Ninth Annual 'Moby-Dick' Read-A-Thon

10:50AM / Thursday, July 24, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. —The Berkshire County Historical Society's annual "Moby-Dick" Read-a-Thon will begin July 31 at 10 am, continuing daily until the book is finished.

Participants will read aloud for 15 minutes with the next participant picking up where the prior reader left off.

The event is held at Melville's historic home Arrowhead where the novel was written. Advanced sign up is required by using the BOOK NOW button at berkshirehistory.org. Participation is free, but a $5 donation is suggested. The annual event commemorates Melville's birthday Aug. 1, 1819.

On Aug. 3 beginning at 9 a.m., hikers are invited to celebrate the day (Aug. 5,1850) Melville met Nathaniel Hawthorne on a literary hike up Monument Mountain to read local poet William Cullen Bryant's "Monument Mountain," by joining BCHS for a similar hike and literary talk. The guided hike takes approximately 2 1/2 hours and is appropriate for families.

Hikers should meet at the Monument Mountain Reservation Parking lot on Route 7 and should be prepared with their own water, proper footwear, hiking gear and bug repellent. Parking is free for members of the Trustees of Reservations only.

Tags: arrowhead, historical event,

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Rutledge Defense Seeks Dismissal of Rape Charges Over Statute of Limitations

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:55PM / Thursday, November 12, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Superior Court courtroom was filled on Thursday as proceedings resumed on the high-profile case against former Miss Hall's School teacher Matthew Rutledge, with the court hearing arguments on his motion to dismiss.

Rutledge, 63, was indicted by a Berkshire County grand jury on three counts of rape stemming from allegations that he sexually assaulted students at the all-girls school in the 1990s.

On Thursday, Rutledge, represented by attorney Ryan Schiff, appeared before Judge Michael Callahan to seek dismissal of all three counts, arguing that prosecutors were attempting to circumvent the statute of limitations and had failed to disclose what Schiff characterized as "highly exculpatory evidence."

More than 100 attendees filled the pews, some wearing orange carnations to show solidarity with the accusers, Melissa Fares and Hilary Simon.

As Rutledge attempted to leave the courtroom following Judge Callahan's departure, several attendees voiced their outrage, shouting "Shame," "You can't hide behind the bad law," and "We know what you did."

Judge Callahan re-entered the courtroom to condemn these outbursts and directed court officers to record their names and bar them from attending future proceedings on this case.

The nearly hour-long hearing centered on competing interpretations of the language and legislative intent behind Massachusetts' statute of limitations, particularly whether Rutledge's temporary absences from the state could extend the time prosecutors have to bring charges.

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