Ruby Bridges Continues to Make History

Nichole DupontiBerkshires Staff
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Norman Rockwell Museum
Rockwell immortalized then 6-year-old Ruby Bridges Hall's first day of school in 1960.
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Last Friday, I had the great privilege of speaking with Ruby Bridges Hall (to many she is and always will be Ruby Bridges). Fifty years ago on Nov. 14, 1960, Bridges made history as the first black student to step foot in the William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. Escorted from her home to the school, 6-year-old Ruby became a symbol for the Civil Rights movement and an icon for American schoolchildren. For that entire year of school, Bridges was the only student in her class as many white parents pulled their children from the school in protest. Barbara Henry, her teacher, was the only teacher in the school who did not refuse to teach the new student.

In 1999, Bridges founded the Ruby Bridges Foundation and is a motivational speaker for schoolchildren across the country, speaking out against racism and intolerance.

Bridges' historic journey to school was immortalized in Norman Rockwell's painting "The Problem We All Live With," which appeared on the cover of Look Magazine on Jan. 14, 1964. This weekend, the museum honors Bridges' journey and Rockwell's painting with a small installation and a talk on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. by curator Corry Kanzenberg.

Question: What stands out in your mind about that first day of school 50 years ago?

Answer: That first day I remember driving up in front of the school with the U.S. marshals. People were chanting and throwing things and they seemed really angry.

Q: Did you ask your mother about what was going on?


Bridges, seen here in New Orleans last month, speaks at schools around the country.
A: I wasn't the kind of child to ask questions. I just did what I was told and watched everything go on around me, then asked the questions. It would've been hard to try and explain what was going on then to a 6-year-old. I was concentrating on behaving and listening to the teacher. That was it.

Q: What do you think is the greatest challenge that children face today?

A: I have four grandchildren. I think the greatest challenge is the violence that's in the world that is directed towards our children. I believe that there's a greater evil out there amongst us. This has touched me personally because I've lost a son to violence. We're concerned about the wrong things. We are so focused on education but we really need to get back to the basics.

Q: Do you ever question your role in history? Do you wish things were different?

A: No, no, I know now that this was the plan for me all along. I'm comfortable in my own skin. Of course, I still question and doubt myself and there are days when I don't want to get up out of bed. But I still have hope. My biggest fans are the kids and I'm always amazed at how welcoming they are to me. For as much as we see in the media and all of the negativity we see I see that kind of hope every time I go into a classroom. And I know that we are going to come out OK.
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Friday Front Porch Feature: Luxury on Pontoosuc Lake

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Are you looking for a private estate right on the lake? Then this might be the home for you.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 140 Hancock Road.

This house was built in 2015 and has eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It is 7,494 square feet on a little over an acre. 

The house sits on Pontoosuc Lake and includes private lake access and a heated pool with an expansive deck. 

The kitchen is equipped with Wolf and SubZero appliances and there is a full outdoor kitchen as well. The property has three additional separated living quarters, each with a kitchen and its own living room. 

The house also includes a big garage for multiple cars or more. Included in the garage is your very own elevator that leads to the in-law apartment.

It is on the market for $3,900,000.

We spoke with listing agent Katie Soules and Jeff Astore from William Raveis

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

What truly makes this property stand out is that you simply don't find this combination very often in the Berkshires. It's an extraordinary lakefront setting, incredible scale, and a lifestyle that's hard to replicate. You have the lake, the mountain views, the pool, the dock, amazing entertaining spaces, and the flexibility to accommodate family, friends, and guests. It feels less like simply owning a beautiful home and more like owning your own private Berkshire retreat.

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

I'd tell them to stop thinking of it as just a house and imagine what life here could actually feel like. Mornings on the lake, afternoons on the water or by the pool, evenings entertaining friends and family with the mountains as your backdrop. This is a place where everyday life can feel like a vacation and where you can create the kind of memories that stay with you for years.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of the home?

The home has a really special feel, elegant and impressive, but at the same time warm, relaxed, and incredibly inviting. There's a natural connection to the lake and the outdoors throughout the home, so it never feels like luxury for the sake of luxury. It feels like a place designed to be lived in, enjoyed, and shared with family, friends, and plenty of unforgettable moments.

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