The Sheffield Historical Society
was organized in 1972 by a group of residents who sought to preserve
the story of the oldest town in Berkshire County. It is a volunteer
driven, nonprofit corporation, actively involved in local historical
research that also offers a variety of educational programs for
every age group.
The Society’s goal is to
stimulate interest in local history and to interpret the town’s
past. It collects and preserves records and materials relevant to
the town, which includes the hamlets of Sheffield and Ashley Falls,
exhibits them and makes them available for exhibits, research and
educational programs.
The Society maintains several
historic structures.
The 1774 Dan Raymond House is both a period museum and
houses the Society’s main office. Other buildings on the campus
are the 1820 Parker Hall Law Office; a 19th century Carriage
House that contains an exhibit of agricultural and related tools;
an 1876 brick Learning Center which was an early Sheffield
greenhouse; an unusual early 19th century double chamber Greek Revival
Smokehouse; the early 19th century Hatter’s Shop
which now contains the collection of the Mark Dewey Research Center;
and a circa 1834 commercial building, known locally as the Old
Stone Store, which is presently undergoing restoration to serve
as a museum, community information center and artifact storage area.
The Society’s campus is
located in the center of historic Sheffield, Massachusetts on route
7, just north of the Connecticut State line and immediately south
of Great Barrington. It is easily accessible from all major highways
in the region including Interstate 90 (Mass Pike) and is served
by two regional airports, Albany, New York, and Hartford, Connecticut
as well as public bus lines.
Sheffield Historical Society:
159-161 Main Street, Box 747, Sheffield, MA 01257 Telephone (413)
229-2694.
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