About Connections: Love it or hate it, history is a map. Those who hate history think it irrelevant; many who love history think it escapism. In truth, history is the clearest road map to how we got here: America in the twenty-first century.
Yearly, there is at least one article about haunted Berkshire. The record of meetings between the living and the dead is a long one. For those who do not believe, the stories are good ones; filled with drama and angst, restless souls. For those who do believe, allow me to point the way to locations where you might have an encounter.
It was the first years of the twentieth century and John Widders was a chauffeur in North Adams. He was accepted as a valued member of the Albert Houghton household. He was solicitous of the parents and genuinely affectionate with the daughters, Sybil and Mary.
He was driving when it happened. It was August 1, 1911. The entire family got into their Pierce Arrow and off they went. As they climbed Pownal Center Hill, Widders lost control. The car slid sideways and plummeted over the edge. When the car came to rest, Sybil was dead; crushed underneath the wreckage. Mary was alive, but died within a few hours. Mr. and Mrs. Houghten and Widders survived relatively unhurt. But…
Albert Houghton never fully recovered from the shock and grief and died a brief three years later. Widders blamed himself. He was inconsolable. He shot himself in the head.
In 1920, the Houghton mansion was sold to the Masonic Lodge. From that date, there have been reports of the sounds of a man roaming the halls and climbing the steps to what was once the bedroom of John Widders.
One hundred and fifty years ago a Stockbridge spinster, who owned her own house on Main Street, rented a bedroom in the house across the street. Odd, yes, but she was compelled to do it by the nocturnal ghost of a departed relative. She felt safe in her home during daylight hours, but at night, she sought refuge from the ghost in the neighboring rented bedroom.
Berkshire ghosts show no preference for North, Central, or South County. Disembodied footsteps and mysterious lights have been reported in a house in North Adams. Above the graveyard in Lenox, it was reported that a mist rose and took the shape of an angry woman. On Mount Greylock an inhospitable and luminous ghost appeared and caused hikers to lose their footing. Berkshire ghosts are, seemingly, everywhere.
Back in Stockbridge, and back in the 21st century, doors slammed, boards creaked, and lights went on and off all by themselves at Highwood. Moreover, a sighting was reported of a semi-transparent man, flamboyantly dressed in a cape and hat set at a rakish angle. Many reported seeing this ghost: some observers reported that he looked suspiciously like Leonard Bernstein; others claimed it was Serge Koussevitzky.
The Berkshires are also a unique oasis of politeness in this modern age characterized by speed, brevity of communication, and gratuitous rudeness. Given the increased chance that you might encounter a Berkshire ghost coupled with the desire to maintain our reputation for courtesy, Berkshire residents should be au courant with the rules of etiquette associated with meeting a ghost.
Yes, indeed, there are rules of ghost etiquette; who knew. They are predicated upon the human/ghost social hierarchy that states without apology that the living are superior to the dead. After all, it is reasoned, the ghost is no longer of this world so, strictly speaking has no social standing at all. You can, therefore, feel your superiority during the encounter, but good breeding will, of course, prevent you from showing it.
Though socially inferior, ghosts do have rights. Out of respect for the ghost, do not attempt to photograph it. Ghosts in all parts of Berkshire County have made clear by their actions that they do not wish to pose: they disappear with a pop or a whoosh if you pull out a camera.
We are judged most justly by how we treat those inferior to us; we are all gracious to those we consider superior. So take the rights and the feelings, I might not mean feelings, of the ghost into account. Not every Berkshire resident who owns an old building has a ghost, but those who do should reconsider exploiting the translucent glow and unidentified creak for their own amusement or pecuniary gain. Too many have advertised their ghost without due consideration for its-his-her needs and desires.
In any social exchange, the rules of etiquette inform us what is kindly, considerate, and appropriate. Very often social exchanges include a request or invitation. The first rule of polite interaction is to answer when asked; the second is to say yes whenever you are able. However, interactions between people and ghosts are different. Even if a ghost’s bidding is made manifest through pantomime or direct speech, avoid acquiescing. If the Greylock ghost invites you to jump off the mountain, you may, without fear of social recrimination, stand your ground. Of course if the ghost cannot make its wishes clear, if all the clanging, bumping, howling, and zephyrs of cold air, signify nothing, you can, politely, ignore the aberration altogether.
Finally, while you do not need to even consider doing the ghost’s bidding, and while you hold the superior social position, know in advance that it is probably equally hopeless to cause the ghost to do your bidding. So maintain your dignity and don’t attempt it. After those minimal courtesies required by civilized discourse, such as a nod or salutation, you might as well just walk away.
