Skinner, Kenneth G.
Kenneth G. Skinner Collection
1908-1928
PH 080
1 box
(0.25 linear foot)
Special Collections and University Archives, UMass Amherst Libraries
Granted in 1737 and incorporated in 1754, Greenwich, Mass., was the first town in the Swift River Valley settled by Europeans. Sitting astride the East and Middle branches of the Swift River and forming the eastern boundary of Hampshire County, Greenwich was primarily an agricultural town with light manufacturing and, beginning in the later nineteenth century, an active tourist trade. The town's population peaked at over 1,100 early in the nineteenth century, declining slowly thereafter.
The photographic postcards in this collection all relate to the Quabbin town of Greenwich and were originally housed in an album of uncertain provenance. Primarily "real photo" postcards and dating between approximately 1908 and 1928, they were labeled by a knowledgeable, but unknown person at a later date to identify the houses, roads, stores, and views. Unlike many of the commercial postcards of the day, they present a very down-to-earth view of the town, its rocky fields, mills, houses and stores, and its summer hotels.
English
Grist mill, Greenwich Village, Mass.
Granted in 1737 and incorporated in 1754, Greenwich, Mass., was the first town in the Swift River Valley settled by Europeans. Sitting astride the East and Middle branches of the Swift River and forming the eastern boundary of Hampshire County, Greenwich was primarily an agricultural town with light manufacturing and, beginning in the later nineteenth century, an active tourist trade. The town's population peaked at over 1,100 early in the nineteenth century, declining slowly thereafter.
The photographic postcards in this collection all relate to the Quabbin town of Greenwich and were originally housed in an album of uncertain provenance. Primarily "real photo" postcards and dating between approximately 1908 and 1928, they were labeled by a knowledgeable, but unknown person at a later date to identify the houses, roads, stores, and views. Unlike many of the commercial postcards of the day, they present a very down-to-earth view of the town, its rocky fields, mills, houses and stores, and its summer hotels.
Although the name of the person who assembled the album is not known, it is possible that he or she was a member of the Walker family. Two of the postcards are addressed to Freeman Walker and the handwritten caption on one image makes reference to "Uncle Will" Walker's corn crib.
The collection is open for research.
Cite as: Kenneth G. Skinner Collection (MS 1027). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.
Gift of Kenneth G. Skinner, May 2018.
Quabbin
Processed by I. Eliot Wentworth, Feb. 2018.
Montague Farm Community (Mass.)
Employers' associations--Massachusetts
Massachusetts--Economic conditions--20th century
Newsletters
Schoolhouse and library, Greenwich Village, Mass.1908Real photo
Schoolhouse and library, Greenwich Village, Mass.; published by Frank P. Hall1921HalftoneUse: letter to Freeman Walker, Hanover, Mass.
Back of grist mill and saw mill, school house1910Real photo
Hill up back of village1910Real photo
Greenwich village from hill by schoolhouse1910Real photo
Schoolhouse Hill [in snow]1910Real photo
Greenwich village from hill by schoolhouse1910Real photo
Greenwich Village: Nevins house1910Real photo
Greenwich Village: Nevins house1908Real photo
Greenwich Village: W.P. Sloan store (later Walker's)1908Real photo
Store of W. P. Sloan, Greenwich Village, Mass., Later Walker's1915
Greenwich Village, Mass.: Walker's store, Farmers' Hall, Will Walkers, Road to Greenwich1908Real photo
Swift River, back of Farmers' Hall1910Real photo
Box shop and saw mill1910Real photo
Mill Pond back of mills1910Real photo
Mill Pond and dam1910Real photo
Mill Pond1910Real photo
Mill Pond1910Real photo
Mill Pond and ice house1910Real photo
Bridge over Swift River: Box shop and grist mill, Greenwich Village, Mass.1908Real photo
Grist mill, Greenwich Village, Mass.1908Real photo
Swift River under bridge1910Real photo
Swift River below dam and bridge, uncle Will's corn crib1910Real photo
Bridge over Swift River1910Real photo
George Walker's house1928Real photo
George Walker's house1928Real photo
Walter's turkeys1910Real photo
Claussen house1910Real photo
Burt Brooks house1910Real photo
Myron Caswell's house1910Real photo
Hardwick Road: Caswell's, Giffin's house1910Real photo
Road to Hardwick: Frank Parkers, Lowell and Doris1910Real photo
Hill back of Ed King's farm1908Real photo
Crane?1908Real photo
Reeds, Browns1910Real photo
Will King's, Moores1910Real photo
Jesse Vaughn's house1915Real photo
Mrs. Mary Towne's house1910Real photoPossibly Carrie Towne (per census), wife of Edmund Towne
Moore's House (Barney)1915Real photo
Webster Parker's house, Greenwich Village1915Real photoWebster M. Parker and Wife Daisy H., per census
Dr. Fuller's house1910Real photoPossibly George H, Fuller, listed as preacher at the Liberal Church in 1910 census
Near H. D. Johnson's1915Real photoHenry D. Johnston, poultry farmer
Lucy Parker's House, Spiritualist Church1910Real photo
Spiritualist Church, Lucy Parker's House, Greenwich Village, Mass.1908Real photo
Spiritualist Church1908Real photo
Station Road1910Real photo
Dana Road1928Real photo
Dana Road1910Real photo
Town work team: John James, Cap Miller, Allie Moore, Web Parker1910Real photoWebster M. Parker, per 1910 census
Old toll gate house, Greenwich Village, Mass.1908Real photo
Blacksmith Shop1910Real photo
Quabbin Inn, Greenwich, Mass.1920Collotype
Quabbin Inn, Greenwich, Mass.1921CollotypeAddressed to Freeman Walker, 1921
Post Office in winter, Greenwich Village, Mass.1915Real photo
Greenwich Plains from Hardwick Hill1910Real photo
Outskirts of Greenwich Plains from Mt. Liza, Mt. Pomeroy1910Real photo
Greenwich, From Mt. Pomeroy1928Real photo
Quabbin Lake, Greenwich: evening1915Real photo
Quabbin Lake, Greenwich1910Real photo
Back road to Quabbin Lake and War (in winter)1915Real photo
Road to back of lake: Mt. Liza, Quabbin Lake1910Real photo
Road to back of lake: Mt. Liza, Quabbin Lake1910Real photo
Curtis Pond, Greenwich Village1910Real photo
Ellery's Hotel, Greenwich Village, Swift River1910Real photo
Ellerly's Hotel, Greenwich Village, Mills1910Real photo
Ruins of hotel, Greenwich Village1910Real photo
Ruins of old hotel, Ellery's1910Real photo
The Centre, Greenwich, Mass.: Congregational Church, Hotel, Dickinson's store1909LithographAddressed to Lillian S. F. Browne
The hotel, Greenwich, Mass.1908Real photo
In Greenwich, Mass.1908Real photo