Berkshire County Historical Society

Author talk: Bernie Drew, "Literary Luminaries of the Berkshires"
2015-09-15 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Local historian and author Bernard Drew will talk about his latest book, “Literary Luminaries of the Berkshires: From Herman Melville to Patricia Highsmith.” In the big red barn. FREE. Drew is a longtime weekly newspaper reporter and editor. He is a columnist for the Berkshire Eagle and the Lakeville Journal. His more than fifty published books include scholarly references and Berkshire County histories. He is an avid reader and collector of anecdotes about local authors.

Polynesian Luau
2015-09-12 16:00 - 21:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Save the date! Celebrate Herman Melville’s South Sea adventures without leaving Berkshire County.
A major fundraiser for Berkshire Historical Society at Melville’s Arrowhead.

Play Performance: I Am Pittsfield
2015-08-29 19:00 - 21:00, 2015-08-28 19:00 - 21:00, 2015-08-27 19:00 - 21:00, 2015-08-22 19:00 - 21:00, 2015-08-21 19:00 - 21:00, 2015-08-20 19:00 - 21:00, 2015-08-14 19:00 - 21:00, 2015-08-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
The Berkshire History Theatre moves into Arrowhead’s big red barn for their new play, “I Am Pittsfield.” Written and directed by Sally Filkins. For information or to make reservations, call Sally at 413/442.1928 or e-mail sfilkins1 [at] nycap.rr.com. Students and members of the Berkshire Historical Society, $15; adults $25. Performances are at 7:00 pm, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, August 13 – August 29.

Play Performance: I Am Pittsfield
2015-08-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes, Pittsfield, MA, United States

Claire Illouz lecture
2015-08-03 16:00 - 17:30 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Artist Claire Illouz will discuss her fabulous artwork based on chapter 42, “The Whiteness of the Whale” from Moby-Dick, published in a limited edition folio. A great way to finish your Melville weekend! FREE.

Old Salt's Day
2015-08-01 09:30 - 17:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Old Salt’s Day. Celebrate Herman Melville’s 196th birthday. Free admission to any sailor who has served in the Navy, Coast Guard, or Merchant Marine. Free cake!

Firefly Festival
2015-07-17 18:00 - 21:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
A family event with crafts for kids. Come help celebrate the annual meeting and mating in the North Field. Vendors of all sorts in attendance, too. Event is weather permitting; rain-date Saturday July 18. Admission: $5.00 for members of the Farm’s CSA, Berkshire Historical Society, Melville Society, or any other organized group in the Berkshires. $10 for the general public without affiliations; children under 12: free.

Grand Opening of the Children's Garden
2015-07-12 10:00 - 15:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
With ice cream social, kids games, and music. Admission to the grounds is free.

Running of the Goats
2015-07-09 16:00 - 18:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Flossie, Gertie, Peanut and their five kids work hard all day clearing the fields at Melville’s Arrowhead Farm. In the evening they are glad to return to their barn, in an event we’ve dubbed “The Running of the Goats.” On Thursday there will be a free open house at the farm at 780 Holmes Road. Meet farmer Kristen Laney, her goats and chickens, and see the CSA vegetable farm. Dan Dickinson, who wrote the music and produced the video, available on our Facebook page, will be making a special appearance. And maybe the goats will run again!
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Herman-Melvilles-Arrowhead/123989551008957?ref=hl

Lecture - The Wreck of the Whale Ship Essex
2015-07-07 17:30 - 18:30 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Carlo DeVito, editor and publisher of The Complete Illustrated Edition of the Wreck of the Whale Ship Essex will speak about the book -its inclusion of works by Herman Melville, Richard Henry Dana, Thomas Nickerson, with artwork by Rockwell Kent, Gustave Dore, and many others. FREE; donations welcome.

Design a Garden
2015-06-27 11:00 - 15:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Come to Melville’s Farm at Arrowhead on June 27 to learn how to create a build a garden for your own home – while helping create the new Children’s Garden at Arrowhead. Participants are encouraged to b ring pads, pencils, and hand tools. Led by Farm Manager Kristen Laney, this is part of special farm oriented events this season, the Year of the Farm.
FREE for Arrowhead CSA Members; $10 Other CSA Members; $15 Non-Members.

Public Reading from new poetry chapbook, "RED BARN Volume One"
2015-06-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Celebrate the publication of a new poetry chapbook, created by eight members of a poetry workshop held over the past year, right here at Herman Melville’s Arrowhead. The public reading will be in the historic red barn at Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield MA. There will be refreshments, and information on applying for next year’s workshop. Volume One will be available for sale, $8.25. Please note: house tours will not be available during this event. The museum shop will be open.

Lizzie's 195th birthday party
2015-06-13 11:00 - 15:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Celebrate Elizabeth Knapp Shaw Melville’s 195th birthday! If your name is Elizabeth or your birthday is June 13, you get a free tour of Arrowhead! Join the party at 780 Holmes Road this Saturday from 11 – 3 pm. There will be cake. Lizzie Shaw moved to Arrowhead with her husband Herman in 1850. Photo of Mrs. Melville courtesy Berkshire Athenaeum.

Free Concert: Fanfare Brass Ensemble
2015-05-31 19:00 - 21:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes, Pittsfield, MA, United States
The Fanfare Brass is performing on Sunday 7:00 pm on 5/31/15 at Herman Melville’s Arrowhead – 780 Holmes Rd, Pittsfield MA. The 10 man group includes 4 trumpets, French horn, 4 trombones and tuba and is made up of the professional musicians, the best in the area and is a real crowd pleaser with a mix of different styles of music. Following is a sample summer music program. Please visit our web site to hear samples of our excellent music, you will find we have one of the best groups in New England. See website for more information.

Fireflies!
2015-05-27 17:30 - 19:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
The north field is the home of thousands of fireflies. A talk on fireflies with farmer Kristen Laney and naturalist Hannah Sherman will cast a light on these interesting insects. Donations appreciated.

CSA Farming 101 Class
2015-05-23 16:00 - 17:30 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes, Pittsfield, MA, United States
The farm at Arrowhead, now in its second year, is officially a replica in style of the agricultural work Melville had in motion during the thirteen years he and his family lived in Pittsfield. Crops will become available as the season progresses, many of them the same varietals Melville planted for his family’s use. This free CSA.101 event is for anyone interested in what a CSA (Community Supported Agricultural project) is and how it works. Led by Farm Manager Kristen Laney it is the first of ten special farm oriented events this season, the Year of the Farm.
Saturday, May 23 | 4pm | Arrowhead | 780 Holmes Road | 413-442-1793 | FREE Arrowhead CSA Members; $10 Other CSA Members; $15 Non-Members

Opening Day of the Summer Season
2015-05-23 09:30 - 17:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Arrowhead will open for tours! A Touch of Melville Gold – En Plein Air painting event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Berkshire County Historical Society purchasing Arrowhead. The painting event is all day long with artists including Robert Selkowitz, Julie McCarthy, Keith Emerling, Karen Arp Sandel, and Diane Firtell. FREE to participate, and FREE to watch. House tours will be the usual $13/adult; free to Society members.

Annual Meeting
2015-05-06 18:00 - 21:00 | Country Club of Pittsfield, 639 South St., Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Annual Meeting of the Berkshire Historical Society will be held on May 6, 2015 at the Pittsfield Country Club. Enjoy a fabulous buffet dinner, learn what’s going on and hear Farmer Kristen Laney talk about growth and success at the Arrowhead Farm. Cost $30 per person – make your reservations early!

Come Volunteer at Arrowhead!
2015-04-30 13:30 - 15:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
For all past and future volunteers, there is a reception on April 30 at 1:30. Learn about all the volunteer opportunities at the Historical Society and Arrowhead. Bring a friend! Call 413/442-1793 x10.

Exhibit: Close to the Skin: A Revealing Look at Lingerie
2015-04-06 | MA
Exhibit open 11am to 3pm, Friday through Monday from February 13 through May 4.
From the collections of the Berkshire Historical Society come 200 years of Berkshire Lingerie. See “what your GrandMama wore” when she was courted by your GrandDad; learn the truth about the undergarments of the generations that created the community we live in, the difficulties, the beauties and the grandeur of clothing not meant to be seen by anyone else.
At Arrowhead. $12 admission.
Guest Curator: Ned Lazaro, Associate Curator for Textiles, Historic Deerfield, Inc.

Exhibit: Close to the Skin: A Revealing Look at Lingerie - closed today
2015-04-05 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Sorry – Arrowhead is closed Sunday, April 5.

Winter Exhibit: "Close to the Skin: A Revealing Look at Lingerie"
2015-04-03 - 2015-04-04 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States

Writing Workshop
2015-03-27 13:30 - 17:00 | Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Writing workshop led by Arrowhead writer-in-residence Jana Laiz. Sorry – sold out! For information about future workshops, please contact us.
