19th Century Winter Activities at Hancock Shaker Village

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Ice cutting, sleigh rides, winter farm tasks, Shaker crafts, and other 29th century winter activities are highlighted during Winter Weekend at Hancock Shaker Village February 14 through 16. During the three-day event, these and other seasonal activities augment self-guided visits to the Village's twenty historic buildings. The Museum Store is open 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM; the village Café is open 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM serving a variety of soups, sandwiches and family-friendly fare. Children under 18 are admitted free to Hancock Shaker Village. Weekend Activities Including Ice Cutting and Sleigh Rides (February 14-16) During the three-day weekend, visitors experience 19th century winter life in a Shaker community through hands-on activities, exhibits and demonstrations. Visitors take a sleigh or wagon ride to the Shaker reservoir and by using the long saw and large ice songs to cut and move blocks of ice from the pond, learn how ice was harvested in the 19th century. Visitors use pikes to move the blocks on a chute which brings the ice down the reservoir bank for loading onto a cart which is taken by oxen to the Village's 1894 ice house where the ice is stored for use during the summer. Experienced ice cutter Dennis Picard provides dialogue and information about the history of ice cutting and its importance in 19th century life. All twenty of the Village's historic buildings are open during the weekend. Craft and cooking demonstrations, talks on Shaker life, winter farm tasks and activities in the Hands-On History Discovery Room bring the experience of a 19th century farming community to life. Shorthorn cows and Merino sheep, examples of breeds raised by he Shakers, are among the different varieties of livestock housed in the 1826 Round Stone Barn where talks about the architecture and historical uses of the building are given. Programs about Shaker daily life, music, and religious beliefs and practices are held in the 1792 Meeting House and 1830 Brick Dwelling. Hours for the weekend are 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. All outdoor activities are weather permitting. Valentine Concert - February 14, 6:00 PM Saturday evening, Hancock Shaker Village and MusicWorks present a special Valentine's Day concert and supper. Heavenly and Wordly Love Songs will be performed by Deborah Rentz-Moore, mezzo-soprano, accompanied by Christian Goodwillie on lute. The concert begins at 6:00 PM with a candle lit supper in the historic 1830 Brick Dwelling to follow. Reservations are not required for the concert, but are necessary for the supper; contact the Village at (800) 817-1137 for reservations. School Vacation Week - February 17 - 22 During the week, the Village offers 90-minute guided tours of the Laundry/Machine Shop, 1830 Brick Dwelling, and 1826 Round Stone Barn. A variety of hands-on activities for children will also be offered throughout each day. Hancock Shaker Village located in Pittsfield in the Berkshire of Western Massachusetts just west of the junction of Routes 20 and 41, five miles west of downtown Pittsfield. The Village is open daily, year round. During winter and spring months, hours are 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Summer and fall hours are 9:30 Am - 5:00 PM. Further information and a calendar of events is available by writing to Hancock Shaker Village, P.O. Box 927, Pittsfield, MA 01202, telephoning (800) 817-1137 or (413) 443-0188, or on the Village's website at www.hancockshakervillage.org.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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