Monday, December 15, 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: 611 South Main Street

In recent decades, Ken TenBroeck’s Barber Shop was located here. The cutting and clipping continues as Anthony’s and Cary’s Barbershop.

GARY LEVEILLE’s Then and Now: The Snap Shop

The Girling Block on Great Barrington's Railroad Street had been home to a pizza shop, a delicatessen, and a grocery store before becoming The Snap Shop in 1972.

GARY LEVEILLE’s Then and Now: Cook’s Store

The emporium was later known as The Glendale Store, and was home to the village post office for more than 100 years.

GARY LEVEILLE’s Then and Now: Star Pizza

Star Pizza was one of several enterprises operated by the Ely family at Belcher Square, including Ely’s Market and Ely’s Garage.

GARY LEVEILLE’s Then and Now: Sheffield Farm

The main house is still there, but the dairy barn and silo are long gone.

Then and now: Main and Elm streets

The Congregational Church manse was built in 1884 of local dolomite stone and has changed very little.

GARY LEVEILLE: The Lee First National

The building later became the popular Adams Supermarket.

GARY LEVEILLE: Fifth Annual Satirical Holiday House Tour

The Southern Berkshire Hysterical Society bravely brings you an all-new, online, free frolic of some unusual homes and habitations in our area.

GARY LEVEILLE: The Great Barrington Fair

Horse racing at the Great Barrington Fairgrounds remained popular, but as agriculture’s role in the Berkshires began to diminish, the Barrington Fair became an aging dinosaur, struggling to survive.

GARY LEVEILLE’s Then & Now: Eddie New’s Sporting Center

It was frequented by outdoor sportspersons from the tri-state area, and especially by Lake Buel boaters.

GARY LEVEILLE: The Monterey Library

The present-day Monterey Post Office was built on the site of the old library building in the 1960s.

GARY LEVEILLE: Great Barrington’s Green River Mill

The Great Depression closed the business in 1933 and after falling into disrepair, the mill was bulldozed in 1978.

GARY LEVEILLE: Great Barrington’s Mason Library

Weather and insects eventually took their toll on the pole, and it was discarded at some point after World War II.

GARY LEVEILLE: Fourth Annual Satirical Holiday House Tour

The Southern Berkshire Hysterical Society has returned with an all-new, online, free frolic of some unusual homes and habitations in our area.

Great Barrington’s Laura Ingersoll Secord: Heroine or traitor?

At least a few residents of Great Barrington were aware of Laura Secord by the early 1900s. When the Ingersoll home was first moved and then torn down during the construction of the Mason Library, structural artifacts were removed and sent to Canada for a Laura Secord exhibit.

GARY LEVEILLE: Third Annual Satirical Holiday House Tour

The Southern Berkshire Hysterical Society is offering its all-new online, free frolic of some unusual homes and buildings in our area. Ho-ho-ho.
spot_img

The Edge Is Free To Read.

But Not To Produce.