A Look Back: Jan. 25

50 Years Ago

■The state reached an agreement last night to buy seven former Northampton School for Girls buildings from the new owners of the property on Pomeroy Terrace. James Hilliard, assistant secretary of Human Services for Massachusetts, said that the state has agreed with the new owners to buy 14 acres and seven buildings for $275,000.

■Roger A. Walaszek, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph V. Walaszek of Briggs Street, Easthampton, recently passed the bar exam and became a member of the Massachusetts Bar. Walaszek will be associated with attorney David Fogel, in law practice at 78 Main St., Northampton.

25 Years Ago

■Three Northampton High School students have been volunteering through a Community Service Learning program at the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Room at Forbes Library. Timothy Bisaillon, Andrew Cameron and Seth Dihlmann have scanned photographs into a computer, catalogued documents and created a display using furniture from the former president’s law office.

■A bid to secure more places for skateboarding for young people in the city was defeated last week amid concerns about legal liability on school property and excessive noise and danger in Pulaski Park.

10 Years Ago

■The Mohawk Trail Regional School District is eyeing the idea of a four-day school week, estimated to save $400,000. Officials said they are forced to consider this option because the state has reneged on its commitment to fund transportation for regional schools.

■Speaking at a celebration Friday night of his 25 years as president and chief executive officer of Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Craig Melin reflected on its connection with Hampshire County. “A community has an almost symbiotic relationship with a hospital,” he told about 400 people who gathered in the hospital lobby to mark his retirement.