Mr. A.J.N. Ward lived in Enfield, MA (now under Quabbin Reservoir) where he owned a box factory. He evidently did his shopping in our town and bought a couple of suits (and an overcoat?) at Haynes Department Store in 1894 for $123.50.

Haynes & Co. was still around in 1953 when Mrs. M.A. Harvey of Princeton Street bought a sweater for $8.95. It appears she paid her bill within the 30 days allotted.

Before refrigerators, we kept our food cool with ice cut from local ponds and lakes. We put cards in the window to tell ice dealers how many pounds to deliver: 25, 50, 75 or 100. The ice pick was likely a freebie from Liberty Ice & Fuel, one of many dealers in town.

The small dry goods store opened by Alexander Forbes and Andrew Wallace in 1874 grew rapidly in popularity. Forbes & Wallace became the largest store in town offering eight floors of goods and services. A city within a city, the doors closed in 1976 as retail practices evolved.

Homes of prominent 19th century citizens lined Chestnut Street making it “a most aristocratic thoroughfare.” The homestead of dictionary co-founder George Merriam was built in 1824. One of his neighbors was art collector George Walter Vincent Smith.

Steeples! Church buildings represent some of our finest architecture. Fortunately most of these examples from 1905 still stand.