Thursday, June 19, 2025

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

Gary Leveille

Gary Leveille is presently buried beneath piles of vintage photographs as the Great Barrington Historical Society's volunteer archivist. He has over 35 years' experience as a writer, editor, humorist, researcher, photographer, author, publisher and newspaper columnist. Gary served as a senior editor and editorial project supervisor for Hasbro Games in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is also the author of several books about the Southern Berkshires.

written articles

THEN & NOW: The Truman Wheeler House (AKA the Great Barrington Historical Society)

With the expensive “help” of a bank mortgage, the Great Barrington Historical Society saved the 1.4-acre property for use as their headquarters and town museum.

THEN & NOW: Memorial Day in South County

As Daniel Webster once wrote, “Let their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.”

Miracle on Cottage Street

Germany surrenders, a prisoner of war returns, and a plane crashes on Cottage Street.

THEN & NOW: Tillotson’s Garage in Lenox Dale

Extensively rebuilt and modified, the building is now home to several businesses, including Glenn Van Orman’s G & M Machine Inc.

THEN & NOW: A lost glacial erratic boulder in East Lee

The enormous rock was visited by sightseers and picnickers, but over time, its isolated location was forgotten. This columnist and tenacious big-rock hunter Jim Moore of Pittsfield were determined to find it.

THEN & NOW: The Pease/Comstock Mill in Stockbridge

In the late 1700s and well into the 1800s, this area was a busy, industrial location. The steep drop in elevation of Kampoosa Brook provided the power needed for at least five saw, planing, and grist mills.

THEN & NOW: The Indian Fordway Monument in Great Barrington

I first created “THEN & NOW” 30 years (and three newspapers) ago to offer bite-sized, tempting morsels of history. But this story is complicated and will take longer to tell. So, stay with me.

THEN & NOW: Train depot in Housatonic

The passenger train depot in the village of Housatonic, featured in the circa 1910 postcard view shown above, was built in 1881. This station...

THEN & NOW: Great Barrington under a blanket of snow

Beginning on March 12, 1888, a snow storm pounded the Berkshires for two days with heavy snow, along with sustained winds of more than 45 miles per hour.

THEN & NOW: The Konkapot River in Monterey

Please note that this location on the Konkapot River is now unsafe for skating.

THEN & NOW: The North Egremont Country Store — once a ‘mom and pop’ gas station

This stretch of Route 71 heading north was sometimes referred to as “Gasoline Alley.”

THEN & NOW: Downtown Great Barrington

Thanks to the hard work of the town’s DPW, Main Street was quickly cleared after the most recent snowstorm.

THEN & NOW: The Lincoln Lane ‘White Swinging Bridge’ in Stockbridge

This bridge should not be confused with the present-day suspension bridge located at the end of Park Street.

THEN & NOW: Holiday lights on Great Barrington’s Main Street

The festive lights of the holiday season have brightened Main Street in Great Barrington for many years.

Then & Now: Sauer’s Barber Shop

A tradition of Housatonic hair specialists.

GARY LEVEILLE: Ninth Annual Satirical Holiday House Tour

Yet again, the Southern Berkshire Hysterical Society bravely blazes new trails with a free digital frolic of some histrionic homes and habitations in our area.
spot_img

The Edge Is Free To Read.

But Not To Produce.