Area Information
The first documented settlement occurred in the mid-1600s when the Mahican Indians moved away from the Iroquois along the Hudson to live in peace at “The place beyond the mountains”, “Questennuck” (Housatonic)
The Berkshires soon came to represent a promising land of “free-thinkers”. Important events such as the drafting of the first Declaration of Independence, the demise of the British judicial system in America, the first slave freed under due process of law, the swinging influence for ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the birth of the women’s rights movement in Susan B. Anthony and of the civil rights movement in W.E.B. DuBois…all occurred here.
The many rivers of the region invited early industry, Mills of all kinds were built; lumber, grain, cider and spirits, textile, and paper including today’s Rising, Mead, and Crane (where paper for most world currency is still produced).
The Hoosac Tunnel became the engineering feat of the 19th century and opened up an eastern route for railroad export of goods. William Stanley’s alternating current transformer made Gt. Barrington the world’s first town lighted by electricity. The Shakers alone invented hundreds of purposeful items including such “modern conveniences” as the circular saw and the washing machine.
Cultural development harks back to 1739 when Rev. John Sergeant established an Indian school at Stockbridge. Col. Ephraim Williams was killed in the French & Indian war leaving an inheritance to found Williams College. Jonathan Edwards wrote Freedom of the Will. Josh Billings was born in Lanesborough. Henry Ward Beecher, William Cullen Bryant and Fanny Kemble were the first Berkshire literati to promote the beauty of the “American Lake District” or “inland Newport”. Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Edith Wharton, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Weldon Johnson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow were a few of the writing notables who were drawn here.
Musicians Albert Spalding, Serge Koussevitzky (the first conductor at Tanglewood) and Cole Porter all found harmony in these hills. Artists Ammi Phillips, Daniel Chester French, Henry Hudson Kitson and Normal Rockwell were all inspired to call this colorful place home. Today the hills are alive with the creativity of contemporaries in all fields.
Fine history and art museums, superb music and dance festivals, quality live theater, exceptional educational centers - all of these factors and more have combined to complement the wondrous natural environment for all to enjoy in all seasons. Whether hiking the Appalachian Trail over Massachusetts’ two highest mountains, Greylock and Everett, or exploring the numerous state parks, golfing, skiing, biking country roads, boating, swimming, fishing or just relaxing…the Berkshires are vest for all reasons.
Just a few of the many recreational attractions include the Appalachian Trail, Ashmere Lake, Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, Bash Bish Falls State Park, Beartown State Forest, Becket Land Trust Historic Quarry and Forest, Benedict Pond, Benton Pond, the Berkshire Equestrian Center, Card Lake, Catamount Ski Area, Cheshire Reservoir, East Otis Reservoir, Goose Pond & many more!
©1990 Mimi L. MacDonald
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