The Mill River Flood 150 Year Commemoration
The Mill River Flood 150 Year Commemoration
Flood Memorial Tree Project
May 2024 - 2029
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A Memorial Tree Project to Honor Victims and the Heroes of the Day
The Mill River Greenway is heading up efforts to plant 144 trees in memory of the 139 victims of the May 16, 1874 flood and the four heroes of the day. Trees will be sited in the flood's footprint, from the remnants of the old dam up Ashfield Road, through the villages of Williamsburg, Skinnerville, Haydenville, Leeds, Florence, and through downtown Northampton where the receding floodwater made its way to the Connecticut River. Each tree will be dedicated to an individual flood victim, the entire family that perished, or a hero of the day. The plantings will take place over five years as the Mill River Greenway shared-use path along the river is developed. |
On May 18, 2024, two red maples will be planted at
the Williamsburg Church for the first two victims of the flood: Sarah Collyer Bartlett, age 24 and her daughter Viola Collyer, age 3. |
Help Support the Mill River Flood 150th Urban Memorial Forest
For more information or to make a donation to the Memorial Tree Project, contact The Mill River Greenway at info@millrivergreenway. org or click here to visit the MRG website.
For more information or to make a donation to the Memorial Tree Project, contact The Mill River Greenway at info@millrivergreenway. org or click here to visit the MRG website.
Commemoration Events Designed by These Local Organizations
Historic Northampton | Leeds Civic Association | Smith College Department of Landscape Studies
Thank you to our sponsors for their generosity
Holmberg & Howe Land Surveyors | Loven Excavating & Construction, Inc.
National Grid | Whalen Insurance | Finck & Perras Insurance Agency | Florence Bank
Daily Hampshire Gazette | Nasami Farm | Arthur King Fund | Greenfield Savings Bank
Berkshire Design Group, Inc. | O'Reilly Talbot & Okun Associates, Inc. | Florence Casket Company