GARDENS: The results of local high school’s first summer garden stewardship program, F4
ANTIQUES: Ornate furniture from the Second French Empire, F7
The perfect pumpkin
WMass gardener, educator shares pumpkin growing tips
By Dawn C hipman
Special to The Republican
Each month in Garden Talk, you’ll meet a different master gardener or expert plant person from western Massachusetts, learn about their gardening lives, and get advice on everything from pumpkins to houseplants. A big part of gardening is community — people sharing tricks, trowels, plants and a general love of gardening — and these stories are an extension of that ethos.
MUMS, KALE AND so many other wonderful fall classics are flourishing in pots and gardens all over western Massachusetts, but today we’re focusing on perhaps the most popular squash this time of year: pumpkins. Horticulturist and plantswoman Jennifer Kujawski, who earned a bachelor’s degree in botany at the University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in horticulture at the University of Maryland, will share a slew of tips for growing and harvesting pumpkins.
Kujawski co-authored the “Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook” with her father, Ron Kujawski. These days, Kujawski works as a private gardener and garden educator. “I actually work alongside several of my clients, teaching them about plants, gardening techniques, and designing or renovating garden plantings with them,” she says.
Q. How did you start gardening?
Kujawski: I grew up gardening — my first real memories are of “working” (playing) in the vegetable garden with my younger brother when I was about 7 or 8. As a teenager, I worked at local nurseries during summer vacations, but I don’t think I considered pursuing a career in working with plants until my junior year at UMass when I realized I already knew quite a bit about plants, liked learning more about them, and enjoyed working with them (and with other “plant people”).
Q. Tell us about the gardening book you wrote with your dad.
Editor’s note: Kujawski’s dad, Ron, is a well-known master gardener and founder of the Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association as well as a retired UMass Extension educator with onion farming roots.
Kujawski: When the idea of writing “Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook” was broached by an editor at Storey Publishing, I was coming back to my hometown after working in a larger agronomic context with the US Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Maryland. It was exciting to work with my dad as co-author and re-learn so many of his techniques for small-scale production — most of the book relies on his years of expertise in advising home gardeners.
Our book has practical, easy-to-implement gardening tips based on sound horticultural science. In the years since the book’s publication, I’ve also had the opportunity to update Stu Campbell’s classic “How to Mulch” as well as write articles and write and edit garden calendar tips for UMass Extension.
Q. What are your tips and tricks for growing and harvesting pumpkins?
Kujawski: My first tip is to grow pumpkins (or other squash or melon) in a cage, a process you begin in the fall. This method keeps weeds from growing around vines and keeps fruit up off the ground.
We grow mostly pie pumpkins, so they’re small, but you can grow any size except the giant ones with this method.
Here’s how:
• In the fall, make a “cage” from wire fencing. Note, the cage doesn’t have a top. The cage is a circle about 24-26” diameter, anywhere from 3648” tall, depending on the piece of fencing.
• Adjust the diameter depending on how many plants you want and anticipated spread. I sometimes cut off the bottom horizontal piece of wire so there are short vertical pieces that stick into the soil and hold the cage in place. However, it generally doesn’t go anywhere, in my experience, so I haven’t had to really anchor it well.
• Line the cage with straw to keep materials you’ll put in the center (next step) from falling out. Add straw gradually, at the same time and to the same height as the materials in the middle so the straw stays in place against the edges of the cage.
• Fill the cage with kitchen scraps (veg. and fruit scraps, egg shells, spent coffee grinds, loose tea leaves, etc.) from fall to the following spring.
• In the spring, add about six inches of finished compost/garden soil to the top of the materials already in the cage, again adding straw around the edges to keep soil from spilling out. We don’t fuss if the scraps underneath aren’t fully composted in the spring. Transplant pumpkin (or squash or melon) seedlings into it (anywhere from 1 to 3 transplants depending on cage diameter and anticipated mature plant size).
• After the pumpkins are harvested, lift the cage and spread the composted material and straw onto the garden and start again with the cage in a new area of the garden.
Q. Do you have other tips, like when to harvest a pumpkin and how long the cut stem should be?
Kujawski: Yes, here are more suggestions:
• If your pumpkin is growing in soil that’s frequently wet, place a layer of straw under developing fruits to keep them from contacting wet soil which may promote fruit rot diseases.
• Pinch off any blossoms at this late stage so the pumpkin/squash plant can put its energy into developing existing fruit — fruit will ripen faster and be larger.
• Leave a 2-inch stem when harvesting pumpkins to extend storage life—the longer stem protects the fruit from rotting.
Q. Will pumpkins harvested in September last until Halloween?
Kujawski: Yes, a pumpkin harvested in September
can last until Halloween and beyond, provided it is harvested, cured, and stored properly.
Harvest a pumpkin when it is fully ripe — when the rind is hard enough not be cut into by a fingernail and the color is as uniform as possible.
Make sure there are no blemishes or soft spots. Put the pumpkin in a warm, dry location for one to two weeks to allow the rind to fully harden (cure) and then store at temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees. Never expose a pumpkin to freezing temperatures unless it will be used immediately — low temperatures can damage pumpkins and make them more susceptible to decay in storage.
Q. What about growing a humongous pumpkin — the size a person might enter in a competition?
Growing pumpkins in a cage — which you can DIY with wire fencing — keeps weeds from growing around vines and helps keep the fruit up off the ground. Cover image: Western Massachusetts horticulturist Jennifer Kujawski harvests a pumpkin from her garden. (PHOTO COURTESY JENNIFER KUJAWSKI)
Lee Reich | In the Garden
The best grapes to grow in the Northeast
MOST YEARS around this date, I’d go out every morning and pick bunches for fresh eating, continuing to do so for weeks to come.
The grapes I pick here aren’t Concord, Niagara, and the usual varieties. I chose the varieties from among the more than 5,000 or so existing grape varieties. Well, not really. I couldn’t choose from among all 5,000 varieties because many varieties would not grow here. I seek out varieties that are cold-hardy, pest resistant, and flavorful.
Grapes that grow best here are those derived from fox grapes (Vitis labrusca) and other species native to this part of the world. Concord is the archetypal fox grape, with a slip skin, a jelly-like flesh, and that distinctive, foxy flavor. Muscadine grapes (V. rotundifolia) are native to the Southeast, so aren’t hardy here. Most varieties of European wine grapes, also called vinifera grapes (Vitis vinifera), also can’t stand up to our winter cold, and if that doesn’t do them in, grape diseases (such as black rot) and insects (such as phylloxera, as bad as it sounds) found in the Northeast do.
Breeding and selection have resulted in plenty of grape varieties adapted here and everywhere, and, over the years, I’ve planted some of the
GARDEN NOTES
WILBRAHAM Wilbraham Garden Club
The Wilbraham Garden Club will hold its annual “Welcome Back” meeting in the St. Cecilia Parish Center on Main Street at noon on Oct. 2. Rebecca Sadlowski, the owner of Rooted Flowers in Agawam, will share
best candidates, ripping out any that didn’t make the grade and planting new ones. Many of my favorites come from the amateur breeding work of Minnesota dairy farmer Elmer Swenson: Edelweiss (very foxy and sweet); Swenson’s Red (crunchy, for a grape, and sweet); Somerset Seedless (delicious but yields almost nothing unless bagged); and Brianna (perhaps my favorite). New this year, also thanks to Elmer, are Alpenglow (flavorful and seeded, but the small seeds can be ignored), and Bluebell (rich flavor).
A few years ago, I tasted a number of grapes at the USDA grape collection in Geneva, N.Y. One variety that impressed me — but I had never heard of — was the variety Wapanuka. Turns out that it’s the work of eminent Texas grape breeder T. V. Munson in 1893. Quoting from the description of Wapanuka from the web page of Graystone College, home of the T. V. Munson Memorial Vineyard, “Undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best, table and eating grapes produced in the United States.” I’ve found it to be disease resistant and prolific with flavorful, large berries, definitely a keeper. Reputedly good both North and South.
Many grape varieties have come and gone here. Vanessa
“Flower Farm Life & Lasagna Layering in Pots” and will demonstrate how this method of bulb placement will yield a concentrated burst of spring. All levels of gardeners are welcome to attend and there is no guest fee for this meeting. Contact Anna Howell at 413-537-5788 with any questions.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
(not Elmer’s handiwork) was beautiful, tasty and seedless, but too susceptible here to cold and disease, so I’m retiring her. Campbell’s Early was similar to Concord, but much earlier, with robust leaves, stems, berry
With so many grape varieties from which to choose, I choose based on cold hardiness, pest resistance, and flavor.
(LEE REICH PHOTO)
High school students launch new summer garden stewardship program
The program supports elementary school gardens
THIS SUMMER, THE ELEMENtary school gardens across Amherst and Pelham flourished thanks to the dedication of three Amherst Regional High School students who served as the district’s first Summer Garden Stewards. Meghan H. ’26, Sylvan C.-R. ’27, and Toby Y. ’25 spent their summer months tending to the plants that elementary students had planted in the spring.
Each week, the students visited their assigned sites to water, weed, sow seeds, and support garden projects. Their consistent care made a visible difference. “The gardens have never looked so healthy at the end of August,” said Jen Reese, co-director of the School Garden Program. “We are so grateful to the Summer Garden Stewards for the excellent care they provided to all of the garden spaces, and for helping us launch this new program so successfully. It will be exciting for elementary schoolers to visit the crops they planted in the spring and discover how much they’ve grown.”
For the students themselves, the experience was equally rewarding. “The Summer Garden Stewardship program was a great way for me to spend time outside and with plants, and to contribute to the community. Watching them grow was pretty amazing to see, and it felt good knowing I was doing some-
thing to help the school,” said Toby Y. ’25.
Superintendent Dr. E. Xiomara Herman praised the students’ leadership and commitment: “I am incredibly proud of Meghan, Sylvan, and Toby for their dedication as the trailblazers for the Summer Garden Stewards program. Their hard work ensured that our elementary school gardens not only survived but thrived over the summer. This program exemplifies the kind of student leadership and community engagement we celebrate in our districts. Thanks to their care, our gardens were ready to welcome back our elementary students, allowing them to see the tangible results
of their spring planting. Actions like these foster a love for learning, nature, and collaboration.”
The program not only provided the students with hands-on gardening experience but also ensured that elementary school gardens remained vibrant through the summer. The initiative was made possible with the generous support of the Garden Club of Amherst and the Pelham Community Garden Committee, whose contributions provided stipends to the student stewards in recognition of their work.
Applications for next summer’s Garden Stewardship Program will be available in the spring of 2026.
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F3
clusters, and mediocre flavor. Alden has been a favorite for its sweet flavor and meaty texture, but it’s too prone to disease; out it goes this year.
A few years ago, I gave Duchess and Winchell grapes a shot at becoming members of the Springtown Farmden grape family. Both were reasonably good, but Duchess died back one winter, so its new sprouts
were not welcomed back in training, and Winchell berries were too small with seeds too large. Their space along my grape trellis could be better used by better grapes.
I’ve also had high hopes for Mars, New York Muscat, and Reliance. Mars was too insect prone, New York Muscat’s was a muscat only in name, not flavor, And Reliance just didn’t taste good.
Just about all the above varieties have some amount of European wine grape in their predominantly fox
grape heritage.
On the recommendation of my grape-knowledgeable, Hungarian friend Lev, I went to great effort to get propagating wood for the pure V. vinifera variety Perle de Csaba. (A Hungarian viticulturalist developed it in 1904.) After a few years, I had two vines in pots and ready to fruit, one of which I gave to Lev. Delicious: sweet, delicately perfumed, and seedless. One vinifera grape variety is enough for me. I grow this variety in a pot so that
it can be moved to protected storage for winter, and in my greenhouse to protect it from insects and diseases,
such as the aforementioned phylloxera. I have given Perle de Csaba a permanent home in the greenhouse.
This year, three students from Amherst Regional High School served as the district’s first Summer Garden Stewards. These photos show some of the results of their efforts.
Adding kitchen scraps to the wire fence “cage” throughout the fall and spring will benefit the growth of your pumpkins next season. (PHOTO COURTESY OF
Talk
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F2
Kujawski: In my family’s garden, the goal is to generate as many pumpkins as possible for eating, but I’m in awe of folks who have the passion and dedication to grow a prizewinning behemoth!
A couple of tips: Not every pumpkin has the potential to become a giant, so when you’re planting, select a variety that produces large fruit. In addition to providing plenty of nutrients and supplemental water during the growing season, once fruits begin to develop on a vine, remove most of those fruits so the plant’s energy goes into development of the “Chosen One.”
Q. What’s your favorite way to use pumpkins?
Kujawski: Honestly, I’m a huge pumpkin pie fan. My birthday is in November and my “cake” is usually a pie made from scratch, using our garden pumpkins that have been cooked and stored frozen. When I want pumpkin pie but am too lazy to make the crust, I’ll make a pumpkin “pudding” — essentially the pie filling baked in a casserole dish.
Yes, you should earthquake-proof your home
Here’s how to do it
By Jeanne Huber The Washington Post
Q. I live where earthquakes are a worry. What can I do to keep things in my house from breaking?
A. Earthquakes can and do occur in every U.S. state, although the greatest risk is along the West Coast and in the central part of the country. When the earth picks up your home and shakes it, bookcases can topple, refrigerators can tip and spill, and cabinet doors can fling open, tossing glasses and plates across the floor. Securing them protects your things; it’s also a safety measure. In the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Southern California, 55 percent of the injuries were caused by falling furniture or objects, according to a study from UCLA.
The website for the Earthquake Country Alliance, a public-private partnership in California that is working to improve earthquake (and tsunami) preparedness, offers information for preparing your home. It recommends tackling one improvement each week until you’re done. First on the list are things that cost nothing: Rearrange furniture so bookcases and tall pieces won’t land on beds, sofas or other places where people spend a lot of time. Where that’s not possible, at least place heavy objects on lower shelves. Also move things that would block exits if they fall.
Next, secure tall furniture to walls. You can use metal corner braces to attach pieces to the wall with screws long enough to bite into the studs (the vertical framing behind the drywall). Special nylon straps with sticky pads and hook-andloop attachments are nearly invisible and work for things you can’t or don’t want to screw into. If you can’t find them at your local hardware store or home center, check websites such as readyamerica.com or safe-t-proof.com.
A pair of furniture straps is enough for one bookcase or china cabinet. They come in black, brown, white, beige and “oak” to match furniture, even though very little of the strap will be visible. A word of warning, though: The Ready America website says to “Peel and press one end to the furniture, screw the other end into the wall stud through grommet hole.” But if you attach one end of each strap to the furniture first, the straps might not line up with the studs. Instead, figure out where the screws into the wall need to be and attach those first, then move the furniture into place and press the other end of each strap into place. To determine where the screws should
go, tap along the wall and note where the hollow sound changes to a thud, or use a stud finder. Measure the piece and mark that height or a little less on two studs. If a piece is taller than 6 feet, Earthquake Country Alliance recommends securing the straps to the sides, two-thirds of the way up from the floor.
Drill a pilot hole into the wall for each screw. Place a washer over the grommet, then drive in one of the long screws included in the package, taking care to orient the strap so the sticky pad at the other end will wind up against the top of the furniture. (The strap package also includes four short screws, an alternate method of attaching to the furniture.)
Before you peel back the cover on the pads, make sure the surface they need to stick to is clean. An alcohol cleaning pad is included in the kit but test the pad on a hidden area first. Alcohol can dull or even strip some finishes, including paint. Cleaning with water plus a little clear hand dishwashing detergent is generally safe for all finishes as long as you only dampen the cleaning cloth, wipe off all the residue and dry the surface promptly.
The furniture straps have Velcro in addition to the sticky pads, so you can easily disconnect the straps if you want to rearrange the furniture; you’d just need to remove the screws in the wall and patch those holes.
Other strap styles are available for securing hot water tanks, grandfather clocks, video equipment, refrigerators and other heavy appliances. Many designs have weight ratings, so you might need to look up the specifications for whatever you are attaching. Also take steps to keep mirrors and framed artwork with glass from falling. If an item weighs less than 20 pounds, Earthquake Country recommends attaching the frame to the wall with a Velcro tab or a wad of removable
putty, such as QuakeHold Museum Putty. Trevyn Reese, vice president of Ready America, said you only need to secure the bottom two corners. For artwork that’s between 20 and 50 pounds, use closedloop hangers to keep the wire on the back of the frame from lifting off in a quake. If you attach the hook with a screw into a stud, the A-Maze-ing Picture Hook can support 50 pounds. Two hooks fastened to studs can support 100 pounds. Then secure pottery, vases, lamps and other items. Move heavier objects to lower shelves, if possible. Or attach Velcro fasteners to the base and the surface. Removable putty also works well for smaller items. Reese said one package of QuakeHold Museum Putty is enough to secure 40 objects. Use pieces about the size of a fingertip “or maybe one-half of your fingertip,” he said. Roll three narrow strips to secure a circular base or form four pieces into balls for a square base. Press the putty to the base, then place the item on the surface and press down. Give it a slight twist to anchor it. If you want to remove an anchored item, twist and lift up from the base. The putty is removable and reusable, and it won’t damage furniture, Reese said.
To keep cabinet doors from flinging open, you could use child safety locks. But there are also more attractive and less cumbersome options. Barrel bolts and turn latches attach to the front of doors and keep them from opening unless you pull back the bolt or turn a knob. Push latches, such as the Safe Push Touch Latch, have a peg mounted to the inside of the door and a release mechanism mounted to the cabinet that opens only when you push on the door. The SeismoLatch is designed to fall into place only during an earthquake. Just beware of overdoing it and shaking the house during your next party!
In the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Southern California, 55 percent of the injuries were caused by falling furniture or objects, according to a study from UCLA.
(ADOBE STOCK IMAGE)
JENNIFER KUJAWSKI)
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
Napoleon III-style furniture is anything but subtle
FURNITURE STYLES BEFORE the 20th century are often named after the rulers or governments of the time. Here in the United States, we have furniture periods like William and Mary, Federal, and Victorian. It follows that furniture styles, like their namesakes, are usually particular to the country or region. However, contemporary styles from different countries often share similarities.
Take the style of the Second French Empire, which lasted from 1852 to 1870, the reign of Napoleon III. It drew inspiration from many past styles from antiquity to the 18th century. Decoration was paramount; furniture was made of rich, dark wood like ebony or mahogany and adorned with inlaid patterns, often in exotic materials like lacquer or mother-of-pearl. Upholstery was lush; wood surfaces were shaped and carved. New tools and industrial processes allowed manufacturers to create these complex designs much faster and cheaper than traditional craftsmanship.
All these characteristics — recreation of historic styles, luxurious materials, ornate decorations, all facilitated by the Industrial Revolution — could easily describe the Victorian furniture made in England and America about the same time. Still, Second Empire, or Napoleon III furniture, is its own visually distinct style. If anything, it is even more extravagant than Victorian furniture, which holds true for the furniture style in reproductions and revivals, too.
This table, which sold for $2,112 at John Moran Auctioneers, was made c. 2000 in the Napoleon III style. Covered in faux malachite (an opaque green stone often used in decorative arts) and heavy, intricate gilding, adorned with leafy garlands and figural paw feet, it is anything but subtle.
Q. There is an oval plate or tray that has been in my mother’s family for more time than I can remember (I am 75 years old). It is white with a blue border and four blue designs with many arms that look like candelabra or menorahs. The date on the back is “Dec 1563.” One foot is broken, but a restorer could fix it. Can you tell me anything about it and its value?
A. The “Dec 1563” mark is not a date but a decoration number. Many pottery manufacturers in the Netherlands, Ger-
This contemporary table was made in the Napoleon III style, which emerged in France about the same time as the Victorian period in England and America. Like Victorian furniture, it is known for extravagant decorations. (JOHN MORAN AUCTIONEERS)
many and Austria used similar marks, with the word “Dec” plus a number, in the late 19th to mid-20th century.
The use of blue and white suggests Delft, a soft pottery with a thick, opaque tin glaze that has been made in Holland since the 1600s. However, most Delft with a “Dec” mark is usually also marked with the maker’s name. The design on your plate, stylized and based on linear forms, sounds like the style of the Vienna Secession movement, which was active from about 1897 to 1914.
This art movement is comparable to the art nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements that were popular about the same time. Many Secessionist designers created pottery and tiles with blue and white linear or geometric designs, but not all of them are marked. Ceramic trays with similar designs of comparable ages sell for about $150 to $200.
Q. I have a print that I bought as part of a lot. It is a picture of a woman from the shoulders up. She has long brown hair and wears a red headdress with gold coins and a light green dress. The picture is signed “A. Asti.” It is captioned “A Persian Beauty” and was printed in the Chicago Tribune. What can you tell me about the artist? What is the print worth?
A. Your print is a copy of a painting by
Angelo Asti, who was born in 1847. He is known for his bust portraits of women that appealed to late 19th and early 20th-century exoticism. His paintings were reproduced as lithograph prints and used for advertisements in the early 1900s. They appeared on calendars, packaging, and metal trays. Prints on paper were also given away as advertising premiums.
Asti prints on paper from about 1900 can sell for anywhere from $20 to $200, based on the rarity of the print and its condition. Check the captions on your print for any copyright dates or information. Asti prints have been reproduced, and recent prints have lower values. Vintage postcards with Asti prints generally sell for under $10. However, prints on other media, like porcelain plaques or metal advertising trays, sell for higher prices. Asti oil paintings can sell for over $1,000.
TIP: Do not wax any furniture that has a gilded, painted, lacquered, or flaking finish.
Kovels answers readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures: the object and a close-up of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses
CURRENT PRICES
Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
Doll, baby, composition, molded blond hair, blue green sleep eyes, open mouth, two teeth, cloth body, hard plastic arms and legs, 1930s, 25 inches, $40.
Toy, waiter, holding plate, black hair, blue eyes, mustache, white hat and coat, cloth apron, blue shoes, yellow wheels, tin, windup, TPS, Japan, 7 inches, $70.
Coverlet, woven, blue and white, three columns, repeating flower urns, leafy wreath, perching birds, architectural borders, double border on two sides, fringe, 88 x 80 inches, $90.
Advertising, display set, Kraft Foods, figural, circus theme, wagon, clown, tiger, horse, elephant, embossed, foil, Wonderflex Corp., c. 1970, one sheet, six pieces, $135. Baccarat, wine, Rhine, topaz bowl, clear stem, six stacked knops, dome foot, 9 inches, pair, $195.
Typewriter, Underwood, black enamel, carrying case, 12 1/2 x 12 x 6 inches, $240.
Furniture, table, oak, round leather top, nailhead trim, barley twist legs, X-shape stretcher, ball feet, England, early 20th century, 26 x 21 inches, $340.
Silver-American, pillbox, hinged lid, stamped, sun face, front clasp, signed, Teddy Weahkee, Zuni Pueblo, 1 3/8 x 1 7/8 inches, $795. Celadon, jar, pierced lid, hardstone finial, seated figure, globular, tapered base, Chinese, 13 inches, $900.
Furniture, highboy, Queen Anne, maple, walnut, two short over three graduated drawers, long drawer over three short drawers, fan on center drawer, scalloped apron, cabriole legs, pad feet, 69 x 40 inches, $1,160.
or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th Street, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels. com.
Average rate on a 30-year mortgage falls again this week
Rate dips to lowest level since early October
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
The average rate on a 30year U.S. mortgage fell again this week, echoing a decline in long-term U.S. Treasury bond yields ahead of the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut this year.
The rate eased to 6.26% from 6.35% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.09%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell. The average rate slipped to 5.41% from 5.5% last week. A year ago, it was 5.15%, Freddie Mac said.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation.
Rates generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. The yield was at 4.12% in midday trading Thursday, up from 4.06% late Wednesday.
Mortgage rates have been mostly declining since late July amid expectations that Fed would cut rates for the first time since last year. As expected, the central bank delivered a quarter-point cut Wednesday and projected it would lower its benchmark rate twice more this year, reflecting growing concern over the U.S. job market.
The average rate on a 30year mortgage is now at its lowest level since Oct. 3, when it was 6.12%.
The late-summer slide in mortgage rates has been a welcome trend for the
housing market, which has been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began climbing from historic lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes sank last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years and have remained sluggish so far this year as the average rate on a 30-year mortgage has mostly hovered above 6.5%.
“Mortgage rates have eased into the low 6% range, a shift that should support a modest pickup in home sales in the coming months,” said Jiayi Xu, senior economist with Realtor.com. “However, the broader impact will remain limited, as 81% of homeowners still hold mortgages below 6%, reducing incentives to sell or move.”
Still, the pullback in mortgage rates has led to a surge in homeowners who bought in recent years after rates climbed above 6% to refinance now to a lower rate.
Mortgage applications, which include loans to buy a home or refinance an existing mortgage, jumped nearly 30% last week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Applications for mortgage refinancing loans made up nearly 60% of all applications last week.
Demand for adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs, is also up sharply. Applications for ARMs accounted for about 13% of all loan applications. That’s the biggest share since 2008, in the aftermath of the 2000s housing bust.
The Fed’s rate cut makes ARMs more attractive, as the rates on those loans closely follow the central bank’s action on short-term interest rates, said Bill Banfield, chief business officer at mortgage lender Rocket Cos.
“For consumers, it’s another signal that the cost of borrowing is gradually moving lower,” Banfield said.
Deeds
AGAWAM
David Wolff, Lauren J. Figoni and Lauren J. Wolff to Christopher Connor Hale, 80 Vassar Drive, $385,000.
Elsie A. Mallory, representative, and Jean Graham Brindle, estate, to Erin Mallory, 93 Hall St., $200,000.
Peter P. Hoffman and Maureen A. Hoffman to Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Dominic Santaniello, trustee, 98 N Alhambra Circle, $435,000.
Robin Wozniak to Kristin A. Smith, Kristin Smith, Jonathan Hiersche and Jonathan M. Hiersche, 42 Mountainview St., $316,000.
AMHERST
Rachel J. Kennedy and Daniel J. Kennedy to Cristy Lynn Galvin and Paul Anthony Galvin, 1301 South East St., $470,000.
Laurie R. Coursin, trustee, and Laurie R. Coursin Revocable Trust, to Alison M. Ozer, trustee, and Alison M. Ozer Revocable Trust, 3 Baldwin Lane, $470,000.
Alexander Leslie John Bradley, Leslie J. Bradley, Les Bradley, Alex Bradley, and Leslie J. Shipley to Alexander Leslie John Bradley, trustee, and Alexander Leslie John Bradley 2025 Revocable Trust, 218 East Pleasant St., $100.
AMHAD Development Corp., to Audrey A. Morse, 28 Greenleaves Drive, $212,000.
South Middle Street Inc., to Ouverture Consulting Services LLC, 3 South Middle St., and 7 South Middle St., $150,000.
ASHFIELD
Travis Minnick to Isaac Held, 1327 Williamsburg Road, $500,000.
BELCHERTOWN
MA Home Buyers LLC, to Normand Rioux and Elizabeth Rioux, 445 Michael Sears Road, $549,900.
Kenneth L. Miron, Marc A. Miron and Lin O. Miron to Marc A. Miron and Karen G. Miron, 0 Rockrimmon St., $100.
Marc A. Miron and Karen G. Miron to Robert Befford and Mindy Befford, 88 Rockrimmon St., and 0 Rockrimmon St., $100.
Alyssa Maggi to Sjana Pobieglo, 438 State St., $420,000.
Robert G. Zucker and Teresa S. Weybrew-Zucker to Marcella Fitzgerald and William Fitzgerald,
191 East St., $499,000.
BERNARDSTON
Lauri Ann Rice, “aka” Lauri-Ann Rice, to Garrett D. Connelly, trustee of the Connelly Realty Trust, 703 Brattleboro Road, $425,000.
BRIMFIELD
Jewel Real Estate Inc., to Herbert F. Seymour III, 153 Haynes Hill Road, $200,000.
CHESTER
Alan D. Vautier and Suzette A. Vautier to Dominick M. Leva, 613 Skyline Trail, $489,500.
CHESTERFIELD
Kenneth A. Sicard and Patricia B. Sicard to Kimberly Ann Messeck and Deane Messeck, Jr., 196 Ireland St., $440.000.
CHICOPEE
Eleanor E. Bineault, trustee, and Academy Realty Trust, trustee of, to Maria Luz Sharma, 51 Academy St., $80,000.
Elizabeth A. Gaskins to Janna Lee Dewitt and Sara Elizabeth Dewitt, 14 Ralph Circle, $500,000. Illumination Home LLC, Roberto Rivera Negron and Nilsa Enid Rivera to Jovan O. Rivera Vazquez, 163 Amherst St., $399,900.
John J. Leffert, representative, and Rose M. Guimares, estate, to Riley G. Villeneuve, 165 Old Lyman Road, $209,000.
Keith A. Buckhout, representative, and Kenneth E. White, estate, to David Howard Murphy and William A. Buckhout, 27 Applewood Drive, Unit 6064B, $205,000.
PC Sandals LLC, to Kamacite Holdings LLC, 336 Grattan St., $285,000.
Snatch Block Properties LLC, to David Wagner, 16 Lincoln St, $380,000.
William E. Baker to ARPC LLC, 1709 Memorial Dr, $107,321.
COLRAIN
Janet R. Delisle to Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc., Colrain Stage Road, $80,000.
Richard J. Hillman and Robert W. Hillman to Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc., Hosmer Road, $55,000.
CONWAY
Travis Minnick to Isaac Held, Williamsburg Road, $500,000.
CUMMINGTON
Joseph D. R. LaPointe to Matthew M. Martin, 0 Bryant Road, $34,000.
DEERFIELD
Edward G. Stuart to Imrana Sohail Syeda, Conway Road, $8,400.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Gail M. Nassif to Gail M. Nassif, trustee, and Gail M. Nassif Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, 2 Clover Lane, $100. Hubert J. Severin and Judith E. Severin to Stellar Homes Inc., 44 Edmund St., $265,000.
John E. Foley, Joseph V. Foley, James T. Foley Jr., Paul F. Foley, Joan I. Foley, Michele Foley and Noreen Foley to EMTAY Inc., 234 Mapleshade Ave., $160,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Boone W. Shear to Alec Bates and Annika Yokum, 50 Williston Ave., $580,000.
Melvin J. LaFrance Jr., to Ninis Real Estate LLC, 6 Orchard St., $225,000.
Dianna T. Hanechak, personal representative, and Janice M. Murphy, estate, to Ami Nicole Breton and Benjamin Ryan Breton, 17 John St., $391,000.
Noah T. Galko and Briana M. Cristofari to Paul E. Truehart and Darcy G. Truehart, 41 South St., $280,000.
Andrea Young and David Young to Lucie Bodnar and Gregg Mancari, 6 Russell Lane, $525,000. Aleeta J. Sasarak, Aleeta J. Rakaska, and Aaron D. Sasarak to Allison I. Guinn and Mary M. Marchand, 103 Holyoke St., $400,000.
ERVING
Erika A. Lemieux and William Francis Lemieux to Mitchell Mailloux, 4 East Prospect St., $355,000.
GOSHEN
Ghulam M. Dastgeer to Edward Roberts Jr., and Morgan Taylor Roberts, 0 South Chesterfield Road, $25,000.
GRANBY
Scott A. Merrill and Jane K. Merrill to Nicholas Shaink and Melissa Shaink, 150 Harris St., $590,000.
Deeds
GREENFIELD
Salim Abdoo to Trang Nguyet Nguyen, 98100 Hope St., $390,000.
HADLEY
John A. Stanley to Tammy J. Stanley, trustee, Susan A. Brand, trustee, Alan H. R. Stanley, trustee, and John A. Stanley Irrevocable Trust, 282 Bay Road, $100.
HAMPDEN
Steven E. Guzzo and Kathy C. Guzzo to Thomas E. Cooke and Jennifer A. Cooke, Glendale Road, $225,000.
HATFIELD
Kristen L. Forrest to Jean Pierre Crevier II, and Kate P. Crevier, 40 North St., $625,000.
HEATH
Janet R. Delisle to Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc., Colrain Stage Road, $80,000. Richard J. Hillman and Robert W. Hillman to Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc., Hosmer Road, $55,000.
HOLLAND
Beau X. Boudreau and Courtney A. Boudreau to Jacek Zielinski, Anna Zielinski and Courtney A. Gatta, Vinton Road, Lot 9, $70,000.
Vikki H. Godet to April Mortimer, 10 Fenton St., $100.
HOLYOKE
Eric Lavalley and Renee M. Lavalley to Stephen J. Dickenson, 72 Reservation Road, $276,500.
Francis M. Croke and Louise M. Croke to Marie-Ange Laroche, 271 Pleasant St., $325,000.
General Enterprise LLC, and Gallagher Capital Group LLC, to Nelson O. Ramos and Jennifer S. Ramos, 3 Parkview Terrace, Unit 3, $210,000.
Gregory M. Virgilio, trustee, and 165-167 Essex Street Realty Trust, trustee of, to Hoodoo Realty LLC, 165-167 Essex St., $125,000.
John J. Ferriter, Mary M. Ferriter, Joseph P. Ferriter, Emmet P. Ferriter, Katherine E. Hauschild and Coner M. Ferriter to Ryan M. Ferriter, 31 Longfellow Road, $461,000.
Lily Augusta Foster, Adam Hartvig Holmes and Adam Hartvig Fabricius Holmes to Amy Elizabeth Thompson and Ben Joseph Avishai, 83 Wellesley Road, $485,000.
Malissa Y. Aponte, representative, and Carlos Jose Aponte, estate, to Hassle Free LLC, 70-72 Center St., $275,000.
Mathieu Hemono and Rebecca Hemono to Ruth Epstein, 33 Montgomery Ave.,
$495,150.
Maureen L. Johnson to Angela Gonzalez, 26 Lower Westfield Road, $402,500.
Nicholas P. Boccio to Concepcion Cruzado Vila, 2 Maplecrest Circle, Unit F, $200,000.
Ryan Eugene Knoechelman to Levi Smith, 284 Maple St., $415,000.
Susan R. Canedy to Property Advantage Inc., 140 Sycamore St., $185,000.
Witman Properties Inc., receiver, Massachusetts Comm Attorney General, Lisa M. Bones, Lisa M. Pereira and Citizens Bank to Maylin Garcia and Carla M Garcia-Rios, 140 Pearl St., $385,000.
LEVERETT
Thomas H. Friedman and Mary Ryan Thorup to Benjamin Strohler, 60 Camp Road, $325,000.
LONGMEADOW
Nuno M. Machado and Sandra A. Machado to Olivia Michele Kowal and Cameron William Carter, 15 Bellevue Ave., $385,000.
Suzanne S. White to Nicholas Manthei and Elif Manthei, 240 Longmeadow St., $501,000.
LUDLOW
Joseph L. Wlodyka Jr., and Lisa J. Labonte to Jennifer A. E. Martin, 51 Alden St., $675,000.
MIDDLEFIELD
Steven Romanowski, trustee, and Michael W. Romanowski Revocable Trust, to Lucy R. Miller, trustee, and Lucy R. Miller Revocable Trust, 88 Town Hill Road, $275,000.
NORTHAMPTON
LUB LLC, to 261 Main St LLC, 261-263 Main St., $1,700,000.
Stacey L. Noble and Carey Noble to Darcy Lambert and James Rutter, 17 Brookwood Drive, $392,000.
Lorena E. Silverman to Stacey Lynn Nobile and Carey A. Noble, 75 Chesterfield Road, $620,000.
Ruth H. Constantine to Ruth Constantine, trustee, and Ruth Constantine Revocable rust, 111 Whittier St., $100.
Paul C. Ross to David C. Ross, Elizabeth D. Ross, and Christopher P. Ross, 26 Stonewall Drive, $100.
Sandra L. Cameron, personal representative, and Elizabeth A. Wheeler, estate, to Sovereign Builders Inc., 296 Ryan Road, $100,000.
Patricia Z. Cowden, trustee, and Patricia Z. Cowden Living Trust, to Peter Kansas, 47A Hatfield St., 47 Hatfield St., $240,000.
Paul G. Solomon to Joshua Cohen, 243 Bridge St., $450,000.
Paul F. Robinson, trustee, Marc A. Robinson, trustee, and Elizabeth M. Robinson Living Trust, to Sonja DeJong Williams and Garrett Ian Williams, 40 Alamo Court, $450,000.
Graham J. Carlson and Kelley Sheehan to Jonathan Blockson, 303 South St., $510,000.
NORTHFIELD
Wicked Deals LLC, to Brittany Lynne Chapin and Paul Robert Chapin, 759 Millers Falls Road, $335,000.
ORANGE
James R. Frye to Robert Dediego and Paula Dediego, Holtshire Road, $27,000.
Michael D. Woessner to Athol Realty Investments LLC, 37 Logan Ave., $180,500.
Courtney A. Fifield and Elissa Fifield to James Bazelais and My-Ilove Andre Bazelais, 331-333 East Main St., $350,000. Schwowens Properties LLC, to Andrew Illhardt and Jessica Illhardt, 82 Mechanic St., $250,000.
Christine J. Rodriguez, “fka” Christine J. Billiel, and Oscar L. Rodriguez to Lloyd O. Rodriguez, 20 Johnson Road, Unit 1, 20 Johnson Road Condominium, $215,000.
PALMER
Traceyann Gallagher and Michael R. Gallagher to Noah P. Casino, 163 Flynt St., $355,000.
PELHAM
Peter Turowski to Jeffrey L. Kahn and Debra B. Carolan, 41 Harkness Road, $425,000.
SHELBURNE
Catherine G. Coleman, trustee of the Catherine G. Coleman Investment Trust, and Josiah J. L. Simpson, trustee of the Josiah J. L. Simpson Investment Trust, to ONS Realty LLC, 45 Main St., $650,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
Carrie A. Rodzen, personal representative, and Pamela Joy Rodzen, estate, to Jeremy Mendez and Stephanie Mendez, 2 Bunker Hill St. $245,000.
John J. Estes and Donna M. Estes to Alphonso Davis and Rebecca Davis, 41 West Summit St., $230,000.
William J. Mugg, trustee, Michelle S. Walker, trustee, and William J. Mugg Revocable Trust, to Bernash Realty LLC, and KMAK LLC, 96 Lyman St., $170,000.
Comet Inc. to Blu Beau LLC, 0 McKinley Ave., $85,000.
Dominic Raymond Florence to Bernash Realty LLC, 73 Lamb St., $400,000.
SOUTHAMPTON
Tara A. Blondin, personal representative, Lynn A. Berthiaume, personal representative, and Emily M. Fitzgerald, estate, to ServiceNet Inc., 54 Pequot Road, $425,000.
SOUTHWICK
James A. Neill to Jaydub LLC, 56 Summer
Drive, $285,000.
Southwick Acres Inc., to 264 College Owner LLC, 264 College Highway, $1,800,000.
SPRINGFIELD
2022-RP1 Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, trustee of, and U S Bank Trust, trustee, to DPN Homes LLC, 24 Wands St., $200,000.
Aj Capital Inc., to Springhouse Properties LLC, 34 Flora St., $235,000.
April P. Tluszcz to Cheryl Norwood, 52-54 Cherrelyn St., $350,000.
Bertha C. Frye to Silk Morrison, 145-147 Elmore Ave., $257,000.
BHO Realty LLC, to Luis J. Ramos Cintron, 53 Warrenton St., $295,000.
Briarwood Seven LLC, to H P Rum LLC, Union Street, $4,200,000.
Cardaropoli Realty LLC, trustee, and 480 Central Street Realty Trust, trustee of, to Serie 056 Motors & Services LLP, Central Street, $165,000.
Courageous Lion LLC, and Altostratus LLC, to Deasiah Shonise McMillian, 11 Nathaniel St., $279,900.
Dawn M. Godek, representative, Darilyn H. Roberts, representative, Philip C. Reuter, estate, and Phillip C. Reuter, estate, to Hassle Free LLC, 38 Tyrone St., $145,000.
Eric R. Kenney to Eric Perez, Lynette Perez and Rafael Perez, 17 Marquette St., $260,000.
Evelyn M. Bellerose and Glen R. Bellerose to Round Two LLC, 202-204 Oakland St., $330,000.
Gama Investments LLC, to Domingos Barroso, 403 Wilbraham Road, $355,000.
Gemini Town Homes LLC, to Carole A. Youmans, 52 Morris St., Unit 601, $206,000.
Gemini Town Homes LLC, to Lizandra Sierra, 62 Morris St., Unit 701, $206,000. Gen-Wealth Properties LLC, to Jose Trujillo Sagrero, 407-409 Sumner Ave., $430,000. Hector Torres-Diaz and Zomarie Marrero to Anthony A. Izquierdo, 16-18 Malden St., $408,000.
Jeremiah Sampson to Richard Dela Rosa Cruz, 62-64 Rifle St., $329,000.
John A. Moylan to Nam Hun Kim and Deborah Kim, 31 Jamestown Drive, Unit 31, $279,900.
Julie B. Fortune, trustee, 58 Maebeth Street Nominee Realty Trust, trustee of, Janice M. Blair and Janice M. Riderdy Blair to Kimberly Lovewell, 58 Maebeth St., $298,000.
Kadian P. James to Kirk D. Craigg, 122 Avery St., $225,000.
Kate Faulkner to Carlos E. Ortiz-Lopez and Karen Ortiz, 87 Wakefield St., $265,000.
Mark Manzella and Daryl James Back to Jama Barbour and Dorothy Barbour, 244 Springfield St., $470,000.
Mildred J. Horensky to LBE LLC, 30 Firglade Ave., $320,000.
Onassis Martinez and Michelle Nunez Martinez to Oraka Wellington, 61-63 Pomona St., $290,000.
Deeds
James M. Garvey East Longmeadow
Qualified Personal Residence Trust, trustee of, James M. Garvey, trustee, and Sandra C. Garvey, trustee, to Christine M. Talbot, trustee, Michael Talbot, trustee, and 45 Jamestown Drive Trust, trustee of, 45 Jamestown Drive, Unit 45, $335,000.
Scott M. Lewis, representative, and Richard A. Lewis, estate, to April Tluszcz, 23 Pennfield St., $330,000.
Springfield City to Old Hill Infill LLC, North Side Melrose St., $500.
Thomas Patrick Myers Jr., to Francisco Tavarez and Jose Ramon Tavarez, 90 Rochelle St., $225,000.
William E. Butler, Emily R. Rusask and Emily R. Butler to Stacyann Otheila Lothian, 125 Fair Oak Road, $385,000.
William Rivera to Farrova Forren Inc., 28 Glen Albyn St., $183,000.
Yvonne M. Kelly, representative, and Theresa A. Beard, estate, to Sareen Properties LLC, 105 Denwall Drive, $205,000.
TOLLAND
Matthew J. Perry and Sarrena C. Perry to Eric Fisher, 78 Slope Road, $377,500.
Nicholas D. Porter and Julie Porter to Marianne Du Toit, 77 Chipmunk Crossing, $502,500.
WARE
Lynn A. Kinner to Robert Bruce V. Owens and Jessica Owens, 106 Pleasant St., $385,000.
Charlotte E. Mulligan Revocable Trust, Charlotte E. Mulligan, trustee, to Sam Zhao, 26 Cummings Road, $280,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Damaris D. Whittaker, representative, Myriam Soto, estate, and Myriam S. Soto, estate, to 502 Union Station LLC, 43 Colony Road, Unit 43-3, $111,500.
West Springfield Club Properties LLC, to JDZ Realty LLC, 149 Ashley Ave., $1,600,000.
Marc A. Toton, representative, and Loretta Sigrid Toton, estate, to Ronald J. Tomasauckas and Donna M. Bliznak, 147 Highland Ave., $305,000.
WESTFIELD
Alexander W. Haas to Taralyn Bird and David H. Bird, 27 Dewey Ave., Unit 1, $210,000.
Anthony Megliola, trustee, Marie C. Poirier, trustee, and Gay A. Megliola Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Peter Miller and Diana Miller, 27 Mountain View St., $400,000.
Candace Champagne to Isaias Colombani and Vani Chandel, 13 Myrtle Ave., $355,000.
Cheryl L. Benson, estate, and Marybeth Sienkiewicz, representative, to Griffin Gundersen, 82 1/2 West Silver St., $240,000.
Donald F. Burrage and Laurie M. Burrage to Allison Garriss and Matthew Garriss, 32 Linda Drive, $460,000.
Jodi L. Kashouh and Nadim Kashouh to Robert Lepage and Elizabeth Lepage, 28 Jeremy Drive, $579,000.
Kenneth G. Dulude Jr., and Donna L. Dulude to DDMNS Realty LLC, 978 Southampton Road, $1,500,000.
Laura C. Smithies to Cristian J. Morales, 173 Main St., $338,000.
RE Invest I LLC, to Tea-Land Westfield LLC, 6-8 Elise St., $7,125,000.
Richard B. Veduccio to Veronica Garcia, trustee, and Revocable Trust of Veronica
Garcia, trustee of, 20 Perkins St., $357,000. Shirley A. Palczynski to Camden Cacolice, 324 Russell Road, Unit 107, $205,000.
Victoria Gurley, representative, and Joseph T. Perusse, estate, to Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Dominic Santaniello, trustee, 19 Kellogg St., $130,000.
WESTHAMPTON
Michael J. Dunn, Lori E. Dunn, Lori Dunn to Analytical Sciences Marketing Group LLC, 49 Burt Road, $550,000.
WILBRAHAM
Brian Bracci and Donald C. Bracci to Maria A. Restrepo, 1 Maplewood Drive, $410,000. Ryan Shaink to Zachery Jon Carr and Jessica Carr, 6 Hitching Post Lane, $989,900.
Timothy J. McMahon, trustee, Linda A. McMahon, trustee, Timothy J. McMahon Living Trust, trustee of, and Linda A. McMahon Living Trust, trustee of, to Daniel Edward Dwarska and Mackenzie Jo Porter, 11 Brentwood Drive, $595,000.
Wonhong Lee and Soojin Sung to Nisha Malik, 21 Carla Lane, $690,000.w
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