Here was Elaine's original posting that got picked up by the PML: ===================================================================== Match: Bowles Source: MAHAMPDE-L@rootsweb.com From: "Elaine Strople" <estrople@charter.net> Subject: Re: [MAHAMPDEN] Longmeadow Land Grant Map of 1645 Dear Sandy, Does your book contain any information about the property purchased by Henry Leland Bowles (Bolles) on Longmeadow Street? The property was a small farm and the main house fronted Longmeadow Street. It was purchased around the turn of the century. Thank you. Elaine Strople ================================================= When I wrote to her to invite her to the Bowles list, she replied: ================================================= Thank you, Linne for your reply. I do have information on this line of the Bolles/Bowles family. Henry Leland Bowles was the brother of my husband's grandmother. They are listed in the book of descendants of Joseph Bolles of Wells, Maine. We do belong to the Bolles Association group, though we are not what you would call "active" members. Uncle Henry changed the spelling of his name to the more easily recognizable and pronounceable Bowles as he began to become more active in business affairs and the family followed suit. My genealogy research has slowed down in the past several years due to health concerns and family obligations, but I'm trying to pick up speed once again. I'd like to find out more about the family background of my husband's grandfather, Albert Hammat(t), who married Henry's sister Angie Scofield Bowles. He was a minister in Newton, Mass. and they later moved to Longmeadow to care for Angie and Henry's mother on the Longmeadow property and ran a small farm there. Henry was quite successful by this time, having developed a small chain of lunchrooms in the Springfield area, dabbled in local politics and served a term in the US Congress. He also had a lovely summer home in Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire where he entertained many of the dignitaries of the day. He was married to Edna Howard. She outlived him by fifty years!--passing away in her 90's in 1982. They had no children, but were extremely kind and generous to their nieces and nephews. The bulk of Aunt Edna's estate was given to charity. The are interred at a mausoleum in Springfield. I believe it is in a place called Hillcrest Cemetery. The mausoleum has beautiful Tiffany windows. I was on several surname lists while I was more active. I will give it some thought and get back to you. Please share my response with the list. Perhaps they would be interested--perhaps they may know something more about the Hammat clan. I'd be interested to know if any belong to the Bolles Association and are planning to attend the reunion in mid-October. My husband's Strople side has strong ties to the fishing industry in Nova Scotia and Massachusetts and I have prevailed upon him to clear his calendar for this event. It has been a while since we've been back to Longmeadow and this is a good reason to go! Thanks for writing! Elaine Strople