Carmelites have sold Williamstown property

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The Oblong Road estate that once belonged to novelist Sinclair Lewis and is renowned for its spectacular views has been sold by the Carmelite Fathers, a Roman Catholic order, to its next door neighbor for $2.1 million. According to transactions recorded April 17 in the Northern Berkshire Registry of Deeds in Adams, the Carmelite Fathers sold the property at 239 Oblong Road to Linda H. White of 237 Oblong Road for $2.1 million. Subsequently, that transaction was followed by three others. The middle, 50-acre lot containing the 10-bedroom house and buildings, was sold to the KRSE Nominee Trust for $900,000. Another parcel, of forest and uplands, was sold to the Macomber Mountain Nominee Trust for $10. And White transferred, for no consideration, 101 acres to herself and her husband, Dr. Eric White. Linda White, contacted by telephone, said “Our aim has always been to maintain the integrity of the property, and we think we’ve accomplished that.” Neither attorney Adam Filson, trustee of the KRSE Nominee Trust, nor attorney F. Sidney Smithers, trustee of the Macomber trust, would disclose the identities of the principals of the trust. Filson said the house will be a private residence, not multi-family. There are no plans to demolish the buildings, which include a 22,000-square-foot concrete block addition that houses a chapel, dining hall and 30 dormitory rooms. The Carmelite Fathers most recently operated the property as a retreat center. But when it went on the market last year, a Carmelite spokesman in Middletown, N.Y., said the order planned to concentrate on its missions in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. The 1916 house, then called Thorvale, was home to Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Sinclair Lewis for five years, until 1951. The Carmelite Fathers bought it the following year for $60,000. White is director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Greylock Theater Project in North Adams. Eric White is an orthopedic surgeon at North Adams Regional Hospital.
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Weekend Outlook: Jazzy Days

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Check out the events happening this weekend in the county including spring cleaning, jazz, and more.

Editor's Pick

Pittsfield City Jazz Festival
Celebrate jazz this week in Pittsfield with events and concerts. It starts with a Jazz Jam at 7 p.m. on Friday at Hot Plate Brewing and then follows on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with rising artist Georgia Heers at Mr. Finn's Caberet (Barrington Stage.)

More information here.

Friday

Free Zumba Class with Jos
740 Williams St., Pittsfield
Time: 6 to 7 p.m.

Get a workout at this free Zumba class at On Pointe Barre & Fitness Studio.

More information here.

Common Craft Night
165 East Main St., North Adams
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Bring a craft you have been working on and join others to socialize.

More information here.

Michael Daves & Jacob Jolliff
Adams Theater
Time: 7:30 p.m.
 
Fresh off their appearance at FreshGrass Festival 2025, Michael Daves (guitar, vocals) and Jacob Jolliff (mandolin, vocals) celebrate their new album "We Like Jim & Jesse!" in which they honor bluegrass pioneers
 
The theater is located at 27 Park St., Adams. 
 
Tickets and more information here

Downtown Pittsfield Spring Cleanup
413 North St., Pittsfield
Time: noon to 4 p.m.

Downtown Pittsfield Inc. hosts its annual downtown spring cleanup. This year, more than 150 volunteers representing over a dozen local businesses and organizations will take to the streets for this competitive annual event.

More information here.

Saturday

'From Sea to Shining Sea': a Concert for America at 250
First United Methodist Church, Pittsfield
Time: 3 p.m.

The Eagles Community Band is hosting its annual "From Seas to Shining Sea" concert to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

More information here.

Under the Night Sky at Mount Greylock
Mount Greylock Visitor Center, Lanesborough
Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Stargaze with Kevin Collins and his planetarium projector. You will learn about stars and much more astronomy, physics, and mythology.

More information here.

Berkshire Book Con
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield
Time: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Celebrate reading and writing with contests, a community read with a local author, an adult book fair, and trivia night. With participating partners Hot Plate Brewing Co and Indie Readery Records.

More information here.

Pittsfield Community Pantry Rock & Bowl
Masonic Lodge, 116 South St. Pittsfield
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.

The Pittsfield Community Pantry is hosting an "Empty Bowls" fundraising event. Join in and pick out a handcrafted bowl made by a local artist. Also enjoy soup, bread, desserts, and more while dancing.

More information here.

Memory Lane Doo Wop Show
Nessacus Regional Middle School, Dalton
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.

This show will take you back to the 1950s and '60s. Ticket sales will benefit the Boys & Girls Club's Camp Russell.

More information here.

'Williamstown: The First Billion Years'
Williamstown Historical Museum
Time: 11 a.m.
 
Mark Brandriss, retired professor of geology at Smith College, reveals the story of how Williamstown's topography was shaped through the rocks and landscape. 
View Full Story

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