Elizabeth Freeman Day Slated for Aug. 22 at Ashley House

11:25AM / Sunday, August 16, 2026Print Story | Email Story

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — On Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Ashley House in Sheffield there will be a celebration of the life of Elizabeth Freeman.

Freeman's landmark 1781 legal case contributed to the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts.

The Trustees of Reservations, stewards of the Ashley House, have a free, full day of activities planned to start at 10 and 10:30 a.m. with guided tours of the Ashley House.

Pre-registration online is required for the tours and can be completed on the event page at: https://thetrustees.org/event/447155/.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., visitors can enjoy live music by ReBelle.

BB's Hot Spot Food Truck will be on the grounds offering food to purchase from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

At noon, there will be community remarks, followed by self-guided house tours between 1 and 2 p.m.

At 2 p.m., visitors can join the "In Her Shoes" guided hike starting at the Ashley House and going to nearby Bartholomew's Cobble.

And at 3 p.m., the new Elizabeth Freeman Storytelling Kiosk will be unveiled at Great Barrington Town Hall, presented by the W.E.B. Du Bois Freedom Center.

Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy children's games and activities sponsored by the Sheffield Historical Society, Mumbet's Declaration of Freedom StoryWalk, explore the Elizabeth Freeman Interpretative Exhibit, meet local community organizations from the Berkshires, and participate in lawn games. Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs or a blanket to enjoy the day.

Parking will be offered at the neighboring Bartholomew's Cobble, located at 105 Weatogue Rd. in Sheffield, with a complimentary shuttle bus providing rides to the Ashley House.

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Great Barrington Unveils 9/11 Memorial Featuring World Trade Center Steel

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
12:58PM / Saturday, September 12, 2026

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — A piece of history will now stand in front of the Great Barrington Fire Department, serving as a lasting reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and heroism of those who rushed in, stepped forward, and answered the call on Sept. 11, 2001.

Hundreds of community members gathered outside the Fire Department for the unveiling of a 9/11 memorial featuring a steel I-beam salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.

The monument marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, and its effect reached far and wide beyond New York, said Deputy Fire Chief James Mead.

"There are moments in our lives that become markers of time. Moments when we remember not only what happened, but where we were, who was beside us, and how the world somehow felt different afterwards," Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove said.

"For those of us who experienced September 11, 2001 — it is one of those moments for us to share."

The acquisition of the beam was a multi-year effort initiated by the late Andy Moro, former commander of American Legion Post 298 in Housatonic, and was carried on by the Legion's second vice commander, John Morris.

Morris said he was able to obtain the warped steel I-beam through connections he made during his time as a New York City firefighter.

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