OtisMass.com - General

Dead Body Found ...

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:31:42 -0500

Bad guy arrested.

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_8741051

Biggest news in town since Karen Fink won a million dollars.

Some historical sources for missyray

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:57:05 -0400

You got me thinking about local history ... I actually poked around and did a little research over the summer and found a few general sources. One interesting place to peruse for historical text is www.archive.org. (They also have movies and other media.)

The following link should take you to a downloadable 1855 history of the towns of the four western Massachusetts counties. I just downloaded the actual scanned document ... the whole book ... all 636 pages.

http://www.archive.org/details/historyofwestern02holluoft

If this link doesn't work, just go to archive.org and search all "text" sources for "history", "massachusetts" and "towns".

A word of caution ... this is a huge file ... over 50MB. It took me a half hour to download it, with a DSL connection.

But there is also a plain text (TXT) version that is only 1.4MB, if a quicker download is preferred.

Otis is on page 540.

History of a House

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:55:58 -0400

My son and his family recently purchased the property at 13 Werden Road. I would love to surprise him with a bit of history about the house and its occupants. It was built in 1780. Do you have any recommendations as to where I might start my search? Thanks very much!

Any area help ?? -historical-

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:22:57 -0400

In the years up to 1919 there was the Huntington and Lee Railroad that passed through northern Otis. It actually was a Trolley line that survived for about 2 years.

One can still see the old grade on topo maps.

Does anybody have any information on this ?? Such as WHEN were tracks actually pulled up ?? Who would have records ??

Also can somebody help me with quarry names ?? Looking at old rail 'right-of-way' on topo maps there are 2 quarries along the line. One to north of line west of Algerie Four Corners (sp?) and another further west to south of old rail line.

Do any have a name/address so I could ask questions? (with an address I could write them)

One WAS operating but I asked them some questions 20 years ago !!!!

The mystery being a quarry says they have a rail spur into their quarry and it was once used. The big question being maybe this trolley line survived past 1919 as an 'industrial railroad' to Lee, Massachusetts ?

Map sources on web.... http://www.maptech.com/ http://www.topozone.com/ Also search for Microsoft Terraserver.

Hate to confuse you but there was another railroad..Lee and New Haven Railroad that was planned but never constructed. --- but some sections were graded from Lee down towards Winsted, Connecticut. Track were never laid.

There must be some old timers around ?? Town Hall ? Tax Records ??

This has been a chronic question with no answers.

I can not snoop locally 'now' as I live 'not in area'.

THANK YOU.

where is everyone?

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 19:18:37 -0500

I see that it has been a while since anyone has posted here.....unless I missed somethin......
I have been offline for a longtime, and just found this site. As someone with a lifetime built around Otis, I sure would love to chat with Hometown folks!!!! Is anyone ever here?

Wendy Crandall Preston

Walnut Lane

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 13:44:07 -0400

Hey looking to possibly build on Walnut lane. Anyone know if there are title 5 restrictions or anything there?

Uh oh! Principal/Superintendent search underway at Farmington

Thu, 27 Apr 2006 13:00:07 -0400

Farmington Elementary will need to locate a new Principal/Superintendent, as Donna Leep has recently announced her resignation after ... what ... just two years?

She is moving on to greener pastures, and has recommended splitting the existing combined position into two separate jobs, possibly utilizing a part-timer to fill the role of Superintendent.

Or, so I have heard ....

Shame on Otis Mass!

Thu, 5 Jan 2006 10:19:36 -0500

I read the newspaper last week and saw the article about your local friendly Ski & Karate Instructor being arrested for molesting little boys. The people of Otis just couldn't beleive the accusations brought against this man back in the 90's. I could see if it was just one person who made the accusations back then, but 4 or 5?. He lost a civil case, guess it wasn't enough proof for Otis. Would all of these people being lying? Not likely. He left New Hartford for the beautiful hills of Otis Mass, hoping it would go away. Otis Mass, welcomed him with open arms, and the belief that this man could never have done that. Then everyone let their children take karate and ski lessons with this man in Otis. Well suprise suprise, He was arrested in Otis with 2 counts of rape with force against boys. Do you all beleive it now? How many childrens' innocense over the past 15 years has been stolen from them? The humilitaion they must live with for the rest of their lives? How many? He has been arrested for just 2, but how many more are there? My guess it many more. Maybe this time he will get his due justice and spend some time in prison where he belongs. I also beleive that the people of Otis are ashamed and embarrased now for letting this man have contact with their children. All I can say is shame on you Otis Mass for letting this man near children after what happened in New Hartford... Shame on you. Let this be a lesson and keep this in mind, pedafilia is an incurable illness.

Where to drink in Otis

Wed, 28 Dec 2005 21:37:40 -0500

The roster of pouring establishments is ballooning in the tiny village of Otis. Alcoholic beverage licenses have recently been granted to Broadway Pizza and Hillbillies. Hillbillies?

Going before the ZBA soon is the owner of the new laundermat in town .... He is seeking to open a "private club" on the premises there. Suds and Buds, anyone?

Looks like a cash-in opportunity in anticipation of the demise of the J&D Marina's landmark "Gathering Place" saloon, now reportedly pushed back to summer.

So, which town in the Commonwealth has the greatest number of hooch joints per-capita. Someone had better start counting ...

The Big Flood, October 8-9

Sun, 9 Oct 2005 18:50:32 -0400

Anyone have a story to relate about the Great Otis Flood of 2005? As the region was dumped on by over 6 inches of rain in a day, the Farmington River overflowed onto Route 8 and elsewhere. Route 8 was worst near Gile Real Estate, and that stretch of road was closed for a time.

Dr. Higgins, the Town Dentist, would have been able to see flooding from his surgery window. That area, from Otis Center up East Otis Road past the Hardware Store, was also hard hit. The fields there were awash clear up to the Catholic Church on Route 8.

Plenty of MassHighway personnel were on the job as some sections of road were scoured out and undermined my the rising and flowing waters.

Nothing like this since the Clam River dam froze up!

Mr. Otis surveyed the scene with great interest.

The "new" Gulf Station

Sat, 3 Sep 2005 09:39:43 -0400

The most prominent recent addition to the local skyline is Papa's Healthy Food & Fuel, aka The Gulf Station, in East Otis. Locals are well aware of the controversy that accompanied the construction and opening of this new landmark, and the town seemed to be pretty evenly divided on whether it's just what the town needed (an opportunity to buy diesel without driving 25 miles, for one thing) or a ghastly, if well illuminated, intrusion on the bucolic ambiance of this rustic village.

Now that the business, owned by local folks, has been up and operating for quite some time, what is your opinion? Boon or bane?

J & D Marina

Wed, 24 Aug 2005 21:17:27 -0400

What's the story, has it been sold and to whom?