Arming

Window washing at the UMass Library is not a job for those with a fear of heights.

Recently I visited the Springfield Armory Museum by downtown Springfield.

It's a pretty cool place. If the biggest (hopefully) positive event in Springfield in modern times is the opening of the MGM Casino, then the most undeniably negative event in modern Springfield history was the closing of the Springfield Armory in 1968. It devastated the city's middle class, who lost thousands of good paying government jobs, and the event is often pointed to by local historians as the beginning of Springfield's long decline.

However, something was salvaged from the disaster in the form of Springfield Technical Community College and an actual National Park dedicated to the Armory's history. There are many old guns on display which would no doubt bring a big price if you could put them on e-bay.

Here is the bell that used to call the workers to begin their labor.

This arrangement of guns was once observed by the poet Longfellow, who thought it looked like a big musical organ. He wrote a poem about it.

I'm afraid I don't make a very convincing Park Ranger.

This mansion just outside the Armory Museum was once falling into disrepair, as seen in this 2014 photo.

Now it appears to have been restored somewhat, at least outside.

While in Springfield, I noticed a lot of signs for Congressman Richard Neal. I normally am not much of a Neal supporter, but I would choose him this year over the dangerous leftist radical running against him.

What to do while waiting for the bus at the King Street Stop&Shop in Northampton? Make a video.