Our spring starts off in two weeks with chocks away and the exciting tale of Maude Tait!
Wednesday, March 18th – The flyer in the photo above is the legendary Maude Tait, born in Chicopee, whose family, among other business interests, owned the property that would one day become Springfield Airport. Later generations know it as the Springfield Plaza, but in the Roaring Twenties, it was the site of important advances in aviation under the Granville Brothers. Maude Tait was one of the era’s symbolic “modern women,” an aviatrix whose home base was the Springfield Airport. Sue Bousquet, docent at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, will present a talk on this remarkable woman for Women’s History Month.
Wednesday, April 15th – Dennis Picard on Hessians in Western Mass. during the Revolutionary War. We welcome back a favorite speaker, local historian and reenactor Dennis Picard to usher in our 2026 250th anniversary celebrations with a talk on the enemy Hessian mercenary soldiers — how they came to western Massachusetts, who they were, and why some of them even remained here after the war.
Wednesday, May 20th – The long-anticipated display case for our Inshaw rifle is currently being manufactured. In May, we will hold a special presentation installing the case at the Chicopee Public Library and unveiling the Inshaw Rifle in its new home on loan to the library, where this valuable artifact, important to Chicopee’s history, may be studied and appreciated.
Wednesday, June 17th – Our annual business meeting, where we review the past year’s efforts, and prepare for future projects. As always, the public is invited to attend to give us your input.
All programs will be presented at the Chicopee Public Library (449 Front Street, Chicopee), beginning at 6:30 P.M.
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