Berkshires towns homepages

Lenox, MA is the hub of the Berkshires’ cultural industry. Dubbed “the inland Newport” in the 19th century, Lenox was the location of scores of mansions – the famous Berkshire cottages. With the passing of the Gilded Age, many of the estates were converted to other uses. The Highwood Estate now is part of Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra; Canyon Ranch, perennially rated the #1 spa in the US, is located at the former Bellfontaine, and the nationally prominent Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health occupies the property where Andrew Carnegie’s last residence, Shadowbrook, stood (destroyed by fire in 1956). The popular Shakespeare & Co. is located near the site where Fanny Kemble built her home in the mid-1800s.

how Lenox was settled

The founding of Lenox is described in the following excerpt from Rev. Clayton J. Potter’s “Historical Address” given at the Centennial Anniversary of the Dedication of the Old Church on the Hill, Lenox, Massachusetts, June 12, 1906.

“The Rev. Peter Reynolds of Somers, Conn., was one of seven men who had purchased from an inhabitant of Stockbridge who was an undesirable citizen, certain lands in that town, in order the community might be relieved of his further residence there. To compensate these men, the government gave them 4000 acres of uncleared land lying north of Stockbridge.

This tract covered all of what is now the present town of Lenox, and perhaps the township; and in the records of the time it was called the Ministers’ Grant, in as much as five of these men were ministers. (The implication, made in a history of the town, that this tract of land belonged to any Minister of the town by virtue of his office and that the title to it was commuted later to his obvious loss, is misleading.)” Read the full text plus see other material.

Shadowbrook, Stokes, Carnegie, Jesuits, Fire, Kripalu

Shadowbrook was built in 1893 for Anson Phelps Stokes, who hired Frederick Law Olmsted to design the 900 acre grounds. The estate was purchased in 1917 by Andrew Carnegie, who died there in 1919. The 100 room house burned in 1956.

In 1922, the New England Province of the Society of Jesus purchased the Shadowbrook estate, which the Jesuits used as a seminary. The entire structure burned to the ground in a tragic fire in 1956, in which four of the Jesuits died. The Society then built the current brick structure on the site, maintaining their operation of the property until 1970, when they could no longer support it. The building stood empty for many years (13) until the New Age Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health purchased it in 1983.

Lenox, Mass information and links:

• Lenox Town Hall: 6 Walker St.
• Phone: (413) 637-5506
• Town website: http://www.townoflenox.com/
• Population: 5,077
• Settled/Inc’d: 1736/1767
• Named for: Charles Lennox, Duke of Richmond
• Elevation: 1,210′
• Latitude: 42º21’23” N
• Longitude: 73º17’07” W
• Area: 21.2 mi²(land), 0.3 mi²(water)

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The Berkshires town of Monterey is the site of some of the most splendid resources in all of Berkshire county, namely Lake Buel, Lake Garfield, the Mill River, and Beartwon State Forest. No wonder, then, that Monterey, Mass. has been attracting artists and urban refugees since the early 1800s. People say that entering the town’s commercial, political, and social hub – the Monterey General Store, is like a trip back to the 1780s. Update – The store closed in April 2011. (Photo credit:Wikipedia User:ToddC4176)

Monterey, MA history, information, demographics

“Monterey used to be called Green Woods, an appropriate name. When the southern part of Tyringham became a separate town during the Mexican War, patriotic selectmen wished to name it in commemoration of General Zachary Taylor’s battles in Mexico and Texas, but Palo Alto and Buena Vista were too foreigh-sounding. Monterey was musical and not too hard to pronounce, so Monterey it became.” (The Berkshire Hills, by Federal Writers’ Project, © 1939, Berkshire Hills Conference, Inc.)

Monterey, MA facts:

• Town Hall: Grange Bldg.,Main Rd.
• Phone: (413) 528-1443
• Population: 934
• Settled/Inc’d: 1739/1847
• Elevation: 1,200′
• Demographic data: state.ma.us/
• Town website: montereyma.gov.

The Berkshires town of Mount Washington is the site of Mount Everett State Reservation (2nd highest peak in the commonwealth) and the spectacular, legendary Bash Bish Falls State Park. Mt. Washington, Mass. was named for George Washington, not the highest peak in New Hampshire, and with a population of fewer than 150 souls, is the least populated town of Berkshire county. (Photo credit:Wikipedia User:ToddC4176)

Mt. Washington, MA facts:

• Town Hall: 118 East St
• Phone: (413) 528-2839
• Population: 130
• Settled/Inc’d: 1692/1779
• Named for: George Washington
• Elevation: 1670′
• Town website: townofmtwashington.com/
• Demographic data: state.ma.us/

How to get to the Berkshires

Here are inks for local and regional public transportation depots and stops, plus where to get Peter Pan bus and Amtrak train schedules and tickets: how to get to the Berkshires.

The Berkshires town of sits in a picturesque gorge between the giant foothills of Mount Greylock State Reservation and a spur of the Taconics. An 1889 tourist guide described the views in town as creating the effect of “the Switzerland of Berkshire.” Brodie Mountain Ski Resort was the town’s principal business until closing in 2002 (and being sold to an condo developer). (Photo credit:Wikipedia User:ToddC4176)

New Ashford, Mass. facts:

• Town Hall: Mallery Rd.
• Phone: (413) 458-5461
• Population: 247
• Settled/Inc’d: 1762
• Named for: Ashford, CT
• Elevation: 1350′
• Town website: newashford.info
• Demographic data: www.state.ma.us

Article updated May 12, 2018 by Dave Read

The Berkshires town of New Marlborough has a well preserved village center clustered around its central green. A residential and tourist community, it contains a part of scenic Lake Buel, Campbell’s Falls, where the Whiting River cascades down an 80′ drop, and Umpachene Falls. The Konkapot River, Umpachene River, and Whiting River, flow through New Marlborough, feeding into the Housatonic River. There are also several swamps and ponds, including Lake Buel on the Monterey line, and the Thousand Acre Swamp in the southeast corner. The swamp lies along the border of Campbells Falls State Park, named for the falls along the Whiting River. Parts of Sandisfield State Forest also lie in the town.

The Steepletop Reserve< /strong>, near New Marlboro, MA is the largest property of the Berkshire Natural Resource Council, comprising more than 1,200 acres.

New Marlborough, MA facts:

• Town Hall: PO Box 99
• Phone: (413) 229-8116
• Population: 1,494
• Settled/Inc’d: 1739
• Named for: Marlborough, MA
• Elevation: 720′
• Town website: new-marlborough.info
• Demographic data:state.ma.us/