Historic Tales of Wilbraham

The Spirit of Springfield Mountain

The natural beauty and fertile lands of Wilbraham, Massachusetts, first attracted the Algonquin people, followed by English settlers. The town’s history is rich with fascinating tales, including Reverend Noah Merrick’s love for his wife, Abigail, immortalized in the poem ＂The Parson’s Rose.＂ Other stories recount the tragic drowning of six young people in Nine Mile Pond in 1799 and the heroic citizens who helped save the Federal Armory in 1787. Historian David Bourcier brings these and other captivating stories to life, tracing the town’s journey from its roots as Springfield Mountain to present-day Wilbraham.

David Bourcier is a retired fire chief and a local historian from Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Bourcier has become known for his engaging and informative short stories about the people and events that have shaped Wilbraham over the years. His website, Wilbraham Historical Tidbits, explores some of the fascinating stories he has uncovered in his research. He is the president of the Atheneum Society of Wilbraham, which maintains the Old Meeting House and Hearse House Museums. In addition to this, Bourcier is a cemetery commissioner who is responsible for Adams Cemetery. This cemetery is the oldest in town and dates to 1736.