A Look Back, April 26

200 Years Ago

■A liberal and enterprising spirit on the subject of the Hampshire and Hampden canal prevails in this and other towns through which the canal is expected to pass. Measures have been taken to procure a skillful engineer, and an accurate survey will soon be made.

■Died, in Easthampton, on Sunday last, Mr. Jonathan Janes, in the 99th year of his age — probably the oldest person in the county of Hampshire. He was born in this town (in the part which is now Easthampton) in 1726. He was a soldier under then Major Seth Pomeroy in the expedition against Louisburg, on the island of Cape Breton, in 1745, and was present at the siege and capture of that important fortress.

100 Years Ago

■The Powell troupe, in a wire novelty, head the vaudeville bill at the Calvin Theatre next week. The troupe is composed of five gymnasts — expert wireists. Together they present a sensational wire novelty — a series of feats executed as solos and in groups.

■Gilbert Bartlett of Riverside Drive, Bay State, won the citywide marble championship over the seven district winners in the finals played off on the Driving Park today. By winning the title, Bartlett receives a $5 banking account at the Hampshire County Trust company, and a new suit of clothes given by Ralph J. Levy of Harry Daniels Associates.

50 Years Ago

■A radio-controlled model helicopter, one of the top attractions during the three-day Hampshire County Trade Show, crashed Friday evening, possibly because of a collision with a bird. The craft sustained about $150 in damage when it lost partial control and crash-landed in a parking lot to the rear of the former McCallum’s department store.

■The Northampton Conservation Commission has strongly criticized the county government for what one member termed “disorganized, very quickly and haphazardly put together” plans for a new jail. The commission feels that the county, in presenting plans for a new jail on Northampton State Hospital land, has ignored long-standing open-space plans for the same land by the conversation commission.