† Charlotte Cannon: abt. 1793 – July 15, 1809
† Orpah Cannon: abt. 1798 – July 15, 1809
† Thaddeus Phelon: abt. 1800 – d. August 20, 1845 (body found September 9)
† Unknown O'Neal: d. May 22, 1846 (his horse stepped off the side of a floating bridge)
† Unknown Battles: d. August 23, 1851
† Seth Wells Parker abt. 1819 – March 18, 1864
† Matthew Parker abt. 1847 – March 18, 1864
† Myron Parker abt. 1850 – March 18, 1864
† Newell Edwards: abt. 1843 – March 18, 1891
† Fred Morand: abt. 1869 – July 4, 1894
† Terrence Monaghan: abt. 1868 – July 4, 1896
† Thomas Toohey: abt. 1868 – July 4, 1896
† John Rennie: abt. 1866 – May 23, 1901 (body found June 13)
† Robert M. DeGarmo: December 24, 1865 – abt. August 3, 1907
† John Kapre: abt. 1873 – August 1907
†
David Fowler Churchill: 1884 – August 4, 1908
† Frank Belleveau: d. August 30, 1909 (murdered, body dumped in lake)
† Unknown Ice Cutter: missing January 1911; body found May 18, 1911
† Arthur E. Brown: September 28, 1883 – March 1, 1913 (body found March 2)
† Unknown Ice Cutter: d. March 1, 1913 (body found April 20)
† Unknown Ice Cutter: d. March 1, 1913 (body found in 1914)
† Unknown Ice Cutter: missing around January 23, 1914; body found August 12, 1915
† Matthew N. Malone: body found July 5, 1916
† Steven Garlick: abt. 1890 – September 10, 1916
† George W. Curtis: July 2, 1881 – September 10, 1921
† Carl Holm: abt. 1872 – July 24, 1922
† Hilding Niles Oscar Bjorkman: 1906 – December 16, 1924
† Marie Strupney: 1904 – July 25, 1927
† Gordon E. Werder: abt. 1919 – July 30, 1927
† Peter Vincent Taragowski: October 19, 1893 – February 11, 1928
†
Clarence Edward Cortis: March 28, 1896 – July 4, 1928†
James Joseph Cavanaugh: October 25, 1900 – July 16, 1928
(body found July 18)† Mary Andrews: abt. 1904 – July 16, 1928
† Helen J. Welch: abt. 1904 – July 16, 1928
† Walter Smith: abt. 1907 – June 18, 1929 (body found June 20)
† Walter Regnier: abt. 1913 – June 30, 1929
† Harold James Reeves: July 18, 1909 – July 4, 1929
† Alphonse Casavant: abt. 1903 – August 18, 1929 (may have had a heart attack while swimming)
† Rose Gainfelice: abt. 1912 – August 3, 1930
† Vincent Ripka: d. February 6, 1932 (ice cutter)
† Charles Neurath: d. June 26, 1935 (body found July 3)
† Rene Byron: December 28, 1891 – July 14, 1935
† Roland Cote: July 16, 1916 – May 31, 1937
† Thomas F. Murphy Jr.: September 1898 – August 15, 1937
† Richard Ivan Jensen: abt. 1922 – September 5, 1937
† Daniel J. Connor: September 13, 1922 – June 14, 1938
† Joseph Wojick: abt. 1913 – June 26, 1938
† Frank Adamski: abt. 1912 – August 8, 1938 (broke neck after diving in shallow water)
† Wilbur Mullings: abt. 1919 – June 13, 1943
† Walter O. Gagon: abt. 1913 – June 29, 1944
† Henry J. Holzheimer Jr.: abt. 1918 – July 25, 1944
† Joseph Novello: abt. 1915 – May 6, 1945
† Egidio G. Oriol: December 1, 1900 – December 15, 1945
† Dudley W. Renfrew: August 26, 1896 – July 20, 1946
† Richard E. Condon Jr.: November 5, 1929 – July 27, 1946
† William Hallington: abt. 1924 – September 6, 1948 (body found September 9)
† Merrill Chamberlain: abt. 1908 – July 15, 1949
† George R. Baillargeon: abt. 1895 – July 24, 1949 (drowned after boat caught fire)
† Alice L. (Wright) Corbin: 1925 – July 4, 1951
† Ernest Grenier: abt. 1906 – September 16, 1951
† Shirley Yvonne Kennedy: February 2, 1935 – July 30, 1952 (body found July 31)
† Alice Lucille LaBarre: 1952 – July 17, 1953
† William Joseph Schiessl Jr: April 26, 1946 – August 13, 1953 (body found August 15)
† Madeline J. Cooke: abt. 1900 – June 5, 1959
† Samuel Sico Jr.: July 1, 1930 – July 15, 1962
† Seth Wells Parker: d. March 1964 (drowned with his two sons)
† Unknown Parker: d. March 1964
† Unknown Parker: d. March 1964
† David L. Jordan: d. May 19, 1964 (body found June 23)
† Richard Douglas Brooks: November 20, 1949 – July 1, 1966
† April Mary Kingsbury: September 8, 1958 – July 3, 1966
† Vernon MacQueston: May 5, 1924 – January 15, 1967
† Robert K. Turgeon: December 30, 1935 – May 20, 1967
† Gregory A. Bowditch: abt. 1953 – June 19, 1971
† Charles Russell Belcher: 1954 – June 21, 1971
† Manuel Vasquez: abt. 1968 – July 4, 1971
† Edward F. Martin: September 22, 1950 – October 2, 1971
† Reuben Marquez: abt. 1953 – July 29, 1973
† Steven A. Irwin: abt. 1955 – May 22, 1974
† Anthony Krupa: abt. 1954 – July 4, 1974 (hit by a boat while swimming)
† Michael Germain: February 28, 1957 – December 29, 1976
† Francis X. Martone: July 13, 1958 – January 11, 1977 (body found January 15)
† Christopher S. Coventry: September 3, 1971 – June 27, 1979
† Juan N. Diaz: abt. 1942 – July 12, 1980 (body found July 20)
† John C. Wirth: abt. 1961 – October 15, 1994 (body found October 16)
† Unknown: d. August 26, 2000
† Larry Cauley: abt. 1989 – June 19, 2011
† Kevin J. Major: April 8, 1992 – July 11, 2011
† Dongsoo Kim: July 16, 1966 – September 24, 2011
† Michael Chace: April 16, 1984 – June 10, 2017
† Joseph C. Sullivan: June 27, 1992 – June 12, 2020
— A Southwick Time Machine Memorial Index
Remembering the Victims
 |
| David F. Churchill, victim of Congmond Lake |
David Fowler Churchill of New Britain, Connecticut, was described as a
promising young man and was well-known in his community. He worked as a
foreman at the Stanley factory and was active in church and Y.M.C.A.
activities. Two days before his passing, his mother received a postcard
from David describing the enjoyment he was having at Congamond Lake.
On
Tuesday, August 4, 1908, David went swimming at Congamond Lake with a
group of church boys when he suddenly sank out of sight. Authorities
noted that he was subject to fainting fits and believed he may have
fainted or suffered a cramp before drowning. His body was recovered
several hours later.
David’s
fellow Y.M.C.A. members remembered him as someone always ready to
perform a kind act or speak a friendly word. They expressed deep grief
at his untimely death and acknowledged his life of service and
friendship. David's family and friends recalled how he had endured the loss of two older siblings at a young age.
 |
George W. Curtis, victim of Congamond Lake
|
A
prominent builder in Springfield, Massachusetts, George W. Curtis
followed in the footsteps of his father, one of Western Massachusetts’
best-known builders. He was also active in Irish freedom movements. On
the morning of September 10, 1921, Curtis was walking alone through the
woods when he fell over a 50-foot embankment into the old canal section
on North Pond at Congamond Lake. His body was discovered several hours
later, about eight feet from shore in four feet of water. Curtis had
gone to the lake for fishing with three men, all of whom were cleared of
any wrongdoing. His body was taken to the undertaking rooms of the Hearn
& Company furniture store in Westfield, Massachusetts, before being
transferred to Springfield.
 |
| James J. Cavanaugh, victim of Congamond Lake |
James
Joseph Cavanaugh of Hartford, Connecticut, went by the name James
Clark. He was a taxi cab driver known among his friends and community
for his generosity and willingness to help others. Details about his
personal life are limited, but he was described as a capable and
courageous man who readily assisted those in need.
On
Monday night, July 16, 1928, Clark was at Congamond Lake with a group
of friends. During the evening, a smaller boat capsized in South Pond
after being struck by the wake of a passing boat. James dove into the
dark water to assist those in danger, reportedly removing his pants
before entering.
Despite
his efforts, he and two young ladies drowned. The girls’ bodies were
recovered shortly after the accident, and James’s body was recovered
late in the day on July 18 by local authorities near the same location.
 |
Walter Regnier, victim of Congamond Lake
|
Walter
Regnier of West Springfield, Massachusetts, was a member of the
freshman class at West Springfield High School and a Boy Scout with
Troop 82 of West Springfield. On Sunday
afternoon, June 30, 1929, he was at Miller’s Beach on Congamond Lake
with his grandfather, aunt, and uncle.
Shortly
after 4:00 p.m., Walter handed his watch and glasses to his
grandfather, changed into his bathing suit, and entered the water. He
dove from a raft located approximately seventy-five feet from shore and
failed to resurface.
When
Walter was noticed missing, an alarm was raised and men and boys
immediately began searching the water. The owner of Miller’s Beach
joined the effort and soon located Walter’s body on the lake bottom near
the raft. Despite more than an hour of resuscitation attempts using
artificial respiration and an inhalator—described by some witnesses as a
pulmotor—Walter could not be revived.
At
first, it was thought that Walter may have struck his head on a rock,
but after his father told authorities that Walter had a hearty appetite,
they believed he likely suffered a cramp while underwater.
Only days before he died, Walter had been
awarded a Boy Scout Court of Honor swimming certificate.
 |
Alphone Casavant, victim of Congamond Lake
|
Born
in Canada but living in Springfield, Massachusetts, Alphonse Casavant
drowned while swimming near Cannon’s Cove at Congamond Lake on August
18, 1929. He had gone to the lake with his sister, her husband, and
their son. Southwick physician Dr. Carr believed he suffered a heart
attack, and his body was recovered minutes later by the owner of
Miller’s Beach and a lifeguard using grappling irons. Casavant was a
printer employed by the Sherwood Trust Company in Hartford, Connecticut.
His body was sent home on the 8 o’clock morning train for services and
burial.
 |
| Charles Neurath, victim of Congamond Lake |
A
student from Hartford Public High School, Charles Neurath visited
Miller's Beach at Congamond Lake with 55 classmates on June 26, 1935.
Around 1:30 p.m., he and a friend rowed into Middle Pond when the friend
jokingly tossed an oar into the water. Charles jumped in to retrieve it
but soon began struggling to stay afloat. Efforts to rescue him
involved his classmate and lifeguard William Kuhs, who was hospitalized
for exhaustion. Rescuers set up a makeshift headquarters at Saunder's
Boat Livery. While dragging the lake on June 28, authorities pulled up
some material believed to be from the bathing suit belt Charles was
wearing. After days of searching, including grappling hooks and attempts
to enlist Navy divers, Charles’ body was recovered on July 3, about 400
feet north of Boat House Point. In his memory, an annual scholarship
was established, though early fundraising struggled, in part due to the
Great Depression.
 |
| Thomas F. Murphy, Jr., victim of Congamond Lake |
Thomas F. Murphy Jr. of Springfield, Massachusetts, was widely known throughout Western Massachusetts through his long career in newspaper circulation. He began as a paperboy in his youth and, immediately after graduating high school, became circulation manager of the Springfield Daily News, a position he held for more than twenty years. He later served as vice president of the New England Association of Circulation Managers.
Thomas
was described as possessing a fine disposition and was well liked by
all who knew him. He was especially popular among the thousands of
newsboys under his supervision and countless friends, including
many prominent figures who spoke highly of his character. He was active
in youth work, helping to found a camp for mailroom boys, promoting
sandlot baseball and hockey leagues, and serving as the motivating force
behind the annual newsboys’ outings—an idea later adopted by all
Springfield-area newspapers.
For
approximately ten years, Thomas owned a cottage at Congamond Lake. On
the early afternoon of Sunday, August 15, 1937, he went to the lake with
two or three companions. Shortly after 10:00 p.m., dressed in his
swimming trunks, Thomas entered North Pond near the Lakeview Inn for a
brief swim.
About
fifteen minutes later, the owner of a nearby cottage heard cries for
help and rushed to the shore but saw no sign of a swimmer. When a close
friend of Thomas arrived at the cottage and learned of his absence and
the reported cries, he and several others searched the dark water with a
searchlight, but found no trace of him. The friend then drove to
Southwick Center to notify the Massachusetts State Police.
Dragging
operations began shortly thereafter but were hampered by inadequate
searchlights. By 3:30 a.m., Thomas’s body had not been located.
Additional police departments sent equipment to assist, and by daybreak a
large search party had formed as state and local authorities continued
dragging the lake.
At
first, it was believed Thomas may have gone out in a rowboat, but no
immediate trace of a boat or oars was found. Police later stated they
believed he was a poor swimmer and had remained close to shore. On
August 16, a body believed to be Thomas was spotted floating
approximately 500 to 600 feet offshore by a passenger aboard an
airplane, who was a photographer for the Springfield Daily News.
State Police also received word that an unoccupied rowboat had been found near the
middle of the lake, with one oar in the lock and the other lying inside
the boat.
Thomas’s funeral drew a massive turnout, reflecting the wide regard in which he was held.
 |
| Francis X. Martone, victim of Congamond Lake |
A native of Westfield, Massachusetts, Francis X. Martone graduated from
Westfield High School, where he competed on the wrestling, track, and
soccer teams. He taught swimming at the Westfield YMCA and was active in
the junior and senior YMCA leader clubs. At the time of his death, he
was a freshman at Marquette University.
On January 11, 1977, Francis and
a friend went diving in Middle Pond at Congamond Lake to recover one of
two snowmobiles that had broken through thin ice two weeks earlier,
killing 19-year-old Michael Germain. Francis’ “buddy line” detached from
his friend, and he failed to resurface as the survivor of the earlier
snowmobile accident looked on. Investigators believe his underwater
breathing apparatus became entangled in weeds beneath the ice. His body
was not recovered until January 15, 1977. Francis had been one of the
half-dozen divers searching the freezing waters for Michael Germain’s
body and had been hospitalized for several days due to severe frostbite
after tearing his suit on the ice during the search.
All lives remembered here, each taken too soon, each not forgotten.
“As the fishes are taken in an evil net, and the birds caught in a snare,
so are the sons of men snared in an evil time,
when it falleth suddenly upon them.”
— Ecclesiastes 9:12 (King James Version), cited in the account
of the four young girls who perished together in South Pond on July 15, 1809.
The
verse, chosen by the community in their time of grief, speaks to the
sudden and unpredictable nature of tragedy. It serves as a fitting
remembrance for all those listed here, whose lives were similarly taken
without warning by the waters of Congamond Lake.
This article is based on original primary-source research, including but
not limited to official records, census data, period newspapers, and death certificates. Research is
ongoing, and this account may evolve as new information comes to light.
The photographs accompanying this story are authentic images of the
individuals involved. In keeping with historical preservation standards,
the images have been digitally enhanced for clarity and detail, without
altering the original subjects.
