Author Carole Owens will sign copies of her newest book, Pittsfield: Gem City in the Gilded Age on Saturday, Dec. 22, from noon-2 p.m. at the Pittsfield Visitors Center, Colonial Theatre Annex, 109 South St. The event is hosted by the visitors center, which offers the book in its gift shop, and refreshments will be served.
In Pittsfield: Gem City in the Gilded Age, illustrated throughout with vintage and contemporary photographs, Owens examines one of the most decadent times in history. From 1865 to 1917, Pittsfield attracted the American economic elite and played host to some of the most powerful characters of the time. The aristocratic lifestyles of John D. Rockefeller, William Stanley and fellow captains of industry demanded equally glamorous houses. All are here, along with stories of a star-studded society era that included the Vanderbilts and the Pullmans, Edwin H. Lincoln and Wild Bill Hickok.
Pittsfield’s Gilded Age society is a largely unexamined facet of Berkshire County history. Unlike Lenox and Stockbridge, which remained largely agricultural and dependent on cottage industry, Pittsfield’s economy thrived, grew and prospered into the late nineteenth century, creating local millionaires by fostering the newest industries—energy and transportation.
Pittsfield manufactured all the paper for American currency, was home to the first production of alternating current and boasted Tor Court, the most expensive of all the Berkshire cottages. The changes occurring in Pittsfield mirrored those in America itself.
Owens has written eight books, including The Berkshire Cottages and The Lost Days of Agatha Christie, and has written for the Boston Globe, Ladies Home Journal and other publications. She has appeared on and served as a consultant for programs on A&E, PBS, the Travel Channel, the History Channel and Fox News. In addition, she has lectured at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Smithsonian, and has given more than six hundred talks at historical societies, universities and libraries.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Weekend Outlook: Juneteenth and Pride Celebration
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
Check out the events happening this weekend including parades, parties and celebrations.
Editor's Choices
10th Annual Berkshire Pride Festival and Parade
The Common Park, Pittsfield
Time: Saturday, 11 a.m.
The 10th annual pride parade and festival with fun games, performances, food, and more.
Berkshire Mountain Faerie Festival
Bowe Field, Adams
Time: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Visit the faerie realm in the Berkshires with food, music, activities, dancing and more. Tickets are sold at the gate for $12 and $5 for kids 12 and under.
Juneteenth Celebration
Durant Park, Pittsfield
Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
March to the park starts at City Hall, followed by music, dance, food, history and more hosted by NAACP Berkshires. The event is free and open to everyone.
The Revival House on Commercial Street is hosting chef Xavier Jones for a popup restaurant on Fridays and Saturdays in June. Limited menu; $5 reservation includes beverage.
In conversation with Sara Houghteling, Pulitzer Prize-winner Stacy Schiff will explore the origins of the American Revolution as detailed in her latest work, "The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams," for whom the town is named. Schiff is an Adams native and Williams College graduate.
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
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
Gracelyn Wright struck out eight, and Genevieve Lagess went 3-for-5 with four runs batted in as the Hurricanes beat Monson, 17-3, to claim their first Western Mass title in four years. click for more
For the boys, Ward Bianchi helped lead the way with a win in the shot put and a second place in the javelin as the Mounties finished 16 points ahead of runner-up Pittsfield (pending the results of the pole vault, which were unavailable at 11 p.m. Friday night). click for more