Video Recalls 50 Years of Fire Fighting

Source: Sunday Republican (Springfield, MA) Author: FRED CONTRADA GOSHEN, MA – For drama, it hardly rivals “Backdraft,” but if you’re in the mood to watch a bulldozer knock down an old firehouse, the “History of the Goshen Fire Department” is a must. History, specifically small town history, is another selling point in the 44-minute video, which […]

Store Owner Dies in Fire

Death of popular store owner saddens Chesterfield residents. Source: Union-News (Springfield, MA) Author: DAVID REID CHESTERFIELD, MA – The death of the owner of the Chesterfield General Store following a fire at her home yesterday afternoon has left town residents in a state of shock. Christine LaCourse, 49, 592 Main Road, was pronounced dead on arrival […]

Swimmer Injured in Fall at Gorge

Union-News (Springfield, MA) Author: DAVID KELLY CHESTERFIELD, MA – A Northampton man was rescued by raft yesterday after injuring his leg in a 40-foot fall into Chesterfield Gorge. Charles Bixby, 41, of Florence escaped serious injury in the fall, which came as he was climbing out of the gorge after swimming at about 12:30 p.m. Police […]

Thomas W. Barrus, Ex-Goshen Fire Chief

Source: Union-News (Springfield, MA) GOSHEN, MA – Thomas W. Barrus, 82, of 86 Spruce Corner Road, a former fire chief and town official, died Monday at The Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. He managed the family farm, and ran the former Barrus Sawmill with his family for 25 years. He was the town’s first fire […]

Town Pride Shines at Parade

Chesterfield celebrated Independence Day with a parade, floats, barbecues and even a petting zoo. Union-News (Springfield, MA) Author: DAVID KELLY CHESTERFIELD, MA – For the 48th straight year, the town pulled out all the stops for a July Fourth parade that has cemented its place as one of the great small town attractions in the county. […]

Gorge Rescue Takes 2 Hours

Used by permission – Springfield Republican By Rick Reiken, Staff Writer CHESTERFIELD, MA – Wile making a climb on the cliffs of Chesterfield Gorge yesterday, a Northampton man fell 35 feet, injuring his left knee and requiring a two-hour rescue by local emergency personnel. Charles Bixby, 41, was taken to the Cooley Dickenson Hospital where […]

Unsung Heroes to Receive Awards

Emergency medical services personnel are often taken for granted – but not by those whose lives they have saved. Union-News (Springfield, MA) Author: GEORGE GRAHAM NORTHAMPTON, MA – Tonight, 18-year-old Shane Scott will meet the men and women who jump-started his heart and saved his life. Scott has no memories of the car crash that nearly […]

Dynamite Cache Removed from Goshen House

Union-News (Springfield, MA) Author: FRED CONTRADA GOSHEN, MA – Clad in armored suits that could not have adequately protected them, members of the State Police Bomb Squad yesterday burned a cache of dynamite big enough to have shattered windows a quarter mile away. More than 30 public safety officials, including members of the Goshen police and […]