Lumber King Meets Automobile Doom

Lumber King Meets Automobile Doom

“Lumber King” Meets Automobile Doom (Aug 8, 1909) George Van Dyke, the loved and hated ‘Lumber King’ of our community, has died at Farren Hospital after his Stevens Duryea automobile went over a rocky cliff on the Gill side of the river near the Turners Falls Dam. This shrewd and ruthless businessman was well known…

Couture Bros. Company

Couture Bros. Company

Couture Bros. Company In 1900, William Couture begins painting fences, houses and barns. He’s joined by his brother Raoul in 1910 and the tandem move forward to become Couture Brothers Painters. Presently, (2021), Couture Brothers Painting Contractors—a four-generation family business—celebrates 121 years offering a selection of painting-related options to their clientele base and beyond. It’s…

The Colle Opera House and Shea Theater History

The Colle Opera House and Shea Theater History

Dr. Colle is the great grandson of the founding family and a retired educator from Cornell University. This recent addition to our community database is now available from the following link: The Colle Opera House We also are offering a compiled set of articles compiled from the ‘Turners Falls Reporter’ newspaper mentioning the opera house….

Quick Glimpse of Northfield Chateau

Quick Glimpse of Northfield Chateau

Quick Glimpse of Northfield Chateau https://youtu.be/louIk0maMm4 Francis Robert Schell was a wealthy Northfield Massachusetts Summer resident in the early 20th Century. Shortly after 1900, he built two big projects. One was the “Schell Bridge”, spanning the Connecticut River, and the other was his Summer home that became to be known as the “Northfield Chateau”. This…