Massachusetts Is A Perfect Travel Destination
You have to visit Massachusetts. There is so much to see and do. If you are a buff of colonial American history, Massachusetts is the place you need to see. Massachusetts has a history that played a large part in the forming of America. Part of the original 13 colonies, it is home to Plymouth Rock where the Pilgrims landed in 1620. It is also where the first shots were fired in the Revolutionary war, and was later called "the shot heard round the world." There was also the Boston Tea Party in the Boston Harbor which has become legendary to citizens of America. If you aren't a history buff, don't worry, there are many attractions in Massachusetts, no matter your interests. Massachusetts also has some of the most beautiful beaches on the eastern coastline with pristine white sand and deep blue waters. There are many agencies which specialize in deep sea fishing or whale watching tours. The islands of Massachusetts, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket have been enchanting visitors … [Read More...]
Restoration
The restoration of Thaddeus Clapp's home, a National Registry of Historic Places property, is both a labor of love as well as an commitment to preserve the past. It is also quite a challenge: how to retain the beauty and historical integrity of the original while adding modern conveniences. When the house was built in 1871, it was state of the art for its day. The Clapps installed central heat (coal fired steam) and indoor plumbing. The architectural style is Colonial Revival, but the interior is Arts and Crafts. … [Read More...]
History
One of the Clapps' famous contemporaries in Pittsfield was Oliver Wendell Holmes, poet, dean of the Harvard Medical School and the great-grandson of Jacob Wendell. (Mr. Holmes is known for being the father of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., who became a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.) Another neighbor on nearby Holmes Road was Herman Melville, one of America's most celebrated authors. According to the Berkshire County Historical Society: "Herman Melville spent many summers in Pittsfield visiting his uncle's farm (on South Street). In 1850, he decided to move to Pittsfield permanently, buying a home that he named for the artifacts he dug up while plowing. It was at Arrowhead that Melville wrote Moby Dick along with three more novels. 16 short stories and one volume of poetry. Many of his stories and poems were set in the Berkshires, including several set at Arrowhead. 'A great neighborhood for authors, you see, is Pittsfield,' Melville wrote in 1851.'" John and Sara Morewood purchased … [Read More...]
About Clapps
The Clapps attended St. Stephen Episcopal Church, re-built in 1890 on the north side of Park Square. By the 1800's Pittsfield was the center of industry in Berkshire County. The railroad had been built and transported the products of the many textile and paper mills. Besides the many mills, Pittsfield was the location of the Stanley Electric Company. William Stanley invented the first alternating current electrical transformer. His company was bought by the General Electric Company and remained a major employer until end of the 20th Century. But it was the railroad that opened Pittsfield to the world. Trains brought visitors from all over to the Berkshires. Many of America's wealthiest families built "cottages" throughout the county, including many in Pittsfield. One of the most well known was "The Court" built for the family which owned the Kimball Piano Company. It became Hillcrest Hospital in 1951. Susan Eisley, Executive Director of the Berkshire County Historical Society, … [Read More...]