Luella Bridgman (she was not given a middle name), was born December 4, 1861, in Westhampton, Massachusetts, the third of the six children of Abner Pomeroy Bridgman and Hannah Strong (Ludden) Bridgman. She was raised in the Israel Bridgman homestead on North Road, and attended the local one-room schoolhouse on Chesterfield Road. It is not known if she received any further formal education.

The 1880 Westhampton federal census lists Luella as a "dressmaker," a profession she would follow for many years. In the fall of 1881, she moved to Florence with her parents and sisters, while her eldest brother Dwight took over management of the family farm in Westhampton. By the middle of the 1880s, Luella and her sister Delia moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where they both lived for many years. Luella worked as a dressmaker and Delia as a nurse. For a few years, Luella boarded with her uncle Federal Burt Bridgman and his family at 45 Sumner Street. In later years it appears that she boarded at various rooming houses or rented small apartments.

On November 18, 1901, shortly before her fortieth birthday, Luella was married to William Harrison Rice, a prominent merchant and businessman in Florence. He was sixteen years older than she, and had been twice widowed, his second wife having died in 1900. Harrison, as he was generally called, was the father of six adult children, one of whom (Flora) died the year after he and Luella were married.

Harrison Rice was born in Leverett, Massachusetts, on January 1, 1845, the son of William C. Rice and Aurilla (or Aurelia) A. Rice. In early life he had worked as a farmer, but in 1884, he came to the village of Florence and developed three different businesses – one selling ice, one selling coal, and one selling shoes. Eventually his son Eugene A. Rice joined him in the family businesses. Harrison was active in the civic affairs of Florence, serving as a trustee of the Florence Savings Bank, a member of the Jerusalem Lodge of Masons, a member of the Bethlehem chapter, Eastern Star, and a loyal member of the Florence Congregational Church.

After their marriage, Luella and Harrison lived in Harrison's substantial house on East Center Street (now called Middle Street) in Florence, a short walk from Luella's family home at 12 Pine Street. Luella gave up her career as a dressmaker and concentrated her time and energy as a "homemaker" for her husband.

Luella's niece, Mabel (Bridgman) Marston, said that when "Aunt Lu" married Harrison Rice, her family rejoiced that she was marrying someone so "well-off." Harrison Rice was by no means "wealthy," but his three businesses in Florence were financially successful, providing opportunities that Luella would otherwise never have experienced. They spent much of the winter of 1906-1907, in Los Angeles, California, visiting Harrison's son Sanford, according to the Springfield Republican.

Mrs. Marston also remembered that her father, Dwight Bridgman, who ran a lumber business in Westhampton, always provided wood to Harrison Rice, and "we always got our shoes in payment. We never bought any shoes anywhere else; they always came from Rice's Shoe Store in Florence."

During the years of her marriage, Luella was very active in the Florence Congregational Church. She was instrumental in organizing the Woman's Union of the church and served as its president until her death. She also served as a director of the church. It appears that she and Harrison were also avid gardeners, as they twice won prizes given by the Carnegie Flower Garden contest held by the People's Institute in Northampton.

Luella (Bridgman) Rice died in 1924, after a week's illness with pneumonia. She was sixty-two years old. Her obituary described her as "genial, kind-hearted, a good neighbor." Her sister Emily died exactly two weeks later. Harrison Rice lived to be ninety, and died in 1935.

© 2013 James E. Bridgman