Bidwell House: Exploring the History of New England Redware

MONTEREY, Mass.  Justin Thomas will speak about the museum's red earthenware collection.

These objects will be used to tell stories about red earthenware (and some stoneware) production all over New England, spanning the seventeenth through the early twentieth century. The notion of wares made by the rural country potter during the post-American Revolution period through about 1870 will be also discussed in comparison to the urbanized industries that existed in New England before and after the Revolutionary War.

The impact of the Industrial Revolution on this production will also be emphasized, as well as 275 years' worth of archaeology in New England. This talk will also relate stories about transportation and trade utilizing river ways and the Atlantic Ocean that allowed some of the area's potters to ship their wares to other parts of the region, Canada and to the south of New England.

Justin Thomas is a collector, researcher and writer about American utilitarian pottery production from the seventeenth through the early twentieth century. He has studied at archaeology departments, museums and private collections across the country, publishing numerous research articles about American potteries in regional and national publications. He has been a contributor for the New England Antiques Journal, Maine Antiques Digest, Antiques and the Arts Weekly, Antiques & Auction News, and Untapped New York. He has also authored seven books, as part of his ongoing pottery book series, published by Historic Beverly in Massachusetts. Justin has worked with museums, historical societies and archaeology departments all over the East Coast including the National Museum of American History, the Rochester Museum & Science Center, the New York State Museum, Old Sturbridge Village, Historic New England and Strawbery Banke, among many others. In 2021 he organized a special redware conference hosted by Historic Beverly. He currently resides in Newburyport.

This lecture will be held at the Tyringham Union Church at 128 Main Rd in Tyringham. This will be an in-person lecture, with the option to also watch a livestream via Zoom. All Zoom participants will receive a link to access the lecture 1-2 days in advance. Tickets for Zoom attendance must be purchased in advance but in-person tickets can be purchased at the door. Attendees can register here: https://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org/event/exploring-the-history-of-new-england-redware/

This program is supported in part by grants from the Otis and Sheffield Cultural Councils,  local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Lee Breaks Ground on Public Safety Building

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, April 25, 2026

Lee Town Administrator Chris Brittain says the community voted to invest in its future by approving the new $37 million complex. 

LEE, Mass. — Ground was ceremonially broken on the town's new public safety building, something officials see as a gift to the community and future generations. 

When finished, Lee will have a 37,000 square-foot combined public safety facility on Railroad Street where the Airoldi and Department of Public Works buildings once stood. Construction will cost around $24 million, and is planned to be completed in August 2027.

"This is the town of Lee being proactive. This is the town of Lee being thoughtful and considerate and practical and assertive, and this project is not just for us. This project is a gift," Select Board member Bob Jones said. 

"This is a gift to our children, our grandchildren."

State and local officials, including U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, gathered at the site on Friday, clad in hard hats and yellow vests, and shoveled some dirt to kick off the build. 

Town Administrator Chris Brittain explained that officials have planned and reviewed the need for a modern facility for the public safety departments for years, and that the project marks a new chapter, replacing 19th-century infrastructure with a "state-of-the-art" complex.

"The project is not just about concrete and steel, it's a commitment to the safety of our families, the efficiency of our first responders, and the future of our community," he said. 

He said he was grateful to the town's Police, Fire, and Building departments for their dedication while operating out of outdated facilities, and to the Department of Public Works, for coordinating site preparation and relocating its services.