Berkshire County Historical Society Celebrates Plant a Tree Day

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Join the Berkshire County Historical Society on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 5:30 pm as they celebrate Plant a Tree Day with a ceremonial planting of a young American elm "Jefferson" on Park Square. 
 
The tree will be planted to honor the Berkshires' first known environmentalist Lucretia Williams. Williams threw herself before the woodsman's axe to save a towering elm known as the Pittsfield Elm on Park Square in 1789. 
 
"BCHS is very grateful to the Pittsfield Parks Department and George and Alice Wislocki for helping make this possible, said Executive Director Lesley Herzberg. "It is a fitting and lasting tribute to Lucretia Williams whose story resonates with us today over one hundred years after her efforts to save the Pittsfield Elm."
 
This free event is open to the public.
 
"BCHS is very grateful to the Pittsfield Parks Department and George and Alice Wislocki for helping make this possible, said Executive Director Lesley Herzberg. "It is a fitting and lasting tribute to Lucretia Williams whose story resonates with us today over one hundred years after her efforts to save the Pittsfield Elm."
 

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Dalton Bridge Eyed for $2.5M Reconstruction

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's lowest-rated bridge is slated for an approximately $2.5 million reconstruction project.
 
During the Select Board meeting on Monday it was announced that the town has been awarded a $1 million grant through the Municipal Small Bridge Program for the bridge on Grange Hall Road over Barton Brook, located near Patricia Avenue. 
 
The town's engineers estimated the total cost to complete is $2,335,000, however these estimates tend to run a little high, Town Manager Eric Anderson said. 
 
"It's an expensive project, there is no question but it does have to be done. That is the culvert the town has with the lowest rating in town," he said. 
 
If the town were to decide to delay the project, which would revoke its eligibility for the state grant, then it would be on the hook for the total cost.
 
When the town agrees to the grant, it is agreeing to this bridge project, Anderson said. 
 
According to the state website, the short span bridge, built in 1938, was inspected on July 20, 2025 and rated as structurally deficient. 
 
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