Agawam Historical Association

10/23/2026

We congratulate the recipients of the 2026 William Pynchon Award: Gianna Allentuck, Dr. Ronald H. Berger, Dr. Philip T. Glynn, and the Agawam Historical Association’s own David Cecchi.

The Pynchon Award has been presented in recognition of distinguished service to the community by the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts since 1915.

Previous Pynchon Award recipients with ties to Agawam include:

1919 - Captain Harold R. Buckley, of the United States Army Air Service’s 95th Aero Squadron. World War I flying ace and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross and France’s Croix de Guerre. Buckley’s father, D.H. Buckley, was the manager of the original Federal Hill Club, and arranged a banquet there upon his son’s discharge from the service. Among those in attendance were fellow aviators Eddie Rickenbacker and Donald M. Macaulay, who would himself receive the Pynchon Award in 1968.

1945 - Hazel Clark, for her work as Springfield’s Classical High School music director. Described as “one of the most gifted choral directors Springfield has ever had. The rendering each year of one of the standard oratories has afforded several thousand young people an education in some of the greatest music ever written which will have a mellowing influence on their whole lives.” Clark was previously the first music and band director at Agawam High School, from 1922 to 1926.

1951 - Cordelia S. Pond, curator of the George Walter Vincent Smith (who received the Pynchon Award in 1915) Art Museum for two decades, was the 75th person to receive the Pynchon Medal, for her “outstanding contributions to the cultural life of Springfield and to the encouragement of its youth.” Pond was married to John D. Pond, who founded the Pond Ekberg Printing company in an Agawam barn.

2025 - Anthony Russo, then vice president of the Agawam City Council, for his leadership and exceptional commitment to public service. Russo currently serves as the Agawam City Council president and is also a trustee of the Captain Charles Leonard House.

It is our privilege to honor David Cecchi as a 2026 Pynchon Medal recipient.

David Cecchi’s lifelong passion for local heritage began on his grandparents’ farm in Feeding Hills. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he channels his creative talent into Cecco | the design office of David Cecchi, an award-winning graphic design and advertising practice based in Agawam.

Beyond his profession, David has dedicated decades to civic leadership and historic preservation. Since 1992, he has served as chairman of the Agawam Historical Commission, helping preserve important landmarks, advance preservation initiatives and ensure that local history remains accessible to future generations.

His service spans local government, education and the arts. He served on the Agawam School Committee, co-chaired the town’s Sesquicentennial Committee, contributed to numerous community organizations and has given many years of service to the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts as a past four-term president, club historian and Pynchon Trustee.

His commitment to Agawam and Western Massachusetts has earned numerous honors, including the Agawam Rotary Club Paul Harris Award, the Friend of The Big E Award and Preservation Massachusetts’ K. Julie McCarthy Community Spirit Award.

David was nominated by Laurie Cecchi.

Join us as we honor David and the 2026 Pynchon Medal recipients on November 12 at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow.

📅 November 12
⏰ 4:30 PM
📍 Twin Hills Country Club, Longmeadow

Learn more and reserve your seat at adclubwm.org.

10/16/2026

After enduring downpours at our April, May, and June events and heat and humidity in July and August, the picture-perfect New England autumn weather on display during Old Home Day at the Thomas Smith House last week was much appreciated!

We are grateful for the participation of the 25th Continental Regiment – who demonstrated blacksmithing and drilled with new recruits, the Connecticut Valley Working As car club – whose members displayed their antique vehicles on the front lawn, and the Agawam High School marching band, who, under the direction of Bill Hueglin performed school songs and selections from their halftime show – and "Happy Birthday," in recognition of Thomas Smith’s 301st birthday on October 3rd.

Our young neighbors Autumn Turnbull and Bailey Howard impressively brought their working steers over to share with our visitors, which proved to be very popular, especially with many band members! Thank you Autumn and Bailey - you are welcome at the Smith House any time!

The day ended with our annual apple pie contest. Agawam Historical Association Director Emeritus Don Anderson, Agawam Mayor Christopher Johnson, and 2025 apple pie contest first place winner Liz Johnson evaluated our six entries and awarded Adam Krause & Charley Zuzgo the blue ribbon and AHA first place apron, sewn by AHA board member Charlotte Fields. (Adam & Charley will return next year as judges)

Nancy Hastings won second place, and Amanda Sorcinelli earned third place for her pie.

All pies were sampled after the official judging, and we learned just how difficult it is to choose a favorite from all the delicious entries!

Thanks also to everyone who attended Old Home Day, and other AHA events this year Your interest, enthusiasm, and support mean so much to us!

Agawam High School Performing Arts

10/12/2026

As the days get short and the temperature drops, we close our triple-pane windows and fire up the furnace — safe and warm until next Spring. On extra chilly mornings, we can always nudge up the thermostat, but 250 years ago, things were a lot different.

Please join the Agawam Historical Association for the last event of the season at the historic Thomas Smith House, 251 North West Street, Feeding Hills, on Saturday, 7 November 2026, from 10am-2pm as Green Valley Homestead returns with a program of open hearth cooking, food preservation, and a discussion about how folks in the 18th century prepared for the long New England winter.

This event is free and open to the public.

The ca. 1757 Thomas Smith House and 1920 Delmore Hawthorne Garage will be open for tours that afternoon.

On display will be items to be included in a time capsule the association will seal later this year, not to be opened again for another century. Visitors are encouraged to provide letters to future Agawam residents describing 21st century life for inclusion in the time capsule. Brochures and business cards from local businesses are also wanted.

This event is free and open to the public.

Photos courtesy of Heidi Erickson Heidi

10/06/2026

On 3 October 1962, members of the recently-formed Agawam Historical Association toured the Longmeadow Historical Society’s 1786 Storrs House in what is believed to be the first activity of the AHA, which was established earlier that year.

On 3 October 2026, members of the Agawam Historical Association commemorated the 1962 visit with a return to the Storrs House, spending an enjoyable and informative afternoon with LHS president Al McKee and LHS secretary Betsy McKee.

Al and Betsy graciously shared stories of Longmeadow’s impressive collection and current projects during an all-access, behind the scenes tour, which spanned the entire building—from their basement archive to the cavernous attic.

We are appreciative of the opportunity to spend this quality time with our colleagues across the river!

The Storrs House is open for visitors on the first Wednesday and third Saturday of every month from 1-4 pm.
Please pay them a visit!

10/06/2026

Please support our North West Street neighbors!

09/30/2026

The Agawam Historical Association invites you to its Autumn Meeting, where Bob Drinkwater will present: "Who Made the Gravestones in Agawam’s Old Burying Grounds?"

The meeting will take place on Thursday, 15 October 2026, at 6:30 pm at the Captain Charles Leonard House, 663 Main Street, Agawam.

Drawing from his latest book, "Keeping Memory Alive in Western Massachusetts - A Regional Guide to Gravestone Carvers and Their Work, ca. 1720 to 1850," Drinkwater will discuss their work as it appears in Agawam’s historic cemeteries.

An historical archaeologist with an MA in Anthropology from UMass Amherst, Drinkwater has recorded,
photographed, and reported on the eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century gravestones and stonecutters of western Massachusetts for over four decades, and has identified a number of Connecticut River Valley carvers. A charter member of the Association for Gravestone Studies, he has contributed scholarly articles to its journals, organized and presented at its conferences, and served terms as its President and Trustee.

This event is free and open to the public.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam Cultural Council, a local agency which is
supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

09/23/2026

Join us on Saturday, 10 October 2026, from 10am-2pm, for Old Home Day at the Thomas Smith House, 251 North West Street, Feeding Hills.

It will be a day of old-fashioned fun as we celebrate Thomas Smith’s 301st birthday! (3 October 1725)

• The 25th Continental Regiment will return, with an encampment, musket drills, and blacksmithing demonstrations.

• Performance by the Agawam High School Marching Band at noon.

• Display of antique vehicles from Connecticut Valley Working A’s car club

• Archeological dig - public participation encouraged!

• AHA Annual Apple Pie Contest - judging begins at 1:30 pm - register your entry by 7 October!

The Agawam Historical Association’s ca. 1757 Thomas Smith House and 1920 Delmore Hawthorne Garage will also open for tours.

This event is free and open to the public.

09/17/2026

Please support our friends at the Captain Charles Leonard House in their efforts to preserve Agawam’s Community House!

09/14/2026

Master stone carver and gravestone conservator Randall Nelson visited the Thomas Smith House on Saturday to speak about stone carving and install the beautiful marker he hand-carved to commemorate the dedication of Agawam’s Liberty Tree.

The artist shared his research process, his vast knowledge of stone carving and early gravestone carvers, and encouraged visitors to try their hand with the chisel.

09/11/2026

Calling all bakers!!

The Agawam Historical Association will hold its annual Apple Pie Contest on Saturday, 10 October 2026 as part of Old Home Day at the Thomas Smith House.

The contest is open to the public (amateur bakers only, please) and entrants may use their own favorite recipe.

• Pies only — no tarts or crisps

• Must be full top and bottom, double (rolled) crust

• Fresh apples only • No store-bought fillings or crusts

• Please use 9” or 10” disposable pie plates

• Pie must be at room temperature at time of judging

• No identification allowed on pie tin

Participants must register on or before Wednesday, 7 October 2026 by texting (413) 297-4967 or emailing [email protected].

Pies must be dropped off by 12:30 pm on Saturday, 10 October 2026 at: Thomas Smith House, 251 North West Street, Feeding Hills, Mass.

Judging will begin at 1:30 pm.

Entries will be judged on flavor, filling, crust & overall appearance, and creativity.

Judges for 2026 are:

• Agawam Historical Association Board Member Emeritus Don Anderson

• Agawam Mayor Christopher Johnson

• 2025 AHA Apple Pie Contest First Place Winner Liz Johnson

The decisions of the judges are final.

In addition to bragging rights, the first place winner will receive a blue ribbon, an apron hand-sewn by AHA board member Charlotte Fields, and a place at next year’s apple pie contest judges’ table.

Pies will not be returned.