When the old picture postcard of the Sandisfield stagecoach shown above was published circa 1915, stage travel in the Berkshires was nearing its end. In this view, the stage is stopped in front of the Colebrook, Conn., post office.
Several stage lines traversed the southern Berkshires over the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The stage shown here carried passengers along the Sandy Brook Turnpike, present-day Route 183. By the time the above view was taken, the stage served mostly local folks without autos. In earlier decades, one of the best-known long-distance stages through Sandisfield was the Red Bird. One of its overnight stops was at the Red Bird Inn, which still stands in New Marlborough at the corner of present-day Route 57 and Adsit Crosby Road.
As railroads expanded in much of the Northeast, most long-distance stage lines were out of business by the 1860s. Autos and trucks eventually ended local stage deliveries as well. But a few stages continued to serve rural towns like Sandisfield until about 1920.
According to Sandisfield historian Ron Bernard, one of the most interesting stage drivers in Sandisfield was John Hall. Besides hauling passengers locally and down to Winsted, Conn., he brought mail and newspapers to the post office and general stores. He also provided gossip and tall tales of his roadside adventures to passengers and fellow townfolk. His exaggerated encounter with the mysterious “Wildman of Winsted” eventually made nationwide headlines.
The old Colebrook post office is now a private residence as shown below. The present-day post office is still active and located two buildings to the north on Route 183.
