Local History Blog

By Christine Mirabal Sojourner Truth was a well-known African-American abolitionist and feminist who travelled across the country during the nineteenth century lecturing in support of the emancipation of enslaved people, women's rights, and other issues. She resided in Northampton, Massachusetts for about 13 years and it was during these years that her public speaking career … Continue reading Sojourner Truth

By Cliff McCarthy (A version of this story appears on the website “Freedom Stories of the Pioneer Valley” (https://freedomstoriespv.wordpress.com) and is used here with permission.) Of the formerly enslaved people who settled in Springfield, we probably know the most about William Green. He published his story in 1853 under the title, A Narrative of Events in the … Continue reading William Green, A Life Recovered

by Carol Aleman Harry Walter Putnam, an early bicycle enthusiast, sportsman, and athlete in Greenfield, began life in November 1870 in Springfield, Massachusetts,1 the son of John H. Putnam of Greenfield2 and Ann Eliza Smith of Pittsfield.3 By March, 1875 his father had died,4 and within five years Harry’s time was divided between his mother’s … Continue reading Harry W. Putnam, of Greenfield

By Cliff McCarthy “We learn from Belchertown, that a respectable black man was killed by his son by a stab with a knife, on Monday evening last."[1] This brief item appeared in newspapers around the Commonwealth during the last days of December in 1814. Who was the nameless black man and what were the circumstances … Continue reading The Murder of Jonathan Jewett

by Zoë Cheek Alexander Hughes was born into slavery on a plantation outside of Richmond, Virginia on January 17th, 1857, to Cyrus Hughes and Sarah (Claxon) Hughes. He was four years old when the Civil War broke out but his family remained on the plantation for the entirety of the war. After the end of … Continue reading Alexander Hughes, of Springfield

By Kim Gerould The title of the only full-length biography of David Ruggles, written by Graham Russell Gao Hodges, sums up the essence of his relatively short life: “A Radical Black Abolitionist and the Underground Railroad in New York City.”[1]  Even when he joined the utopian Northampton Association of Education and Industry later in his … Continue reading David Ruggles

by Cliff McCarthy Rev. Justus Forward, Belchertown’s Congregational minister, recorded the following in his records on 8 May 1785: Eunice a Squaw, wife of Amos Hull a Negro man, died at Elisha Root’s house, of a Consumption Aged 36.[1] “Hull” is not a familiar name in Belchertown and this reference sparked some interest. No record … Continue reading Amos & Agrippa Hull

By David M. Powers, 16 April 2020 NEW FREEMEN SWORN IN Even though all adult males could legally vote after May 1647, but in local elections only, Springfield citizens had little say beyond their own town. Only seven of forty-three male residents of legal age were freemen and therefore eligible to act on colony-wide matters. … Continue reading VOTER SUPPRESSION IN 17TH CENTURY SPRINGFIELD?

The Pioneer Valley History Network (PVHN) is excited to announce its newest project, “Revolution Happened Here: Our Towns in the American Revolution.” Funded through a newly-awarded grant from Mass Humanities, the project will bring together a collaborative team of our region’s historical societies and museums to create an online exhibit and related programming that tells the … Continue reading Revolution Happened Here: Our Towns in the American Revolution