Berkshire County Historical: 'In The Service of America' Lecture

03:25PM / Wednesday, February 19, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire County Historical Society will present the lecture In the Service of America: Berkshire's Black Soldiers and Veterans of the Revolution, by historian Cynthia Farr Brown.

The free event takes place on Feb. 26.

The lecture will look at some of the stories of the Black men from the Berkshires who served in the Continental Army and as minutemen and militia during the American Revolution, as well as what happened to veterans living in the Berkshires after the war was over.

Historical records reveal the stories of lesser-known Revolutionary War veterans from Berkshire County, including Frank Duncan, Bacchus Boardman, and Paul Freeman. These individuals served alongside the more famous Agrippa Hull, each with their own unique story of service and sacrifice. Boardman, originally from eastern Massachusetts, served in New York before settling in Pittsfield. Freeman, enslaved at the time of his service, was promised freedom after the war but had to petition the town of Sandisfield to honor this promise after his former enslaver died.

This free, virtual lecture will begin at 5:30 pm; email melville@berkshirehistory.org for zoom link.

Presented as part of the Berkshires250 celebration of the anniversary of the American Revolution.

Brown volunteers with the Berkshire County Historical Society at Arrowhead. She also serves on the executive committee of Berkshire Educational Resources K12 (BERK12). She has a doctorate in United States history and her scholarly publications have included co-editing the institutional history, "Lesley University: Celebrating Excellence 1909-2009" as well as other book chapters and articles. She is currently Senior Associate Commissioner for Regulatory and Veterans Affairs at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.

Tags: arrowhead, berkshire county historical society, Melville,

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Pittsfield Eyes OPM for Crosby/Conte, Seeks Funds for PHS

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
01:43PM / Monday, March 09, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city plans to hire an owner's project manager for the Crosby/Conte proposal this week and pursue additional school construction funds from the MSBA.

The School Building Needs Commission last week voted to move forward with a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority seeking funds to renovate Pittsfield High School.

Interim Superintendent Latifah Philips reported that the MSBA's core program statement of interest filing period is open until April 17, if the commission would like to consider it for renovations to PHS. According to MSBA's website, the core program is intended for new construction, addition, and/or renovation projects.

Members recognized that it is a tight schedule to put together an SOI, but agreed it is best to try.

Pittsfield is seeking up to 80 percent reimbursement from the MSBA to rebuild and consolidate John C. Crosby Elementary and Silvio O. Conte Community School on the Crosby property.

The MSBA has invited the district to a feasibility study phase, and a selection committee is working to bring forward applicants for an owner's project manager. This hired consultant oversees a construction or design project in the owner's interest.

Owner's project manager proposals were due on Feb. 18, and Pittsfield received nine proposals. Last Monday, the OPM search committee finalized three selections for public interviews, which were to be held on Friday at City Hall; the selection package is due to the MSBA by March 11.

During last week's School Committee meeting, Phillips said the district is on track to submit for consideration on April 6.