soul with watchful eyes over the play-ground, dancing along to the tunes. Joan is her name. When my wife Susanna needed a walk-ing cane to help in her travels, Joan as director of Southampton Senior Center, addressed her need immediately.
With an invitation of involvement in senior activities, I was privileged to consistently witness a “heart of a servant.” Joan reveals a peaceful re-solve, brimming with energy at the ready for a call to serve. She senses the reality of individuals in need, and naturally knows what she was gifted to do. Her mind and body is up and moving with purpose, accomplishing things for worthwhile re-sults. She became a significant, treasured friend.
During my journey in adult life, coming across individuals like Joan are rare. Much like a valued, attractive pearl, waiting to encourage someone with delight, when the outward shell opens, her motives appear pure, with no recognition for per-sonal gain. Love is patient, love is kind. Put on pa-tience and kindness. I need to practice those words and apply them.
Returning now to our “playground” we see a clear pond contained in a cistern. (A cistern from Ancient Greek is a waterproof receptacle for hold-ing liquids, usually built to catch and store rainwa-ter.) Spying with curiosity, we noticed two multi-colored fish from the Caribbean waters of St. Lu-cia. The Caribbean Sea boasts warm, crystal-clear waters with lower salinity levels compared to its neighboring Atlantic Ocean.
Each fish exhibits bright, shiny colors on their perfectly formed, streamlined bodies. The fish play and swirl around each other every so often touch-ing their lips in a kissing like manner. At times, na-ture provides notice of what humans are graced to model; love toward each other in a peaceful, warm setting. If you have someone you love, rush to give them a kiss. Take on the good and leave negative actions out.
But there is more to be learned from natural wildlife. Ducks are noted for practicing nurturing care toward each other. Ducks have a special gland called the preen gland near their tails that produces an oily substance. They use their beaks to activate the gland and spread the oil all over their feath-ers and their mate. Susanna and I observe those behaviors at Hampton Ponds. A lesson to be had: husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. Think upon eagles, king of birds, they mate for life. They are seen soaring high above the Ponds, searching for food. Sometimes, we see that powerful, beauti-ful eagle score with a rich catch.
We return one last time to our playground and with eyes upward, you just might discover a natu-ral wonder. In our case, gazing upward revealed a couple of black bears, elder in years, with silver hairs outlining their bodies. Using their claws they hold firm onto a black birch hardwood tree.
While Bears in nature are not to be trifled with, remember that the playground of love has no fear. While seemingly dangerous and unwelcoming these bears are peaceful and enjoy human com-panionship. Remember in younger days having a smiling, stuffed bear as your hugging companion, always warm and cuddly? (I did not have a toy bear but I had a curly haired lamb, named Nippy.) That is the feeling you get when looking past their aggressive exteriors.
Lending a hand to the pair of elders, we offer some nuts and an apple dripping in honey. It is a welcome invitation but these experienced, sturdy built seniors have a need. They want you to rub their backs. Go ahead; be of good courage, you may not get another chance to massage the back of a smiling, peaceful bear. Well, just to let you know I would jump through that window of opportunity given a chance.
One hand, on Mamma and the other hand on Poppa, we help the elders. No stranger to massages as I love using my strong hands to message Susan-na’s shoulders and back, I know where the muscles are, and fingers digging deep, but gentle into areas producing relaxed energy. Boy, did the senior bears enjoy that human love touch. Better than rubbing on the rough bark of an oak tree. Gracious enough the bears express “thank you.”
Our lesson? Everyone needs to be valued es-pecially by people that are firmly attached to your vine, in a symbolic garden. Notice the word firm-ly, an adjective illustrating something that is not hard or compromising in values when tempted or pressed. Stand tall in meaningful principles, a consistent beat in your heart pulsing with positive emotions, flowing to all of creation.
We come to a close by reflecting that there mul-tiple types of love that can be attained. Count on the fact that this emotion somehow works every-thing together for good. This emotional gift weaves cooperatively personal circumstances. Resulting in rich outcomes, filed with purpose. Guaranteed to make you smile.
Immerse yourselves into “The Playground of Love” and be at peace, there is no cause of fear here. Choose to be a resident in this desirable area. Do not wait for it to happen, today is the day.
by Michael Dubilo
To include your event, please send information by the 20th of the prior month. We will print as many listings as space allows. Our usual publication date is prior to the 10th of the month. Email to: magazine@southwoods.info.
UCC Second Congregational Church
46th annual Spring Concert
The Greater Westfield Choral Association, the area’s longest-running non-auditioned choral group, will present their 46th annual Spring Concert on Sunday, March 10 at 3:00, at UCC Second Congregational Church, 487 Western Avenue in Westfield. Under the direction of Marc Winer, the group will be presenting Mozart’s Te Deum, his Missa Brevis in D Major, O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem by Herbert Howells, Ave Verum by William Byrd, Saints Bound for Heaven by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw, Innisfree by Gerald Custer and Gaudete Omnes by Jan Sweelinck. Admission is $10 for seniors and students, and $15 for the general public.
Montgomery Library
Create your own Glider
Create Your Own Glider and Explore Aerodynamics with Ed the Wizard. On February 22 at 6 pm, join Ed the Wizard for a hands-on workshop where participants can create their own glider and learn the basics of aerodynamics. This event promises a fun and educational experience for all ages.
For those attending this event, the Montgomery Library is pleased to offer a free book and entrance into the Kid Reading Challenge from A to Z, 2024. For more info contact the library at 416-862-3894 or montgomerylibrary@yahoo.com
American Legion Post 338
Spaghetti Dinner
The monthly American Legion Post 338 Spaghetti Dinner will be Wednesday February 21st, 2024 from 5 to 7pm. Veteran’s cost is $7 and Guests are $10. Funds raised will support the Southwick Police Association. American Legion Post 338 is located at 46 Powder Mill Road, Southwick, MA.
Jam Session
Join us for Jam Sessions every Thursday from 6pm-9pm in the Southwick Meeting House located at 222 College Highway (formerly Christ Methodist Church). For more info please call Bob Fox at 413-579-4585. Open to all and any age. All fun and no pressure. Explore your talent or come to listen to some good music.
Montgomery Library
Kids Reading Challenge
Kid Reading Challenge 2024 at Montgomery Library. Inviting children aged 3 to 12 to embark on a literary journey from A to Z. Running from January 1 to March 31, this challenge encourages young readers to explore 26 books from authors A to Z. Participating is easy. Simply visit the Montgomery Library to pick up a challenge form, where children can record each author’s name for every letter in the alphabet. For every library book read and checked out during the challenge, participants will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win fantastic prizes. Prizes include: Ages 3-5: Pet Vet playset, Ages 5-10: Turbo Pop STEM Challenge, Ages 10-12: Solar BOT.14 robot kit or Mech 5 Robot kit
Southwick High School
50th Class Reunion
Calling all Southwick High School Class of 1974 Graduates! We will be having our 50th class reunion on June 8th, 2024! For location, price and other info or to RSVP please email to Ginnie at Ginbin696@gmail.com, Brad at Young29@comcast.net or Suzanne at doughy100@aol.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Hilltown Community Church
Community Bible Study
Invite your friends and family to join us at the Granville Library every Monday at 7:00pm beginning March 11th For more information please call Phil at 357-6618.
St. Joseph’s Church
Community Winter Picnic
St. Joseph’s National Catholic Church at 73 Main Street in Westfield is hosting a Community Winter Picnic on February 18th at 12 noon. This picnic will feature grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, salad, dessert, s’mores and hot and cold beverages. The picnic will be held in our Social Center.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for children under 12. All are welcome. For tickets, contact (413) 977-2007. The deadline for purchasing tickets is February 15th. Dinners-To-Go are also available as well. Escape winter and join us for a fun, in-door Sunday picnic.
10-5
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GOODS & SERVICES
traprock driveways built & repaired. Gravel, loam, fill deliveries. Tractor services, equipment moved, York Rake. Bill Armstrong Trucking. 413-531-0498.
DELREO HOME IMPROVEMENT for all your exterior home improvement needs, ROOFING, SIDING, WINDOWS, DOORS, DECKS & GUTTERS extensive references, fully licensed & insured in MA & CT. Call Gary Delcamp 413-569-3733
RECORDS WANTED BY COLLECTOR - Rock & Roll, Country, Jazz of the 50’s and 60’s All speeds. Sorry - no classical, showtunes, polkas or pop. Fair prices paid. No quantity too small or too large. Gerry 860-668-5783 or G.Crane@cox.net
GOODS & SERVICES
Lakeside Property management - For all your landscaping needs. Mowing, new lawn installs, sod, mulch/stone installation, bush trimming, retaining walls, snow plowing/removal, etc. Serving Southwick, Suffield, Granby, Agawam, Westfield, Simsbury. Residential and commercial. Call Joe 413-885-8376. Give us a call and let us get that property looking the way you want it! Now accepting major credit cards.
May the sacred heart of Jesus
be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now, and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus pray for us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day. By the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you St. Jude . - GR
May the sacred heart of Jesus
be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now, and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus pray for us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day. By the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you St. Jude . - LMW