"At the end of the nineteenth century, the U.S. Armory opened in Springfield, spurring rapid growth. With that golden age of progress came iconic buildings and landmarks that are now lost to time. Railroads brought workers eager to fill Springfield's factories and enterprises like Smith & Wesson, Merriam Webster and Indian Motorcycles. The Massasoit House Hotel, the Church of the Unity and the Daniel B. Wesson mansion once served as symbols of...

This book attempts to chronicle the history of a race, a people, a movement, and a struggle dating back to the early days of the first settlement of Western Massachusetts while shedding light on the contributions of the African American citizens of the region who participated in this struggle and their accomplishments.