Civil War

Envelope labeled Gertrude Cook Historical Material

A large manila envelope - part of the Rhoda A. Cook collection - containing numerous materials:
-Two newspapers and 2 newspaper articles - The Springfield Sunday Union December 23, 1894 containing a full page article on "Opinion of Local Thinkers on the Merits and Demerits of the American Protective Association"; The School World November 1894 (appears to be a classroom teacher aid); an article from the Enterprise and Journal August 17, 1906 on New Salem and Warwick Old Home Days; an article (paper unknown) Warwick Gets Grant for U.S. 200th Event

Approximate era
don't know
Donated by
Gertrude Cook
Item is inside of:

Florentine Biscuit Box containing Rhoda A. Cook papers

Wedding invitation to the marriage of Florence G. Steele and Wm. F. Cook, Certificate of marriage of Florence Steel and Wm Cook, and calling cards for Wm Cook and Florence Steele are temporarily on exhibit on top of display case, west wall, room 1a near the wedding dress of Florence Steele Cook.

Florentine Biscuit Box with the following inscription on the inside lid of box: "This box and all its contents will be given to H. H. Cook who will follow my directions. I trust him entirely. Rhoda A. Cook"
The following are included in the documents in the box:
Item #5 Appraisal of estate of Daniel Cook 1812 for administrator Ezekiel Cook by Wm Cobb Jr, Josiah Pomeroy Jr; Item #7 Poem "Toll the Bell" written on the death of "Becky" daughter of Rev. P. Smith who was to become the wife of Rev. John Moors of Greenfield; Item #41 A copy of record in Registry of Deeds Bk 2, page 47 and Bk 5, page 540 Lot 28 in 1st div; Item #61 Bundle of papers and maps concerning property dispute between Rhoda Cook and abuttors; Item #71 Genealogical data on Cook family from first immigrant down to family of Ezekiel Cook 1818; Item #72 List of notes held by Daniel Cook at his death 1811; Item #73 U.S.Post Office contract account of payments to Asahel Cook to carry mail from 1857 thru 1861; Item #74 Minutes describing Widow Polly Cook thirds from estate of her husband Ezekiel Cook 1820; Item #76 Notes on treatment of Tories during the American Revolution; Item #78 Original record of Ezekiel and Polly Woodbury Cook married Oct 26, 1803; Item #79 History of second Cook house built 1810 torn down 1923; Item #80 Revolutionary War service of Daniel Cook from Mass State Archives; Item #81 Notes on Ebenezer Hall and glass manufacture; Item #82 "The Christening of Mount Grace" a poem (author unknown) based on the original story long believed of the naming of mountain; Item #83 Ten shares of stock owned by Rhoda Cook in the Tallapoosa Land and Mining and Mfg Co Georgia 1888; Item #84 Notice to George S. Cook of his election as County Commissioner of Hampden County by Board of Examiners 1920; Item #85 50th Anniversary of Battle of Gettysburg 1913. Notice sent to all veterans of Civil War (including Henry H. Cook) describing proposed program for the celebration of the anniversary and the arrangement made for the transportation and care of veterans; Item # 86 "Names of People living in 1872 on farms once part of Warwick but set off to Orange in 1789" - compiled by Rhoda Cook; Item #87 A letter written in 1838 to Rhoda Cook daughter of Ezekiel Cook by Thomas Rockwood a school teacher from Foxboro Mass. The long letter very well written reveals an intimate feeling between the correspondents - of friendship but not yet of love. Rhoda died in 1839 a spinster age 24 - buried in Warwick Cemetery grave #268; An account book from the First National Bank of Litchfield containing 2 pages of deposits and the remainder of the book used as a journal - writing of her ancestry, a school problem at the Riverside School in Gill, the rules for pinochle, Genealogical data on Cook family, writings by W. H. Carruth and Mark Twain, trip to Washington D.C. in 1920; various newspaper clippings - three obituaries of Rhoda A. Cook, an article on older residents, an article on the 13th Annual reunion of old town residents, picture of George S. Cook, and a clipping on Warwick news; Golden Anniversary announcements for Mr. and Mrs. Asahel Cook (1831-1881) and Mr. and Mrs. Summer Cook (1833-1883); calling cards Mr. and Mrs. Willard Cleveland, Mrs. Royal Sweetser Goldsbury, Henry H. Cook (4 copies); Wedding announcement of Miss Mary A. Wallace and Mr. P. Meirick Harwood (Dec 23, 1884) and a wedding invitation to the marriage of Florence G. Steele and Wm. F. Cook (Aug 17, 1874) and the Certificate of Marriage of Florence Steele and Wm Cook; a copy of the poem "The Christening of Mt. Grace"; post card of center of Warwick depicting three houses (the Cook House, Old Wheelock Store later a boot making factory, and the Warwick Inn known as the Wheelock Homestead) and a brief history of each; 3 photographs - Old Home Day 1940, the Unitarian Church, and circa 1900 family gathering on a porch; copy of the last will and testament of Rhoda A. Cook May 13, 1932; a Memorial Day poem; 3 papers and 2 short notes on Cook genealogy.

Approximate era
don't know
Donated by
Gertrude Cook
Item is inside of:

Photographs of Bliss Scythe Tree and an article from the Springfield Republic on the Bliss Scythe Tree

Three photographs of Bliss Scythe Tree
One picture is of Charles Morse looking at Scythe Tree - Pictures very poor quality
An article from the Springfield Republic telling of the Bliss Scythe - "a curious reminder of a war time parting in Warwick where scythe was left in tree 1862."

Approximate era
don't know

Record of Names of Warwick Men in service during Rebellion begun in 1861

Document/booklet titled "Complete Record of the Names of Soldiers and Officers in the Military Service and of all the Seamen and Officers in the Naval Service of the United States from the Town of Warwick During the Rebellion begun in 1861: together with Authentic Facts Relating to the Military or Naval Career of Each Soldier, Seaman, and Officer....

Year (or year range)
1861
Approximate era
don't know

19th Century scythe embedded in pine tree.

Scythe left by Augustus Bliss of Blissville in 1862. Augustus Bliss hung this scythe in a young pine tree in 1862 and went to fight in the Civil War. He never returned. His father Milton Bliss, discovered the scythe a year or so later and from sentiment, he let the pine tree grow around the scythe, erecting a railing around the base of the tree. In the hurricane of 1938, the tree was blown down. A year or so later, Warwick historian Charles Morse became interested in the story of the scythe, found the felled tree and acquired it for the Town of Warwick.

Scythe located on wooden stand, south wall, room 1a

Year (or year range)
1862
Approximate era
1851-1900
Donated by
Charles Morse

Book - History of the Second Massachusetts Battery of Light Artillery 1861-1865

Whitcomb, Caroline E. History of the Second Massachusetts Battery (Nims' Battery) of Light Artillery 1861-1865 compiled from records of the rebellion, official reports, diaries and rosters. Concord N.H.: The Rumford Press, 1912.

Year (or year range)
1861-1865
Approximate era
1851-1900
Donated by
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Donation date
1912-09-28

Book - Pictorial History of the Civil War in the United States of America. Volume II

Lossing, Benson J. Pictorial History of The Civil War in the United States of America. Volume II (Three volumes in one). Illustrated by many hundred engravings on wood, by Lossing and Babbitt, from sketches by the author and others. Hartford: Thomas Belknap, Publisher, 1878.

Year (or year range)
1861-1865
Approximate era
1851-1900