Belchertown: Deep roots bring fresh 'green' to Historical Association

[RobertJudge]

Fellow Historical Society Members:

Perhaps one the people we have helped with their South Hadley
genealogy will be so generous to the South Hadley Historical Society!

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Around Belchertown: Deep roots bring fresh 'green' to Historical
Association
BY STEPHEN C. HILL STAFF WRITER

[ Originally published on: Monday, December 17, 2007 ]

A Maryland man whose ancestors were prominent in the area has donated
$12,000 to the Belchertown Historical Association after a successful
genealogical search at the Stone House Museum.

Dwight Mason, of Bethesda, Md., initially contacted the Stone House
via its Internet site over a year ago, searching for information about
Nathanial and Justus Dwight, his direct ancestors, said Laura Quinn,
director of the museum. After corresponding with archivist Doris
Dickinson, Mason visited the Stone House in September.

Dickinson showed Mason the museum, which was built by his ancestors in
1827, and the association's extensive holdings of documents by and
related to the Dwights. Several members of the family were surveyors,
and Mason got to view the museum's collection of original 18th-century
Dwight surveys and field notes pertaining to many towns in western
Massachusetts. Mason was also able to trace his lineage back eight
generations through the Stone House records.

Mason was so impressed, Quinn said, that he donated $12,000 in stock,
which has been converted to more stable investments.

"It's kind of our holiday gift," said Quinn.

The historical association has not yet decided how it will use the
money, said Quinn, but some priorities are stabilizing the museum
building, expanding its outreach programs and preserving its archives.

Mason plans to appeal to other family members, Quinn said, to
contribute to the preservation of the Dwight surveys, a $150,000
project.

The Stone House Web site is www.stonehousemuseum.org.