A new lodging option became available in Pittsfield the first week of September, one that preserves and celebrates a elements of the city's history.
The Thaddeus Clapp House Bed-And-Breakfast Inn, at 74 Wendell Ave., is the former home of the man of the same name, who was a wealthy owner of a textile mill in the city in the 19th century.
The upscale bed and breakfast is operated by three innkeepers: Rebecca Smith, her sister Kathy McCave, and Robert Chok. Much of the mansion, which was built in 1871 and is on the National Register of Historic Places, has been restored, and many of the original fixtures, like bath tubs, remain, Smith explained.
The house, which had inexpensive apartments since 1930, was in pretty rough shape when Smith purchased it, she said. Smith purchased the house during the summer of 2001 for nearly $300,000 and, although she would not reveal how much restoration has cost, she said it was "a lot more than I anticipated." She's quick to add, though,"it was worth it." Work to restore the house, which took one year, began shortly after the purchase and was completed this summer, Smith said.
The four-story bed and breakfast has eight guest suites each named after a famous Pittsfield resident, like Herman Melville. Each suite has a formal living or sitting room, period furniture, hand-made Oriental carpets, a fireplace, a private bath with a whirlpool or a soaking tub, cable TV, a compact disc player, a central phone system with a private number, a dataport for Internet access, robes, an iron and ironing board, a hairdryer, a refrigerator, air conditioning, and coffee and tea service.
A full breakfast is served every morning in the dining room, which was once the Clapps' drawing room, Smith said. Afternoon tea is enjoyed daily on the front porch or in the drawing room.
Rates at the inn vary by suite, season and day of the week. During the in-season, Memorial Day weekend through Oct. 31, the average rate for a weekend day is $310, and for mid-week is $187.50. During the off-season, which encompasses the rest of the year, the average rate for a weekend day is $212.50, and for mid-week is $137.50. Corporate rates are available for businesspeople planning an extended stay at the inn, Smith said. The bed and breakfast currently has some fall packages featuring reduced rates.
It was difficult upgrading the Thaddeus Clapp House to modern building codes and installing modern amenities while simultaneously retaining its historicalness, but they were able to do it, Smith said. The renovation included installation of an entirely new electrical system, alarms, a monitoring system, beams for each of the four stories, and porch columns.
"We tried to take it back to what it looked like when they [the Clapps] were here," Smith said, adding that a lack of photos of the inside of the house made it more challenging. Smith said 90 percent of the house remains "the way it was."
Much of the meticulous restoration of features of the house, including a number of plaster ceilings with ornate designs and bathtubs, was done by Jay E. Baptiste, a celebrated restoration consultant who lives in Pittsfield and has done work all over Berkshire County but mostly in New York City, Boston and Connecticut, Smith said.
Besides Melville, the other famous, historical Pittsfield residents who have suites named after them include General William Bartlett, William Stanley, Sara Morewood, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Thomas Allen, Theodore Pomeroy and Thomas Colt.
Smith and Chok said that business has been pretty good so far and that their guests have been very happy. In their first month, they have hosted guests from England, Houston, Austin, Denver, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, New Hampshire, and the suburbs of Boston.
How did Smith end up setting up an upscale bed and breakfast locally?
Originally from Agawam, Smith worked all over the country as an organizational planner and a statistical analyst. When her parents became ill two years ago, Smith left her job in California and moved back to the Springfield area to help her sister take care of them.
Eventually Smith, who had operated a successful bed and breakfast in California's wine country, began to look around Berkshire County for a house in which to start a bed and breakfast. Having spent six summers at Bonnie Brae Camp and time at Tanglewood and Jacob's Pillow during her youth, Smith said she "had really, really, really positive feelings about the area."
"The Berkshires were just perfect," she said. She said she first looked for properties in Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Stockbridge and Williamstown, but couldn't find anything. After four months with no luck, and tired of living out of a suitcase, Smith began specifically looking for a multi-family house where she could live. She discovered the Thaddeus Clapp House, which immediately struck her fancy. "I virtually bought the house on the spot," she said.
Smith said she had met Chok in California, where he operated a bed and breakfast eight miles west of the one she owned. She called Chok, who said he had sold his inn and wasn't sure what wanted to do next, and asked him if he would want to be an innkeeper at the Thaddeus Clapp House. The New Jersey native and former Chase banker said he would and arrived in Pittsfield the week before Thanksgiving 2001.
What does the future hold for Pittsfield's newest bed and breakfast?
A ninth suite, which has a private porch, will be renovated in the spring, as well as the area that was once a servants' wing of the house, Smith said.
In January or February, an eight-scene play involving 25 to 36 actors will be performed in the house. Written by Peter Bergman of Pittsfield, it is an authentic reproduction of a performance that occurred in the house when the Clapps lived there, Smith said.
For more information about the Thaddeus Clapp House, call 499-6840 locally, or toll-free (888) 499-6840 if outside the area. The e-mail address is: info@ clapphouse.com. The website of the bed and breakfast is: www.clapphouse.com.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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