Samuel Harrison Society Announces New Additions Board, Summer Hours

02:07PM / Tuesday, July 14, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Samuel Harrison Society has welcomed three new members to its Board of Trustees: Dee Piper Johnson, Dawn Morin, and Aretha Whitehead.

"We are pleased to welcome these new trustees. Their addition reflects the Society's ongoing efforts to preserve and promote awareness of the remarkable history and significance of the life of Rev. Samuel Harrison," said Marlena Willis, board president.

With summer now underway, the Samuel Harrison House Museum, located at 82 Third St. in Pittsfield, is open to visitors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays now through Sept. 13. Tours are also available by appointment.

The house was the home of Rev. Harrison, a prominent African American minister, abolitionist, and Civil War chaplain of the famed 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The Society maintains the homestead as a museum and center for learning about Harrison's life, writings, and contributions while promoting a deeper understanding of African American history.

Museum visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase the Society's newest publication, "The Autobiographies and Sermons of the Reverend Samuel Harrison, 1818–1900," available for $39.95. The book may also be purchased online through the Society's website.

In addition to ongoing museum programming, Society volunteers are available to present talks to local organizations and community groups on the life, ministry, and enduring legacy of Rev. Harrison.

For more information, visit www.samuelharrison.org or call 413-841-6383.

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EPA, GE Conducting Vernal Pool Study on Housatonic River

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
11:44AM / Tuesday, August 11, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A pilot study will determine the best way to remediate PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, from vernal pools in the Housatonic River.

Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and General Electric held an open house for the Vernal Pool Pilot Study on Reach 5A, a five-mile stretch between the river's confluence and Lenox border. Despite the rain, several people attended the event at the Berkshire Athenaeum.

EPA project manager Josh Fontaine explained that it is an evaluation of which remediation method to use for the remaining vernal pools in Reach 5A.

"We're going to be testing two different methods. One is an excavation method, which we already know has been very successful with another vernal pool cleaned up much earlier in the project," he said.

"And then the other is the application of two different carbon amendments. It would be the application of powdered activated carbon and the application of granulated activated carbon."

Ten vernal pools will be cleaned using these methods: five with excavation and five with active carbon; seven additional vernal pools will be monitored as controls. Construction will be complete around October, but the pools will be left to their natural processes and monitored with surveys and sampling for three years.

Fontaine said there is no frontrunner for methodology.

"We know the excavation method is effective, but we would like to see if the less invasive method of using the amendment will be as effective for potential use," he said.

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