Sheffield — One unique—and perhaps unexpected—result of the “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” exhibit’s stay in Sheffield is the way in which it has fostered collaboration between the various independent organizations within the community. In conjunction with the “Crossroads” exhibit on display at the Bushnell-Sage Library are several other exhibits at various community centers throughout Sheffield that focus on more specific aspects of our rural life and its history. Currently on view at the Sheffield Historical Society’s Dan Raymond House are “Healthcare in Sheffield Over the Ages” and “The Men of the Mass 54th: Farmers, Builders, their Families & their Stories.” Sheffield’s ability to have multiple community organizations partner together in order to host different exhibits and events, allows the “Crossroads” programming to highlight different aspects of what makes our community unique—both historically and contemporarily—and to draw people to the various organizations in town.
“Healthcare in Sheffield Over the Ages” tells the history of medical care in the area from the age of home remedies to the founding of Fairview Hospital in the early-20th century and the modern cutting-edge advancements that have been possible there thanks to its designation as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in 2003. The area’s thriving medical practices have allowed Berkshire County residents peace of mind: whether it be treatment of tuberculosis in the 20th century, advancements in fetal heart monitoring, miraculous open heart surgeries, or the fast response to the COVID pandemic with testing sites and vaccinations when they became available.
The second exhibit on display at the Dan Raymond House, “The Men of the Mass 54th: Farmers, Builders, their Families & their Stories,” tells the story of a regiment of Black men from Massachusetts who fought in the Civil War and helped change the tide in the United States’ favor. The exhibit highlights that the majority of initial recruitments for the regiment came from Boston and the Berkshires. In fact, the very first volunteer to join the 54th Regiment and complete his service was Milo Freeland of Sheffield (David Addison was the first to enlist but deserted his post). The exhibit offers biographies for each of the Sheffield men who enlisted in the 54th Regiment, including their roles in the war, their occupation before and after, and even a look into their ancestry. The exhibit tells a humanizing story of ordinary Sheffield men who fought to bring the North victory and ensure their own freedom. This in spite of the Confederacy’s declaration that men of the 54th Regiment would not be protected by prisoner-of-war standards and would, instead, be killed or enslaved.
These two exhibits provide in-depth looks at our community’s response to existential threats—both historic and contemporary. And they perfectly complement the theme of the “Crossroads” programming: change and resiliency through that change. The “Crossroads” series has allowed the community to come together to tell these stories that may otherwise go untold. Vice President of the Sheffield Historical Society Kathy Staropoli told The Edge, “It really has brought the community together even more than usual—it’s a tight-knit community. It has helped all of [the organizations] learn how to work together cooperatively. Each of us has taken a component of [our story].” Collaboration was the name of the game when it came to making “Crossroads” a reality.
In fact, one of the reasons that the Bushnell-Sage Library and Sheffield were selected to host the “Crossroads” exhibit was due to the various Sheffield organizations’ ability to collaborate. “I do know from Mass Humanities that it was one of the strengths of our application that we were able to show so much town support and so much organizational support for wanting to bring this in,” Bushnell-Sage Library Director Deena Caswell told The Berkshire Edge in an interview. “It was a really cool thing to show that we had an eye on this level of collaboration and that there was such a level of interest from town groups wanting to bring this in, and I think it made for a very strong argument in our application.”
“Healthcare in Sheffield Over the Ages” will be on display at the Dan Raymond house through April 30, but Staropoli notes that “The Men of the Mass 54th” will likely stay around a little longer because it is a story that needs telling. For more information, about these two exhibits and the Dan Raymond House, visit the Sheffield Historical Society’s website. For more information about “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” as well as other exhibits and events taking place as part of the series, visit the Bushnell-Sage Library’s website.
