Page 3 - Stockbridge Chamber Brochure 2019 WEB (1)_Neat

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.
EAST Traveling east from The Red Lion Inn, you’ll At this intersection (Rte. 183 & 102), head businesses, restaurants, outdoor sculture park,
come to the Town Offices, Police Station and south on Rte. 183, and signs will direct you to the and seasonal farmer’s market.
Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce. It also houses Norman Rockwell Museum. Home to the world’s
public restrooms. Across the street and a little largest collection of original Rockwell paintings,
farther to the East, you will find The Fitzpatrick the museum includes the painter’s studio, the Photo: M.D. Kerswill
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 Photo: M.D. Kerswill
gardens draw the visitor into the Gilded Age. The
Trustees of Reservations, established in 1891 as