The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-08-31


eled through the Berkshires, |
that glorious range Of hills
that stretches from Vermont |
across Massachusetts into Connecticut |
long famous for their historical and
literary associations, what wealth OF
pleasurable emotions Is called up by
the very name.
The Berkshires The name stands
tor scenic beauties to be found no.
where else; ljfe-giving breezes; strolls
to the homes of famous authors and
other historical figures; vast estates Of
multimillionaires; scenes of battle
with Indians; and, withal, glimpses
the Boston Herald.
1t means, too, that the person who
is familiar with books may conjure
up Longfellow's "The Old Clock on
the Stairs" or Beecher's "Star Pa
pers," or Holmes "Elsie Venner," or
the kindly faces Of James Russell Low
ell, Doctor Charming, Herman Mel
Vile, and many other literary men,
who spent their summers among these
hills and wrote many of their most
famous books in this enchanted re-
gion.
Berkshire is the most western coun-
ty In Massachusetts. 1t touches three
states; Vermont on the north, New
York on the west and Connecticut on
the south. 1t is so miles long and con-
tains an area of about $50 square
miles. The scenic delights of the
Berkshires, however, do not stop At
the state boundary lines. They extend
to the Hudson river valley In the. en-
pire state, to the Green mountains OF
Vermont and the charming rolling
country of western Connecticut
In the early days this entire re-
| gion was the scene Of struggles with
the Indians; 1t did its full part In the
war of the American revolution, and
| 1t Is today a country of beautiful
homes, and noted for its remarkable
manufacturing Development
Perfect Motor Roads.
It Is covered with a network OF
perfect automobiling roads, SO built
that their grades are not difficult In
traversing the most mountainous sec
| tons. Jacobs ladder and the well
| known Mohawk trail are the scenic
route for the tourist by motor; there
! are trolley lines throughout the en-
tire region, and by-paths and trails
for the pedestrian or the horseman
all of which offer great variety O.
| pleasures.
Pittsfield and North Adams are cen
tiers from which to start If 1t Is the In
tention to make q tour Of the Berk
shires, although one may leave from
almost any point and find no difficult,
In reaching a destination. There \
one trolley line, beginning at Canaan
Conn.,, that traverses the entire region
passing through twenty cities AM
towns in four different states.
The tour from Pittsdeld to Grea
harrington, or further on to Canaan
Is delightful. In Pittsf1eld one ma
see the site of the meeting house owe
which Fighting Parson Allen" pre-
sided when he led the men of Berl
shire to the battle of Bennington.
was In Pittsfield that the first agricu
tural fair in America was held; an
here General Lafayette was royal
entertained on bis farewell visit
America. In Pittsfeld, too, Is tn
house known to every reader of Loni
fellow, that of his father-in-law, I
! which stood 1.-The old clock on tn
stairs"
, On the road to Lenox Is the hous
occupied by Oliver Wendell Holme
with it's famous Holmes pine" Ill
> der which the poet often wrote.
little further on Is Arrowhead" til
home of the late Herman Melyill
!, where the indians used to rendezvou
Near here are the Canoe meadows Q
I the Housatonic, where the 1ndiaI
moored their canoes when visiting IL
) burial places Of their ancestors.
On every hand are the beautifl
i. summer estates of those who hay
! inherited or acquired great riches.
Up and Over Jacobs Ladder.
0 Lee presents many points of int
b est. Here is the mill in which W;
made the first wood pulp paper ev'
used in America; here is the marb
: quarry, now abandoned, from Whit
$ was taken the stone used In the ere
d ton of the two wings of the nation
, capitol at Washington. From 9th
d quarries here were taken $50, 600 hea
Y stones purchased by the governme
h to mark the graves of its soldier dea
u Lee was the scene Of one of the nuI
erous skjrmishes Of Shay's rebellio
and is yery attractive village.
From Lee the motorist may ent
the popular Jacobs Ladder route
Springfield and the East route tn