Heritage Walks in the Berkshires and Litchfield Hills

The sixth annual Heritage Walks program is taking place on two autumn weekends:
September 20 & 21 and October 4 & 5, 2008.

The Heritage Walks has become an anticipated autumn event, with an impressive program of walks led by historians, naturalists, and environmentalists. Participation levels are growing each year, as increasing numbers of local residents and visitors to our region are learning about and enjoying the resources at dozens of historic, cultural, and natural sites throughout the upper Housatonic River Valley.

As always - the Heritage Walks are FREE and open to the public! Please join us!

For your reference - here is last year's walks schedule. The 2008 walks schedule will be posted as soon as we finalize it, likely in mid-August.

Click here to download the complete "Take A Hike" Heritage Walks 2007 brochure (1.21 Mb)

Click here to download the "Heritage Walks Map" from the Heritage Walks 2007 brochure (2.82 Mb)

The sixth annual Heritage Walks program is taking place on two autumn weekends:
September 22 & 23 and October 6 & 7, 2007.

WALK SUBJECT CODES:
A artistic heritage
H architectural, landscape architectural and social histories
I industrial history
N natural and scenic features

Walks will take place rain or shine. In the case of severely inclement weather, information about cancellations will be available on the website or by calling 413-528-0936.

We request that only seeing eye and hearing dogs accompany participants on walks.

The White Memorial Conservation Center is sponsoring Family Nature Day, featuring guided nature walks, live animal programs, booths and exhibits, nature crafts for children, and more. General admission $5; children under 12 free. The entrance to The White Memorial Foundation and Conservation Center is located off Route 202 between Litchfield and Bantam, CT, approximately 2 miles west of Litchfield on Whitehall Road. Activities run all day.

Join Dennis Regan of the Housatonic Valley Association for a short hike on a trail under construction to explore the natural riverside setting and to discuss the historical ruins and use of an old woolen mill operation, and the progress of a footpath that will connect the communities of Dalton and Hinsdale. This is a relatively flat hike along the very scenic East Branch of the Housatonic River. The starting location is the parking area along the Housatonic River on Old Dalton Road in Hinsdale. Traveling south on Route 8, go past the ‘Entering Hinsdale’ sign, take a left onto Old Dalton Road, and another left into parking lot past bridge. 1 1/2 hours, 1 mile

Historian John Sisson will lead participants on a tour of the remnants of six of the earliest mills, including two saw mills, one grist mill and three paper mills, in New Marlborough. Learn about how the mills prospered and declined while viewing historic ruins. Participants are asked to wear sturdy shoes that can get wet when wading across the Konkapot River. Tour starts at the New Marlborough Town Hall parking lot in Mill River, MA. From Sheffield, take Maple Street east approximately 10 miles to Mill River. 2 hours, less than a mile

Accompanied by an expert naturalist, explore some of the five miles of trails winding through the Cobble’s rich mesic forest, Housatonic River floodplain featuring one of the largest cottonwood trees in Massachusetts, then up to the summit of Hurlburt’s Hill, offering views north across the state toward Mount Greylock and beyond. Wear sturdy shoes; bring hat, water, and sunscreen. Meet at Bartholomew’s Cobble Visitor’s Center at 105 Weatogue Road, off Route 7A in Ashley Falls. 1 1/2 hours, 2 miles. Pre-registration required, call 413-528-0936 to reserve a space.

Join the Berkshire Scenic Railway on a ninety-minute round-trip train ride that features vintage, restored 1950s locomotives and 1920s coaches. Traveling between Lenox, Lee, and Stockbridge stations, volunteer narrators will describe the railroad and trolley line history, as well as the natural wonders and former and existing industries along the railroad line. Participants can visit the restored Lenox station (1903) and Stockbridge station (1893). At Lenox station, visit a free exhibit of Gilded Age “cottages” of the area and exhibits of railroad and trolley-line history. Heritage Walk visitors will, upon request of Lenox ticket agent, receive gratis Guide to the Berkshire Scenic Railway and Its Route that expands on the on-train narration. There is a charge of $15 for the train ride (Seniors 65+: $14; Children 4-14: $8). Meet at the Lenox Railroad station: Take Route 20 or 7 to Lenox. At Housatonic Street intersection, go east on Housatonic Street to end. Go left on Willow Creek Road. (Housatonic Street is 5 miles from Massachusetts Turnpike Exit 2 in Lee.) 1 1/2 hours

Enjoy an informal walk through the grounds of the Berkshire Botanical Garden. Learn about the history of this special place and its significant contribution to horticulture in Berkshire County. Begun as a center for learning about the art and science of horticulture, this 15-acre public garden has served as an important resource for area residents for almost 75 years. Consider the plants that grow well in the Berkshires and understand the environmentally sensitive horticultural practices used at this wonderful garden. Dress for the outdoors. Meet at the Visitors Center at the intersection of Route 102 and 183 in Stockbridge. 1 hour. Pre-registration required, call 413-528-0936 to reserve a space.

Dennis Brandmeyer and Denise Hoefer, current proprietors of Santarella Estate, will guide you on a tour of “Tyringham’s Gingerbread House” and share some of the fascinating history of the property. Santarella with its rolling roof and storybook features, was the former studio of Sir Henry Hudson Kitson, sculptor of the “Lexington Minuteman” and many other important public works. The studio later became the Tyringham Art Gallery and the Kitson Museum. It is now used as a venue for special events. The tour will include a walk through the lovely gardens and up the wooded trail. The “silo,” another studio used by Kitson in warm months, is being renovated as a rental cottage and will also be part of the tour, if not occupied. There is an entry fee of $5. From Great Barrington, follow Route 23 east to Monterey. Turn left on Tyringham Road, follow for 6 miles to Santarella Estate on the right side of the road. 35-45 minutes. Pre-registration required, call 413-528-0936 to reserve a space.

Friends of the Du Bois Homesite will host a special tour of the National Historic Landmark property, the W.E.B. Du Bois Boyhood Homesite. Because the property is not yet ready to accept regular visitors, participants will be limited to the first eight people who sign up. Speakers Elaine S. Gunn, Rachel Fletcher, and Bernard Drew will discuss Du Bois’s efforts to restore his grandfather’s old home in 1928; the struggle of local supporters to establish a memorial park at the property in 1969; and recent archeological work at the property. Those on the walk should meet at the Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church, 9 Elm Court, Great Barrington at 1 pm to carpool. Short walk is off-trail. Terrain is uneven. There is poison ivy. Dress appropriately. 2 1/2 hours. Pre-registration required, call 413-528-0936 to reserve a space.

Within this short distance participants will travel through 275 years of history, starting with the first residents, Chief Konkapot and the Mohican tribe and moving through time to discuss Cyrus Field and his transAtlantic cable, then Arlo Guthrie and Alice’s Restaurant. Along the way, we’ll hear about other residents who have made a difference in Stockbridge, the Berkshires, and the country. The tour will be led by Barbara Allen, curator of the Stockbridge Library’s Historical Collection. Meet at the Stockbridge library on the corner of Main Street and Elm Street. 1 hour, 1 mile

Explore this 100-year-old orchard on a pleasant walk to the top of the hill with owner John Vittori. The view from this vantage point is spectacular (a great photo opportunity). Along the way, learn about the history of Hilltop Orchards and enjoy a tree ripe apple. Learn how the owners are preserving and perpetuating many varieties of rare heritage-antique apples such as Golden Russets and Rhode Island Greenings. Hilltop Orchards is also home to the Berkshire’s First Farm Winery. Participants are invited to enjoy a free wine tasting of the award-winning Furnace Brook Winery varietals at the conclusion of the walk. Meet outside the Farm Winery Store at Hilltop Orchards in Richmond, MA, on Route 295 / 508 Canaan Road (just east of the NY border, and about 1 mile west of Route 41). Less than 1 hour, less than a mile

An easy walk in the woods and along the Housatonic River, on a wide, packed-gravel trail, built mostly on the bed of the old Berkshire Street Railway trolley line. Starting with a 100-foot boardwalk, the trail goes through birch, pine, cottonwood and invasive euonymus, and meets the river near a railed section. A narrower section loops back along the river through fern beds to the main trail. This trail was constructed in 2003 as part of the Laurel Hill Association’s 150th Anniversary celebration. Walk leader is Patricia Flinn, 25-year member of the Board of the Association. Suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Wheelchair accessible. Meet at the Goodrich Memorial Footbridge at the end of Park Street, Stockbridge. A Mobil gas station is on the corner of Park and Route 7 at the southern entrance to the town. Park at the end of the street. 45 minutes, 1 1/4 miles round trip

The upper Housatonic Valley is home to over 150 species of edible wild plants, many of which are more nutritious and/or flavorable than their cultivated counterparts. Join Russ Cohen, expert forager, wild foods enthusiast, and author of Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten on a walk to learn about at least two dozen edible wild plant species. Pending favorable weather conditions, a number of wild edible mushrooms are expected to be encountered as well. Keys to identification of each species will be provided, along with information on edible portion(s), season(s) of availability, and preparation methods, as well as guidelines for safe and environmentally responsible foraging. See website www.heritage-hikes.org for meeting location. 3 hours, 1 1/2 miles

Learn about the history, use, and water quality of the Housatonic River, starting with a talk by Jesse Klingebiel at the Sloane-Stanley Museum. Participants wishing to walk near the river after the talk should wear appropriate clothing for weather conditions and bring insect repellant. Meet at the Sloane-Stanley Museum on Route 7 in Kent, CT, one mile north of the intersection of Route 341 and 7. 1 hour, 1/4 mile. Pre-registration required, call 413-528-0936 to reserve a space.

Explore the Farnams Historic District, one of the most successful examples of a rural industrial community in New England. The remains of the 19th- and early 20th-century village include the ruins of stone quarry sites, original farms, deep forest, and an extensive variety of flora and fauna (many species of which are listed with the Commonwealth Heritage Program). Walking will be mostly on uneven terrain; sturdy boots are strongly recommended, as well as wearing long pants. Possible birding opportunities (binoculars recommended). Bring drinking water, insect repellant, and snacks. Meet at Lulu’s Snack Bar off Route 8 in Cheshire. From Pittsfield, follow Route 8 north, watch for signs for Farnams Road, the Ashuwilltickook Rail Trail, and Lulu’s Snack Bar. Turn left, go past the Rail Trail to Farnams Causeway and Lulu’s Snack Bar. 2-3 hours, distance flexible (a truck may be available for transport between sites). Pre-registration required, call 413-528-0936 to reserve a space.

Explore a portion of Sandisfield State Forest that was home, in 1933-37, to the CCC. The 196th Company built a dam to create York Lake. Following a short woodland trail, we will visit the actual campsite where hints of the barracks, shops, garages, mess hall, and hospital remain in the soil. Learn of camp activities and outdoor projects. Hike leader Bernard Drew has published a history of the camp, based on interviews, newspaper articles and extensive archival research. Meet at the Sandisfield State Forest, York Lake parking area. From Great Barrington, take Route 23 east to Route 57. Follow Route 57 to New Marlborough village, then take Route 183 south 2.7 miles to State Forest entrance. Across the dam will be the parking area for York Lake. 2 hours, 1 1/2 miles

The Massachusetts Appalachian Trail Management Committee is sponsoring hikes along the “AT” on Saturday, October 6th. Many of these hikes are in the Housatonic Heritage area and feature a variety of interesting terrain and habitat. The hikes vary in difficulty and length, so please contact Jim Pelletier (Phone: 413-454-4773 or E-mail: wanderer0131@yahoo.com) for specific hike information. After the hikes, the AT Committee will be sponsoring a cookout for the AT Hikers at the Tyringham Fire Department Picnic Pavilion on Main Road in Tyringham. So, stop by for a bite to eat, to meet other hikers and share your hiking experience with other hikers!

Enjoy a moderate hike in the historic Kennedy Park, a Lenox treasure tucked in the middle of town. On a clear day views from the park (1,460’ altitude) include New York State and the Mount Greylock tower. The park is the site of the Hotel Aspinwall, touted as the “Hotel Beautiful,” when it served clientele seeking its fine service and the bucolic charms of the Berkshires during the cottager era. Built in 1902, this 400-room leviathan burned down in 1931. Tour participants will be able to view remnants of this magnificent expression of early 20th century Lenox. The park’s trails meander around ponds and a unique balanced rock, great for a picture. Fall is a lovely time when the trails are ablaze with color. Come and join us. Meet at the Park parking lot on West Dugway Road (the access road to the Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuary, off Route 7/20). 2 1/2 hours, 4-5 miles. Pre-registration required, call 413-528-0936 to reserve a space.

Join Dennis Regan of the Housatonic Valley Association for a float trip (canoe/kayak) on the Housatonic River, starting at the Ranapo Road Bridge in Sheffield, MA, and taking out in Falls Village, CT. We will take a leisurely downstream float to look for wildlife and to discuss the natural dynamics of the Housatonic River. The trip could take approximately 5 hours; approximate river miles covered will be 4. Bring plenty of water to drink, food and snacks to eat, sunscreen, hat and your own canoe or kayak. Meet at the Ranapo Road Bridge in Sheffield/Ashley Falls off Route 7A. 5 hours, 4 river miles. Pre-registration required, call 413-528-0936 to reserve a space.

The Hunt Hill Farm Trust invites you to tour the farmland and woodland of historic Hunt Hill Farm - the heart of two New England farms - listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take this opportunity to visit the Skitch Henderson Museum, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. The farm is located at 44 Upland Road, New Milford. From the Berkshires, take Route 7 South to Cornwall Bridge, CT. Turn left (South) onto Route 45 to New Preston. Take Route 202 South towards New Milford. In Northville, take a left onto Upland Road to the Silo Store, Gallery and Cooking School (the starting point). 1 1/2 hours, 2 miles

Join retired engineer Dick Paddock, Vice-President of the Friends of Beckley Furnace for a tour of Connecticut’s Designated Industrial Monument. Walk in the footsteps of the iron makers. Stand in the hearth where temperatures once reached nearly 3,000 degrees and walk to the only remaining turbine in the Upper Housatonic Watershed used to power the blast for a furnace. Across the Blackberry River observe the giant slag piles, waste materials remaining from over seventy years of iron production by East Canaan’s three blast furnaces. Visit the Friends of Beckley Furnace educational center at the former Beckley office building. From the junction of Routes 7 & 44 in Canaan, drive 0.1 mile south, turn left and drive east to the site on Lower Road. 1 1/2 hours, limited easy walking

Tour a museum dedicated to the preservation of America’s industrial and agricultural history. Areas covered are early internal combustion and steam engines, tractors, and steam and diesel train locomotives. Two special buildings are also on the tour: The Cream Hill Agricultural School (one of the first in America) and The Connecticut Museum of Mining, dedicated to Connecticut’s mining heritage. Meet at the Museum grounds on Route 7, 1 mile north of the junction of Routes 341 and 7 in Kent, CT. 1 hour, 1/2 mile

Enjoy a walk with local historian, Gail Pinna and master gardener, Mary Jane Caliento on the historic Gulf Road, believed to have been part of the Underground Railroad corridor that operated from Lebanon, through Pittsfield to Dalton. The Railroad used a cave beneath the road. The road also passes through Wizard’s Glen, which, with its dramatic rock formations and rugged terrain, has been a destination for hikers for centuries. From the Crane & Co. offices in Dalton, proceed up Main Street, to Park Avenue (the first left after the nursing home). Turn left on Park and drive to the four corners at the end of the street. Turn left onto Gulf Road and drive a short distance to parking area for the Appalachian Trail. 1 1/2 hours, 1 mile (slow paced walk)

Learn about the history of this thriving mill town as expressed in the commercial, civic, industrial and residential buildings, and the public monuments, on Lee’s classic Victorian Main Street, a National Register Historic District. Guide, Caroline Young, founding member and Secretary of the Lee Historical Commission, will present the tour in period costume. Meet at the Lee Chamber of Commerce booth in Park Square, Main Street (Route 20), west-bound side in downtown Lee. 1 hour, 1 mile

Visit three 19th century buildings that served important civic functions in this small CT town that flourished through the Civil War, with the success of the nearby Ames Iron Works. Guides will be stationed in the South Canaan Meeting House, the Beebe Hill Schoolhouse, and the historic Depot Building to welcome visitors and provide tours. A craft demonstration will be held at the Depot Building. Participants travel on own to each building. The Meeting House is on Route 63, 100 yards south of the junction of Route 7 and Route 63 in Falls Village. The Beebe Hill School is located on Beebe Hill Rd., off Route 7. The Depot Building is on Railroad Street, a short distance down from the junction with Beebe Hill Road. 1 1/2 hours, 3 miles

Meet at the monument for Civil War General Sedgwick and learn why 2,000 people traveled to Cornwall to pay their respects at his funeral on May 15, 1864. Joseph Marchetti, amateur historian of military history focusing on the Civil War, will discuss Sedgwick’s career and show that he was truly loved by his men, which was not a common thing. He was buried in the small cemetery just across the road, and a walk will lead to his birthplace and home. Meet at the junction of Route 43 and Hautboy Hill Road in Cornwall. 1 hour, 1 mile

Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary offers fine fall birding. Join Rene Laubach, Director, Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuaries, Massachusetts Audubon Society, on a leisurely walk at Canoe Meadows Sanctuary to view fall migrant birds in a variety of habitats. Walk starts at the parking lot to Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, Holmes Road, Pittsfield. From the south: take Route 7/20 to Holmes Road. Drive north on Holmes Road for 2.8 miles to the parking area on the right. 2 hours, 1 1/2 miles. Pre-registration required, call 413-528-0936 to reserve a space.

ART AND ART DECO IN THE BERKSHIRES: FRELINGHUYSEN-MORRIS HOUSE, STUDIO AND LANDSCAPE

Join Director Kinney Frelinghuysen on a tour of the Art-Deco style home and landscape of 20th century American abstract artists, George L.K. Morris and Suzy Frelinghuysen. The walk will give participants the opportunity to view European and American Cubist art and the owners’ art collection which includes works by Picasso, Leger and Braque, and a site-specific sculpture by Gaston Lachaise on the grounds. The property borders Tanglewood. From Tanglewood’s main gate, drive .3 miles south on Route 183 to Hawthorne Road. Turn left and drive .7 miles to Hawthorne Street. The entrance is .4 miles on the left. Meet at the gazebo in the parking lot. 1 1/2 hours, 2 miles. Pre-registration required, call 413-528-0936 to reserve a space.

Explore the Norman Rockwell Museum’s beautiful Berkshire site during the splendor of autumn. Linwood House, an 1859 Berkshire Cottage and Norman Rockwell’s studio, will be discussed during this special walking tour. This lively jaunt will last about 45 minutes and is less than a mile long. Free, does not include museum admission. Meet at the front terrace of the Norman Rockwell Museum, located on Route 183, 1/2 mile south of Route 102. Go to the front door. 45 minutes, 3/4 mile

Jon Piasecki, a local landscape architect, will lead a hike up Monument Mountain to visit the

site of the storied stone Indian Monument. The trail is steep in sections; sturdy footwear is recommended. For those interested, after the hike, we will then drive up to the Friends of Our Fathers monument in Stockbridge to pay our respects. Meet at the Monument Mountain parking lot on Route 7, between Great Barrington and Stockbridge. 2 hours, 1 1/2 miles

Ed Kirby, noted historian, geologist, president of the Sharon Historical Society and the Friends of Beckley Furnace and author of Exploring the Berkshire Hills, Echoes of Iron and Seldom Told Tales of Sharon will lead an industrial and historical tour at the former Emily Winthrop Miles estate where he grew up. History of the Winthrop family, the charcoal industry, the artworks of Emily Winthrop Miles and the nineteenth century grist, saw and cider mills powered from Moulton Pond. From Sharon drive east from Route 41 on Calkinstown Road to West Cornwall Road and to the Miles Sanctuary. From the east in West Cornwall, across Route 7, drive up the hill to the Miles Sanctuary sign. 2 hours, 1 1/2 miles

Join Steve McMahon of The Trustees of Reservations for a moderate two-mile hike to the summit of Tyringham Cobble for fall foliage views of the valley. Sturdy shoes are required. Meet at the Tyringham Cobble parking lot. From Route 102 in South Lee, just west of the intersection with Interstate 90, take Tyringham Road to Tyringham Village Center. Turn right on Jerusalem Road, go 1/2 mile to parking lot on right. 1 hour, 2 miles. Pre-registration required, call 413-528-0936 to reserve a space.

Join the Legionnaires as they visit the Civil War Monument in the middle of Town, the WWI Memorial at the Kent Library, and the graves of many of Kent’s brave soldiers buried in St. Andrews and Congregational cemeteries. Tribute will be paid to all of Kent’s veterans, from the Revolutionary war right up to the present. Walk leader will be Adjutant Andrew Ocif and members of the Hall-Jennings American Legion Post #153. Meet in front of the Swift House, home of the Kent Historical Society, east of the Patco gas station on Route 341 in the middle of town. 1 hour, 1 mile

Join George Emmons, Board member, on a tour of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery and learn about the science and methods of hatching eggs and growing trout and salmon. Tour starts from the Wildlife Center at the Hatchery, located on River Road (off Route 57 in Hartsville), Monterey. 1 1/2 hours, less than 1/4 mile

WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF W.E.B. DU BOIS, WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT AND OTHERS: A WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC DOWNTOWN GREAT BARRINGTON

The tour will be led by local historian David Rutstein and will involve walking to and discussing sites (including historic marker sites), historic buildings, and geographic areas emphasizing people who were born in Great Barrington or lived here, and contributions and accomplishments they made that have had an effect on this nation as well as on the world. Also, emphasis will be placed on historic events that occurred in Great Barrington that have, over the centuries, affected and changed this nation and also the world we live in. Wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing, and bring water for drinking. Meet in the Great Barrington Mason Library parking lot (231 Main Street) on the Dresser Avenue side of the library. 2 hours, 1 1/2 miles. Pre-registration required, call 413-528-0936 to reserve a space.

An avid amateur historian, Kathryn Boughton will lead participants on a walk to describe the development of Kent’s Main Street, from Colonial grazing ground to bustling railroad depot to present-day tourist mecca. The architecture, the history and the time line will be discussed. Meet in front of the Swift House, home of the Kent Historical Society, east of the Patco gas station on Route 341 in the middle of town. 1 hour, 1 mile

Learn about the history of Hancock Shaker’s water power technologies with Todd Burdick, Director of Education, Hancock Shaker Village. Participants will hike up Shaker Brook (a headwater of the Housatonic River) to view archaeological sites of Shaker mills and view a demonstration of an 1858 water turbine operation in the Village Machine Shop. Meet at the Hancock Shaker Village Visitor Center, main entrance, on Route 20, five miles west of downtown Pittsfield. 2 hours, 1 mile

Please join us in this delightful opportunity to enjoy the extraordinary scenery and history of the upper Housatonic River valley.

EXISTING WALKS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND ADDITIONAL WALKS MAY BE ADDED TO THIS SCHEDULE!

At press time, there were a few additional walks still in the planning stages. The most recent full schedule can be found on the Housatonic Heritage Web site at

www.upperhousatonicheritage.org

or check your local newspapers.

A Project of the

Upper Housatonic Valley Heritage Area

Co-Sponsored by the

National Park Service