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1765 Act of Incorporation

Treadway Family & the Williams Inn

We hope you’ll join us on Sunday, June 14 from 1 – 3 pm in the Heritage Room at the Williams for our Annual Meeting for Members at 1 pm followed by a lecture on the Treadway family and the Williams Inn presented by Carl Faulkner, former owner of the Williams Inn.

L.G. Treadway opened his first inn in Williamstown, MA in 1912. By 1954 there were 14 Treadway Inns in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York State, and Vero Beach, Florida. Richard Fowle “Dick” Treadway was born (June 5, 1913) and raised in Williamstown, succeeded his father as chairman of the board at the same time he was a member of the Massachusetts Senate from 1953 to 1955. Dick Treadway graduated from Williston Academy in 1932 and from Dartmouth College in 1936 with a bachelor’s degree in English. While at Dartmouth, Treadway was also the business editor of the The Dartmouth and was a member of the Palaeopitus. Richard also served as Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee from 1969 to 1971. When Dick was chairman, his brother John, who was the manager of the Williams Inn, served as Assistant Managing Director, and the other brother David was Secretary of the Board, and Sales Manager of the Inns.

Come here more about this fascinating Williamstown dynasty on June 14th from 1-3 in the Heritage Room at (where else?) the Williams Inn.

100 Years in White: Architecture of the First Congregational Church

What do shirt collars and the current building of the First Congregational Church have in common? How did Williams College create the circumstances making it necessary to redesign our building? Some of this information is common knowledge in Williamstown, but you may be surprised by some information that has newly been connected to this story. Moira Jones ties new information with the old in this exhibit to tell the whole story of why the 1869 Neo-Romanesque building was renovated before its 50^th birthday.

Exhibit curator, Moira Jones, is Moderator of the First Congregational Church (for more information on what a “Moderator” is, visit FirstChurchWilliamstown.org). A native of California, who was born in a town which celebrated its bicentennial the year after our nation, Moira has lived in Williamstown, and been interested in our community history for more than 30 years. She is indebted to the research of Carl A. Westerdahl (1937-2013) for much of the information that was in this presentation.

To view a video of this lecture click here: “100 Years in White: Architecture of the First Congregational Church”