Dear Members and Friends

COLRAIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
P. O. BOX 45
COLRAIN, MA 01340

November 2018

Dear Members and Friends,

2018 - 2019 will mark the end of an era for the Colrain Historical Society and the beginning - exciting and a little daunting - of another. Since 1976, When Bill Pitt left the Pitt House property to the town for the use of the Historical Society and the town's citizens, we have operated as a partnership. The town paid for needed repairs and upgrades such as new windows, and the society maintained the grounds and buildings.

In May, 2018, at a special town meeting, the town voted to "dispose of" the property with the intention of selling it to the Historical Society at a nominal fee. Meanwhile, due to lack of a certificate of occupancy on the buildings, we have had limited access to them.

We expect that following approval of Probate Court, hopefully in 2019, ownership of the property will pass to the Historical Society. With this change comes the opportunity to restore these buildings to use as museum, meeting place and collection storage. With it also comes the challenge to raise the necessary funds and to increase the active membership to pursue these projects.

While we await full access to the Pitt property, we have been busy creatively fundraising. In October an exuberantly successful benefit concert of Irish music by Ikeys Crossing filled the house.

Even now we are selling raffle tickets for a drawing November 23. The winner will take home a handsome reproduction of the 18th century Connecticut Valley style tavern table in the Pitt Collection crafted by Ken Noyes.

Plans are nearing completion for a benefit showing of paintings of Colrain scenes by local and visiting artists, past and present, at the Buckland-Shelburne Community Center April 13 – 14, 2019

Having temporarily lost the use of the Stacy Barn for our meetings and programs, we moved into Joan McQuade's barn across the street to continue our series of popular programs, among them:

• Ross Purrington's red covered meat wagon and its story
• The Hollister Collection, pre-Revolution to the present
• Those Griswolds, founding father and descendants

As iconic buildings disappear from Coleraine Village (most recently the Blue Block), the Colrain Historical Society remains a historic presence and a bright spot of activity As we embark on some long-term heavy lifting, won't you help us with a generous donation? We are grateful for gifts of any size for the support and encouragement they represent.

Further, we entreat your active participation in our activities as we head into the new era.

Thank you,

CHS Board of Directors
Belden Merims, Joan McQuade, Ken Noyes, Ken Shearer, Debby Wheeler, Phil Sherburne, and Janet Umphress

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I support the efforts of the Colrain Historical Society!

Non-member friends who contribute $50.00 or more will become life members. 

Name: ____________________
Address: ____________________
               ____________________
E-mail: ____________________
Phone: ____________________

Please accept my donation of ( ) $50 ( ) $100 ( ) $250 ( ) $500  Other: $ _____

Please make check payable to The Colrain Historical Society. Thank you!

Note: The CHS is a 501 (3) (C) charitable organization, so all your donations are deductible to the extent of state and federal tax regulations.


Open a PDF copy of the letter in Google Drive to print the donation form:
 https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_gYDsph5V0IMHg3Yy03MWt0N1E5Z1FkeDVHVXg1OFpyX2R3

Painting Exhibit: Colrain Scenes

The Colrain Historical Society is making plans for a fundraiser art exhibit of Colrain scenes painted by local and visiting artists since the early 1900s. Colrain artists will include Hale Johnson, Donald Greason, and Marshall Looman, among others. Visiting artists will include Gardner Symonds, Lester Stevens, Steve Maniatty, and more.

A view of the center of Colrain, by William Lester Stevens.

The show will include landscapes from all over town as well as village scenes from various vantage points. The exhibit will be at the Buckland-Shelburne Community Center on Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14, 2019.

 Looking down the North River toward Shelburne Falls from behind Fishlein's Market in Shattuckville, by George Gardner Symons

Tavern Table Raffle

Among the many documents and objects in the Colrain Historical Society’s collection which explain our local history is an 18th century Connecticut River Valley type tavern table with turned legs separated by box stretchers. Its plain skirt has a center drawer and the original top with “bread board” ends has never been turned --unusual to find in a table of its age. A replica of this table is being newly created by well-known furniture maker, Kenneth Noyes of Colrain. The table top of Noyes’ table is made from a single piece of old growth pine.

The original 18th century tavern table in the collection of the Colrain Historical Society.

Raffle Tickets

Raffle tickets for the replica table are priced $10.00 each or three for $25.00. They are available at Boswell's Books and Sawyer’s News on Bridge Street in Shelburne Falls. Tickets will also be available during the Crafts of Colrain Tour, November 10 and 11, at Pine Hill Orchards and at Ken Noyes’ workshop on Jacksonville Road. They can also be bought on Bridge Street at Moonlight Magic in Shelburne Falls on Friday, November 23, 4 pm - 9 pm. The winning ticket will be drawn at the close of Moonlight Magic.

Background of Colrain's Historic Tavern Table

Taverns, simple or elaborate, dotted early America in the days before trains and motorcars. They tended to be located close enough to each other on the network of dirt roads where travelers, whether by horses, oxen, or by foot could find rest and refreshment. They also served as gathering places for a community’s locals. The men and women who managed these establishments required licenses for selling liquor and providing services.

In Colrain, one such tavern was the Fox and Goose on Call Road, run by Thomas Fox. His wife, Patience Cannon, who was previously a widow on Catamount Hill, joined him in this enterprise upon their marriage in 1791.

Furniture used in taverns needed to be suitable for the constant use of serving meals, playing cards and activities common in taverns, and a style of table evolved with a broad top referred to as a “tavern table”. When the top of a tavern table became worn and scarred from use it would be turned over and the fresh underside became the new table top.

Ikeys Crossing Benefit Concert

Ikeys Crossing, a duo composed of Colrain native Martha Hollister Aschmann and her husband Jamie, will offer a rollicking evening of Irish Music to benefit the Colrain Historical Society Saturday, October 20, at 7 p.m. at the Community Center in Shelburne Falls. Sponsoring the event will be Colrain’s Stoneman Brewery, West County Cider and Catamount Country Store, whose beverages will be available. Emcee for the event will be the irrepressible Kevin Hollister, Martha’s brother.

After retiring from farming in upstate New York in 2011, the Aschmanns were able to devote more time to music and art, founding Ikeys Crossing in 2015. James had been performing for some 30 years with a colleague around the North Country, most prominently at the Irish Fest in Watertown, NY. The son of a classically trained pianist and a professional singer in Broadway shows, he comes naturally to the musical stage. Martha grew up in a similarly musical family. Her father played piano and organ, and her parents got her first guitar with Green Stamps. “We get great joy making music together and feel the momentum building,” she says.

For information about the event call 624-8800.

Tickets are available at:

• Hager's Farm Market
• Catamount Country Store
• Boswell's Books
• Nancy Dole Books & Ephemera

Historical Marker to Honor William Apess

On Saturday October 13, 2018 at 11:00am an Historical Marker will be unveiled on the lawn of the Griswold Memorial Library in Colrain commemorating the birth of William Apess, Pequot author, activist and Methodist minister born in Colrain in 1798. The event is open to the public and all are welcome to come learn about Apess’ life and contributions.

William Apess is an important American literary/historical figure--the first Native of North America to write and publish his own book-length memoir, the 1829 A Son of the Forest, alongside four other major works narrating his experiences as a tireless advocate for Native rights. Apess first launched his ministry in Colrain in the 1820’s and by the 1830’s was packing churches, meeting houses, and auditoriums throughout the Northeast as people flocked to see the fiery “Indian Preacher.”

Native Scholars Lisa Brooks (Amherst College) and Margaret Bruchac (University of Pennsylvania) will be on hand to present a brief overview of Apess’ life and significance, as well as Apess biographer Drew Lopenzina (Old Dominion University), author of the 2017 Through an Indian’s Looking-Glass. There will be an opening ceremony and guest speakers, followed by the unveiling of the marker itself. Placing an Historical Marker to honor Apess’ life and contributions is a small but significant step towards locating Native presence on our local landscapes, in a manner respectful of the complexity and purpose of those indigenous lives that history, up until this point, has mostly relegated to its shadows.

The event begins at 11:00 on the lawn of the Griswold Memorial Library, Rt 112 Colrain. Refreshments will be available along with books and commemorative t-shirts for sale.

See the article in the Greenfield Recorder for more information.
https://www.recorder.com/Colrain-to-celebrate-historic-resident-20607946
Celebrating a native son — Pequot, soldier, writer 
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
Staff Writer
Monday, October 08, 2018
COLRAIN — Born in Colrain in 1798, William Apess was a Pequot Indian, an American soldier in the War of 1812, a Methodist minister and the first Native American to publish a book-length narrative about his life. He also fought for tribal rights and was jailed for an act of civil disobedience, on behalf of the Mashpee Wampanoags.

Potluck and Show & Tell

The Colrain Historical Society will hold its last meeting of 2018 following a potluck supper at the home of Joan McQuade, 7 Main Road, Thursday, October 11, at 7 p.m. This important meeting will include an update on the Pitt House property and information on our upcoming fundraising concert October 20.

Following the meeting and annual election of officers, the usual October Show-and-Tell will be a little different. Since we are still unable to access the collection until we have legal ownership of the Pitt House, we cannot show and discuss items from the collection. So we’re asking everyone to bring an item from Colrain’s past in your possession to identify — or to ask the audience to identify.

An antique toy truck rests on an antique loom in the attic of an antique farmhouse high atop the hills of Colrain.
Photo credit j.h.p.

For the potluck at 6 p.m. members and guests are asked to bring a main course, salad or dessert to share, along with place setting and beverage, if you like. Cider will be provided. The public is welcome. For information call Belden at 624-3453.

Those Griswolds

Joseph Griswold Jr., founder of Colrain’s cotton mill.

“Those Griswolds” will be the subject of a program of the Colrain Historical Society program Thursday, Sept. 13, in Joan McQuade’s barn across from the Pitt House. The presentation by Prentice Crosier at 7:30 p.m. will follow the business meeting at 7 p.m.

When 20-year-old Joseph Griswold Jr. set up a shop making doors, sashes and blinds on the North River (just north of the current location of Marty’s Repair) in 1828, he was founding a dynasty and a cotton industry in Colrain that employed much of the town’s population for more than 100 years.
A prodigious worker who was said to have laid 7,000 shingles single-handedly in one day, as well as a former teacher, inventor, and ingenious industrialist, Griswold was an extraordinary man. Sons and grandsons would follow him in the business, which expanded to mills in Turners Falls. Despite fire, floods and economic crises, they became the wealthiest and most influential family ever in Colrain.

Brick cornice salvaged from the Griswold cotton mill in Griswoldville.

In founding the Griswold Memorial Library in 1908, Joseph III memorialized his father and mother, who bore 13 children while sharing the work in the early years of the business.

Griswold Memorial Library, opened in 1908.

Plaque commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Griswold Memirial Library in 2008.

At the business meeting at 7:00 pm, members of the Historical Society will discuss the Pitt House property situation, now that the town has voted to convey the property to the Historical Society. (Article in the Greenfield Recorder.) They will also discuss fundraising plans for a handicap-accessible ramp and other needed repairs. The meeting and talk are open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

For more information, call Joan McQuade at 413-624-8818.

Benefit Concert - Save the Date

With a nod to Colrain’s Scotch-Irish heritage and performance by a Colrain native, the Colrain Historical Society is planning a fundraising concert at the Shelburne Community Center Saturday, October 20, at 7 p.m. Taking the stage with acoustic guitar and Scotch-Irish traditional music will be Ikey’s Crossing, locally known as Martha Hollister Aschmann and her husband, James. The duo have performed the popular program across upstate New York and in Canada. 

James and Martha

Martha’s brother Kevin Hollister will provide some levity as emcee. The Historical Society welcomes support from Stoneman Brewery, West County Winery, Pine Hill Orchards and Catamount Country Store. 

Seats for the event will be limited to a capacity of 125. Tickets available soon will be on a sliding scale, $10-$20.  Contact Belden for more info: belden37@verizon.net

Tickets are available at:

• Hager's Farm Market
• Catamount Country Store
• Boswell's Books
• Nany Dole Books & Ephemera

Some background on the performers:

After spending his boyhood in the New York City area, James Aschmann went to DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. There he was in the ‘Men of Note’, a 12-member singing group affiliated with the College of Music. He was also in three plays at the college theater, two of which were musicals. Martha Hollister grew up in the Berkshire Hills of Northwestern Massachusetts. After earning a BFA degree in Art from Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, she married James in March 1975. The following year the couple purchased a farm in Ellisburg. In addition to operating their farm, Martha and James raised three children and are now the proud grandparents of five.

Starting in the early 1980s, for over 30 years James sang in a duo with John McFadden. They played at various places around the North Country, most prominently for many years at the Irish Fest in Watertown. After retiring from farming in 2011, the Aschmanns have finally been able to devote more time to music and art. In 2015 they started their own duo: ‘Ikeys Crossing’. So far the main emphasis has been on Irish and Scottish music but they intend to expand their repertoire in the future.

Recently James expounded on their music: “As a boy, music was constantly in our home. My mother is a classically trained pianist; my father, a dedicated singer, was in 13 Broadway shows during the late 1950s and early 60s. My godfather, Charles Rule, was a Broadway actor and singer for approximately 45 years. Though definitely benefiting from sporadic instruction on singing from my father and godfather, I truly believe that most of my appreciation for music and love of singing occurred through osmosis. Thanks to my parents, I was inundated with good music throughout my childhood, thus enriching virtually every day of my entire life.”

“Music was also part of Martha’s family life. Her father played piano and organ; she and her five siblings all sang in the church choir. Martha’s parents got her first guitar using green stamps! During high school and college she played and sang mostly music that was popular at the time. During the next several decades, primarily occupied with farming and children, Martha still managed to play guitar and sing on a casual basis although her main focus was elsewhere. For her 60th birthday our children and I got her a very nice guitar. Since then she has been inspired to play and sing regularly. We get great joy making music together and feel the momentum building.”

Pitt House vote at special town meeting

As you may know, the town of Colrain proposes to give the Pitt House property to the Colrain Historical Society.  But it must be voted on by registered voters in town.  This will take place at special town meeting next Wednesday, August 29, 7 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Room.

Obviously, they aren’t expecting a crowd, although there are a number of items on the agenda. 

Come, if you can, to show strength in the society and to ask or answer questions as you see fit.  Anyone can talk, but only voters registered here can vote.

Cheers,
Belden

Special Town Meeting Warrant FY19
https://colrain-ma.gov/attachments/article/236/STM%20%20FY19%2092918%20WARRANT.pdf

ARTICLE #6. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to convey a certain parcel of land, and any and all improvements thereto, located at 8 Main Road, commonly known as the “Pitt House,” being Map 127F, Lot 55, on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, as the Board of Selectmen deems appropriate.or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.

The Hollister Collection, pre-Revolution to the present

Links Through Time - presentation title page

An exceptional family collection dating from the pre-Revolutionary period in Franklin County will be the subject of a program following the meeting of the Colrain Historical Society in Joan McQuade’s barn across from the Pitt House on Thursday, August 9, at 7:30 p.m.. This collection, including artifacts, photos and other memorabilia, all carefully labeled and curated over the decades by family members, is now in the care of Sarah Hollister, who will provide a lively narrative to accompany slides of collection highlights .

The Hollister family lived in Greenfield until Sarah’s father, John, moved his family to Shearer Road in Colrain more than 50 years ago. Like his forbears, John had a penchant, which Sarah inherited, for researching and maintaining the family collection. Attendees may get some tips on maintaining a family collection from this presentation.

The business meeting of the society at 7:00 p.m. will include further discussion about the Pitt House property, followed by the program and refreshments.

 The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call Belden at 624-3453.

Ross Purrington’s red wooden covered wagon

Ross Purrington's red wooden covered wagon

In the early years of the 20th century farmer/butcher Ross Purrington (1880 - 1957) delivered meat and vegetables around the town of Colrain in a horse-drawn red wooden covered wagon. A prized item in the collection of the Colrain Historical Society, that wagon and Purrington will be the subject of a program following the meeting of the Historical Society on Thursday, July 12, in Joan McQuade’s barn across from the Pitt House. Grandsons Peter and Roger Purrington, who grew up with Ross, will be on hand to share stories.

The Pitt House situation will be discussed at the meeting at 7:00 p.m., with the program following at 7:30. Both are free and open to the public.

Refreshments will be served. For information call Belden Merims, 624-3453.

Raffle: Tavern Table Replica

Taverns, simple or elaborate, dotted early America in the days before trains and motorcars. They tended to be located close enough to each other on the network of dirt roads where travelers, whether by horses, oxen, or by foot could find rest and refreshment. They also served as gathering places for a community’s locals. The men and women who managed these establishments required licenses for selling liquor and providing services.

In Colrain, one such tavern was the Fox and Goose on Call Road, run by Thomas Fox. His wife, Patience Cannon, who was previously a widow on Catamount Hill, joined him in this enterprise upon their marriage in 1791.

Furniture used in taverns needed to be suitable for the constant use of serving meals, playing cards and activities common in taverns, and a style of table evolved with a broad top referred to as a “tavern table”. When the top of a tavern table became worn and scarred from use it would be turned over and the fresh underside became the new table top.

Among the many documents and objects in the Colrain Historical Society’s collection which explain our local history is an 18th century Connecticut River Valley type tavern table with turned legs separated by box stretchers. Its plain skirt has a center drawer and the original top with “bread board” ends has never been turned --unusual to find in a table of its age. A replica of this table is being newly created by well-known furniture maker, Kenneth Noyes of Colrain. The table top of Noyes’ table is made from a single piece of old growth pine.

The original 18th century tavern table in the collection of the Colrain Historical Society.

Raffle tickets priced $10.00 each or three for $25.00. Tickets will be available next at Catamount Country Store in Colrain, Hagers’ Farm Market in Shelburne, Nancy Dole Books and Ephemera in Buckand and Sawyer’s News on Bridge Street in Shelburne Falls. They will also be available during the Crafts of Colrain Tour, November 10 and 11, at Pine Hill Orchards and at Ken Noyes’ workshop on Jacksonville Road. And they can be bought at Moonlight Magic in Shelburne Falls up until the time of the drawing there.

A letter to Friends of the CHS

June 21, 2018

Dear Friends of the Colrain Historical Society, ​

​We think you will be interested---perhaps concerned—in the sequence of decisions over the past year that have changed the status of the society related to its longtime home at the G. William Pitt House property. As of this month, the society, and the public, are barred from these buildings.

G. William Pitt House, 8 Main Road, Colrain

​As you probably know, the house and outbuildings were left to the town in 1976 under G. William Pitt’s will. The society was to maintain and have the use of the property, where it might store and maintain the growing collection of donated historic artifacts, farm equipment, textiles, photographs and documents. The town voted to accept this property.

​Nearly 30 years ago, with money from a bequest and donations, CHS had built another building on the site, the Stacy Barn, in which we stored large artifacts and in recent years held meetings and popular free programs for the public, mostly about local history. And we paid to have the old Hose House, the town’s historic fire station, moved from the old town lot next to the Brick Meeting House to behind the Pitt House.

​The house and attached barn are in need of costly repairs, including some foundation work. The select board has decided to “dispose of” the property if the state Attorney General rules that permissable under the terms of the will---either to the highest bidder or to CHS for $1. We believe a sale will need a majority vote at the annual or a special Town Meeting.

​Meanwhile, the town has decided that due to a “change of use” classification from residence to business/museum, the buildings now require a Certificate of Occupancy, which has been denied for lack of designated repairs and updates. Consequently, none of the buildings can be used. In fact, for decades the house and attached barn have been used as a museum, storage for the collection, and a meeting place. The only change is in bureaucratic classification in recent years.

​We will move our monthly meeting place across the street to Joan McQuade’s barn beginning Thursday, July 12, when we will have a wonderful program about a prize collection item, Ross Purrington’s red covered meat wagon. This is a slice of the social history of Colrain.

​ ​If we lose the use of the Pitt House property permanently, we will likely need to give up Ross’s red meat wagon, along with about 2,000 other items in the collection: antique farm and home equipment, photos of long-gone homes and residents, documents, diaries, business records, uniforms worn by Colrain natives in two world wars---the material history of Colrain. That’s what worries us now. ​

​As the visible history of the town disappears---Memorial Hall, the Tin Shop, the historic Griswold mill buildings, the Blue Block, ---we have to wonder what kind of future to expect in a town that gives up its history.

​If you are worried too, come to our meetings second Thursdays of the month, write your concerns to the Select Board and/or the Greenfield Recorder. ​


Belden Merims, for the Colrain Historical Society Board of Directors ​

Program postponed

The program on the Hollister Collection, previously scheduled by the Colrain Historical Society for Thursday, June 14, has been postponed due to lack of a Certificate of Occupancy for the Stacy Barn. However, CHS will have their regularly scheduled meeting, without a program, at the home of Joan McQuade, 7 Main Road, on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Colrain Remembers William Apess

Pequot minister, author, and activist William Apess is arguably one of Colrain’s most significant historical figures. Yet there is no record of his legacy in the town’s histories or landscape.

Professor and author Drew Lopenzina is leading an effort to correct that invisibility with the creation and placement of a new historical marker in Colrain. Please consider making a donation to the cause!

Proposed historical marker

To learn more – and to contribute – go to www.WhatWouldApessDo.com. You’ll find a sneak preview of the historical marker itself, as well as information on Apess’s life and work.

Drew Lopenzina was the guest speaker at the Colain Historical Society's June 11, 2015 meeting.
http://colrainhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2015/05/william-apess-native-american-activist.html

Taverns in the 18th Century Connecticut Valley

David Lyon's tavern in Lyonsville.
Photo credit: A History of Colrain, Mass. by L. M. Patrie.

Taverns in the 18th Century Connecticut Valley, and in Colrain, provided essential services for travelers, as well as meeting places in which to socialize, transact business, pick up mail and get the latest information.

Anne Lanning, Senior Vice President at Historic Deerfield, will offer a presentation on these taverns, drawing on travel accounts, diaries, newspapers, probate records and account books to recount the experiences of the men and women who operated taverns as well as those who frequented them.

The presentation will be at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, at a meeting of the Colrain Historical Society in the Stacy Barn behind the Pitt House at 8 Main Road. The business meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served, and the program is open to the public. For information call Belden at 624-3453.

18th Century Tavern Table Raffle

 This 18th century tavern table is in the Pitt House. Colrain cabinetmaker and Board member Ken Noyes will make a copy of this piece to be raffled as a CHS fundraiser. Stay tuned.

CHS at a Crossroads?

Pitt House

It’s been a challenging nine months for the Colrain Historical Society. According to a 2017 engineer’s report, needed repairs to the Pitt House and its outbuildings would cost an estimated $84,000-$120,000 if the property is classified as a museum/business, $68,000 if it is classified as a residence.

The town, which inherited the property in 1976 under the will of G. William Pitt, with the provision that it was to be used by the Historical Society, is financially pressed by the need to repair two bridges, among other demands. To cut expenses, the Select Board would like to sell the property, which would require agreement by the voters at the annual Town Meeting in May. At this writing, the town has asked consent of the state Attorney General to dispose of the property. Probate Court would also have to approve a sale, even to the CHS at a nominal fee.

Loss of the use of this property, with its storage for a large collection of artifacts, documents, photographs etc., and as a meeting place and a museum, would, of course, be catastrophic for the Historical Society and, we think, a loss for the town.

Historically the Pitt House was a residence and remained so until several years ago, when insurers suggested that for liability reasons it would be better if we ceased to have a caretaker/tenant in the house. At present there is no tenant and it appears that this change of use will require a new Certificate of Occupancy.

Without a Certificate of Occupancy, none of the buildings can be open to the public---no meetings or programs, no museum. Our architect, Joseph Mattei, tells us the buildings can be brought up to code one at a time. So we are focused now on lighting updates and handicap accessibility to the Stacy Barn, where we will again have our meetings/programs this summer. Next in order of priority is shoring up the foundation under the barn. And finally the Pitt House, which under code requires costly foundation work and handicap accessibility.

As historic buildings in the town disappear---first the Inn, then Memorial Hall, now the Blue Block---the Historical Society will work with the town to preserve and share what remains of the town’s material history.

The article above was reprinted from the 2018 Historical Notes, the newsletter of the Colrain Historical Society.

Below is an excerpt of an article that was printed in the April 30, 2018 edition of the Greenfield Recorder.

Colrain awaits AG opinion on Pitt House sale

By DIANE BRONCACCIO
Recorder Staff
Monday, April 30, 2018

COLRAIN — A recent state Supreme Court ruling that a Pittsfield art museum can legally sell a Norman Rockwell painting donated by the artist himself has resonance in Colrain, where town officials want to know if an 1840s home can be sold.

After receiving a legal opinion from KP Law, the Selectboard is seeking State Attorney General Maura Healey’s consent and approval of Probate Court to sell property that G. William Pitt created as a “public charitable trust” and willed to the town for a history museum.

The Selectboard would like to sell the building to the Historical Society, which would then be responsible for fundraising and making improvements to the property. But if the Society doesn’t buy the building, the Selectboard would like to see the property put back on town tax roles, and have the historic collections removed to another place for safekeeping.

Read the entire article on the Greenfield Recorder website: http://www.recorder.com/Colrain-awaits-AG-opinion-on-sale-of-Pitt-House-16978119

Historical Notes 2018

The Spring 2018 edition of Historical Notes, the newsletter of the Colrain Historical Society, was mailed in late April. Click here for a PDF version. Click on the photos of the pages below to view a larger image.

April Potluck, Meeting, and Show and Tell

Donelson family memorial hair art from the Colrain Historical Society collection will be one of the show- and -tell items following the first meeting of the Society this season Thursday, April 12 at the home of Joan McQuade, 7 Main Road, Colrain.

This important meeting will deal with the latest developments in the town’s handling of the Pitt House property and what the CHS can do to survive as a presence in the town and a conservator and a presenter of the town’s history.

The meeting at 7 p.m. will be preceded by a potluck supper at 6 p.m. Come to the meeting if not to the potluck; we want your ideas and your help. For the potluck bring a main course, vegetable or dessert to share. Cider will be provided.

 Questions? Call Belden at 625-2003; Joan at 624-8818; or Debby at 624-8800.

Greenfield Recorder article about the event: ‘Hair art’ history talk in Colrain

Dear Members and Friends

COLRAIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
P. O. BOX 45
COLRAIN, MA 01340

January, 2018

Dear Members and Friends,

It's been a busy year at the Pitt House, and looks to be more so in 2018. Throughout our 2016-2017 season, on the second Thursday of each month, May through October, we hosted a well-attended series of programs. These included, among others:

• “Elder Edward Davenport: Travels of a Colrain Missionary”
• "The Narrow Escape of Angelina Palmer," an indentured African American child who was rescued from being sold into slavery and grew up in Colrain
• “The History and Unique Joinery of the Christian Hill Church,” presented in the old church, which dates from 1778.

Plans for the coming season are in process, including a program on the wonderful red wooden covered wagon in our collection, from which butcher Ross Purrington (1880-1957) peddled meat and vegetables around the community in the early 20th century.

The curatorial committee continues to inventory the nearly 2,000 artifacts, photos, maps, and Colrain memorabilia which the Historical Society has been collecting since our founding in 1957. This collection is the material history of Colrain, which we are preserving for its residents and for posterity. Last fall we started to inventory the contents of the Pitt House.

As you may have heard, the Historical Society is at a critical point now, with expensive repairs required for the preservation of our historic house and outbuildings. The town, which owns the property under the will of G. William Pitt, is doing its best to help, but has limited resources. We would like to help the town as much as we possibly can. For this we ask your help.

Like most small-town historical societies, we rely on a small cadre of active members to plan programs, raise funds and maintain the Pitt House and the collection. Pitch in with us, and bring friends who enjoy history and social interaction with a purpose. For this also we ask your help!

With the goal of expanding active membership we will be holding small gatherings during this winter to look at some of the Colrain art, military and business memorabilia in our collection and to talk about how you'd like to see the Historical Society develop and what you can do to help. If you would like to be contacted for one of these gatherings, please contact Belden Merims (belden37@verizon.net, 413-625-2003) or Debby Wheeler (deborahjeanwheeler@gmail.com, 413-624-8800).

Thank you,

Belden Merims
Chair, CHS Board of Directors

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I support the efforts of the Colrain Historical Society!

Non-member friends who contribute $50.00 or more will become life members. 

Name: ____________________
Address: ____________________
E-mail: ____________________
Phone: ____________________

Please accept my donation of ( ) $50 ( ) $100 ( ) $250 ( ) $500  Other: $ _____

Please make check payable to The Colrain Historical Society. Thank you!

Note: The CHS is a 501 (3) (C) charitable organization, so all your donations are deductible to the extent of state and federal tax regulations.


Open a PDF copy of the letter in Google Drive to print the donation form:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NpWwbFdZlWyHXZUK45w7EIJTqKaqIHJN/view?usp=sharing

The Greenfield Recorder published an article about the Pitt House on their website on October 1, 2017, and in their print edition on October 2, 2017.
Colrain Pitt House renovations sought
by Diane Broncaccio
http://www.recorder.com/Pitt-House-needs-business-plan-12749405