Hancock Shaker Village schedules Shaker Seminar July 20-25

12:00AM / Friday, June 06, 2003Print Story | Email Story

Hancock Shaker Village announced plans for the 29th annual Shaker Seminar, a five-day conference focused on various aspects of Shaker history, collecting, and research, July 20-25. This year's seminar is centered at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Massachusetts and will give special focus to the Shaker communities of Harvard and Shirley. A full week of stimulating presentations, private tours, and programs by scholars, museum professionals, and academics combine with unique functions to offer a program that appeals to people with a variety of interests. Behind-the-scenes and Private Tours On Tuesday, July 22, Seminar participants will travel to the former Shaker site in Shirley, Massachusetts, which is now a State Correctional Facility, to view the original Shaker buildings that remain. Following lunch, participants will be given a tour of the Harvard Meetinghouse, South Family Sister's Shop, and 1835 South Family Dwelling which are now private homes not open to the public. At the Fruitlands Museum on Wednesday, July 23, Curator Mike Volmar offers a glimpse at the museum's collection of Shaker manuscripts and Roben Cambell will provide a tour of Fruitlands' extensive collection of Shaker textiles. Speakers On Sunday evening July 20, Dorothy Andrews opens the seminar with Elijah Myrick's Herbarium, a lecture on Shaker herbalist Elijah Myrick and his book of herbs. Monday's program include God's lovely Vineyard: An Intimate Look at the Harvard and Shirley Shakers, an historical overview of the Harvard and Shirley Shakers presented by Suzanne R. Thurman. In her lecture Shaker Nurses and the American Botanico-medical Movement of the Early 19th Century, Martha Libster discusses the work of the Shaker nurse herbalists and their contribution to the expansion of the American botanical health care movement of the 1830s - 1850s. Robert Adam presents a detailed account of the dismantling and documentation of the Shirley Infirmary and Privy. Meredith Marcinkewicz provides introductory remarks and background for Tuesday's tour of the former Shirley site. Following dinner on Tuesday, Mary Ann Haagen and Christian Goodwillie gave a presentation about and performance of the music of the Shaker community at Harvard. David Newell begins the day on Thursday with Great Spiritual Wars and Sharp Testimonies: The Church at Ashfield, an examination of the social, economic and religious conditions in Ashfield, Massachusetts, that lead to the rise and spread of Shakerism in this and surrounding towns in 1779-1780. Starlyn D'Angelo presents Fragments of Ann Lee, an overview of objects in museum collections that are associated with founder of the Shaker movement. On Friday David Fay and Roben Campbell present Comings and Goings at the Harvard Shaker Village, an examination of aspects of village life and the forces that transformed Shaker communities in the 19th century based on records of the Harvard Shaker Church. Jane Crosthwaite presents Clouds of Witnesses: Testimonies in the Sacred Texts of Mother's Work which discusses the visions received by the Shakers during the 1840s. Meals and Evening Events Seminar participants enjoy fun and fine dining, and evening activities. Planned meals and activities include: lunch at the historic Bull Run Restaurant (they say George Washington stopped by for a "cup of hot buttered rum"), preview of the "Discovery Sale" and behind-the-scenes tour of the Skinner gallery, dinner at The Fruitlands Museum with its spectacular valley view, dinner and tour of the breath-taking Noshoba Valley Winery in Bolton, and a picnic supper at The Fruitlands Museum followed by an outdoor concert by the Concord Band, a 70 piece symphonic band. Registration Pre-registration is required by June1 and can be made by contacting Hancock Shaker Village at (413) 443-0188 ext.221. A Variety of options are available: Resident- $680 per person double occupancy - includes all offered meals, programs, admissions, events, seminar book, and lodging; Single Supplement - $250 Commuter - $410 - includes all offered meals, programs, admissions, events, seminar book. Sunday only - $50 - includes dinner and evening talk, seminar book Tuesday - $95 - includes all programs, lunch, and seminar book Single Day - $125 - includes all offered programs, meals, and seminar book Lodging is at the Best Western Royal Plaza in Fitchburg, Massachusetts located just 10 miles from the Fruitlands Museum. For a complete Shaker Seminar schedule, contact the Village or go to www.hancockshakervillage.org and click on the Shaker Seminar icon after May 12.

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McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:32PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course.

The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication.

"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."

LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates.

"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.

The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.

"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back.

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