Matthew Laflin, Successful Businessman and Philanthropist Matthew Laflin Matthew Laflin was born in Southwick, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1803. He worked with his brothers on his family's farm and attended school whenever possible. The Laflin family had deep roots in gunpowder; Matthew's grandfather manufactured saltpeter (sodium/potassium nitrate) for the Massachusetts militia during the Revolutionary War, and he built a gunpowder mill in Southwick. Matthew's father also owned a gunpowder mill. When his father purchased a woolen textile mill, Matthew learned that business, too. (Following his grandfather's death in 1810, the Laflin Powder Company was greatly expanded, eventually becoming the Laflin & Rand Powder Company, later acquired by DuPont.) Matthew took a strong interest in the family's gunpowder business, becoming a traveling salesman and earning a good amount of money, despite his first year in business ending with $800 in debt after his cargo exp

Having enrolled in Suffield Academy, Joseph Edward "Eddie" Tryon relocated to Suffield, Connecticut, in 1919. Eddie's mother conducted a general store near Congamond Lake, and the family had a cottage in Southwick, Massachusetts. During the busy vacation season, Eddie handled the ice end of the business to earn money to pay for his schooling. He also worked at his father's garage in Westfield.  J. Eddie Tryon At Suffield Academy, Eddie was a football and track star. He also played basketball. As a member of the graduating class of 1922, the school paper wrote a tribute to him, saying he was a shining example of "clean sportsmanship and fair play." The article also said everyone loved Eddie for his "modesty and optimism." Upon graduating, Eddie went to Colgate University, where he became a star running back (1922-1925). Being a slippery-hipped runner, he was a great open-field man: elusive and quick, with unerring accuracy and equally vicious tackle

(Originally published in 2018) In an ever-changing world, having a sense of familiarity is nice, and coming home to Southwick provides such. While a lot has changed in town during the 20+ years I have been away (living in Myrtle Beach, SC ), just as much stayed the same (thankfully).  I suspect many, like myself, didn't know at the time just how blessed we were for growing up in Southwick (technically, I was born in Springfield, but my parents moved back to Southwick when I was two).  Let's rewind…  Frank Wood Painting & Decorating My great-grandparents lived in Springfield. They would drive to the "country" and pick me up in their big green boat of a Cadillac to take me to the city to go shopping at the department stores of the day: Steiger's, Filene's, G. Fox. My great-grandfather owned a successful painting and decorating business, and my great-grandmother worked at the Indian "Motocycle" Company's plant in Springfield. Over the years, my

Richard Atkinson University of Massachusetts 1960 Mr. Atkinson joined the junior high school at Southwick to teach mathematics in 1963 (he replaced Mrs. Stadnicki, who requested a leave of absence). Wasting no time, he immediately got appointed track and cross-country coach. Atkinson and his team hosted Holyoke on September 27, 1963. By December, Mr. Atkinson took charge of the basketball team. The team played and won its season opener at East Granby on January 3, 1964. Mr. Atkinson also coached 14 Southwick High School advanced math students, who participated in the first Western Massachusetts Mathematics League competition on October 25, 1966. Mr. Atkinson was vice president of the Western Massachusetts Track Association (1968). That same year he also took over the duties of putting out the Western Massachusetts track newsletter. Mr. Atkinson and other area coaches volunteered their time in the winter to host youth track indoors at UMass in 1971. The Western Mass Indoor Schoolboy Tra

Oliver Laflin Sr. was born in Southwick, Mass. He worked in sales at his family's namesake powder company in his hometown (Laflin Powder Co., owned by his father and uncle). He traveled his sales territory by wagon in which he made his sales. As a young man, he moved to New York City, where he became a police sergeant, a position he held for many years. During his career, riots were frequent there. Laflin was injured several times. One time a rioter stabbed him with an ice pick. The pick went through his stomach and came out near his spine. He made a surprising recovery. He moved to Pennsylvania sometime around 1864-65. Laflin was the superintendent of the Moosic Powder Co. He was also a station agent for the Central Railroad of New Jersey at Ashley, Penn. He eventually went into the mercantile business. He retired from business and became postmaster at Moosic, Penn., a capacity he served for nine years. Sadly, a stroke of paralysis took its toll and left him invalid sometime aroun