Macky Buck: Memories of a lesbian bar in the 1970s valley

I lived in the Valley for 13 delightful years back in the 1970s to early 1980s. I have moved to Cambridge but still have family there, and visit often. I was happy to hear about the Last Ditch, a lesbian bar in Greenfield [”License transfers approved for new lesbian bar in Greenfield,” Recorder, Jan. 30]. Can’t wait to visit next time I am in town.

I remember well a lesbian gathering place in the back room of Gala Bar in Northampton in the ’70s. Times were different then, very different. Tensions could run high between the lesbian community and others. I was a member of a mostly straight political group who were also welcome in that back room. It was an easy place to be. My young son liked to play pinball in that back room.

History counts. We stand always on the shoulders of those who came before us. Back in the 1970s could I have imagined a bar in Greenfield that would think about having drag queens in 2025? No! The present steps out of the past.

Can’t wait to make my way to the new bar. Congrats to you young people who are starting this! Your life is ahead of you. Much will happen and you will look back on these days with pride.

Macky Buck

Cambridge