DALTON, Mass. — Fitch-Hoose House now has brochures for the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage African American Heritage Trail.

 

The African American Heritage Trail has 48 sites in 29 Massachusetts and Connecticut towns that showcase the history and context of African Americans who played crucial roles in the region, United States, and world. 

 

"You will experience the impact and contributions of ordinary, humble people of achievement, and you will meet others who emerged as leaders and activists of their times," the Housatonic Heritage website says.

 

Other Berkshire County locations featured on the trail include the W.E.B. Du Bois Boyhood Homesite, Samuel Harrison House, and more.  

 

Once the Clinton Church Restoration Project is complete the W.E.B. Du Bois Freedom Center will also be included in the trail. More information on the project here. 

 

Since the Fitch-Hoose House is one of the museums on the trail, Historical Commission members want to pique visitors' interest in the other locations on the trail. 

 

It is clear that the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage African American Heritage Trail flyers aid in this effort, so commission co-Chair Deborah Kovacs requested they send the museum some.

 

Someone who was traveling Berkshire County visited the Fitch-Hoose House from New Jersey after discovering it in one of the trail brochures, Kovacs said. 

 

Although Kovacs knew of the existence of these brochures, she didn't know she was allowed to request some until the guidance of two other visitors — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts professor Frances Jones-Sneed and Empire State University professor Mary Nell Morgan-Brown. 

 

The duo informed Kovacs that she could reach out to the trail's Executive Director Dan Bolognani to request copies. 

 

Kovacs presented them during the meeting on Wednesday. She was especially excited to see the Fitch-Hoose House prominently displayed on one of the brochure's pages. 

 

Not only did Bolognani send trail brochures, he also offered to help the commission update the Fitch-Hoose House brochure so it is more detailed and in the same style as the Heritage Trail brochure. 

 

The 177-year-old two-story house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is believed to have been active on the Underground Railroad.

 

"I'm glad that the Fitch-Hoose House is getting the attention that it deserves … it's likely that we can support the creation of a Fitch-Hoose House brochure, perhaps designed similarly to the African American Heritage Trail series of brochures, if that's a consideration or goal," Bolognani said in the email to Kovacs. 

 

More information on the Fitch-Hoose House here.