A Look Back, Oct. 21

50 Years Ago

■Members of Providence United Methodist Church in Easthampton voted decisively in favor of merging with the First United Methodist Church of Northampton on Sunday. Details of the merger will be worked out by the two churches. The Northampton church has purchased property on Route 66, about midway between the two existing churches, and this will probably be given prime consideration for the location of the newly consolidated churches.

■Brig. Gen. William P. Hurley of Florence returned Friday night from duty with the National Guard troops alerted because of racial disturbances in Boston. Hurley, who is deputy commander of the 26th Infantry Yankee Division of the Massachusetts National Guard, said that he is still “on call” if racial trouble should break out in Boston.

25 Years Ago

■Raucous behavior by Amherst fans at last Friday’s Homecoming football game, including spitting on visiting cheerleaders, has prompted South Hadley school officials to suspend all team competition with Amherst. “The way they were treated at Amherst was absolutely disgusting. It will not be tolerated,” said School Committee Chair Henry Lukasik.

■Northampton residents and elected officials spoke out against the proposed park and ride lot at Sheldon Field Tuesday during a public hearing. The opposition surprised one official from the Highway Department prompting her to recommend that the city hold another public hearing to address the many concerns of residents.

10 Years Ago

■Outdoor enthusiasts dodged falling leaves Saturday to take the inaugural hike on the newly opened Mount Warner Reservation in Hadley. About 250 people came to the formal opening of the reservation.

■Nancy Rexford, treasurer of the board for Historic Northampton, has been appointed acting director for the next year. Rexford, who joined the board in January, served from 1975 to 1984 as the first curator of costumes and then as assistant director and registrar.