A Look Back: July 3

50 Years Ago

■The Diocese of Springfield confirmed today the expected merger of Annunciation School in Florence with St. Michael’s of Northampton. Beginning this fall, Annunciation School will close and parents who want to continue to send their children to parochial school here will send them to St. Michael’s.

■The Fourth of July will be celebrated on the 4th of July this year. Unlike Memorial Day, Labor Day, Washington’s Birthday and others, Congress left July 4th alone rather than shift it to a Monday so that celebrants are not faced with twirling Fourth of July sparklers on July 2 or July 9.

25 Years Ago

■A feature film starring Leonardo DiCaprio may be shot by Miramax Films this fall on the grounds of the former Northampton State Hospital. Miramax wants to shoot “Cider House Rules” inside buildings at the former state hospital. DiCaprio has not yet been signed and no other actors have been cast.

■Patricia Lawrence, 27, of Lyman Road, will begin work Monday as an aide in the mayor’s office, replacing Raymond Williams, who resigned. Lawrence, who is fluent in Spanish and has a master of fine arts degree from the University of Iowa, was previously employed by Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

10 Years Ago

■A former ice cream factory across from the YMCA on Prospect Street is being demolished this week to make way for construction of a single-family home, but a smaller building on the site that used to house a restaurant will remain. The site has been one of the most sought-after parcels in Northampton since it went on the market after Marge’s Kitchen closed in 2007.

■The assistant principal for Grades 7 and 8 at Hampshire Regional High School will serve as interim principal for the entire school during the next year. Superintendent Craig Jurgensen appointed Kristen Smidy to take over during the search for a permanent replacement for former principal Laurie Hodgdon, who left at the end of June to take another job.

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