GCB Northfield Branch Celebrates 50 Years

In honor of our Northfield Branch’s 50 year anniversary we’re pleased to share the history of our branch, carefully compiled by Joel Fowler of the Northfield Historical Commission.

The property at 144 Main St in East Northfield was in the old Northfield Wright family for 100 years until William A Wright sold it and moved to Florida in 1942. The last people to live here were Rev Ralph & Mae Rood, he a longtime Baptist minister in Greenfield, who had first summered in Northfield since 1945 and then purchased the former Wright place in 1959. The bank branch opened on the site on 19 May 1975.

16 Aug 2002. Greenfield Recorder, p.14. Shawn Streeter is returning to Northfield as branch manager and Kelly Wallace is moving to the Northfield branch as assistant manager.

1 Apr 1988. Greenfield Recorder, p.18. Shawn Streeter transferred from the Greenfield Bank to Northfield several months earlier and was now promoted to assistant bank manager in Northfield

1988. Sylvia Duncan joined the bank as full-time teller at the Northfield branch in Jul 1984. She transferred to the main office teller line in 1986 and became branch manager in Northfield in 1988. She became the first woman president of the Kiwanis of Northfield in Oct 1999. The assistant branch manager position was advertised at that time. Sylvia may have moved away soon afterwards.

8 Jan 1986. Greenfield Recorder, p.9. Cindy Newton-Forbes is branch manager of the Northfield office

Jan 1984. June (Clark) Malenfant was named Northfield branch manager. She became consumer loan manger in 1986, manager of the 277 Federal St branch in 1989 and assistant vice president/branch manager in 1994.

21 Mar 1979. Greenfield Recorder, p.28. Robert L Ring is now president of the Greenfield Co-operative  Bank and moves Pomeroy to internal operations manager. He was later vice president. Nancy J Barry becomes Northfield branch manager.

15 May 1975. Greenfield Recorder, p.32. Branch opens, 19 May 1975. Richard I Pomeroy, mgr; Edith M Whitney, teller; Margaret L Zabko, teller. The bank conducted its 70^th annual meeting in June 1975.

22 Oct 1974. Greenfield Recorder, p.20. Construction has started on the branch building according to Bassett. Cooke & Jones of Greenfield was low bidder at $115,725 and the contractor will have the building complete by 1 May 1975. Original plan changed to avoid blasting. Building will be in colonial style, placed on a slab, have electric heat, cover 1632 sq ft, and will have a work area, vault, employee’s lounge, manager’s office, lobby, conference room and mechanical area for utilities. There will be sixteen parking spaces.

13 Aug 1974. Greenfield Recorder, p.20. Demolition of the Rood house began on 7 Aug 1974. It was planned to move the house but it was not in good condition. Pres Ralph Bassett of the bank said that architectural plans were due this week, after which he would make a presentation to the selectman and advertise for bids.

1386/125. 12 Apr 1974. Eugene B Sokolosky of Gfd, to Greenfield Co-operative Bank, land on Barber, Olsen and Hurley, shown in a plan, and being the same as in 1380/21

27 Feb 1974. Greenfield Recorder, p.4. ZBA of Northfield grants permission for a branch of the Gfd Co-op Bank on Main St, Nfd, upheld by Judge Raymond Cross of Superior Court. The case had been before the court since September.

1380/21. 13 Feb 1974. Mae W Rood of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, to Eugene E Sokolosky of Gfd, land as below, and as in 1095/394, 395

1380/20. 13 Feb 1974. Ralph L & Mae W Rood of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, assign power of attorney for sale of 144 Main St, to Rev Carrol A & Eula E Turner of Pittsfield

1362/336. 31 Aug 1973. Notice of variance for Greenfield Co-operative Bank at 144 Main St

1095/395. 23 Oct 1959. Amelia E Hausman of Nfd, adr of Anne Charlotte Hausman, late of Nfd, to Ralph L & Mae W Rood of Gfd, an undivided ½ interest in land with buildings thereon, containing about 9/16 of an acre, being the same as in 867/99

1095/394. 23 Oct 1959. Amelia Elizabeth Hausman of Nfd, to Ralph L & Mae W Rood of Gfd, an undivided ½ interest in land with buildings thereon, containing about 9/16 of an acre, being the same as in 867/99

867/99. 26 Dec 1943. William A Wright of Nfd  to Anne Charlotte and Amelia Elizabeth Hausman of Nfd, land in Nfd with the buildings thereon. My title is as devisee under the will of Eliza A Wright, and she derived her title partly by inheritance, from my father Henry Wright 2^nd and partly by deed as in 419/414. This deed is to confirm deed 846/281 (1941) and to correct a typographical error in the spelling of “Hausman.” Signed 10 Oct 1942

Spfd Republican. 3 Jan 1910. Frank B Holton thoroughly repaired the Henry Wright house for $2000 this past year

419/414. 19 Jul 1892. Estella E Carleton of Gardner, Anna E Perley and May S Whitney of Baldwinville, Addie M Smith, Will A Wright, and Fred W Hilliard of Nfd, to Eliza A Wright of Nfd, all our right, title, in estate of Henry Wright at the time of his decease, the home place containing ¾ acre, bounded by the Street, Mrs Edward Barber, Charles E Webster, and Mrs Mixter, with the buildings thereon. Also a lot in Great Meadow, and one on Louisiana Mt. Spouses sign off.

Henry Wright had this property in 1841.