SUMMER MEETING, 9:00 A.M. SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2002
Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham, MA

Meeting Highlights by Jeff Wood and Dick Trepp

For those of you who attended the Chapter 8 August 18th tailgate barbeque -- and are reading this in the cold month of December -- recall the picnic. A record-breaking 97-degree day! Despite the oppressive heat and humidity, over 100 attended and in addition about 40 of the cars set up for a mart in a parking lot on the grounds of Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts.

This was the first time the Chapter has met at this beautiful site. The Academy, started in 1824, still uses some of the original buildings from that era and is the oldest private school still in existence in this country.

The school also has a tower clock and this was the subject of a talk by Chapter 8 member Jeff Wood. Wood lives in Wilbraham and in 1993 restored the clock to working order. The Howard Model 31, serial # 115, was installed in the tower of the Academy chapel (originally the Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilbraham), in 1871. Slides that pointed out phases of the restoration were shown. Following his talk, Jeff took two groups up in the tower to examine the clock.

Jeff Wood's slide presentation on his restoration
of the Wilbraham & Monson Academy's tower clock

The Academy set up a great barbeque in a shaded area. There were outstanding choices of food and beverages, a most welcome respite on this blistering day.

The Atheneum Society of Wilbraham, adjacent to the Academy grounds, opened its historical house to the chapter. Local Chapter 8 members set up a special educational display for this meeting entitled, "Watch & Clock Manufacturing in Springfield, Massachusetts, 1870-1981". Makers represented were: New York Watch Co. (1870-76), Hampden Watch Co.1877-88), and The Standard Electric Time Co.1912-81).

Wilbraham's Old Meeting House Museum

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This year for our August meeting, we will have a barbeque picnic on the grounds of the historic Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham, MA. In addition to the barbeque, which can be shifted indoors in the event of inclement weather, events include a tail-gate mart 9:00 am plus a tour of the Atheneum Society of Wilbraham museum house between 11:30 am. and 1:30 pm.

Jeff Wood, a member of chapter 8, will give a slide presentation program on his restoration of the Academy's tower clock at 10:30 am. Jeff will then conduct tours of the clock in small groups for those that are interested. (Wear rubber soled shoes for this becaue ladder climbing is involved) All of this for $13 per person, ($15 walk-ins and kids 13 and under free).

Because the barbeque is catered by the Academy, we are asking for a registration to be mailed in as we normally do for meetings.

President's message
We had a very successful April meeting on a Sunday in Worcester and will welcome you there again on Saturday, November 2. We will be flexible with Mart admission times, working to get mart tables set up quickly so everyone can enter well before 8 a.m. In the meantime, we hope you will join us for our August 18th summer picnic at a beautiful new location in Wilbraham, Mass. If you are returning from the Syracuse regional or just looking for a nice weekend destination, you should make sure that this tailgate mart and lunch is on your summer schedule... Our chapter is hosting another four-day suitcase workshop in August; this full-up session is for students who already completed the first level. If you are interested in having another introductory clock-repair class arranged in this area, please ask me to put you name on a signup list..... The NAWCC National Seminar, October 17-19, has been moved from Andover to Boxborough, Mass. due to a hotel closure. It will be at the Holiday Inn where we had meetings in the past. Don't miss this world-class educational event cosponsored by Chapter 8. As registration chairman, I encourage you to look for details in the recent Mart and forward me your reservation form soon..... And finally, we already are thinking about filling chapter director vacancies next year. Please contact me if you are interested in volunteering on our management team.

- Bob Frishman

DIRECTIONS TO REACH THE ACADEMY

From the North:
Route I-91 South to Mass Turnpike East. Mass Turnpike to Ludlow Exit 7.Turn right onto Route 21. At first set of lights, turn right onto Chapin St. Continue straight for about 3. miles through next set of lights and until the road ends. Turn right onto Miller St and go over a bridge. At the stop sign, turn right onto Route 20. Go under the railroad overpass and pass two gas stations and the Wilbraham Fire Dept on the right. Diagonally opposite the fire station is Main St. Turn left onto Main St, to straight through the stop sign and follow 2 miles to campus.

From the South:
Route I-91 North from New Haven-Hartford to Exit 2, Forest Park/Route 83, which is the first exit after crossing into Mass from CT. Turn left at the first set of lights and at the next set of lights turn right onto Sumner Avenue. Continue on that same road (name changes from Sumner Ave to Allen St to Bicentennial Highway) for about 5 miles until you come to the end of the road. Turn left at the lights onto Cooley St (changes to Parker St) and continue until you reach the first major four-way intersection. Fleet Bank and a Pride gas station on the right corners) Turn right onto Wilbraham Rd for about 3 miles (changes to Springfield St upon entering Wilbraham). Continue straight through the next set of lights, crossing Stony Hill Rd. Pass the Wilbraham Town Hall on the right and, shortly thereafter, bear left onto Faculty St at the fork. The campus is a short distance beyond on your right.

From the East:
Mass Turnpike West to Palmer Exit 8.Turn right. At the second set of lights, turn right onto Route 20 West. Continue on Route 20 for about 4.5 miles. You will pass a river on your right and then go under a railroad overpass. You will then pass two gas stations and the Wilbraham Fire Department. Diagonally opposite the fire station is Main St. Turn left onto Main St, to straight through the stop sign and follow 2 miles to campus.

From the West:
Follow North directions from the Mass Turnpike on.

Chapter Contacts:
If you any of you have a question or wish to contact someone in the chapter, get in touch with any of these four and they will get your message to the right person if they cannot help you.

President Bob Frishman
53 Poor St., Andover MA 01810
978-475-5001
rjfjs@mediaone.net

1^st Vice Pres Dave Deutemiam
81 Kingman St., Lakeville, MA 02347
508-946-1082
Davmardeut@aol.com

Treasurer Wayne Paskerian
5 Warren St., Winchester, MA 01890
781-729-0113
winway@massed.net

Secretary Dick Trepp
573 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, MA 01106
413-567-0771
rgtrepp@rcn.com