In the Ashfield town archives exists a special treat for local history enthusiasts: a one-of-a-kind history book with photographs, newspaper clippings and letters from the early 1900s. 

“History of Ashfield” is a three-volume series covering the town’s history from its settlement in 1742 through 1960, and topics such as prominent townsfolk, places, schools, local involvement in wars, and more. The town recently acquired a special edition of Volume 1, covering 1742-1910, written by Frederick G. Howes and illustrated by Dora Knowlton Ranous, an author and actress who was born in Ashfield. 

Ranous wrote in a letter to a friend in October 1914 that she spoke with industrialist and local celebrity Milo M. Belding (who donated the library in 1913) about the book and was encouraged to make her own illustrated edition.

“It is a great pity that the work lacks sufficient illustrations when so many persons are mentioned of either public or local celebrity, and so many places of general interest, pictures of all of whom (and which) could have been obtained with very little trouble,” Ranous wrote.

She carefully took apart two copies of the book, cut pages matching the size, and glued in images, drawings, letters and newspaper clippings of people and places from town before rebinding the books. 

“When they (the books) are done, Mr. Belding proposes to present them to the library, not to be lent out, but for the townsfolk to have the privilege of examining whenever they please,” Ranous wrote. 

The book was donated to the library, but at some point during the past hundred years vanished, and recently resurfaced in a private collection. 

Town Clerk Alexis Fedorjaczenko said the book was donated back to the town earlier this fall by an Ashfield family who found the books among their possessions and had no idea where it came from. Since returning to the town’s ownership, the book can continue its original mission of educating the townspeople on their local history. 

“The intention was, even when it was meant to be at the library, that they wanted people to be able to access it,” Fedorjaczenko said of the book’s creators. “It’s fragile and we want to be careful with it, and yet I also want people to be able to come in and look at it like they do other things from the vault.”

The non-illustrated edition of the history book was written at the request of 20th century Ashfield residents, who voted to have a town history published at the 1908 annual town meeting. The book includes property records and surveys from when the town was first settled, details on how the town was developed, descriptions of colonist interactions with Indigenous people, resident involvement in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, and sketches of resident’s personal lives and family histories. 

Volume 1 tells stories of how residents living in Ashfield petitioned to not have to pay taxes to the state, how funds were raised to build schools, how female teachers were paid $5.50 a month in the early 1830s, and lists every Selectboard member, town clerk and other local officials throughout the years.

Likely inspired by Ranous’ illustrated edition, when it came time to create the next volume of “History of Ashfield,” covering 1910-1960, the citizens of Ashfield who wrote the book included images of people, places and events in town. This time images were printed already on the pages rather than being glued in afterwords. Additionally, the book included drawings by Elice D. Pieropan, showcasing different buildings in town. 

The books can be viewed at the Ashfield town clerk’s office upon request.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or at mschofield@recorder.com.