Selected from the pages of the Windsor Locks Journal and lightly annotated by Wendy Taylor, Kent Memorial Library.
May 4
Some time during Tuesday night persons unknown broke into the tobacco warehouse of Robert J. Greer in Boston Neck and stole three cases of dark wrappers that had been sweat and stored in the basement of the building. Entrance was gained by breaking a window in the rear of the building, and the tobacco was removed by unfastening the door of the sorting room. The loss was discovered by Mr. Greer when he went to the warehouse Tuesday morning, and he found the tracks of the tires of a small truck where it had been backed up to the door. The tobacco belonged to the Conn. Valley Association, for whom Mr. Geer had been sorting during the winter.
George T. Irwin, aged 62 years, died at the Baltimore hospital last Saturday. He went to Hot Springs last November for his health and had traveled some around the south. He caught a severe cold about three weeks ago…The deceased was born in Canada and came to this place about thirty-five years ago as a cigar-maker and has since made this town his home. About twenty-five years ago he bought out the Smith hotel [where Food Bag is] on Depot street [now Mountain Road] which he conducted successfully until the death of his wife… Mr. Irwin was always willing to help any one in trouble and no one ever knew of the many people he had helped materially.
The 39th annual May breakfast of the Mapleton hall association in Mapleton hall, Tuesday, was largely attended and the breakfast this year was a most successful one. From early morning until late in the evening there were patrons at the tables and during the dinner and supper hours people were awaiting their turns for tables.
Mrs. George Martinez, who was operated upon for gall stones about two weeks ago at the Chapin Memorial hospital in Springfield, is improving slowly and hopes to be able to get home before many days.
May 11
Continued cold weather continues to hamper the farmers in their spring work, and it is holding back all vegetation. Thursday morning the thermometer registered 33 degrees above zero and flurries of snow were reported during the night… Tobacco plants in the beds are not progressing as rapidly as might be wished…Some of the farmers have planted potatoes and onions, but otherwise little planting has been done. Asparagus is just beginning to give a crop…and the apple blossoms are hardly showing.
May 18
There was a good attendance at the entertainment given by the pupils of the grammar school in the Town hall…The entertainment was given to raise funds for playground equipment. The program consisted of songs, readings and patriotic plays, given by the different grades.
The Emergency Aid Association extends hearty thanks to all who helped in any way to make the minstrel show given last month such a success. The co-operation of the townspeople as shown by the attendance on both evenings is much appreciated by the association.
May 25
An automobile driven by Natali Gianinni of Holyoke and a car driven by F. A. Chapin of Agawam, came together with a crash in front of the Gay Mansion, just above Day avenue… It was claimed that Gianinni was driving at a reckless rate of speed, and he was required to furnish a bond for appearance in court…where he was fined $100 and costs, the total bill being $128.66. The cement road through the center of the town seems to be a temptation to some drivers to try out their cars for speed.