Past Events

 Join us at Arrowhead on a crisp fall afternoon to celebrate the history of cider-making in Berkshire County.  During this walk you will learn about BCHS's new orchard and partnership with the Berkshire Cider Project. You will walk through the seedlings with orchardist Keegan Schelling and learn about the heirloom apple varieties, expected yields, and grafting practices utilized in the project. Kat Hand and Matt Brogan, owners of  the Berkshire Cider Project, will be on hand with a tasting of…

Join actress and Arrowhead docent Francine Ciccarelli as she portrays Herman Melville’s wife Elizabeth and leads a special virtual tour of her house sharing anecdotes about life at Arrowhead, her children, her gardens, and her work as Herman’s copyist. $10 for BCHS members; $15 for non-members.  Click here to reserve. This project is sponsored by the Mass Humanities Bridge Street Foundation and is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union.  

We all probably remember grandmothers or aunts who had “Antimacassars” or lace crocheted covers that protected the arms of chairs and sofas from wear and tear. This lace is created by working chains and other tall stitches to create beautiful openwork patterns. During this two-day workshop you will learn about various stitches, tension, and work on two specific projects. In our first class, we will get acquainted with the stitches to be used and practicing tension. Crochet tension describes how…

Take a virtual tour of Arrowhead, with a focus on its architecture.  Themes will include how Arrowhead looked when Herman Melville and his family lived there, the changes over its 230-year history, and how the Berkshire County Historical Society has worked to preserve the site where Melville wrote Moby-Dick and three other novels, all of his short stories, and his initial works of poetry.  The tour will be lead by John Dickson, Arrowhead docent and Chair of the Pittsfield Historical…

In this second class of this two-part workshop, you will work with size 10 crochet thread and a steel size “1” crochet hook. The project will be a crocheted snowflake. We will be using some of the same stitches used in the first project in addition to learning some new ones.  Lace can be crocheted using any size yarn or thread. Once you’ve accomplished the second project, you can try smaller thread and crochet hooks to make even more intricate/delicate…

Please join us for an unforgettable evening as noted Pittsfield author Kevin O'Hara shares joyous and heartfelt tales of his Pittsfield childhood. Kevin will  read a selection of his own Christmas tales from his illustrated book,  A Christmas Journey, published last December by The Berkshire Eagle.  Readings available at 5:30 and 6:30 pm, tickets are limited. $10 BCHS members and $15 non-members. Click here to reserve. This event is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union.

Please join us for an unforgettable evening as noted Pittsfield author Kevin O'Hara shares joyous and heartfelt tales of his Pittsfield childhood. Kevin will  read a selection of his own Christmas tales from his illustrated book,  A Christmas Journey, published last December by The Berkshire Eagle.  Readings available at 5:30 and 6:30 pm, tickets are limited. $10 BCHS members and $15 non-members. Click here to reserve. This event is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union.

A virtual program that offers a tour of Arrowhead decorated for the holidays, seasonal readings, 19th century holiday recipes, and a peek at some objects from our collection that are not often on view.   This event is free, but registration is required.  Click here to register or call 413 442 1793 or email melville@berkshirehistory.org to receive the zoom link. This event is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union.