From the pages of the Windsor Locks Journal, selected and lightly annotated by Lester Smith, Historian of the Town and the Suffield Historical Society
May 3
The ten-days’ campaign for the sale of Thrift Stamps and War Saving Stamps which has been in progress at the Suffield School, [formerly C. L. I.] ended Tuesday afternoon and resulted in the sale of stamps to the value of $4,812.60. The campaign was won by the freshman class.
The weather for the past week has been especially good for the tobacco beds and the growers report that the plants are coming along fine.
Rev David H. Drew, who has been pastor of the Third Baptist church since its organization, read his resignation as pastor of the church last Sunday morning. . . . During his pastorate here Mr. Drew has been instrumental in getting the present church edifice built and paid for and has brought the membership from twelve to over one hundred.
May 17
Howard Caldwell and Carlton Lees of this place have enlisted in the U. S. Navy and expect to be called next week.
The farmers are busy with the early planting of vegetables and getting the land ready for the tobacco crop. The planting will begin soon, by the last of the present week or the fore part of the next as the plants are already large enough in some of the seed beds. About the usual acreage will be grown.
May 24
The war rally held at the Town hall was largely attended in spite of the storm, there being about fifty people unable to get seats. . . . The first speaker was George M. Hendee of this town who recently returned from Y. M. C. A. work in France. . . . He told most interestingly of the air raids in Paris and of the bombardment by the long-range gun, and the damage caused by both. He said that he was fortunate enough to spend five days at the front, and graphically described the bombardments and gas attack which he went through. On the return trip the transport on which he was a passenger also suffered a submarine attack, but the undersea boat was driven away, yet Mr. Hendee said that on the whole his trip was an uneventful one.
The seven-cent fare went into effect on the Hartford & Springfield street railway lines Monday morning. , , , On the trip from Suffield to Windsor Locks two cents is collected with the transfer which takes the passenger to the Windsor Locks railway station.
May 31
The Memorial Day exercises and the dedication of the Roll of Honor brought a large number of people to the center of the town in spite of the threatening weather. Beside the townspeople there were a good number from out of town.
A Polish war rally was held in the Town hall Sunday afternoon which was largely attended. The speakers were Rev. Francis Wladasz, E. A. Fuller, and Peter Kulas. N. Zelenski, an officer of the Polish army made an appeal to the men to enlist in the Polish army and help to save their country.
A parade was held before the rally which was led by Constable Thomas Cooney and Marshall Peter Kulas, followed by the Chicopee band of thirty pieces; then came Miss Sophia Kulas dressed as “Liberty.” She carried an American flag and beside her marched Miss Margaret Sodesky, dressed in the national colors of Poland and carrying the flag of Poland.
The farmers are well along in the work of setting out tobacco and Matthew Leahy, J. N. Root, John Gregg and John Noble will finish this week. This is the earliest that transplanting has been so well along for many years, if ever.