New England Brass & Gas Tour to stop at Hancock Shaker Village

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See as many as 150 cars from the brass era of automobiles at Hancock Shaker Village on June 24 at Hancock Shaker Village. These vehicles, manufactured prior to 1916, will be stopping at the Village and be the grounds from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. as part of the New England Brass and Gas Tour sponsored by the Horseless Carriage Club of America. Some members of the club dress in attire from the "Brass era" and all are happy to discuss their vehicles and love of collecting. The Shakers loved technology and technological advances. Given that, it is not unexpected that the Shakers owned automobiles very early in the 20th century. In 1915 the Hancock Shakers built a brick garage, heated with borrowed heat from the nearly hired men's shop, to house the many vehicles they would eventually own: Cadillacs, Buicks, Reos and others. Today a 1923 Reo identical to one owned by the Shakers is housed in the Brick Garage; a testimony to the changing times the Shakers faced during the early 20th century. The Brass and Gas Tour is included in Village admission of $15; children under 18 are admitted free. Visitors can tour twenty historic buildings; walk the grounds and gardens choosing form a variety of daily programs on Shaker life, music, religion, and technology. Visitors can see crafts demonstrations such as oval box making, blacksmithing, woodworking, and basket making. Hands-on activities throughout the Village include helping prepare food in the 1830's kitchen and making cheese and butter in the dairy. The discovery Room offers the opportunity to try some of the crafts demonstrated in the Village: weaving and spinning, basket making, and chair seat taping. A selection of Shaker-style cloths in child and adult sizes are available to try on, and you can milk MaryJane, a life size replica of a Holstein cow named after a cow in the Shaker herd. Visitors can also explore the Shaker schoolhouse and learn to write with a quill pen and take lessons with a "Shaker" school teacher (a costumed, in-character Village staff member). American Radiance: Fraktur from the Ralph Esmerian Gift to the American Folk Art Museum is on exhibition through October 25. Forty important example of colorful and intricate Pennsylvania-German folk art that illustrate the important role art played in the everyday lives of early rural Americana. American Radiance: Fraktur from the Ralph Esmerian Gift to the American Folk Art Museum is organized and circulated by the American Folk Art Museum, New York. Hancock Shaker Village is located on Route 20 just west of the junction of Routes 20 and 41 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. For more information, contact 800-817-1137 or visit www.hancockshakervillage.org.
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North Adams Clothing Store Moving to Larger Space

Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Label Shopper is moving across the parking lot to the former Peebles location in April.
 
The discount clothing store has been located in the downtown's L-shaped mall downtown since 2009. It replaced Fashion Bug, which had been in that spot for 24 years before closing in 2007; the company liquidated in 2013. 
 
Label Shopper is part of Peter Harris Clothes, established in 1970 by Peter Elitzer. Starting as a single store in Latham, N.Y., offering brand-name apparel at discount prices, the company operates more than 70 stores throughout the Northeast and Midwest.
 
The store is set to close on April 6 for the move and reopen on April 9 in the former Gordmans, according to signage. 
 
Gordmans briefly replaced Peebles in the former Kmart until the parent company of the two brands declared bankruptcy and closed its stores in 2020. 
 
At 17,250 square feet, the Gordman's space is at least double the size of Label Shopper's current location.
 
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