Dan Raymond House Museum / Mark Dewey Research Center / Old Stone Store 137-161 Main Street | P.O. Box 747 | Sheffield, MA 01257
Visit us at the Old Stone Store Weekends 11am-4pm
Lecture on Industry in Early Sheffield
On Friday, Sep. 13 the Sheffield Historical Society welcomes Dennis Picard to Dewey Hall for “Logs to Saw, Grain to Grind, and Beyond: Sheffield's Early Mills & Industries” a lecture that looks at how early industry shaped the economy and development of the town. The first mill was on Gilligan’s Pond and was built in 1735, a mere three years after the town’s founding. Picard will talk about the different Sheffield industries that relied on water power before the age of engines and electricity. The program is at 7:30 pm and is free and open to the public.
Dennis Picard has been a museum professional in the living history field for over forty years. He has held the position of Assistant Director and Director at several sites including Fort Number Four, Storrowton Village Museum and the Sheffield Historical Society. Picard works now as a professor, teaching museum studies at Westfield State University. Picard, with his background and museum experience, has authored many articles on the lifestyles and folkways of New England and has also served as a consultant for many historical societies, museums, film scripts and historic novels.
His presentation at Dewey Hall (91 Main St., Sheffield) reveals the seldom known industrial history of Sheffield in the colonial period and early republic. When one thinks of the town’s early years, a bucolic image of farmers and small tradesmen comes to mind, but really mechanized industry was central to development from the town’s founding. Without the timber, stone, and bricks that were processed using mill power, no houses, farm buildings, livestock fencing or shops could be built. Without grist mills, the wheat and corn that the farmers grew could not be processed into flour. Nor could crops thrive without the lime made at local kilns. Indeed, some industries like iron production made this region a crucial source for the weapons that won the war for Independence. Picard will tell this story of early industry through images and objects that might just have you thinking differently about what Sheffield of the 18th century looked like.
On Friday, Sep. 13 the Sheffield Historical Society welcomes Dennis Picard to Dewey Hall for “Logs to Saw, Grain to Grind, and Beyond: Sheffield's Early Mills & Industries” a lecture that looks at how early industry shaped the economy and development of the town. The first mill was on Gilligan’s Pond and was built in 1735, a mere three years after the town’s founding. Picard will talk about the different Sheffield industries that relied on water power before the age of engines and electricity. The program is at 7:30 pm and is free and open to the public.
Dennis Picard has been a museum professional in the living history field for over forty years. He has held the position of Assistant Director and Director at several sites including Fort Number Four, Storrowton Village Museum and the Sheffield Historical Society. Picard works now as a professor, teaching museum studies at Westfield State University. Picard, with his background and museum experience, has authored many articles on the lifestyles and folkways of New England and has also served as a consultant for many historical societies, museums, film scripts and historic novels.
His presentation at Dewey Hall (91 Main St., Sheffield) reveals the seldom known industrial history of Sheffield in the colonial period and early republic. When one thinks of the town’s early years, a bucolic image of farmers and small tradesmen comes to mind, but really mechanized industry was central to development from the town’s founding. Without the timber, stone, and bricks that were processed using mill power, no houses, farm buildings, livestock fencing or shops could be built. Without grist mills, the wheat and corn that the farmers grew could not be processed into flour. Nor could crops thrive without the lime made at local kilns. Indeed, some industries like iron production made this region a crucial source for the weapons that won the war for Independence. Picard will tell this story of early industry through images and objects that might just have you thinking differently about what Sheffield of the 18th century looked like.
Current Exhibit
The Sheffield Historical Society’s fall exhibit, “Sheffield’s Freedom Fighters: From Mumbet to the 54th Massachusetts Regiment” tells how Sheffield’s African Americans in the 1700s-1800s fought for the emancipation of all enslaved Americans. Through the courts, on the battlefield, and through a struggle for integration at home, they contributed to making the Southern Berkshires a community far ahead of the nation. The exhibit runs from Sept. 14 through Oct. 20, on view weekends 11am-4pm at the Old Stone Store, 137 Main St., Sheffield.
The Sheffield Historical Society’s fall exhibit, “Sheffield’s Freedom Fighters: From Mumbet to the 54th Massachusetts Regiment” tells how Sheffield’s African Americans in the 1700s-1800s fought for the emancipation of all enslaved Americans. Through the courts, on the battlefield, and through a struggle for integration at home, they contributed to making the Southern Berkshires a community far ahead of the nation. The exhibit runs from Sept. 14 through Oct. 20, on view weekends 11am-4pm at the Old Stone Store, 137 Main St., Sheffield.
Walking Tour of Sheffield Churches
As part of the 2019 Housatonic Heritage Walks, on Sunday, Sept. 22, we will be leading a walking tour of Sheffield churches on the Green. Learn about the architecture and history of the buildings and their congregations. The walk is free and open to the public, meet at the Old Stone Store, 137 Main St., Sheffield at 12:50 pm.
As part of the 2019 Housatonic Heritage Walks, on Sunday, Sept. 22, we will be leading a walking tour of Sheffield churches on the Green. Learn about the architecture and history of the buildings and their congregations. The walk is free and open to the public, meet at the Old Stone Store, 137 Main St., Sheffield at 12:50 pm.
2019Heritage Festival & Family Feast
Thank you to those who attended and special thanks to the volunteers who made it happen!
We'd Like to Thank Our Sponsors
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GOLD
Carlson Propane K.C. Clow James & Catherine Miller Wheeler & Taylor, Inc. |
SILVER
Cole Engineering & Construction Gulotta Brothers Mobil Ed Herrington,Inc. James R. Kimball, Jr. Brian & Lois Levinsohn The Magic Fluke |
BRONZE
Big Y Cumberland Farms Ted & Susan Pitman |
Canoe Raffle
Earlier this spring Hilary led a small group of Historical Society members in building a canoe that we are now raffling off. Money raised will go to building storage for our larger museum pieces, including an Iroquois dugout canoe and a 19th-century carriage. Raffle tickets are $5 a piece or 3 for $10 and can be purchased below or at the Old Stone Store. The winner will be announced in October. For more details about any of the things the Society does contact us at sheffieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com or 413-229-2694.
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WATCH the TV Segment about the Sheffield Historical Society
Click below to watch "Main Streets and Back Roads" segment on the Sheffield Historical Society. Make sure to check out the other segments on Sheffield, including Tony Carlotto's Rolling Rock Farm, Magic Fluke, Bartholomew's Cobble, Mill River Farm & Sheffield antiques stores.
http://www.wcvb.com/chronicle
Click below to watch "Main Streets and Back Roads" segment on the Sheffield Historical Society. Make sure to check out the other segments on Sheffield, including Tony Carlotto's Rolling Rock Farm, Magic Fluke, Bartholomew's Cobble, Mill River Farm & Sheffield antiques stores.
http://www.wcvb.com/chronicle
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Thank you for visiting us!
Interested in visiting other 18th century sites?
Historic Berkshires: An 18th Century Trail
Sheffield Historical Society
Dan Raymond House
Jennifer Owens, Administrator
sheffieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
413-229-2694
Office Hours
Tuesday & Friday 10:00 am- 3:00 pm
Mark Dewey Research Center
James Miller, Archivist
K.C. Clow, Volunteer
mdrc@sheffieldhistory.org
413-229-3682
Office Hours
Monday 1:30pm-4:00pm
Friday 1:30pm-4:00pm
or by appointment
Sheffield Historical Society
P.O. Box 747
159-161 Main St.
Sheffield, MA 01257
Visit us at Facebook
Dan Raymond House
Jennifer Owens, Administrator
sheffieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
413-229-2694
Office Hours
Tuesday & Friday 10:00 am- 3:00 pm
Mark Dewey Research Center
James Miller, Archivist
K.C. Clow, Volunteer
mdrc@sheffieldhistory.org
413-229-3682
Office Hours
Monday 1:30pm-4:00pm
Friday 1:30pm-4:00pm
or by appointment
Sheffield Historical Society
P.O. Box 747
159-161 Main St.
Sheffield, MA 01257
Visit us at Facebook