LENOX — The Candle Light Inn has closed for business after being sold to a Connecticut couple for $1,015,000 on Tuesday.
William and Suzanne Dakin bought the landmark property at the corner of Church and Main streets from long-time owner Rebecca Hedgecock of Lenox, according to documents at the Central Berkshire Registry of Deeds.
William Dakin, reached yesterday at the inn, said he preferred not to comment on his plans for the building, but it is believed he will return it to a private residence, which it was when it was originally built in 1885.
Hedgecock who will maintain her private residence in Lenox, said she plans to take a few months off and visit her children.
“Then I’m going to clean out my garage,†she said.
A Lenox landmark for many years, the large white building was originally built and occupied by the Bishop family. They moved on to grander estates in the Lenox area in the early 1900s, and since then the property has been used for a variety of purposes. During the 1950s, General Electric Co. housed bachelor workers for its Pittsfield plant there. Later, the building was sold to people who put it to use in the hospitality industry.
Beginning in the early ’60s, it became a restaurant known as Chef Carl’s. It then became the Toby Jug restaurant and bar and later was run as an inn by Jimmy and Lynne DeMayo, who named it the Candle Light and turned it into a hotspot for tourists. The DeMayos made many improvements to the building, enclosed the porches and constructed an outside courtyard to accommodate a steadily growing number of guests.
During the mid 1980s, the Candle Light received much attention as a highly regarded destination for tourists and was frequently reviewed by big-city food editors, who gave glowing reports on the quality of the food and accommodations. Robert Redford and other stars could be occasionally glimpsed enjoying a meal on the porch or having a drink at the bar.
In 1988, the DeMayos sold the historic building to Hedgecock and went on to open the Lenox 218 restaurant on Main Street, which remains open for business and is still owned by the family. Hedgecock continued to run the Candle Light as an inn and restaurant for the next 16 years, until she sold it Tuesday.
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Dalton Day Returns This Saturday
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's popular Dalton Day festival is returning this weekend after a year's hiatus.
The event will kick off this Saturday at 11 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. in the field in front of the Senior Center.
The community celebration was established in 2023 by the Cultural Council in an effort to increase resident participation at town meetings while also showcasing the area's welcoming, diverse, artistic and sporty atmosphere. In 2024, the event brought together 300 residents.
"The primary mission of Dalton Day is to foster a strong sense of community, build civic pride, and bring residents together through a shared celebration of local culture, music, and food," said Jeannie Ingram, Select Board member and cultural council chair, and Lori Venezia, executive assistant to the town manager.
The event provides an accessible and free platform for "civic education, community bonding, and supporting local businesses, artisans, makers, and culture more broadly," they said.
The festival strengthens the fabric of the town both civically and economically by connecting grassroots organizations with residents, fostering a shared sense of belonging, and providing free, family-friendly entertainment.
It also serves as an opportunity for community members to meet with local officials and a couple of state officials. State Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Leigh Davis will be coming from Beacon Hill to speak at the event.
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Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
Jason Codey struck out 13, walked two and allowed just an infield single as the Generals earned a 7-1 win over Wahconah to claim their third straight regional title. click for more
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