SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Dewey Memorial Hall has received a donation boost toward its preservation and planning goals.
Housatonic Heritage has granted a $15,000 Heritage Partnership grant. This will go toward a $35,000 matching grant for feasibility and planning from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities fund announced in July.
"This $15,000 gets us much closer toward raising the match for the MCCF grant. The total cost of the project is unknown, but it is likely to exceed $70,000," said Dewey Hall President Beth Carlson. "This is vital foundational work necessary for the stable future of Dewey Hall."
While working to secure the full match the hall will contract with an architectural firm for an Historic Structures Report that includes a conditions assessment and master plan.
The hall was built on Sheffield's Green in 1887 in memory of Orville Dewey, a community leader and pastor. It served for many years as the town library and community hub.
In recent years the organization responsible for the stewardship of Dewey Memorial Hall have revived the hall with community programming and events, geared toward celebration of the community through a variety of arts. It hosts about 100 gatherings and events a year.
But the building, designed by William Ralph Emerson, has had few alterations in its 135 years. The organization plans to use this foundational work as a stepping stone for long term strategic planning and future capital grants.
A request for proposals was sent out this month to qualified preservation architects with a deadline of Jan. 31 for proposals. A site visit for interested architectural firms is scheduled for Jan. 5. Any firms interested in applying should contact deweymemorialhall@gmail.com.
The hall is also seeking to raise $40,000 through its Reaching for the Stars annual appeal for ongoing operation and preservation of the hall as a community resource. The appeal will culminate in a Celestial Ball on Feb. 10, a new event for the organization.
The annual appeal campaign funds will not be applied toward the Historic Structures Report and master plan. As Carlson stated,
"We have to raise funds for this project over and above our annual campaign donations," said Carlson. "I am confident we will reach both goals. This is a first important step in a long term plan that will create a more secure future for the hall."
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Triplex Special Screening 'A Book By Their Cover'
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Triplex Cinema announces a special screening of local filmmaker John Tedeschi's fictional narrative film "A Book By Their Cover," inspired by local events in Berkshire County, as well as events around the country including book bans connected with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) community.
The film was shot entirely in the Berkshires.
The film will screen on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7:00 pm and will be followed by a conversation with the director as well as members of the cast and crew. Tickets are available for purchase at the Triplex website, thetriplex.org.
According to a press release:
"A Book By Their Cover" tells the story of Samantha, a 12-year-old girl who discovers a book while staying at her grandparents' house. The book, a medical journal written in 1962, piques Samantha's curiosity about sexuality. After discussing it, Samantha's parents give her another book, "The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families," written in 2020 by Rachel Simon and illustrated by Noah Grigni. "The Every Body Book" is widely considered to be a valuable and groundbreaking resource for parents navigating early conversations with children about puberty, consent, sex and gender.
Samantha brings the book with her to school, where the school janitor sees the book, is upset, and confiscates it. The book is turned over by the school administration to the police and an investigation ensues. The film deals with the aftermath of these events, which play out during a town meeting where opinions about the book and the police investigation that followed are played out.
A similar situation occurred last year at W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School over the well-known book "Gender Queer," an incident which serves as inspiration for the film. In a statement provided to the "Berkshire Edge" Tedeschi said, "the film is not a true story, it is not a film that uses the words ‘based on true and actual events,' and the characters are not intended to appear as any actual person. The film was inspired by many things, it is a mirror, as you say, of events but it is not the actual likeness."
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