PItt House Update

PItt House, 8 Main Road, Colrain

The Colrain Historical Society has moved one notch closer to achieving ownership of its traditional home, the Pitt House at 8 Main Road. The property was left in trust to the town under the will of G. William Pitt in 1976 for the use of the Historical Society as a museum. Recently the town decided to shift the property in trust to the Historical Society, a transfer that required approval first by the office of the state Attorney General and then by Probate Court. Petition for that move has cleared the AG’s office and is now at Probate.

Because of “change of use” from residential to museum, the house and outbuildings must now meet commercial code requirements in order to receive Certificates of Occupancy. The Society has not had use of these buildings since 2018. The heavy lifting required to meet code on these buildings one at a time will begin after Probate rules.

Meanwhile, volunteers are working to secure the town’s material history, the collection of artifacts, photos, textiles and documents housed in these buildings for the people of Colrain. We will return to the Stacy Barn for our meetings and popular programs as soon as possible.

Program Schedule for 2020

Early spring crocuses lean in to the sunshine. Photo by Alex Purington.

Because of COVID-19, we will skip the April meeting and hope to be able to continue in May. As in the past, the October meeting at Joan McQuade’s will be preceded by a potluck supper and followed by a short program, listed below.

Our meetings/programs are held on the second Thursday of each month, April through October, beginning with a business meeting at 7 p.m., followed by a program at 7:30. Potlucks begin at 6 p.m. Currently, most programs are in the barn/garage beside Joan McQuade’s house, across the road from the Pitt House in Colrain Center. They are free and open to the public, followed by refreshments.

Note: this year the June and July programs will be at the former Dude Ranch and at Wheelview Farm in Shelburne respectively. ​

Watch the Greenfield Recorder newspaper, the online Colrain Clarion, and this website for program details as the date approaches.

May 14, Improper Intimacy: Almira Edson and the Perfectionist Movement, Prentice ​Crosier

 June 11, A Dude Ranch in Colrain, Belden Merims, at the former Dude Ranch

July 9, Centennial Farms of Shelburne, Carolyn Wheeler, at Wheelview Farm

August 13, Kenny Noyes Makes a Windsor Chair, Kenny Noyes

September 10, Yankee Narratives, performed by Sarah and Harry Hollister

October 8, Doctor in the House: Olie, Joan McQuade, and potluck at Joan’s house

Colrain Covered Bridge Design Contest

Covered Bridge Design Contest poster. Click image to enlarge.

Win a $250 prize if your artwork featuring the Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge in Colrain is chosen in this design contest. The winning image will be reproduced on t-shirts and tote bags and sold as a fundraiser to benefit the Colrain Historical Society and Colrain Central School. All entrants will receive a t-shirt or tote bag.

The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2020. For digital submissions or questions send an email to FriendsofAASmithCoveredBridge@gmail.com. Or submissions may be mailed to Colrain Historical Society, P.O. Box 45, Colrain, MA 01340.

This contest is sponsored by the Friends of the Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge and Jonathan’s Sprouts.

Architectural detail inside the Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge showing a portion of the Burr truss and the planked arch. Photo by Jim Purington.

East entrance to the bridge. Photo by Don Purington.