Photo: Nancy-Fay Hecker/Apple Hill Designs Take a walk on the wild side “I just love Stockbridge. this year... I mean, Stockbridge is the best of America, the best of New England.” NORMAN ROCKWELL or a hike, bike, swim, or kayak! Stockbridge is located approximately 2 hours west of Boston via Exit 2 of the Mass Pike, and 2 1/2 hours north of New York via the Taconic State Parkway, Rte. 23, and U.S. Rte. 7. From the west, take Interstate 90 East to B3 of the NY Thruway and follow Rte. 102 East. From Hart- ford, take I-91 north to the Mass Pike, then west to Exit 2. STOCKBRIDGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 50 Main Street, P.O. Box 224, Stockbridge, MA 01262 413.298.5200 • www.stockbridgechamber.org Photo: Catie May Stockbridge is shaped by its rich history – from its origin as an Indian mission town, to its heyday as a summer home for wealthy families of the Gilded Age, to its current small-town atmosphere captured so endearingly by the American illustrator, Norman Rockwell. (see map, pages 22-23) STOCKBRIDGE: A WALKING TOUR We have mapped out a route that samples our now the left wing, was built in 1864. The library “Cottages” built by wealthy industrialists as sum- history, culture, vistas, and leisurely shopping. houses the Historical Room, a museum and mer mansions during the opulent Gilded Age. Start at the town’s crossroads, Main and South research center containing the original Hitty doll The corner of Main and Sergeant Street pres- Street (Rte. 7). The famed Red Lion Inn, originally and artifacts from the town’s earliest inhabitants, ents you with The Mission House museum, built founded as the Inn at the Sign of the Red Lion the Mahican Indians. in 1739 (the year Stockbridge was incorporated) in 1773 (along with the sign of King George III), The 1881 Watering Trough stands at the corner by Rev. John Sergeant, the first missionary to graces the corner. Its famous front porch beckons of Main and Elm. It features the homilies “Utility the Mahican Indians. Originally located on Eden visitors to sit, sip, and people watch. Set in the is preferable to grandeur” and “Merciful man is Hill, the Mission House was moved to its Main triangular park at the center of the crossroads is kind to his beast.” As you walk down Elm Street, Street site in the 1920s, restored, furnished one of Stockbridge’s public landmarks, the 1862 you’ll notice the 1862 red and white firehouse with authentic period pieces, and opened as a Cat and Dog Fountain. known as Hose House No.1 that Rockwell pic- museum in 1930. Continuing West on Main you A right turn from the crossroads leads you tured in his work “The New American LaFrance is will discover the historic Stockbridge Cemetery past many historic buildings. Norman Rockwell here!” The impressive 1862 St. Joseph’s Church with its Sedgwick Pie, the ancestral plot of one of captured the interior of the 1884 House, the origi- is at the left corner. Stockbridge’s oldest families. nal Stockbridge Town Offices, in “The Marriage Turn the corner onto Maple Street, take a right Cross Main Street to the 19th century Village License.” Be sure to explore The Mews, a Main onto South Street, passing The Red Lion Inn, and Green, site of the 1824 Congregational Church, Street cul-de-sac of shops, and its neighboring cross Main. You will be on Pine Street at the site with membership dating back to 1739; addi- byway that marks the spot of the original Alice’s of the 1866 Soldiers Monument. At that corner, tional war memorials, and the Children’s Chime Restaurant of Arlo Guthrie fame. the 1884 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church features a Tower, dedicated in 1878 and rung at 5:30 every At the corner of Main and Elm stands the chancel window by LaFarge, baptistery by Louis St. evening from “apple blossom time until frost” in Stockbridge Library. One of the oldest libraries in Gaudens, and nave window by Tiffany. accordance with the donor’s wishes. The historic Western Massachusetts, the original structure, Go west on Main Street, toward the beautiful Greek Revival building is the Historic Town Hall 2 Stockbridge Welcomes You 2020-2021 We encourage you to visit www.mass.gov to learn about our phases of re-opening during COVID-19 and your responsibilities as a visitor. currently vacant. Farther west on Main Street, the country’s first independent organization for collections of fine art devoted to a single American past the Congregational Church is the Indian the preservation of landscape and historic sites, sculptor and period. French is best known for creat- burial ground monument, with its obelisk of stone oversee Naumkeag, the Mission House, and ing two of our nation’s most powerful symbols: The hewn from the nearby Ice Glen. Monument Mountain. Minute Man (1875), and Abraham Lincoln (1922) The following special sites are best reached by As you continue to climb up Prospect Hill, you for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. car, although the hearty may wish to walk or bicycle. pass Hawthorne Cottage (The Little Red House), home of Nathaniel Hawthorne from 1850–51. WEST STOCKBRIDGE Travel west from the SOUTH A few blocks south of Main discover Here he collected material for Tanglewood Tales town of Stockbridge, turn right at the cemetery the Ice Glen, a natural wonder ideal for hiking. and The Wonder Book, wrote The House of Seven onto Rte. 102 (Church St.) and follow the winding Take Rte.7 South; turn left onto Park Street and Gables, and crafted names that were later used by country road for approximately 4.4 miles into the park at the end of the street. A footbridge over two famous sites — Shadowbrook, the largest of center of historical West Stockbridge. the Housatonic River will lead you to three trails. the Berkshire Cottages (now the site of Kripalu), A tranquil and fertile valley fed by the Williams The Mary Flynn trail is a paved walk along the and Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston River, West Stockbridge, was incorporated in river that is handicapped accessible. Or cross Symphony Orchestra. 1774. Close to NY and boasting a rich history in the railroad track. In a quarter of a mile, the right mining marble, iron, and lime, this lovely little fork will lead you into the Ice Glen complete with WEST Travel west from the town of Stock- town, once home to more than 30 quarries, was glacial boulders and ice crystals even in July. The bridge, turn right at the cemetery, follow Rte. 102 the first railroad terminus in Berkshire County. left fork will take you to Laura’s Tower. Climb the (Church St.) to the Berkshire Botanical Garden. Today, West Stockbridge retains its pictur- tower for views of Mt. Everett, the Catskills, and Fifteen acres of landscaped gardens, woodland esque, small town character. It is home to about the Green Mountains. walks, and picnicking offer visitors information 1600 full-time residents in addition to local and inspiration. businesses, restaurants, outdoor sculture park, EAST Traveling east from The Red Lion Inn, you’ll At this intersection (Rte. 183 & 102), head come to the Town Offices, Police Station and and seasonal farmer’s market. south on Rte. 183, and signs will direct you to the -Fay He : Nancy cker/Ap oto ple Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce. It also houses Ph Hill De Norman Rockwell Museum. Home to the world’s sig public restrooms. Across the street and a little ns largest collection of original Rockwell paintings, farther to the East, you will find The Fitzpatrick the museum includes the painter’s studio, the Main Stage. Originally built as a casino in 1888, Linwood Cottage, picnic areas, outdoor sculpture this iconic building, designed by Stanford White, by Rockwell’s son Peter, and the Norman Rockwell helped establish the Berkshires as a cultural Museum Store. The museum features permanent destination when it became home to the Berkshire and changing exhibitions, classes and programs, Theatre Festival, founded in 1928. It remains the and a reference library. main stage for the summer festival of plays. Continue south onto Rte. 183 and follow the NORTH At the Stockbridge crossroads, go north signs to Chesterwood, the summer estate of on Pine Street; The Marian Fathers’ property, sculptor Daniel Chester French (1850-1931). The Eden Hill, is at the top of the hill. It’s the home Colonial Revival residence and studio house nearly of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, the 500 pieces of sculpture — one of the largest Association of Marian Helpers, and the National Shrine Gift Shop. Veer left from Pine Street up Prospect Hill for a glimpse of grand “cottages” and farmsteads. Naumkeag, designed by Stanford White, is one of a few Berkshire Cottages open to the public. Built in 1885 for Joseph Choate, a prominent New York attorney and ambassador to Great Britain, the home, furnishings, and lush Alivia J. Bartlett Photography gardens draw the visitor into the Gilded Age. The Photo: Trustees of Reservations, established in 1891 as What to See & Do The spectacular Berkshire countryside which provides a backdrop for our cultural showcase of events, is itself a destination. Camp, picnic, swim, hike or bike our many trails and back roads, kayak, bird watch, cross country ski, or snowshoe. The options are endless! Photo: M.D. Kerswill We encourage you to explore the wilder side of Stockbridge and surrounds this summer, breathing in the fresh air and respectfully observing nature.