Main St. in Agawam to also be named the George Washington Memorial Highway
AGAWAM (1/13/2020) – In the remaining days of the 2019-2020 legislative session State Representative Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick) and State Senator John Velis (D-Westfield) ushered through the Massachusetts Legislature a bill filed on behalf of the Agawam Veterans Council to commemorate a historic route traveled by George Washington.
H2974 An Act Establishing the George Washington Memorial Highway was enacted by the legislature on January 4th and signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker. It designates a portion of Main St. in Agawam from the Connecticut border to the intersections of Route 75 and 147 to also bear the name of the nation’s first president.
Representative Boldyga said he was fascinated to learn about the historic route when the Veteran’s Council first approached him about it. “It is one of those little known parts of history that you’re not going to read about in school textbooks” said Boldyga. “I am honored to have worked with the Agawam Veteran’s Council and Senator Velis to pass the legislation and preserve a piece of local history that we can share with future generations” he continued.
George Washington traveled the route twice. The first time in 1775 on his way to Cambridge to take command of the continental army and the second in 1789 as he toured New England on his way to Boston as President. In 1932 a private organization placed markers along the route to celebrate the bicentennial of Washington’s birth.
Aldo Mancini of the Agawam Veterans council said that with the bill’s passage, the portion of the route that runs through Agawam now has an official state designation and will include proper signage. “ We’ve been working on this for several years and are very grateful to Representative Boldyga and Senator Velis for their commitment to work with us and get this done. Sadly, before the bill passed a fellow council member who helped lead the effort passed away, so in some ways this was also to honor him.” said Mr. Mancini.
“It is always rewarding to work alongside constituents to get a bill that is important to the community across the finish line,” said Senator Velis. “The historical relevance of this route is truly fascinating, and I am grateful to have learned from and worked alongside Representative Boldyga and the Agawam Veteran’s Council.”
Representative Boldyga and Senator Velis said they plan to host a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Agawam Veteran’s Council sometime this Spring.
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