Chicopee Historical Society

06/03/2026

HENRY KNOX AND THE CANNON

This month brings a Revolutionary War tale to The Hub in Market Square -

From the Mayor's Office:

"As part of Chicopee's 250th Celebration, join historian Dr. Dan Breen for an engaging presentation on the Revolutionary War and the remarkable story of Henry Knox's "Noble Train of Artillery."

Discover how the capture of Fort Ticonderoga and the extraordinary transport of 59 cannons across Massachusetts helped bring an end to the Siege of Boston and changed the course of American history. Experience history the way it was once shared—out loud and among neighbors.

Open to the Public
Admission: FREE
Location: The HUB at Market Square, 31 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01020
Date: June 25, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
This program is presented in partnership with Elms College and is sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council and the Chicopee Cultural Council.
Chicopee Historical Society
Chicopee Department of Veterans Services
Chicopee Public Schools - Family and Community Engagement
Chicopee Center
Chicopee Public Library
RiverMills Center Chicopee Council on Aging"

The Chicopee Historical Society is proud to support this interesting program.

Send a message to learn more

05/31/2026

In addition to the links we posted previously on television and online coverage of our Inshaw Rifle event, here is a link to the online version of the Chicopee Register, which is also available in print at the library and in many business locations in the city.

Chicopee Register LOCAL NEWS. LOCAL STORIES. LOCAL ADVERTISERS. SINCE 1998. A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com May 29, 2026 Vol 32 No. 49 ❙ FREE

05/24/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q2GRUdsZdc

The Chicopee Historical Society unveiled a new display of Richard Bates Inshaws' custom-engraved rifle. The rifle will permanently reside in the Chicopee His...

05/21/2026

WWLP channel 22 covered our unveiling of the Inshaw Rifle at the library last night...

The Chicopee Historical Society has installed an 1830s Inshaw rifle at the Chicopee Public Library.

05/21/2026

Yesterday, the Chicopee Historical Society unveiled a new display of Richard Bates Inshaws' custom-engraved rifle. The rifle will permanently reside in the Chicopee History Room at the Public Library, for everyone to see!

05/21/2026

Yesterday, the Chicopee Historical Society unveiled a new display of Richard Bates Inshaws' custom-engraved rifle. The rifle will permanently reside in the Chicopee History Room at the Public Library, for everyone to see!

05/20/2026

TONIGHT - THE INSHAW RIFLE
GOES ON DISPLAY!

JOIN US TONIGHT! The Inshaw Rifle is formally installed at the library! The Historical Society is deeply grateful to the Chicopee Public Library for hosting this exhibit on permanent loan to share with the community.

Ms. Laura Bovee, Director of the Chicopee Public Library, will also speak at the event, and we thank her for her participation and support of this project.

We are also indebted to two members of our group, Atty. James F. Gregory, for his help in guiding us through the process of obtaining permission from City departments to place the Inshaw Rifle at the library; and Mr. Larry Gwozdz, for helping us obtain funding from the American Society of Arms Collectors.

The talk will take place in the Bazan Community Room of the library, but the museum display case will be located in the local history room. Everyone will have a chance to see the Inshaw Rifle in its new home, and for many, this may be the first time for them to actually visit the local history room, which is an excellent source not only for Chicopee history, but for material and help to work on family genealogy. For those who have never visited this room, it will be a fine opportunity to become acquainted with this important archive.

The Inshaw Rifle installation event will take place TONIGHT - Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front Street. The event is free and open to the public. The press is invited to come earlier at 6:00 p.m. for a preview.

The funds for purchasing this case came in part from the sale of our book, Richard B. Inshaw: A Craftsman’s Life and Work in Chicopee, Massachusetts and the sponsor ads that appear in the book, but the chief source of funding came from a generous grant from the American Society of Arms Collectors. We thank them most sincerely for helping us achieve this goal.

05/13/2026

INSTALLATION OF THE INSHAW RIFLE!



Our long-anticipated installation of the Inshaw Rifle is only a week away! The Historical Society is deeply grateful to the Chicopee Public Library for hosting this exhibit on permanent loan to share with the community.

Ms. Laura Bovee, Director of the Chicopee Public Library, will also speak at the event, and we thank her for her participation and support of this project.

We are also indebted to two members of our group, Atty. James F. Gregory, for his help in guiding us through the process of obtaining permission from City departments to place the Inshaw Rifle at the library; and Mr. Larry Gwozdz, for helping us obtain funding from the American Society of Arms Collectors.

The talk will take place in the Bazan Community Room of the library, but the museum display case will be located in the local history room. Everyone will have a chance to see the Inshaw Rifle in its new home, and for many, this may be the first time for them to actually visit the local history room, which is an excellent source not only for Chicopee history, but for material and help to work on family genealogy. For those who have never visited this room, it will be a fine opportunity to become acquainted with this important archive.

The Inshaw Rifle installation event will take place Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front Street. The event is free and open to the public. The press is invited to come earlier at 6:00 p.m. for a preview.

The display case was manufactured by the Small Corporation of Greenfield, which specializes in archival exhibit cases and other conservation products for museums and libraries.

The funds for purchasing this case came in part from the sale of our book, Richard B. Inshaw: A Craftsman’s Life and Work in Chicopee, Massachusetts and the sponsor ads that appear in the book, but the chief source of funding came from a generous grant from the American Society of Arms Collectors. We thank them most sincerely for helping us achieve this goal.

05/07/2026

Mark your calendars for May 20th, as the unveiling of our historic exhibit is only two weeks away! The Historical Society is deeply grateful to the Chicopee Public Library for hosting this exhibit on permanent loan to share with the community.

Ms. Laura Bovee, Director of the Chicopee Public Library, will also speak at the event, and we thank her for her participation and support of this project.

The talk will take place in the Bazan Community Room of the library, but the museum display case will be located in the local history room. Everyone will have a chance to see the Inshaw Rifle in its new home, and for many, this may be the first time for them to actually visit the local history room, which is an excellent source not only for Chicopee history, but for material and help to work on family genealogy. For those who have never visited this room, it will be a fine opportunity to become acquainted with this important archive.

The Inshaw Rifle installation event will take place Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front Street. The event is free and open to the public. The press is invited to come earlier at 6:00 p.m. for a preview.


The funds for purchasing this case came in part from the sale of our book, Richard B. Inshaw: A Craftsman’s Life and Work in Chicopee, Massachusetts and the sponsor ads that appear in the book, but the chief source of funding came from a generous grant from the American Society of Arms Collectors. We thank them most sincerely for helping us achieve this long-anticipated goal.

Photo image property of the Chicopee Historical Society.

04/29/2026

UPCOMING INSHAW EVENT



We're three weeks away from the installation and unveiling of our new display case for the Inshaw Rifle, and busy with preparations. The Historical Society is deeply grateful to the Chicopee Public Library for hosting this exhibit on permanent loan to share with the community.

Ms. Laura Bovee, Director of the Chicopee Public Library, will also speak at the event, and we thank her for her participation and support of this project.

We are also indebted to two members of our group, Atty. James F. Gregory, for his help in guiding us through the process of obtaining permission from City departments to place the Inshaw Rifle at the library; and Mr. Larry Gwozdz, for helping us obtain funding from the American Society of Arms Collectors.

The talk will take place in the Bazan Community Room of the library, but the museum display case will be located in the local history room. Everyone will have a chance to see the Inshaw Rifle in its new home, and for many, this may be the first time for them to actually visit the local history room, which is an excellent source not only for Chicopee history, but for material and help to work on family genealogy. For those who have never visited this room, it will be a fine opportunity to become acquainted with this important archive.

The Inshaw Rifle installation event will take place Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front Street. The event is free and open to the public.

The display case was manufactured by the Small Corporation of Greenfield, which specializes in archival exhibit cases and other conservation products for museums and libraries.

The funds for purchasing this case came in part from the sale of our book, Richard B. Inshaw: A Craftsman’s Life and Work in Chicopee, Massachusetts and the sponsor ads that appear in the book, but the chief source of funding came from a generous grant from the American Society of Arms Collectors. We thank them most sincerely for helping us achieve this long-anticipated goal.