A Look Back, June 7

200 Years Ago

■Exertions are now being made to procure funds to rebuild Northampton bridge — an “internal improvement” that is very much needed. It is presumed that an object so important to the interests of this town, and to the accommodation of the public, will receive from our citizens substantial aid sufficient to ensure its accomplishment.

■Jonathan Judd & Co. have just received from Boston a general assortment of dry goods, hardware, crockery, and groceries, which are offered at very fair prices. The inhabitants of Westhampton are respectfully invited to call and examine the prices and quality. A small share of their patronage is solicited.

100 Years Ago

■The famous Rose Tree Inn, mecca for hundreds of Smith undergraduates of former years, has been reopened. Under the management of D.A. Mers, former steward at the Draper, and John Byrne, for years head waiter at that hostelry, the Inn is enjoying a share of its former popularity.

■Paul Hansell, who is to be managing director of the Northampton Repertory Co. at the Academy of Music next season, sails tomorrow night from New York on the “Aquitania,” to spend several weeks in England. Mr. Hansell will engage players for the company and make plans for the season’s plays before returning the latter part of August.

50 Years Ago

■A group of Western Massachusetts nursing home owners and administrators met in Springfield Thursday, threatening “drastic action” if the state does not pay bills owed the homes. The nursing home officials termed their meeting an emergency. The state paid them only 25 to 50 percent of its Medicaid bills for April and has so far paid nothing for Medicaid bills for May.

■A survey of local doctors has found that they have personally felt the effects of the malpractice problem which is leading to protests and work slowdowns by doctors across the country. Dr. Paul Lemaitre, 62, retired two weeks ago rather than continue as an anesthesiologist at The Cooley Dickinson Hospital until the end of the year because of the cost of his malpractice insurance.