5^th ave
New York Mar. 11.
1900

To Misses Baker & Coleman

My dear Friends
I send a hastily written copy
of the letter I am going to forward
the Editor of the Greenfield Gazette
so that it may be published, if he will,
next Saturday.

I am very glad M^r Sheldon has
written so clearly and I hope the
few lines I send will strengthen our cause
and that you will approve of them --

I am very busy these days, so is my
good wife who has promised a Ms. of a new
book by May 1^st. -- We sail on the 3^rd of
May -- Our plans are fascinating : we have
a long journey through the center of France by two
picturesque routes down & back to Carcaosonne,
Avejnon etc -- Fine, isn’t it?

Hope you are both well. Keep up the fight in our
absence. Lizzie sends love -- I join most respect-
fully Yrs J. Wells Champney

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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This three-page document contains a friendly letter from New York artist J. Wells Champney to the Misses Baker and Coleman, followed by a copy of the two-page letter written to the Editor of the Greenfield Gazette, the local newspaper. Mr. and Mrs. Champney spent part of each year in New York City and part in Deerfield, where they owned a house on the main street. The letter is dated March 11, 1900 in the midst of the debate about the location of the trolley through Deerfield. Mr. Champney is absolutely opposed to the train coming down the main street and vows that "no convenience can make amends for the crime of destruction of one of the most beautiful avenues in the world."

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