SOUTHWICK – September 22 will mark the very first meeting of the year for the Southwick Historical Society. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. with a pot luck dinner at the Fellowship Hall of Christ Church United Methodist.
As the Southwick Historical Society always continues to pursue rich history in their community, an important part of history that happens to connect through Southwick will be presented to the society at the meeting.
Bob Madison, a resident of Western Mass., just recently published a book called “New Haven and Northampton Canal Greenway.”
Madison will be the special guest at the meeting and will give his presentation on his book.
“We’re very pleased to be able to present him,” said Pat Ordiorne, who is a member of the Board of Directors for the Southwick Historical Society and also an archivist for the society.
It made perfect sense for Madison to involve his work with the Southwick Historical Society.
Bob Madison, author of New Haven and Northampton Canal Greenway will be speaking at the Southwick Historical Societies Pot Luck Dinner on Sept. 22. (Photo from Bob Madison)
“Southwick and Southwick Historical Society are right in the middle of the whole project which not many people know about so it all kind of works together,” said Madison.
Also at the meeting, Madison will be giving out copies of his book and will be doing signings if anyone is interested.
Madison’s book is published by Bridgeport National Bindery, Inc. out of Agawam. Although this is Madison’s first book that he has ever written and published, it results from a strong passion that he has had ever since he was a young kid.
A graduate of Westfield High School, Madison was used to taking the same bus route every day in high school. It didn’t take Madison long to realize that he was crossing a canal to get to his bus stop.
Three years ago, Madison started to write his book, and before that occurred, he remembered that time in high school when he crossed that canal.
“When I found out there was a canal right next to my parent’s house, it peaked my interest,” said Madison.
With the title of the book being “New Haven and Northampton Canal Greenway” there certainly is the history that goes along with the focus of the book.
In 1825, the Erie Canal in New York officially opened. Ten years later, on July 29, 1835, the New Haven-Northampton Canal officially opened as it became a reliable form of transportation for people to travel from New Haven, Conn. to Northampton, Mass.
In 1847, the canal had to declare bankruptcy. Then in 1855, the Canal Railroad was created and yet became another way for people throughout several communities to travel.
The signs that Bob Madison has created will go to each of the 16 cities and towns that have the canal connect through their communities. (Photo from Bob Madison)
Describing the history of the New Haven-Northampton Canal in his book, Madison also includes information about all of the routes you could take from New Haven to Northampton as well as the routes for going from Northampton to New Haven. Madison has every piece of directions for all of the routes.
The canal now has its many connections through Southwick and Westfield. As the canal is roughly 87 miles long, it goes right through Congamond Lake in Southwick.
Madison also goes into further detail about how the canal flows right by Shaker Farms Country Club in Westfield. It then goes behind the Westfield Shops, heads towards downtown Westfield and then makes its way to North Elm St. and then to Southampton. The canal reaches out to a total of 16 different towns and cities.
Besides showing the specific routes the canal reaches in cities like Wesfield in his book, Madison also includes specific places to park as well as historical landmarks in each community that the canal passes through.
In order to help benefit the all of the cities and towns that have the canal connect through their respective communities, Madison is working on making signs to give to each historical society so they can place them on their part of the canal or on the rail trails.
With Sept 22 being the first presentation for Madison with the Southwick Historical Society, he plans on meeting with all 16 historical societies to give them his perspective on the canal history as well as the importance of the signs.
“These signs here will make people aware of what is going on,” said Madison.
Despite “New Haven and Northampton Canal Greenway” being Madison’s first published book, the research and work he put in to make it happen was all worth it.
“It was quite a bit of work, I think it was necessary though,” said Madison. “The purpose of all this is to make people aware of the canal.”
