Patrick Leonard was born in Ireland. He came to America and eventually settled in New Haven, Connecticut, where he worked for ice company Upson & Granniss.   In 1891, he traveled to Southwick, Massachusetts, to work on a new ice house his company was building. On July 26, Patrick was drinking heavily, as he was known to do. His son Thomas locked him in a hotel's shed, as he had done before, to stop him from drinking. About two hours later, the shed went up in flames. When the fire was out, folks found Patrick's charred remains among the glowing ruins of the shed. It is unclear how the fire started. Investigators first suspected Patrick's pipe caused the fire, but they found it some distance away from his body. The medical examiner ordered an inquest into Patrick's death. At a hearing on August 12, witness testimony removed all suspicion of foul play. The judge determined that smoking was more than likely the cause of the blaze. If you enjoyed this story, plea

After the Crystal Ballroom at Balch's Beach closed, it became the second incarnation of the Brass Rail, managed by Louis "Gino" Boccasile, who also ran The Old Post Office Cafe in Springfield. The new location also brought a new name: Gino's Brass Rail, which held its grand opening on Thursday, May 27, 1937.  The customer entrance of Gino's new Brass Rail faced Point Grove Road, and there were two side exit doors, one facing west and the other east. Windows along the back and on the side of the building provided spectacular views of Middle Pond. Due to the building's location, patrons were treated to refreshing lake breezes and crosswinds when the doors and windows were open, giving Gino one leg up on his competition, which there was a lot of with the lake being a popular tourist destination, flooded with folks escaping the summer heat and those looking for a good time. The Brass Rail first opened on a seasonal basis. It quickly became known for its authentic