A Look Back, Sept. 27

50 Years Ago

■Workers from H. L. Childs & Son have removed the mural from the Nonotuck Savings Bank for its transfer to the bank’s new location. The mural, which was painted in 1953 by local artist Carroll Bill, depicts some of the city’s most interesting 19th century buildings.

■The Packaging Corp. of America, whose factory here employs 100 people, was forced to shut down for one day today because of the faltering economy. General Manager Eli Kwartler said today that he decided to shut the plant off Route 5 at Mt. Tom and send workers home with no pay in order to cut company losses and preserve jobs.

25 Years Ago

■Traffic on Interstate 91 was backed up several miles for five hours Friday night after State Police troopers discovered firearms and explosives in a car following a routine traffic stop. Fearing a potentially explosive situation, State Police shut down more than three miles of the interstate while bomb squads searched the vehicle.

■The Northampton Center for the Arts wants to hear this week from anyone interested in marching in a new parade early next month. The center, which sponsors the city’s First Night events, plans to hold what it bills as the First Annual Dada Parade on Oct. 9.

10 Years Ago

■A new solar array will soon be installed at Fire Department headquarters on Carlon Drive to help the city’s emergency response operation keep the lights on during long-term power outages. The project is funded by a grant from the state Department of Energy Resources.

■Homeowners and businesses throughout the Valley should brace for significantly higher electricity bills this winter season as a result of a shortage of natural gas for generating plants. Two days after National Grid announced that its rates will increase by 37 percent over last winter’s rates, the Western Massachusetts Electric Co. sounded a warning signal to its customers to get ready for an increase of its own.