A Look Back: Feb. 17

200 Years Ago

■On Wednesday night last, a severe storm of wind and rain was experienced in this area and appears to have been very extensive. About 300 feet of the Northampton bridge, and the greater part of the dam at the head of the falls, near the upper extremity of South Hadley canal, were carried away. The damage sustained by the proprietors of the Northampton bridge is estimated at 5 or 6,000 dollars.

■For sale, one of the best stands for business in Northampton, being the three-story brick building, No. 16, Merchant’s Row, directly opposite the meeting house. For terms apply to Deacon E. S. Phelps on the premises, or to the subscribers, E. & I. Gere, Williamsburg.

100 Years Ago

■A Hadley woman was fined $500 and given a suspended sentence of four months in the house of correction this morning in District court, following her conviction on a charge of keeping and exposing liquor and maintaining a liquor nuisance. The woman was arrested after a raid was made by Sheriff Reardon and State Police on January 28th.

■A Northampton-bound Easthampton electric car, due here at 8:15, collided with a milk truck belonging to Misner and Hasseler of Easthampton this morning on South Street near School Street. The damage to the truck was slight, and both car and truck were able to proceed under their own power.

50 Years Ago

■The Northampton High School band took in close to $2,000 in two nights of Pops Concerts this week bringing their total funds raised so far for their April tour of England and Ireland to some $12,000. The band is trying to raise $30,000 for the 10-day April concert tour.

■Massachusetts drivers with odd-numbered license plates, facing a gasless three-day holiday weekend, queued up Friday in the longest service station lines of the week. The next odd date when stations will be open is Tuesday after the Washington’s Birthday holiday.