The Amherst Record was founded in 1844 by John and Charles Adams as the Hampshire and Franklin Express. It served Amherst, Hadley and Belchertown; it became the Amherst Record in 1868 and was a daily between 1978 and 1980.  The Record published Town Hall news, lots of columns, and information from surrounding towns.  “The Policeman’s Lot” was a precursor to the Bulletin’s police log. The Record published the voting records of Town Meeting candidates, box scores of ARHS baseball games, plus recipes and movie guides. It ceased publication in 1984.

Phyllis Lehrer started working for the Amherst Record in 1977. She started part time covering the schools. She was paid $10 for each meeting attended. The Amherst School Committee met once a month and the Regional school Committee twice a month. She became full time and covered other town boards and committees, elections, Town Meeting and occasionally the news from other town.

Phyllis will give a talk on the history of the Amherst Record on Friday, March 31, at noon, in the Woodbury room of the Jones Library.