I’ve been reading with great interest the various versions of the history of Sprague Electric. Are these stories of the same Sprague Electric where I worked for fifteen years? And where members of my family worked for many more years?
I hope I don’t burst anybody’s bubble, but I was very happy at Sprague Electric, as were my many friends and fellow workers. Since we were pretty intelligent people, I don’t think it was because we didn’t know any better. We never felt used, abused or put upon!
I was born on May 24, 1924 in North Adams at 16 Freeman Avenue and lived there until I married Bill Northup on August 17, 1946. Bill worked at Mount Hope Farm and later at the Williamstown National Bank, and I moved to Williamstown.
I was one of eight children in the Windover family. We all attended Freeman School, one of eight grammar schools in the City. I was taught more grammar in Mrs. Elsie Strong’s seventh-grade English class than I learned the rest of my life. It was a good school.
My four years at Drury High School were very happy ones, and I received a good high-school education. I was proud to be a student at Drury. Another time, I may write some stories about good memories of Drury, Mother on the Hill.
From Freeman Avenue, we could walk to about anyplace in the center of the city. We walked to Freeman School, Drury High School, the North Adams Public Library, the First Baptist Church, and downtown North Adams. We felt very safe walking along the streets of North Adams. We didn’t own an automobile.
When I graduated from the Commercial (Business) Department at Drury in 1942, the economy was booming. Employers were welcoming us with open arms! I began working at Sprague Electric that year and worked for a few years in the Payroll Department - in the Office at Beaver Street. After that, I moved across the street to a small building by the bridge which housed the Personnel Department. For the rest of my years at Sprague, I worked as secretary to John D. (“Jackâ€) Washburn, Director of Personnel.
Mr. Washburn was one of the finest men I have ever met. He was a tall, good looking, and very personable man. Believe me, the employees at Sprague Electric had a good friend in “Jack†Washburn, as they called him. In his department, we called him Mr. Washburn. Many people who were about to be fired would end up working in another department thanks to his efforts.
Many heated grievance committee meetings took place in Mr.Washburn’s office. He and Bill Stackpole, President of the Independent Condenser Workers’ Union #2 would sometimes go at it “hammer and tongâ€. A day or so later, they could be seen having a warm and friendly conversation. They were two fine gentlemen!
Mr.Washburn knew by name just about everyone in the office and plant. At bowling banquets or service-pin dinners, Mr. Washburn and Mr. R. C. Sprague made a point to know each employee in attendance by name.
I remember enjoying some really fun evenings at several Sprague variety shows held at the Drury High School auditorium. Many talented Sprague employees took part in these productions, and they were directed by my brother, the late Fred B. (“Fritzâ€) Windover, who worked for many years in the Sales Department. He worked very hard for the company and always enjoyed his job at Sprague.
My brother Bob worked as a draftsman before he went into the Navy during the Korean War. My sister, Jane, worked in Sales and my brother, Ed worked in Payroll before they left the area. My sister, Virginia Spencer, worked as a legal secretary for many years.
On Thursday or Saturday evenings or Saturday afternoons, many of the women employees from Sprague would go “downstreetâ€, to patronize the many stores on Main, Holden, and Eagle Streets. The ladies were dressed in their finest outfits. The streets were crowded with shoppers.
Am I the only one who remembers that Sprague paid its employees more than any other employer in Northern Berkshire?
My paycheck at Sprague Electric was a lot of money to an eighteen-year old who was one of eight children. After Bill and I married, my paycheck went into the bank to be used to build a house. We built our home on Stratton Road in Williamstown, and I left Sprague in 1957 to start a family.
During the Christmas season one year, Mr. J. K. Sprague stopped in at the Personnel office on Marshall Street to extend season’s greetings. He apologized for not bringing an exchange gift, but went out to his car and brought back a beautifully wrapped package to put into the mix. I was lucky enough to receive his gift which contained two sets of small copper and ceramic dishes, which I believe were designed to serve oysters. I treasure them, and they’ve been on the end tables in our living room ever since.
There was a strong feeling of community among many of the employees. This was very apparent when someone was ill or had some other problem. Some people were giving often and more than they could afford. They wanted to be supportive of their friends and fellow employees. This was when the SEEBF (Sprague Electric Employee Benefit Fund) was established. Designated amounts were deducted from our paychecks for donations to charities and to support fellow employees in need.
There was a terrible sense of community loss on Beaver Street one evening night after work. Cars coming out of the parking lots were backed up into the parking lots and in front of the plant. No automobiles were moving but no horns were blowing. There was a quiet sadness as the word went from car to car in the long line that two very sweet and popular co-workers, Mary Jane Bombardier and Mary Prengruber, had been killed crossing the street after work. Both were to have been married within the next several months.
Am I the only one who remembers that the Sprague Electric Company was awarded the Army-Navy “E†for Excellence because of the quality of the products it provided to the military? An awards ceremony was held at the Marshall Street plant.
My brother Fritz was one of the most dedicated and capable city councilors ever to serve the City of North Adams. He was his own person. He stood alone on many issues and did it like a gentleman. He was an effective and talented speaker and was always one of the top vote-getters. He loved serving the city. In fact, he would liked to have been mayor of North Adams at some point in his life - and would have been a good one!
One year, some disgruntled citizens decided to campaign to rid the City Council of all Sprague employees. Fritz and at least one other person were defeated. As I recall, he was again one of the top vote-getters at the next election!
Another question: Just who were all those companies that it’s claimed Sprague Electric kept out of North Adams? I remember one, the Dragon Cement Company. Even today, it appears that communities are not over-anxious to welcome cement companies into their midst!
In those days, downtown North Adams had soda fountains at Hirsh’s Drug Store, Rice’s, Liggett’s, and Apothecary Hall. The soda fountain at Apothecary Hall was a popular place because of its famous mocha sundae. Hundreds of people in the area still claim to have the “secret†recipe. I’m really surprised that some creative entrepreneur has not tied in a promotion of the legendary mocha sundae with Mass MoCA!
We also frequented Candyland and Anes’, right on Main Street. In fact, poor me, Avdoulas at Anes’ would become quite frustrated with us when we lingered for a couple of hours over our five-cent lemon or cherry cokes! Any event at Drury High School filled all these places to capacity.
As children, we went to the movies on Saturday afternoons at one of the three theaters on Main Street: the Mohawk, the Paramount, or the Richmond.
The many churches in North Adams were all thriving. The junior choir at the Baptist Church filled the side balcony in that large sanctuary. Other groups in the Baptist Church were the Baracas Class, The Brotherhood Class, The Whatsoever Class, The Priscilla Club and Christian Endeavor. There was a mid-week prayer meeting on Wednesday night. Opening worship for the Sunday School filled the upstairs chapel and was usually led by Mr. H.B. Clark. As we walked up Eagle Street after church, parishioners from St. Francis would be crossing the street to pick up their Sunday papers at Eddie Ashkar’s Variety Store. Even though there were four girls in the Windover family, Mary Dailey would call us by the correct name as she warmly greeted us.
Many of the boys from all the churches in town sang in the boys’ choir at St. John’s Episcopal Church which was directed by James Morley Chambers. Mr. Chambers also very ably directed the Drury Band, which has always been a source of great pride to the people of North Adams.
During the late forties and early fifties, St. Anthony’s Church, Father Russo, and a committee of teens operated a teen center on Weber Avenue. My younger sister Marcia, and our friend, June Rock, were very involved in the program at Blue Haven, as it was called.
Speaking of Weber Avenue, (which was directly across from the entrance to the Marshall Street plant), the nuns from St. Anthony’s Church ran a daycare center in that area, probably in the convent. Roberts Company was also on Weber Avenue during that era. I remember getting a back-to-school dress for eighty-seven cents in the warehouse-type building which housed their store.
Old-timers will remember Billy Barber’s machine shop on Pearl Street, alongside the James Hunter Machine Company which was then on Main Street in the general area where City Hall now stands. Area men used to drop in at his shop to hear his stories, watch him at work, or “pick his brainâ€. There are many folk stories about W.J. (“Billyâ€) Barber, who was an inventor, a mechanical genius, and a practical joker. Once again, this is another story, and I have already donated audio tapes to the North Adams Historical Society of my oldest brother’s recollections of this interesting North Adams resident, the late Billy Barber.
I consider it a happy privilege to have grown up in North Adams and to have worked at the Sprague Electric Company.
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Winter Storm Warning Issued for Berkshires
Another snowstorm is expected to move through the region overnight on Friday, bringing 5 to 8 inches of snow. This is updated from Thursday's winter weather advisory.
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has posted a winter storm warning for all of Berkshire County and parts of eastern New York State beginning Friday at 4 p.m. through Saturday at 1 p.m.
The region could see heavy to moderate snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, tapering off Saturday morning to flurries.
Drivers should exercise caution on Friday night and Saturday morning, as travel conditions may be hazardous.
Saturday night should be clear and calm, but warming temperatures means freezing rain Sunday night and rain through Monday with highs in the 40s. The forecast isn't much better through the week as temperatures dip back into the teens with New Year's Eve looking cloudy and frigid.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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