Newsletter
Vol. 15, No. 6
June 2018
Our unique history and blend of people defines the foundation of our town.
Crossway Tower
P. O. Box 170
Lee, MA 01238
Contact us: Lee.Historical@hotmail.com
OUR JUNE MEETING:
The June meeting of the Lee Historical Society will be held on Thursday, June 14, 2018 starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Hyde Meeting Room at Crossway Tower. It will be a business meeting for Officers, Board members and any interested members. We urge members to attend and become involved. We will finalize the criteria for the Paint & Sip and for the Program Meeting and continue of the rewriting of by the by-laws.
PAINT & SIP FUNDRAISER
The date of the Paint & Sip Fundraiser will be Saturday, June 16 at 6:00 p.m. The location is the Cafeteria in the Senior Center. This fundraiser is being brought back by popular demand as the people who attended last year’s event and had a great time, so mark your calendars. For sign ups and question, please call Bambi at 413-717-8817.
June Program Meeting
On Thursday, June 21, 2018 society member Peter Romeo will present: “Remnants From the Foote Farm”. Peter, a recent graduate of Lee Middle and High School will display and explain objects that he has found in his searches of neighboring property.
Scholarship Winners:
The Lee Historical Society is proud to announce the 2018 winners of our two $250.00 scholarships are; Hunter Roosa, who was chosen to be the first recipient of the Stephen A. Cozzaglio Memorial Scholarship and Peter Romeo who was selected to receive the scholarship awarded In Memory of Dolores I. Eckert and Marion Leach. We salute, commend and wish these two students well in their future college days.
Kilbon Memorial Fountain Update:
The Committee, spearheaded by the Berkshire Gateway Preservation Group, consists of members of the Lee Historical Society, the Lee Chamber of Commerce, the Lee Historical Commission, the Town of Lee and several community minded individuals has been meeting since late fall to find funds to repair, preserve and maintain the Kilbon Memorial Fountain in the park that is in dire need of repair.. On June 5th the DPW crew dug around the fountain and uncovered a large cement pad on which it sits and also uncovered some of the supply and drainage pipes. So we are that much closer for it to be prepared and moved to Tower Stone in Richmond for repair. We are planning to video and photograph the project as it progresses. It will be an interesting project! We have reached about 80% of our goal of $35,000 so far, so we are asking people to send in a few bucks for this worthy project, if they haven’t already. Thanks.
The following is this month’s photo sent to us from the Lee Library’s Historical Collection of Lee Photographs. This collection has been digitalized for the Lee Library by the Boston Public Library. We thank the Lee Library for making this possible for our readers. If any of our readers would like to comment or add additional information, please contact Mary Philpott at maryphilpott@mindspring.com
This is a photo of the Hamblin houses on Cape Street in East Lee about 1885. The middle building was once a post office, an inner sole factory plus a store and apartment. The building is no longer standing and in the 1990’s the two houses were owned by Charles Larson.
Lee Library Historical Photograph Collection
The visual record of the town and its evolution is found in our photo collection. Photos document all aspects of life---education, religion, disasters, individuals, sports, leisure activities, buildings, and businesses (especially the papermaking and marble industries).
The collection is now online in the Digital Commonwealth repository. You may view it here:
https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/institutions/commonwealth:0r96dv50q
NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY FOR JUNE
New Program! Computer and Gadget Help:
Saturday, June 9 and 23 from 10am – 12 noon. Looking for help with a new computer, phone, tablet or any other gadget? Stop in and get help from one of our teen computer and gadget helpers.
June Exhibit:
The Paper Industry in Lee: The people, mills and contributions. An exhibit of photos and memorabilia from the Lee Library Historical Collection in the J. Peter Scolforo Gallery for the month of June.
FamiLEE Movies:
Peter Rabbit, 6/9 at 11am. Rated PG for some action and mild rude humor. The movie runs 95 minutes.
Adult Programs:
Wednesday, 6/13 from 2 to 4pm. “Main Street Literary Society”; Book Club, hosted by Deedee Consolati. Meetings will continue to be held on the second Wednesday of each month and book club members are encouraged to bring book titles that they would like to have selected in future months. The book selection is Longbourn by Jo Baker. New members are welcome but required to register by calling the library at 413-243-0385.
Tuesdays from 1:00 to 2:30 pm. Knit/Crochet Group. This is an opportunity for knitters to gather and share patterns, information and the company of fellow enthusiasts. Please join in the fun.
Grown-up Game Night! Get together with a group of friendly board game enthusiasts every Thursday evening at 6 – 8pm. For adults 18+, no registration required, for more information call us at 413-243-0385.
Children’s programs and Information:
Summer Reading Program 2018, June 25 – August 6. The 2018 Summer Reading Program (SRP) begins on June 25 and will run for 6 weeks ending on August 6. This year’s theme for all age groups is “Libraries Rock!”.
Monday, 6/25, from 11am to 12 noon. The children’s kick-off program will be a magic show/dance party with Pete and Chris Entertainment.
Mondays from 10:30 – 11:30am, Babies and Books. Join us for this weekly program for families with infants, ages birth – 12 months. We will learn new songs, finger plays and share the joys and challenges of new parenthood! This program is free and no registration required.
Thursdays from 10:30 – 11:30am. Brain Builders. Join us for this weekly playgroup for families with young children from ages birth to 5. This program is free and no registration is required. This program will include a circle time with stories, songs and group fun, followed by tabletop activities.
Saturday, June 16, 10:30 – 11:30am. Kiwanis Krafts and Reading with Kids. Please join us for a story and craft presented by the Lee Kiwanis Club. Healthy snacks will be provided!
Monday and Tuesday, June 26 and 27 “GSK Science in the Summer” hosted by the Lee Library in partnership with the Berkshire Museum. There will be two levels: Level 1 is for students entering 2 and 3 this fall and will be held both days from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm. Level 2 is for students entering grades 4 -6 and will be from 1:30 – 3:30 pm. Space is limited and sign-up continues through the Berkshire Museum at berkshiremuseum.org/education/gsk or 413-443-7171 ext. 336 Hendra Knisley.
NEWS from the TEEN SPACE:
Wednesdays, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20 & 6/27 from 3:30 to 4:30pm. Teen Chess
Thursdays, 6/7, 6/14. 6/20 & 6/27 from 3:30 to 4:30pm. Dungeons and Dragons Gaming in the Gallery.
Membership Dues for the Lee Historical Society.
We are in the process of collecting membership dues for 2018 and your renewal is important to us, so please, if you have not sent in your membership dues, please do so. Thanks, and if you are not sure what your membership status is, send us an email or drop us a line. We will shortly be going through our membership lists and removing any member who is not up to date with their dues.
We are continually looking for pictures, postcards and any items related to the past history of Lee that can be donated or scanned for our collections. Please think of the Lee Historical Society before you throw things out.
WE LOVE LOCAL HISTORY
HOW ABOUT BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE LEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OR GIVING A GIFT MEMBERSHIP TO A FRIEND OR RELATIVE AND HELP SUPPORT OUR SOCIETY?
Student or Senior - $5.00 Individual - $10.00 Family - $15.00 Business - $25.00
Supporting Membership -$50.00 or more Sponsor Membership - $100.00 or more
Name: __________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________Lee Historical Society
City/Town: _________________________State:_____________Zip:________
Telephone: ______________________Email:__________________
Monthly meetings on held on the second Thursday of each month.
7th ANNUAL BERKSHIRE GATEWAY JAZZ WEEKEND
JAZZ, FOOD, & MORE IN DOWNTOWN LEE, MA IN THE BEAUTIFUL BERKSHIRE HILLS
JUNE 14 – 17, 2018
Featuring headline concerts, al fresco jazz, food vendors, a jazz brunch, and more, spanning Father’s Day weekend. All in the beautiful western Massachusetts town on Lee, MA, the “Gateway to the Berkshires”
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 AT 7:30 PM--------THE FRANK VIGNOLA TRIO
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2018
11:00 am – 2:00 pm – JAZZ BRUNCH at the Starving Artist Café and Creperie, FOOD VENDORS in the park, AL FRESCO JAZZ till 4pm.
ALL AFTERNOON - Vintage automobile display.
7:30 pm – THE JEFF HOLMES BIG BAND with vocalist DAWNING HOLMES.
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2018 – JAZZ BRUNCH at Starving Artist Café and Creperie.
Tickets can be purchased locally at the Lee Chamber of Commerce Information Booth in the park, 413-243-0852, Lee Congregational Church, 413-243-1033 and at Wood Bros Music in Pittsfield, 413-447-7478.
Lee Featured in June Issue of Berkshire Magazine
You might be surprised to learn that Starbucks coffee filters, Clorox Ready Mop pads and Johnson & Johnson “hurt-free” wraps are all made in Lee. Boyd Technologies on Pleasant Street (Route 102) is a producer for these and other blue chip American brands. You can read all about it in the June issue of Berkshire Magazine now on sale at Big Y Markets. You can also view these pieces online at townvibe.com. Look for the Boyd article in the Biz413 business section of the publication.
Also in the June issue is a section called, “We’ve Got Answers”, is a short piece about the internationally acclaimed pianist George Shearing, who made his home his summer home in Lee in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.
Both pieces are written by our own Phil Smith, a member of our board of directors. Phil has been a regular contributor to Berkshire Magazine for more than three years.
A question from society member and Curator, Barbara Allen of the Stockbridge Library. Quite often, photographs are identified incorrectly. This one was given to the Stockbridge Library because of the writing on the back (Laurel Lake, Stockbridge, Mass). Where does it really belong? Can anyone recognize where this is on Laurel Lake or could it really be Stockbridge Bowl?
If anyone has an idea please contact Barb at: Barbara Allen, Curator, Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives, P. O. Box 119, Stockbridge, MA 01262, telephone 413-298-8190 or ballen@cwmars.org.
I am thinking this might be the back side of Laurel Lake near “the white bridge” What do you readers think?
The following is a list of the area businesses that are currently “Business Members” of the Lee Historical Society for this year. If you would like your business or company listed here, please fill out the membership application below and send it to us with a check for $25.00.
Bartini Roofing CompanyValley Roll-offsCharles Flint Antiques
290 Pleasant Street95 Marble Street52 Housatonic Street
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lenox, MA 01240
413-243-0570413-243-6655413-637-1634
A. Williams & Son Zabian’s IncorporatedLocker Room Sports Pub
Landscaping & Excavation15-19 Main Street232 Main Street
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
413-446-8464413-243-0136413-243-2662
Frank Consolati Ins. AgencyPaperdilly, Inc.Dresser Hull Company
71 Main Street74 Main Street60 Railroad Street
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
413-243-0105413-243-1928413-243-1400
Robert M. Kelly, PaperhangingB-SAFE STORAGEMill Renaissance LLC
65 South Prospect Street50 Runway55 Hurlburt Road
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Gt. Barrington, MA 01230
413-243-3489413-243-6334651-492-5766
Henry Holt ArtLee BankDevonfield Inn
P. O. Box 69975 Park Street85 Stockbridge Road
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
413-243-9918413-243-0117413-243-3298
Hunter & Graziano P. C.Terrace Hair StudioWilcox Plumbing & Heating
10 Park Place135 Housatonic StreetP. O. Box 561
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
413-243-0789413-243-1799413-243-2494
Lee Hardware Store, Inc.NBT Bank of LeeConsidine & Leary, Attorneys
221 Main Street76 Park Street49 Main Street
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
413-243-0786413-243-1800413-243-4900
A. F. Viale Insurance AgencyGreylock Federal Credit UnionLB Corporation
75 Main Street47 Main Street95 Marble Street
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
413-243-0347413-243-2121413-243-1072
Kevin J. O’Neil. ElectricianGrasshopper’s Lawn CareHannon Lerner P. C.
225 East Street560 Fairview Street184 Main Street
Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238Lee, MA 01238
413-3299-7306413-243-40413-243-331
Cottage Care Inc.Ta-Ga-Soke CampgroundsRW’s Incorporated
230 Stockbridge Rd. Box7537820 Higginsville Road35 Runway
Lee, MA 01238Blossvale, NY 133028Lee, MA 01238
413-243-42571-800-831-1744413-243-0946
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is God’s gift, that’s why we call it the present”
Joan Rivers 1933-2014
