Ghost Tour Fundraiser Set for Berkshire Historical Society

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Friday, April 17, Robert Oakes, ghost tour guide and author of "Ghosts of the Berkshires," will team up with paranormal investigator Drew Babineau, owner of The Haunted Raven, to offer a combined ghost tour and paranormal investigation of the Country Club of Pittsfield, hosted by the Berkshire County Historical Society. 
 
The program begins at 7 p.m. Tickets for this three-hour combined ghost tour and investigation are $50 per person and may be purchased by using the "BOOK NOW" button at berkshirehistory.org. A portion of the proceeds will benefit BCHS. 
 
Be advised that there will be several levels of stairs to climb in dim lighting. Also, this event is not intended for children under 12 years old. For more information, visit berkshirehistory.org, robertoakes.net, hauntedraven.com, or call (413) 442-1793.
 
At the start of the evening, Oakes will lead a walk by flashlight through this historic property, sharing accounts of alleged spirit sightings and other strange encounters reported by those who work there.  Babineau will then guide guests through an active paranormal investigation, using devices and methods meant to make contact with the spirits and document their presence, stated a press release. At the close of the evening, guests will gather in the Club's barroom to share stories of their experiences and discuss any findings. Drinks will be available for purchase. 
 
According to a press release:
 
Once known as Broadhall, the Country Club of Pittsfield's clubhouse is one of the oldest properties in Pittsfield with a long and storied past. During the nineteenth century, it was the home of writer Sarah Morewood, friend to Herman Melville. When the Moby-Dick author lived just next door at Arrowhead, he often stopped by to visit Mrs. Morewood, and some say he may still be calling. Indeed, both Melville's ghost and that of Mrs. Morewood, as well as others yet unidentified, are said to haunt the house. Many have visited the property throughout its long history, including Alexander Hamilton, President John Tyler, famous literati, and formerly enslaved people. And many have died there, including Mrs. Morewood, as well as seventeen victims of a 1910 ice house explosion, described as the worst disaster in Pittsfield history.
 
Robert Oakes writes books about ghosts and leads tours in reported haunted places. Drew Babineau, owner of The Haunted Raven, is a photographer and paranormal investigator.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

State Housing Secretary Tours Downtown Pittsfield Developments

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state's new secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities on Monday saw how local developers are transforming historic buildings into downtown housing units. 

Secretary Juana Matias, appointed to the role in February, toured the former St. Joseph's High School on Maplewood Avenue and the near-complete Wright Building Block on North Street.   

Matias observed local leaders working collaboratively to dismantle bottlenecks in housing production, something she said the administration wants to see across all 351 municipalities.  

"This is a perfect model of the partnerships we want to see, and we love coming to the ground and seeing how people are leveraging public taxpayer dollars to help address the issue of our time, which is housing production," she said after the tours. 

Developer David Carver, of Scarafoni Associates & CT Management Group, is seeking support from the state Housing Development Incentive Program to transform St. Joe's into apartments, and Allegrone Companies has secured millions from the program towards the Wright Building renovation

They first visited the shuttered school that functioned as a shelter during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, greeted by broken windows and leaving with Carver's vision. 

The plan is to transform the school with good bones into 19 apartments, 20 percent designated affordable, and 30 percent of the building for commercial use.  Units are expected to cost between $1,700 and $1,900 per month; 14 one-bedroom units and five two-bedroom units are planned. 

The project team is in talks with the nearby Berkshire Family YMCA to expand their childcare activities to the building's lower level.  Residents and the daycare would use different entrances. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories