Lithuanian immigrant Joseph Bagdon (Bagdonas) arrived in Sunderland in June of 1908.
Around 1915 he was living at the former Cephas Graves house (built 1873). The barn at the rear of the property burned sometime during the 1970s.
View is looking North West from present day route 116, South of the rest stop.
In a 2023 corespondense with the Swampfield Historical Society long time Sunderland resident Tom Zimnowski offered this story of the barn fire:
"I remember that night the barn and cattle were destroyed. I was on my way home from 7th Street Turners Falls, Saint Kazimiers dancing till 1am. I hit a Skunk on 5&10. I was at the Sunderland Car Wash about 1:30am washing my Firebird when Ralph Pomeroy pulled up and questioned me WHY? It was then I found out about the fire. He was looking for the Arsonist. I explained but the smell convinced him! It was not me. Then again I was wearing my White slacks and Red shirt and dancing shoes."