—  A Southwick Time Machine Historical Curiosity     A fire of unknown origin destroyed a small vacant house on Granville Road in Southwick, Massachusetts, shortly after 10:00 p.m. on Halloween 1955. William H. Muggle owned the home, which had been abandoned for a year or two.    Three of William Muggle's Children: Herbert, Minnie, Arthur   The Southwick Fire Department extinguished the blaze and spent about an hour wetting down the charred remains. Firemen speculated that faulty wiring caused the fire. Earlier that evening, the Southwick Fire Department had responded to a tobacco barn fire near the rear of the junior high school on Powder Mill Road. Firemen extinguished that blaze before it caused any serious damage.  Back in March 1955, friends of William Muggle threw him a surprise party for his 70th birthday. Less than a year after the Halloween fire, late in the evening of September 24, 1956, he died in Westfield, Massachusetts. The 1955 Ha...

Author’s Note: This story has been particularly challenging to research because the historical records contain several conflicts surrounding names, dates, and places that cannot always be reconciled. Like every story on the Southwick Time Machine, it is a living document. The story will get updated if additional information is uncovered.       — A Southwick Time Machine Original     From Russia to Trouble on Point Grove Road Albrecht Maske was born on October 15, 1905, in Russia. As Albert Maske, he crossed the Atlantic from Bremen, Germany, aboard the S.S. Friedrich der Große with his grandmother, Pauline (Mizel) Maske. They arrived in America on July 14, 1909. (Albert sometimes wrote his date of birth as October 15, 1902, which is what he did on his draft card in 1942.)   Believed to be Albert (Maske) Maskill  (Photograph from a user-submitted online family tree; original source and date unknown) According to the ship’s records, one of Pauline’s so...

 — A Southwick Time Machine Original Mystery   Edward S. Root married Mary J. Blanchard on February 23, 1898. The couple later settled at 39 King Street in Westfield, Massachusetts. Edward was a whipmaker who also moonlighted as a well-known dance promoter for many of the city's major balls. Mary was prominent in Western Massachusetts fraternal circles, active in the Daughters of Rebekah and holding several positions within the order. With no children, she was free to travel, entertain friends, and attend gatherings.   Mrs. Mary Jane Root   In early May 1920, Mary, a member of Eastern Star Rebekah Lodge, was appointed marshal of the Massachusetts assembly, then in session in Boston. She remained socially engaged through most of that summer. On July 15, members of the Past Noble Grands' Club of Eastern Star Rebekah Lodge surprised her with a party at her home; she entertained them with a lawn party.  Mary observed her birthday on July 18, and about a week later ...