Join John J. O’Leary IV on his quest to visually re-create the Melton Museum (1948-1953) and the James Melton Autorama (1953-1961) from old photos and other items from people who visited the Autorama decades ago. Watch Video
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Who Knew? Roadside Revelations in Western Massachusetts)
By Robert E. Weir
Amherst, MA: Levellers Press, 2021
Softcover, 266, $18.95
Reviewed by Frank Brusca
At first glance, Who Knew? appears to be a guide to roadside oddities found in western Massachusetts. The cover shows a gigantic roadside Tin Man statue from The Wizard of Oz, and the following few pages include photographs of a teepee structure, a giant milk bottle, and a large, politically incorrect statue of a Native American. Readers interested in roadside attractions may find the book’s lure hard to resist. However, a deeper dive into the book reveals a much broader range of points of interest for the region. The book is a nice record of the region’s landmarks, including dinosaur fossils, geologic wonders, historic sites, unique cultural sites, covered bridges, scenic views, statues, and museums.