Covered Bridge, Charlemont, Massachusetts

A covered bridge in Charlemont, Massachusetts, back as it was in the day, not needing to be restored or renovated, and probably not getting an overwhelming amount of traffic.  This photo is undated, from the ImageMuseum website.  In white ink someone has labeled the white frame house as "Walkers Residence." 

There'll be some lovely foliage out that way now.  Just not in the sepia photo.

Louisa May Alcott - Documentary in the making - seeking funds

I received this press release from the Orchard House museum in Concord, Massachusetts announcing a new project to preserve the history of one of New England's -- and America's -- most beloved 19th century novelists, Louisa May Alcott.  A documentary is to be filmed, and the society is seeking funding through a Kickstarter campaign.  Here's the information:

We are creating the first-ever documentary about Orchard House!Orchard House is in the process of making the first documentary about the 350 year history of the house - and we'd love for you to be involved in creating the film.

Today we've launched a fundraising campaign on the crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter.com to raise the $150,000 needed for production. We're emailing you today to ask you to help us spread the word about this campaign by sharing it with followers and readers of your New England Travels blog.

If you aren't already familiar, Kickstarter is dedicated to fundraising for creative projects just like this. Funding is all-or-nothing, which means we need to raise every penny of our goal by October 22, 2014 through pledges to our online campaign.

Click here to visit our page and watch the beautiful four minute video.
On our project page you'll find an explanation of why we're making this film and why it's important. Inserted below are a few pre-formatted social media posts that are easy to copy, paste, and share. Attached you'll find our press release. We would truly appreciate sharing of all kinds and are happy to answer any questions you have about the campaign.


For Facebook:

Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House is making a movie! Help them create the first-ever documentary about the "Home of Little Women" and #PledgeYourLove to their new Kickstarter campaign! Click here to see their project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/632439913/orchard-house


For Twitter:

.@LouisaMayAlcott has launched a #Kickstarter campaign for a new documentary! Click here to #PledgeYourLove http://kck.st/1sJTNY6


Many thanks,
Mary-Liz Murray
Kickstarter Campaign Manager
Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House

The Budweiser Clydesdales Drop In for a Visit - Chicopee, Massachusetts

It was a quiet afternoon, just about suppertime.  A few of the neighbors went outside to stand by the road.

 Because it isn't too often that the Budweiser Clydesdales pulling that big old beer wagon comes down your street.

Not that anybody was filming a commercial or anything, but they just happened to be in the neighborhood.

This is Chicopee, Massachusetts.  As most New Englanders know, the Eastern States Exposition, or the "Big E" as we call it, the annual state fair for all of New England's six states is currently going on across the Connecticut River in West Springfield.  The Budweiser Clydesdales always show up for that.

Why they made a detour in this neighborhood first is because one of the neighbors, the guy who lives across the street, won a contest. His prize was  a case of Budweiser beer, to be delivered like this.

 

Not usually something that happens in this neighborhood around suppertime.  So folks came out to have a closer look.

 It resembled an impromptu block party, and for a little while, it was as cheerful and friendly as a holiday family gathering.

Then it was time to go.

Everybody went home and had at lot to talk about at supper.  The winner of the prize wasn't the only winner that day. 

Congratulations to Mr. Thomas Peloquin, who won the prize raffle sponsored by the Williams Distributing Company of Chicopee.

Valley Players - Program Ads from Summer 1954 - Holyoke, Massachusetts

 

We take a last look back at summer theatre, with fall soon upon us, but from the summer of 1954 when summer stock, and Holyoke's Valley Players, was in its heyday.

We've discussed the Valley Players in previous posts, and theatre on Mt. Tom in its many forms will be the subject of a future book, but today we salute not the art form, but that which keeps it among us--support from the community.  Not the audience, this time, but the advertising.

Have a look at some of these ads of, mostly former, Holyoke, South Hadley, and Springfield, Massachusetts business that advertised in the Valley Players programs.

How many do you remember?