The leaves are falling, swirling everywhere, like a visible reminder that time is slipping away and moving us toward a busy and festive time of the year. For the Chicopee Historical Society, there is one more event this fall before we say “till we meet again” in spring — and the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
We’re looking forward to our November event, where we will present a talk on the Fisk, one of Chicopee’s most renowned manufacturers. From the early days with Noyes Fisk taking over the property of the Spaulding & Pepper Co., makers of rubber tires, the Fisk Rubber Company was a major employer until it became United States Rubber in 1940, and later on, Uniroyal. Despite the company changes, it would always be familiarly known as “The Fisk.” Society board member Joe Pasternak, assisted by president Chet Kobierski, will present the company’s history through many photos of the interior of the administration building, factory production, and company employee and family activities, including sports teams that were sponsored by the Fisk.
The event is free and open to the public, 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19th in the Bazan Community Room of the Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, Mass. Mark your calendars!
We were very pleased with the turnout at October’s presentation on the casebook of medical examiner Dr. Sam Fletcher. From time to time, we’ve received requests to videotape our events because it’s sometimes difficult for many people to attend in person. So we’re glad to be able to tell you that the Dr. Fletcher talk was videotaped by our local ChicopeeTV cable channel, and it is available to watch online here on YouTube at this link.
It is our hope that many future presentations will also be filmed and that you’ll be able to see them either on the ChicopeeTV cable channel or online at their YouTube site.
Thank you, once again, to Mr. Joseph Golen, who donated this historic artifact to the Society.
The Chicopee Historical Society wishes you a Happy Halloween!!!
And don’t forget, gift-giving season is coming….you might have heard we have a book for sale that would make a dandy present!
Now on sale! Available at all our meetings and on Amazon
We’re pleased to announce the launch of the Chicopee Historical Society’s first published book, Richard B. Inshaw: A Craftman’s Life and Work in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
The book is 47 pages and tells the story of an English immigrant’s work and life here in Chicopee dating from the 1830s through to his descendants in the early 20th century and the enormous growth and changes in the city through that era.
The book contains many photos and maps, and a section on the details of his remarkable “Inshaw Rifle” that is in the Historical Society’s collection, and that we hope to put on display in the library when funds become available for us to purchase a museum-quality case. The price is $20.
The book will be on sale at all our presentations, and you can also purchase it in paperback or in eBook from Amazon here. With the holiday season coming up, we think it would make a great gift.
Leave a Reply