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.

Great Barrington Fire, Police Respond to Chimney Fire

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
02:48PM / Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Fire Chief Scott Turner called for mutual aid as soon as he saw flames. 

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Firefighters made quick work of a chimney fire on Tuesday afternoon and two police officers aided the occupant in escaping the building. 

 

Fire Chief Scott Turner said the blaze at 205 North St. was reported about 12:38 p.m.

 

"When I arrived on scene, we had a small amount of flames coming out of the eaves of the roof over by the chimney for the wood stove, and then we had light smoke conditions on the second floor," he said. 

 

Police Officers Andres Huertas and Elias Casey were first on the scene and immediately entered the single-family home to find the occupant was on the second floor. 

 

They helped her out of the building, Turner said, "they did a great job."

 

The chimney is a metal chimney and burn marks could been seen where it meets the eaves on the side of the building. 

 

North Street is a narrow residential way and firetrucks from Alford, Egremont, Monterey, Richmond, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge were parked along nearby streets. Scene support was provided by police, Southern Berkshire Ambulance, and National Grid.