This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VFB.2ACI/4192.3 Message Board Post: The following is the earliest that I can find anything for breweries. I know the one in Willimansett was at the bridge crossing into Holyoke, Massachusetts. When I was growing up in Chicopee it was known as the Hampden Brewery and the makers of Hampden Beer and Ale. It later became Piels Brewery before it close. The one in Springfield that you mentioned would be in the location of the house on the southerly side of State Street. Now I'm guessing on the Island Pond information but if you were to proceed up State Street (State St. goes up a HIll and could be "Springfield Hill") in an easterly manner you will come to what is now known as the Watershop Ponds. This is about 2 miles from the top of the State Street. This is the pond that Island Pond Road goes along side of. This could be the lightly wooded land area that is mentioned. It is also the area that currently holds the campus of Springfield College. I hope this helps. Fran http://www.beer-winemaking.com/brewhistory.html 1867 Springfield , Massachusetts Two Englishmen, the Shaw brothers, opened a brewery on Water street (now Columbus Avenue) between Fort and Hampden Streets. The site is now a parking lot next to the the Student Prince Bar and Fort German Restaurant. This business changed hands over the years, eventually growing into the Springfield Brewing Company, brewers of Extra Tivoli Lager Beer, which became Gold Medal Tivoli in 1896 when it won a competition in Baden-Baden Germany. 1868 Willimansett, Massachusetts This section of Chicopee, Massachusetts was the site of small breweries going back to the early 1800s. A porter and ale brewery of some size was erected there in 1868 on the banks of the Connecticut River, using water of great purity from a reservoir nearby. Their English style ales became widely renowned. Part of the the old brewery with the word "storage" built into the brick can still be seen when crossing the bridge from Holyoke into Willimansett (now part of Chicopee) .

Fran: this is interesting ! I live in the area and didnt know this ...... thanks for sharing . Cynthia ----- Original Message ----- From: <fran_malone@yahoo.com> To: <MAHAMPDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, December 10, 2004 2:59 PM Subject: [MAHAMPDEN] Re: Hampden Brewery and Island Pond > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Classification: Query > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VFB.2ACI/4192.3 > > Message Board Post: > > The following is the earliest that I can find anything for breweries. I know the one in Willimansett was at the bridge crossing into Holyoke, Massachusetts. When I was growing up in Chicopee it was known as the Hampden Brewery and the makers of Hampden Beer and Ale. It later became Piels Brewery before it close. The one in Springfield that you mentioned would be in the location of the house on the southerly side of State Street. Now I'm guessing on the Island Pond information but if you were to proceed up State Street (State St. goes up a HIll and could be "Springfield Hill") in an easterly manner you will come to what is now known as the Watershop Ponds. This is about 2 miles from the top of the State Street. This is the pond that Island Pond Road goes along side of. This could be the lightly wooded land area that is mentioned. It is also the area that currently holds the campus of Springfield College. I hope this helps. > > Fran > > http://www.beer-winemaking.com/brewhistory.html > > 1867 Springfield , Massachusetts > Two Englishmen, the Shaw brothers, opened a brewery on Water street (now Columbus Avenue) between Fort and Hampden Streets. The site is now a parking lot next to the the Student Prince Bar and Fort German Restaurant. This business changed hands over the years, eventually growing into the Springfield Brewing Company, brewers of Extra Tivoli Lager Beer, which became Gold Medal Tivoli in 1896 when it won a competition in Baden-Baden Germany. > > 1868 Willimansett, Massachusetts > This section of Chicopee, Massachusetts was the site of small breweries going back to the early 1800s. A porter and ale brewery of some size was erected there in 1868 on the banks of the Connecticut River, using water of great purity from a reservoir nearby. Their English style ales became widely renowned. Part of the the old brewery with the word "storage" built into the brick can still be seen when crossing the bridge from Holyoke into Willimansett (now part of Chicopee) . > > >