A message from the Board of Directors
We regret that the Museum’s August 28 lecture, “Native Americans in Williamstown” was cancelled. We believe Dustin Griffin’s lecture, as written and as always, is well documented, respectful, and culturally sensitive, and deserves to be heard or read. For this reason we are attaching here a link to the lecture (except for the slides). We welcome and encourage people of diverse backgrounds to approach the Museum about presenting future lectures. Board of Directors Williamstown Historical Museum
Read MoreCanceled: Online Lecture: “Native Americans in Williamstown,” presented by Dustin Griffin
“Native Americans in Williamstown,” by Dustin Griffin Saturday, August 28, 11 a.m. The Williamstown Historical Museum is canceling its August 28 lecture, “Native Americans in Williamstown,” with apologies for any inconvenience. Our lecturer, Dustin Griffin, has given many well-received talks to Museum audiences in the past, and has been working on this lecture since the early spring. Although he worked with the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Band, who are indigenous to this land, in developing it, they feel it is not fully representative of their history. We value their knowledge and...
Read MoreHay Day: Family Fun for all on August 15!
The Williamstown Historical Museum invites you to our third annual Hay Day Fair! It will take place on Sunday, August 15 from 11-3 (rain or shine!) at the museum, 32 New Ashford Road in Williamstown. Admission is $5 for individuals and $10 for immediate family groups (up to 6 members). This year’s event will include many of the same attractions as 2019’s Hay Day, in addition to new ones! Look out for: Children’s activities like a maypole, three-legged race, and egg-and-spoon race with prizes for contestants Live music by Rosin the Beaux and Accordion Al A petting zoo and...
Read MoreOnline Lecture: “Black People in 19th-Century White Oaks,” presented by Dustin Griffin
“Black People in 19th-Century White Oaks,” by Dustin Griffin Saturday, July 31, 11 a.m. You can now view this lecture online, thanks to WilliNet! This lecture will trace the lives of a number of Black families in the northeast corner of Williamstown, from their arrival there in the 1820s to their departure about 1900. This event is part of a lecture series presented by Dustin Griffin through the Williamstown Historical Museum; please look out for his next two talks on August 29 and September 25. The WHM is proud to regularly offer lectures on local history that are free and open to the...
Read MoreBaseball in Williamstown
By Larry Moore We are really excited to have our exhibit “Sliding Baseball Across Williamstown” at the Williamstown Historical Museum, in a town where there is so much baseball history. The history of baseball in the Berkshires goes back to 1791 in Pittsfield when the town wrote a by-law banning the playing of ball games within 80 yards of the newly built town hall. One of the games mentioned was baseball. This turned out to be the first mention of baseball in the United States in a government document. Being a game that has evolved over the centuries, baseball even has some ties to the...
Read MoreWHM’s Summer 2021 Newsletter
Please enjoy the latest, summer-themed edition of WHM’s newsletter! Within it you will find: An update on the Dolan-Jenks Barn Restoration Project Several major announcements, including new opening hours and the return of the WHM’s annual Hay Day celebration An article about the long history of baseball in Williamstown, written by Larry Moore, one of the creators of our current temporary exhibit Information about an upcoming summer lecture series by Dustin Griffin, NYU professor emeritus, Williams graduate, and local historian A historical look at popular Williamstown swimming...
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