The Town of Longmeadow Splits
Article & Photos by Judy Moran, Longmeadow Historian
Article published in Longmeadow Neighbors (July 2024)
On July 1, 1894 the West Village and the East Village of Longmeadow, MA separated into 2 towns- Longmeadow and East Longmeadow. Once again, in early 1894 a petition had been sent to the State Legislature for the division. It passed. Massachusetts Gov. Frederic T. Greenhalge signed the Bill for the separation on May 22nd of that year. It did not require a vote of town voters.
The Town Hall for Longmeadow had been built in East Village in 1882.
In 1883 there was a large Centennial celebration on the Longmeadow Town Green in the West Village commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Town of Longmeadow. About 2,500 people attended this festivity.
However, for many years dividing the two villages was a hot topic with the residents. The population was less in the West Village than in the East Village. The members of the town government came from both villages, but the East Village residents outvoted the West Village residents at Town Meetings 2- 1. That included voting in town officials. The East Village had brownstone quarries that were prosperous and hired workers to work in the quarries. Many of the quarry workers had families and school age children. The children attended school as did the West Village children, but there were more children in the East Village. East Village grew and required more resources to take care of their residents. The West Village was not growing with new young families. Most of the residents lived on Longmeadow Street and many of the younger folks were relocating to other areas. There were more roads in the East Village and they needed improvements. Geographically between the two villages there was a sandy plain. This all led to many voters wanting a separation of the two villages. On July 1, 1894 that did officially take place.
A few days later on July 4th of that year there was a big Independence Day celebration on the Town Green (on Longmeadow Street) in Longmeadow. The Town Green was bustling with a large clambake. Town residents celebrated our country's independence and they also celebrated the separation of the two villages into two separate towns- Longmeadow and East Longmeadow.
That day the Town Green had brightly colored banners, tables for eating and a dancing platform that was used into the evening. In addition to the clambake, sandwiches, biscuits, cakes, lemonade and coffee were also enjoyed by the attendees. Numerous speeches were given.
Now that Longmeadow, MA was a separate town, town business needed to be taken care of. When Longmeadow consisted of the two villages residents of both villages served in Longmeadow's town government positions. Now each town needed to elect officers in their respective towns to oversee their town's government. The former Town Moderator was an East Longmeadow resident.
So, in Longmeadow a Town Meeting took place on Monday- July 9, 1894. It was was held in the Chapel. Selectman Frank B. Allen called the Meeting to order at 2 PM. He had been a Selectman for the two villages and continued in this role for his hometown Longmeadow. Charles A. Birnie was elected Town Moderator and William B. Medlicott was the new Town Clerk and Treasurer. William C. Pease and Charles S. Newell were elected Selectmen and Fence Viewers. George W. Allen was the elected Constable. The positions were filled and Longmeadow, MA would be able to continue the business of running a town.
In 1906 the former North School located on Longmeadow Street became the Town Hall/ Police Station for Longmeadow, MA. It had been built in 1855.
After the separation of the two villages, the town of Longmeadow grew. South Park Terrace was developed and new residents moved into their new homes on the north side of town. Trolleys became a method of transportation into Springfield, MA. Longmeadow was getting ready for the 20th century. It became the town that we know today.
