History Society program to detail murder of Civil War vet

COLRAIN — “Murder on Catamount” will be the topic of a program following this month’s meeting of the Colrain Historical Society at the Stacy Barn, 8 Main Road, on Thursday, June 13.

Prentice Crosier, historian of the Catamount Hill Association, has researched details of a long-forgotten robbery and murder of a Civil War veteran in Colrain. The presentation will start at 7:30 p.m. after a 7 p.m. business meeting.

The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Fathers ride for free on Father’s Day at Trolley Museum

SHELBURNE FALLS — The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum will once again offer free rides for fathers on Father’s Day on Sunday, June 16. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Attendees can ride on the 128-year-old trolley that ran between Colrain and Shelburne Falls from 1896 to 1927; enjoy the Visitors Center, which has exhibits outlining the history of the local trolley operation as well as wooden and electric trains for children to play with; visit the Trolley Gift Shop; visit the restored caboose; or ride the pump car.

For more information on the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum, visit sftm.org.

Theater workshops open to ages 7 and up

ASHFIELD — The First Congregational Church of Ashfield is seeking young people ages 7 to 19 and adults of any age, including seniors, to join Jeannine Haas, actress and teacher of Pauline Productions, and Meg Reilly, musician and teacher, in a series of multidisciplinary theater workshops.

The workshops — to include music, song, storytelling and acting games — will take place from July 1 to 14 (first group) and from July 14 to 28 (second group). Each two-week period will include four, three-hour sessions. The times will be determined based on participants’ schedules. There will have a presentation of participants’ work at the conclusion of each workshop session.

“Engaging in the arts helps us open up and engage with others in new ways,” the Rev. David Jones, minister at the First Congregational Church of Ashfield, said in a statement. “Through the arts we can share our hopes and fears, sorrow and laughter, and with these workshops we can do this across the generations.”

These workshops are part of the “Young Voices: Listening to Our Youth” initiative of the First Congregational Church, funded by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and the church’s Mission and Social Justice Committee.

Contact Jeannine Haas by June 15 at 413-588-1534 or info@paulinelive.com if you are interested in participating.

Buckland schools subject of Historical Society program

BUCKLAND — The Buckland Historical Society will host a pie social and a program on the history of Buckland schools on Friday, June 21, at 7 p.m. at the Buckland Public Hall, 15 Upper St.

Polly Anderson, Buckland Historical Society trustee, will detail how Buckland answered the educational needs of its population, starting with the first schoolhouse in 1793. Mary Lyon, founder of Mount Holyoke College, played a role as she began her teaching career in Buckland.

The program will be followed by the Historical Society’s customary selection of homemade pies, coffee and cider.

Admission is $10 for members, $12 for non-members and $20 per family.

Prior to the program, between 6 and 6:45 p.m., the Buckland Historical Museum across the street will be open, as well as the Wilder Homestead barn on Route 112.

Historical Society plans Sweetheart Tea Party, ice cream social

SHELBURNE — The Shelburne Historical Society invites the public to two events in June at 33 Severance St. Both events are free but donations are appreciated.

On Sunday, June 23, the Historical Society will again be hosting its “Summer Sweetheart Tea Party” in honor of Alice Brown’s Sweetheart Tea Room from 1 to 4 p.m. Attendees can enjoy a cup of English tea served with traditional English sweets. There will also be live harp music. For more information about this event, contact Rich Philben at 508-653-0679.

Then, on Wednesday, June 26, at 7 p.m., the Historical Society will welcome the Shelburne Falls Military Band for a performance during the ice cream social. For more information about this event, contact Prudence Wholey at 413-522-5211.

The Historical Society is also actively seeking new members. If you live in the area, have a love of history and want to get involved, email info@shelburnehistoricalsocietyma.org, call 413-625-6150 or visit the Historical Society’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.