Walter S. Barr was a successful West Springfield businessman and town official who was known for his fraternal, social and charitable activities. He was born on February 4, 1870, to Edwin C. Barr and Minerva Barr. During his early adulthood, Walter worked with his father at the popular eatery E. C. Barr & Co., and eventually took over the restaurant after his father’s death. He married Elizabeth Hand, of Oneida, New York, at North Presbyterian Church in Amherst, New York, on November 6, 1901, and together they adopted two sons.
Supporting the Fund
As a West Springfield town official, Walter fought tirelessly to prevent the annexation of the town by Springfield. He also served as the director of the Hampden County Tuberculosis and Health Association and lobbied for additional patient beds in western Massachusetts as part of his charitable works.
Walter died in 1934, leaving a vast estate to Elizabeth. Upon her death in 1950, she left the remainder of the family estate to The Horace Smith Fund, and it was officially added to the endowment in 1967, representing 44% of the Fund’s overall net worth.
We can’t say enough about Walter Barr and Elizabeth Barr, and how their incredible contribution forever changed the Horace Smith Fund.
A Lasting Legacy
The Barrs wanted to assist young people from Hampden County in the pursuit of a higher education. To memorialize this generosity, the Fund named its scholarships and fellowships after Walter.
