Westfield State Sanatorium on East Mountain Rd
Western Massachusetts Hospital
Chadwick House
Category: Uncategorized
Third Congregational Church of Chicopee
The congregation started on October 16 1834.
The Third Congregational Church is now on Springfield Street at the corner with Pearl. This Third Congregational Church of Chicopee is from 1867. The architect is Charles Edward Parker. It has nice stained glass windows and a nice organ. The chapel is attached to the back at a 90 degree angle to the main church. Later it would be used as a Sunday school. The rectory is to the right of the church. The church is still there but it has changed names. In 1925 they joined the Central Methodist Episcopal Church to form the Federated Church.
It is now called Christ’s Community Church.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
Assumption Church
Assumption Convent
The convent is the former home of Doctor Kimball. It was purchased in 1925 for the teaching nuns. It has since been demolished. It was built in 1842 in the Greek Revival style.
The order was the Order of the Holy Spirit. They had served Chicopee well and left for good November 30 1993. This order had come to Chicopee in 1903. The name of building was the Convent of the Immaculate Conception.
Assumption Rectory
This rectory was the home of the former governor of Massachusetts – George Robinson. It was purchased when the church was built. The first rectory was the home of Father Bonneville.
It was made in 1869 in the Second Empire style.
| pastor | starts | ends | burial | notes |
| Andre Dufresne | 1871 | 1874 | pastor to the mission church | |
| Hermas Landry | 1874 | 1885 | pastor to the mission church | |
| Evariste Pelletier | 1885 | May 16 1893 | Canada | |
| Frederick Bonneville | 1893 | 1928 | Calvary |  |
| Louis T Rodier | July 10 1928 | July 30 1932 | dies in 1933 | |
| Pierre H Gauthier | 1933 | 1938 | St Patrick’s of Northbridge | |
| Jean-Baptiste Messier | July 31 1938 | 1946 | ||
| Augustin B Auge | February 2 1946 | 1954 | St Mary of Putnam Conn | |
| Roy E Leroux | 1954 | 1969 | Notre Dame of South Hadley | |
| Richard Faucher | 1969 | St Rose de Lima | ||
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
A mission church of the Precious Blood Church of Holyoke at first, masses were held in a small chapel from 1871 to 1875. Then it became a mission church of the Saint Aloysius Church of Springfield in 1874. A larger chapel was made on Front Street in Chicopee in 1875. In 1885 a church was built on Academy Street for the new parish. The new pastor would live in the chapel.
In 1903 a school (October 12 1903) and convent (September 17 1903) were built far from the church. They were at 94 Center Street and at Cabot Street. The Center Street location is now the modern post office. The nuns were from the order of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit. Their motherhouse is in Saint Brieux France.
The present church was built from 1924-1925. This church is in the Classical Revival style. This replaced the other one which had burnt in a fire on October 23 1911. From 1911 to 1925 the Union Canadien Hall at Center Street near Market Square was used for masses.
The church is now associated with the Holy Name of Jesus parish.
Assumption School
This new Assumption School was made ready and dedicated September 4 1954. It replaced a 4 room schoolhouse that was built here in 1925. It was the home for Holyoke Catholic High School for a few years.
George Gilbert Manufacturing Company
George Gilbert Manufacturing Company
Gilbert Manufacturing Company Mill #1 – Main Street near North Street in Gilbertville of Hardwick
Gilbert Manufacturing Company Mill #4 – Main Street near High Street in Gilbertville of Hardwick
Southwick Rail Trail
Manhan Rail Trail
Norwottuck Rail Trail
Rail Trails in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts
Rail Trails in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts
Connecticut River Greenway State Park
Connecticut River Greenway State Park
| park | community | location | MY LINK |
| Pauchaug Brook | Northfield | MY LINK | |
| Barton Cove | Gill | MY LINK | |
| Sunderland Ramp | Sunderland | MY LINK | |
| Hatfield Ramp | Hatfield | MY LINK | |
| Elwell Recreation Area | Northampton | Damon Road | MY LINK |
| Oxbow Ramp | Easthampton | off Route 5 | MY LINK |
| South Hadley/Chicopee Boat Access | South Hadley | off Main Street | MY LINK |
| Chicopee Boat Access | Chicopee | MY LINK | |
Calvin Coolidge Memorial Bridge
Calvin Coolidge Memorial Bridge is from 1939. It has 5 spans. It was dedicated October 12 of 1939. This is the 5th bridge at this location. It was funded under the Hayden Cartwright Act.
Rail Trails in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts
Historical Walking Tour of the Rail Trail and Coolidge Bridge
1 – Norwottuck Rail Trail (Mass Central Branch)
This rail trail extends from Northampton to Belchertown.
2 – Northampton
Irene Gleason House at 399 Damon Road Northampton is from 1850. The Pomeroy Terrace Historic District is only a mile away.
3 – Connecticut River Greenway State Park
Great access point into the Connecticut River for small boats.
Rodolph Harvey Turcotte – FINDAGRAVE
4 – Calvin Coolidge Memorial Bridge
There is a sidewalk on the northern edge of the bridge.
Check out the great views to the south of the Mount Holyoke Range and the Connecticut River.
5 – Hadley
Both bridges are part of the Hadley Center Historic District. On the way back check out the farmland in Hadley.
TURNAROUND POINT at Cross Path Road
6 – Norwottuck Rail Trail (to Hadley and Amherst)
7 – Connecticut River Railroad Bridge
Get views on both sides of the bridge – one north up the Connecticut River and one south toward the Coolidge Bridge. Examine the details of the spans of the Coolidge Bridge.
8 – Park
Return to the trailhead parking lot and hope that you enjoyed your walk. This Norwottuck Rail Trail continues into downtown Northampton. It meets the Manhan Rail Trail.
