Scholars from France find family life good while here in Clark Fellows program

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The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute expects that its visiting scholars will immerse themselves in their research in the institute’s well-regarded library. It turned out to be a bonus that married couple Olivier Meslay and Laure de Margerie have become cultural ambassadors as well during the first full year of the Clark Fellows program. The couple — Meslay is curator of British and Spanish paintings at the Louvre; De Margerie is an archivist at the Musée d’Orsay — have enthusiastically embraced life in the Williamstown community. And they have been particularly involved as parents of three children who attend the Williamstown Elementary School. In an interview last week at the Scholars’ Residence on South Street, near the Clark, they spoke about their experience as a family, and the lasting effects of that experience. The benefits were twofold, they said — both professional and familial. As art historians, they praised the Clark’s resources, the time to use them, and the helpfulness of staffers there. And as parents, they not only acclaim the openness they have found here, they plan to transport some of that home to Paris. “The openness is something we will bring back with us,” said De Margerie. “The generosity of relationships, welcoming foreigners,” she said. “We were so openly welcomed.” Her husband agreed. “We were very welcomed,” he said. “By teachers, parents, people in the streets.” It was a big step, they agreed, to bring their three young children, none of whom spoke English, to spend 10 months in Williamstown. The children are Mélanie, 10, Cyprien, 8, and Gabriel, 6. “We already knew how good the work, study and research aspect would be,” said De Margerie. “The only question mark was bringing the family here.” When they came to look at the Scholars’ Residence in January 2000, renovations were under way. “There were no walls,” Meslay recalled. “We went to look at the school, too,” said De Margerie. “Here we are welcome. Parents are not welcome to come into the schools in France.” “Having children meant introducing us to a very active life in the community, especially at the school, with other parents,” she said. “Because we wanted to show the children life in America, we were taking them to hockey games, to see maple sugaring in Hopkins Forest, to an intertribal Indian powwow. We might have done those things anyway, but we determined that this year will be very special for the children.” In its first year, the Scholars’ Residence, thanks to the youngsters, was decorated for Halloween. “We always explained to the children that [going to the United States] didn’t mean losing their friends in France,” said Meslay. “We didn’t hide that it would be difficult. But we were so happy to come.” “The same evening we were accepted [to the program] we called the school, learned it was free, which we discovered with pleasure, and were told there would be no problem at all,” said Meslay. “We were quite anxious, but the principal, David Rempell, was very helpful, and organized people who would help.” The children were used to hearing English spoken, they said, because they have had English-speaking au pairs, and because they, the parents, have many English-speaking friends. “But they never spoke English because they never needed it,” said Meslay. At Williamstown Elementary School, they said, two language helpers — Maria Greig and Diane Jones — helped the children navigate the transition from French to English. “Because there are three of them, there needed to be three teacher assistants,” he said. “Williamstown Elementary School was very helpful, very open and responsive.” “We want to express our thanks to David Rempell, and the teachers were very helpful.” Those teachers singled out for thanks were Liza Shannon, who taught Mélanie; Tracy Ann Spencer, Cyprian’s second-grade teacher, and Debbie Ackley, Gabriel’s first-grade teacher. The year in Williamstown, they said, was “enormously positive” for the children. “This was the first time we had seen such strong interaction between the school and community,” said Meslay. “In France, school is a separate world.” And in that world, he said, rote learning is emphasized, and controversial issues or problems are never debated. “There is no criticism about French history or French behavior,” he said. And, said De Margerie, “the entire notion of a community does not exist.” While French students have more vacations during the school year — 10 days every six weeks — their days are longer, lasting until 4:30 p.m., for an eight-hour day. In Paris, the family lives in the 7th arrondissement, on the Left Bank of the Seine, within easy walking distance of the museums where they work. During their absence, their apartment has been occupied by cousins. For Meslay and De Margerie, their work here was remarkable for the resources at the Clark, the helpfulness of staffers there, and the luxury of working without interruption. During their time here, Meslay has researched forthcoming exhibitions for the Louvre and the National Galleries of Scotland, and De Margerie has worked on her book about 19th century French sculptor Charles Cordier. “Just to have time to work uninterruptedly, without meetings, phone calls. To have time to concentrate,” said De Margerie. “And space is important. There is space here for readers.” In France, “you can queue for an hour to find a seat,” said Meslay. “The library at the Clark is so good,” he said. “You can find better libraries for specialized subjects. But when you combine all these fields there is no equivalent. “And we are able to have an office in the library, and to have books at our desks,” he added, explaining that these are unaccustomed luxuries in France. “We’ve had many, many visitors, friends and colleagues, art historians, and we know many of them will apply to the program,” she said. “We have the feeling we’ve been in a very privileged space,” she said, as the family plans to head for a vacation in Maine before returning to France in June. “We’re sad to leave Williamstown, but such is life. We’ve had a happy 10-month parenthesis.” The principal difficulty they faced was sticker shock for prescriptions, and the outlay for medical services that would, eventually, be reimbursed by their French insurer. The same antibiotics that would cost about the equivalent of $30 in France cost $329 for 15 days,” said Meslay. “We were surprised and upset” by medical costs in the United States, he said. Besides Maine, their destinations for family travel have included the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Canada, Chicago, and Wisconsin, where they enjoyed an American family Thanksgiving. The entire family became enthusiastic cross-country skiers. And they enjoyed discovering typical New England foods, pancakes with maple syrup, and Indian pudding. “We found some very good American cheese — Berkshire Blue, it’s delicious,” said Meslay, adding that the couple also discovered California wines and wines from the Pacific Northwest. “We serve French wines to our American guests, and American wines to our French guests,” said De Margerie. They will not transplant Halloween decorations to Paris. “We find pleasure in differences,” said Meslay. While the family continued to speak French at home this past year, some of the children combined French and English constructions in a way that is not entirely orthodox. The challenge will be to maintain their English once they are back in Paris. What is Mélanie most looking forward to on her return? “My friends,” she said.
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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

 

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.)  The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.  

 

 

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

 

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few.  All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

 

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house.  New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house.  New paver patio in the back yard.

 

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

 

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

 

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

 

 

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

 

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

 

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

 

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

 

What do the current owners love about this home?

 

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

 

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

 

 

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

 

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.  

 

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

 

 

 

 

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