The Georgian-style (and partial Saltbox) house shown above was built along South Main Street in Great Barrington between 1768 and 1771. Known as the Truman Wheeler house, a portion of the structure was originally a small building of Dutch architecture, which dates back even further. It served as the home and store of Captain Truman Wheeler, a local farmer and merchant and one of Great Barrington’s most respected leaders.
In addition to cultivating a large, prosperous farm, Truman Wheeler was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and served as muster master for Berkshire County, where he enlisted and paid bounty on 986 enlistments to the Continental Army. Wheeler was also elected as town treasurer and state representative. After remaining with the same family for nearly 250 years, the Wheeler homestead was threatened with destruction in 2007 so the property could be used for a strip-mall. However, 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. The property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
Since then, through grants and volunteer labor, portions of the main house have been renovated and restored, though there is still much work to be done. The Historical Society installed a town museum with interesting revolving exhibits pertaining to Great Barrington and Housatonic. The barns, damaged by a tornado 30 years ago, are still in need of serious repair.
Financial challenges remain, as the Great Barrington Historical Society is one of the few local historical societies burdened with a mortgage. A small but dedicated group of volunteers continues to make progress, even as maintenance costs have skyrocketed over the last several years. The Society operates frugally, and to keep plugging along, the group spends a great deal of time and effort fundraising. Benefactors are very much needed. The town museum is presently open on Sundays or by appointment. For more information, visit the Great Barrington Historical Society’s website.
