Historical Commission

Mailing Address: 325 Main Road, Gill, MA 01354

Email: ghc@gillmass.org

Visit us on FaceBook @GillHistoricalCommission

Commission: 7 members (currently 6 are filled with 1 vacancy) plus 2 Alternates (1 filled with 1 vacancy) - 3 yr. terms

Volunteer Opportunities: If you are interested in GHC membership or want to volunteer, please contact a member.

Meeting Schedule: The Commission generally meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 3:00 p.m. at the Riverside Municipal Building, 54 French King Highway, Gill. Please contact the Chair to confirm the meeting time and to be included on the agenda.

Next meeting:

Members

4 of 7 seats. 3 years each seat.

  • Bev Demars, Alternate Member. June, 2024.
  • Kit Carpenter, Chair. June, 2026. Gill, MA 01354 - 413-863-2505
  • Robert Perry, Member. June, 2025.
  • Lynda Hodsdon Mayo, Member. June, 2026.
  • VACANT
  • VACANT
  • VACANT

Alternate Members:

Bev Demars (June 2024)

 

Previous meetings:

LEDGER PROJECT UPDATE:

GHC's next project is digitizing the 1870's Town of Gill's Ledgers to share with all. These ledgers were rescued from the water pipe burst in the town hall this February 2023. It was realized these gems must be preserved. This will be an ongoing project over the next few years in conjunction with Digital Commonwealth and the Boston Public Library. To date we have 1870-1879 digitized and available here.

History of Gill Volume 1: 1793-1943 Digital Link

After almost a year of working together with Digital Commonwealth and the Boston Public Library, our book "History of Gill 1793-1943" (Vol. 1) by Ralph M. Stoughton is now available as a digitized version!

Published in 1978 as part of a 1976 Bicentennial Project, this book has been out of print for quite a while, but now you can access it here.

Three Historical Books of Gill Now Available

The Gill Historical Commission has three books now available:

Jennie Williams Bardwell: Life in Gill 1860-1950 A beautiful, full-color, hardcover book (published 2021) with more than 200 vintage photos, maps, artwork and documents. This book follows the life and times of Jennie Williams Bardwell and living in Gill through excerpts of her handwritten diary and letters. ($50 donation) Click here for order form.

Riverside: Life along the Connecticut in Gill, Massachusetts A full-color, 180-page coffee table book with over 300 vintage photographs, maps, artwork and documents. ($50 donation) Click here for order form.

History of Gill Volume II: 1943-1993 Originally published in 1993, this 300-page volume incorporates a collection 50 Gill residents’ reminiscence of life in Gill as seen through their eyes and in their own words. This includes over 100 photos, maps and images. ($10 donation) Click here for order form. Already own the book? Click here for Corrections to Volume II.

SEND DONATIONS FOR ORDERS TO:
GILL HISTORICAL COMMISSION
TOWN HALL • 325 MAIN ROAD • GILL, MA 01354

Please submit your check, payable to Gill Historical Commission, with
an order form. We will keep reprinting the book as we receive orders.
Sorry no credit cards. We will contact you when the books are available.
Donations will be used to cover printing costs, other expenses, and for
the work of the Gill Historical Commission. Please include an additional
$9.00 for Priority Mailing. Thank you for your order.

Additional Links:

Archaeological Accountability Policy Click here to read more.

Amazing Deep History of Gill - Prof. Richard Little presentation of Amazing Geology of Gill and Connecticut River Valley. May 2023. Click here to view presentation

Historical Research on Roswell Field, Gill Farmer (1804-1882) To view the complete paper click here. (Used by permission of, and many thanks to Robert Herbert.)

History of Gill (Vol. 1) 1793-1943 (digitized book) by Ralph M. Stoughton To view the entire book click here.

Town of Gill Ledgers 1870-1879 (digitized) To view the 1870's ledgers click here.

Calendar of Events
Planning Board -- SCHEDULED
Thu, Sep 12, 2024, 6:00 pm
Town Hall
Posted to: Planning Board
Fri, Sep 13, 2024, All Day
Posted to: Town Hall
Historical Commission -- SCHEDULED
Tue, Sep 17, 2024, 3:00 pm
Riverside Municipal
Fri, Sep 20, 2024, All Day
Posted to: Town Hall
Fri, Sep 27, 2024, All Day
Posted to: Town Hall
Contra Dance -- SCHEDULED
Sat, Sep 28, 2024, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
2nd Floor Town Hall
Latest News
Sunday, May 26th at 9:30 AM
Notice of Public Hearing and Public Comment Period
Heavily discounted in-person training in April & May in Bernardston and Shelburne Falls