Hope Fire parade goes off in style

By Bill SamplePrint Story | Email Story
Mark Beaumont of Philmont, N.Y., strikes a pose with the hose of an 1860 hose cart during Sunday’s Hope Fire Parade in Great Barrington. Members of the Philmont Fire Department made the undercarriage of the float from an old pop-up camper.
GREAT BARRINGTON — Over 50 fire departments, along with thousands of spectators, civic officials, clubs and other local and regional groupsm gathered on the main street of Great Barrington Sunday to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Hope Fire Company with a grand parade. In 1854, 19 men had paraded through the same route to garner support for the need to establish and organize a town fire department. The community responded, and within a short time the Hope Fire Company was in business with its first piece of equipment and trained men to operate it. Prior to Hope’s founding, fires had been fought only with wooden bucket brigades. Antique firefighting apparatus from all over New England was evident, all lovingly maintained and at their shiniest, towed by men who have dedicated their lives to protecting others from the ravages of fire. Ornate hose tubs and carts festooned with flowers and quirky mottoes such as “Douse The Glim,” drew the admiration of old and young alike. Other entries, such as the Lee Fire Department’s 1873 steamer, were drawn by sturdy Belgian horses, to the delight of many, including young Margot Douillet of Housatonic, who sat on the sidelines with her mother, Georgia. “The horses are my favorite part of the parade,” Margot said with a wide smile. In all, over 190 units showed up for the parade, among them bagpipers, drum corps, Shriners, antique cars, politicians, Boy Scouts, many youth and charity organizations and the U.S. Marines. But the focus and the loudest applause went to the many fire companies marching in support of their brethren from Great Barrington, who were celebrating their 150th year in service. Larry Morse, tasked with driving the West Stockbridge antique firetruck in the parade, said, “This parade has an amazing display of antique firefighting equipment. I love to see this stuff. It shows how far we’ve really come in the last 150 years.” Boy Scouts Matt Dellea and Ian Girouard of Housatonic seemed proud to be carrying the banner of the South Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. They also were clearly enjoying the rest of the parade going on around them. “This is so cool,” Matt said during a brief pause in the proceedings. The pair then marched off in their crisp uniforms with heads held high, doing their best to keep the banner straight and their feet in step. The procession took about three hours to make its way from the north end of Main Street to the VFW building on the south end of town. No injuries or accidents were reported during the parade, which was blessed by pleasant mid-summer weather. Participating parade units were given more than 40 awards in several divisions. Top overall honors for the local marching fire unit category went to the Alert Hose Company of Adams, with the Canaan Conn. fire department claiming the same prize in the out-of-state category. The Stockbridge and Sheffield fire departments received awards, and in the antique apparatus categories, the Lenox Fire Department took top honors with three prizes. Lee was close behind, bringing home two. In the non-fire-department entry categories, grand prize for best float went to Joe Wilkinson Excavation of Sheffield. Adams-Budz VFW Post of Housatonic won the best appearing color guard prize. The Lakeville, Conn. Fire Department won that prize in the out-of-state firefighters division, with the Sandisfield Fire Department taking top local honors for best appearing company in regulation uniform. The Greenport, N.Y. Fire Department took top prize for regulation uniform in the out-of-state category. Other categories included prizes for coming the longest distance from in or out of state and for the oldest apparatus still in working order. The fire department from Bath, Maine won the longest distance prize for the out-of-state category, and the Newburyport Fire Department won for longest distance traveled in state. The prize for entering the oldest firefighting equipment in working order went to the state Department of Forestry.
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Friends of Great Barrington Libraries Holiday Book Sale

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Friends of Great Barrington Libraries invite the community to shop their annual Holiday Good-as-New Book Sale, happening now through the end of the year at the Mason Library, 231 Main Street. 
 
With hundreds of curated gently used books to choose from—fiction, nonfiction, children's favorites, gift-quality selections, cookbooks, and more—it's the perfect local stop for holiday gifting.
 
This year's sale is an addition to the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce's Holiday Stroll on this Saturday, Dec. 13, 3–8 PM. Visitors can swing by the Mason Library for early parking, browse the sale until 3:00 PM, then meet Pete the Cat on the front lawn before heading downtown for the Stroll's shopping, music, and festive eats.
 
Can't make the Holiday Stroll? The book sale is open during regular Mason Library hours throughout December.
 
Proceeds support free library programming and events for all ages.
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