PreviousNext

Cheshire Unveils New Monument to the 'Big Cheese'

The cheese wheel was created by local artist Brent Whitney through a Mass Cultural Council grant. 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — There's no mistaking that Cheshire's the big cheese. 

A replica of the giant wheel of cheese made by Cheshire residents in the early 1800s was unveiled by the Cheshire Community Association on Tuesday beside the Ashuwilticook Rail Trail.

In fact, Tremblay reported that Jefferson received every single vote but one in Cheshire. That vote, apparently, was seen as a mistake, and thus cast aside in the final tally.

The original block of cheese was so large that it took over a month to get to Washington, D.C. Emery said this event was the one for which Cheshire is most famous. Indeed, the subtitle of Emery's book on the subject is "When America Watched Cheshire." Jefferson reportedly paid $200 for the block of cheese, refusing to accept it as a gift. Emery reported that Jefferson recorded the transaction in his personal account book.

Tremblay said the project was "in honor of our forefathers," specifically Jefferson and Leland, who has a memorial next to a replica of the cheese press (with Leland's image) not far from the new cheese sculpture.

Local artist Brent Whitney created the sculpture. It took about eight months, on and off, to create. Tremblay applauded Whitney for his effort, saying he has a "similar passion that our forefathers had."

The cheese wheel is part of the Art on the Trail initiative, a set of sculptures set off the side of the rail trail on Church Street in Cheshire. It was funded by a Mass Cultural Council grant, part of an effort to increase art displays throughout the state. The other sculptures are silhouettes of a hiker, a biker, and a runner, which represents the convergence of the rail trail with the Appalachian Trail.

Tremblay talked up this latter point, saying this "convergence" of the Appalachian Trail and the rail trail could provide some "energy" for Cheshire. He said this display of art, along with the Appalachian Trail camp across the street, could serve as a "catalyst for economic development" for the downtown area.

62 'Fighting' Hoosac Valley Students Graduate

Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
08:19PM / Friday, June 05, 2026

Class speaker Noah Rehill describes the class of 2026 as having a fighting spirit. See more photos here. 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — The 62 members of the Hoosac Valley class of 2026 were told to hold on to their fighting spirit during their graduation ceremony. 

"What gives me the most pride in Hoosac is the tenacity our students have. Everyone here is so passionate, which is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because we fight for our wins, and a curse because we do, indeed, fight," said class speaker Noah Rehill on Friday night. "... But nonetheless, you'll never find a bunch of kids from a public high school in rural Massachusetts with that much fighting spirit within them."

 

Rehill said the class of 2026 fought for audiences during performances, they fought on the Student Adult Advisory Board for better school conditions, they fought on the field, and fought through long nights studying.

 

And now they face a different fight.

 

"We've fought all the way through all the scary thoughts of who we would become when we leave this place," he said. "We've fought through college decisions. We've definitely fought through FAFSA. And here we are tonight, fighting through tears as we celebrate everything it took to get here."

 

Rehill thanked all of those who helped along the way including friends, family, and teachers. He said the school is filled with "hundreds of helping hands." He added that their education went beyond just math or social studies, and the graduates picked up some street smarts along the way.

 

He ended by calling out some community members who took to social media to point out the smaller class sizes graduating from Hoosac Valley. He said there was one message that stated Hoosac Valley's glory days were behind it. 

 

"To that I'd say I disagree and not to worry," he said. "Remember, I got this role by knowing all 62 of my classmates better than anybody, and I have to say that there's a certain magic that you may not see from the outside, but that radiates on the inside...What I've learned from the class of 2026 is that greatness isn't about how many people are standing beside you. It's about what kind of people are standing beside you...So, if anyone is worried that the best days at Hoosac are behind us, I got news for you. I think you're looking in the wrong direction, because the best days of Hoosac are sitting right here in front of you. Congratulations, class of 2026, and one last thing: we will always be better than Drury. Roll Canes.