Author: Admin

Annual Meeting. “Reading Frederick Douglass Together: Berkshire County Lasting Legacies”

SATURDAY, JUNE 20th, 2026 11:00AM

32 NEW ASHFORD ROAD, WILLIAMSTOWN, MA

The book discussion of Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave will take place Thursday, June 18th at 4:00 p.m. at the David and Joyce Milne Public Library in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Similarly, the reading of Douglass’ “What to a slave is the Fourth of July” will take place at the Williamstown Historical Society on Saturday, June 20th at 11:00 a.m.

The Berkshire County tour of historic sites connected to Douglass and the abolitionist movement will take place in Lanesborough, Pittsfield, Great Barrington, and Stockbridge, Massachusetts Sunday, June 21st starting at 9 a.m.. Specifically, the Old Meeting House in Pittsfield, Elizabeth Freeman’s statue, and the most recent W.E.B. Dubois statue  at the Mason Public Library.

“Hometown Heroes in the Civil War – Berkshire County.” Dennis Pregent, local historian/author

SATURDAY, MAY 30th, 2026 10:00AM

32 NEW ASHFORD ROAD, WILLIAMSTOWN, MA

Dennis G. Pregent was born and educated in the Berkshires. He joined the Marines in 1965, served six and a half years, and was decorated during his two tours of duty in Vietnam. After being honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant, he attended and graduated from North Adams State College in 1975 (currently Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts) and received his MBA from the University of Massachusetts in 1977. For over thirty-five years, until his retirement, he worked in the human resources field serving as an international vice-president for the Evenflo/Spalding and ConAgra companies.

Pregent’s first book, The Boys of St Joe’s 65 in the Vietnam War (December 2019), was followed by Born in the Berkshires (October 2021). Berkshire Patriots: Stories of Sacrifice is his third book. His fourth book, Berkshire Heroes in WWII – With Courage and Honor, was released in 2024.

“Williamstown in 1776.” Dusty Griffin, local historian/author

SATURDAY, MAY 9th, 2026 11:00AM

32 NEW ASHFORD ROAD, WILLIAMSTOWN, MA

Over the last eight years, local historian Dustin (Dusty) Griffin has published four collections of essays on the history of Williamstown and Williamstown, the most recent of them Williamstown and Williams College: Volume 4, in June 2025. He calls the essays “microhistories,”deep dives into the  history of a particular place, a notable person, or a significant event. He has often given talks to audiences  in Williamstown  on local history over the last ten years. He is now at work on new essays, including one which forms the basis of today’s talk, “Williamstown in 1776.”

Before turning to local  history, Dusty was Professor of English at New York University, and the author of nine scholarly books on18th-century English literature. He is a1965 graduate of Williams College, and a former trustee of the college. He is also chair of the Williamstown Historical Commission,which is currently preparing online tours of historical houses and sites in Williamstown, including a “1776 tour.” Dusty and his wife, Gale, have lived in Williamstown since 2003.