Berkshire County Historical Society Celebrates Plant a Tree Day

11:45AM / Wednesday, September 27, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Join the Berkshire County Historical Society on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 5:30 pm as they celebrate Plant a Tree Day with a ceremonial planting of a young American elm "Jefferson" on Park Square.

The tree will be planted to honor the Berkshires' first known environmentalist Lucretia Williams. Williams threw herself before the woodsman's axe to save a towering elm known as the Pittsfield Elm on Park Square in 1789.

"BCHS is very grateful to the Pittsfield Parks Department and George and Alice Wislocki for helping make this possible, said Executive Director Lesley Herzberg. "It is a fitting and lasting tribute to Lucretia Williams whose story resonates with us today over one hundred years after her efforts to save the Pittsfield Elm."

This free event is open to the public.

Tags: park square, trees,

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Dalton Water Warns Protect Your Pipes

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
06:26PM / Friday, January 23, 2026

DALTON, Mass. — With the expected snow and frigid weather this weekend the Water Department wants to remind people to take precautions to prevent frozen or broken water pipes.

A clipper system will bring Arctic temperatures to the Northeast with lows in the teens and single digits over the weekend.

Temperatures are expected to drop as low as minus-6 degrees on Friday and remain extremely cold into next week, the department said.

During the freezing weather water inside the pipe freezes and expands, which can cause the pipes to crack or split. At first the damage is not obvious but once the ice thaws, the water flows out causing sudden leaks or, in some cases major flooding, Water Superintendent Robert Benlien said.

To prevent damage to the pipes, Benlien recommended residents follow the following to protect the pipes.

• Keep your heat set at a consistent temperature (even overnight)

• Let faucets drip slightly, especially those on exterior walls

• Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate

• Disconnect outdoor hoses and close inside shutoff valves

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