USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Pittsfield > The history of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 1916-1955 > Part 33
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In 1954, under the joint sponsorship of the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation and the Fromm Music Foundation of Chicago, South Mountain presented a series of six Saturday afternoon concerts. In addition, three concerts were offered by Albert Sprague Coolidge, a professor at Harvard, in memory of his mother, Mrs. Coolidge, who had died in 1953 at the age of 89, interested in music and good causes to the last.
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For a month after her death, the corridor leading to the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress had an im- pressive display of Coolidge exhibits-decorations from foreign governments and musical organizations, letters from contem- porary composers and players, photographs of musical occasions in which she had participated, autographs of musical works which she commissioned, and other memorabilia-all a fine tribute to a great patroness of music and a splendid musician herself, one of Pittsfield's really noted citizens since its found- ing almost two centuries ago.
In 1935, to relieve Mrs. Coolidge of the financial and other obligations that she had previously assumed, the South Moun- tain Association was formed as a non-profit educational institu- tion. It has no endowment, being maintained by gifts and mem- berships.
Berkshire Symphonic Festival
A word should certainly be said here about another famed musical institution that is not strictly Pittsfield's-the great Tanglewood festival of symphonic music that is held every sum- mer at Lenox only a few miles to the south.
It was first held in 1934 on the Dan Hanna farm in Stock- bridge, where three concerts were given by the New York Phil- harmonic Orchestra under the baton of Henry Hadley. In 1936, the festival was moved to the estate in Lenox of Mrs. Margaret Emerson, where Serge Koussevitzky led the Boston Symphony in three concerts.
The concert hall was a large tent covering a half acre or more. A summer squall all but brought down the tent upon players and audience, and made plain the need for better quarters. The $100,000 Tanglewood music shed, financed by public subscrip- tion and now renowned around the world, was erected and dedicated in 1938.
Growing in fame and popularity, the Berkshire Symphonic Festival at Tanglewood was conducted under the direction of Serge Koussevitzky until his death in 1951, when Charles Munch, director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, succeeded
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him. In 1954, on the twentieth anniversary of its founding, Tanglewood undertook an experiment, extending its season from three to six weeks. It was such a success, attracting more than 135,000 listeners, that a six weeks' season was held again in 1955, with attendance even higher.
In addition to the joy that Pittsfield derives from Tangle- wood's fine music, the city feels a sort of semi-proprietary in- terest in Tanglewood, for many of the tens of thousands at- tending the concerts each summer either stay or stop by in Pittsfield.
Orpheus Male Chorus
The Orpheus Male Chorus of Pittsfield was founded in 1936 to give men who liked to sing, and those who liked to hear them sing, an opportunity to do so. The first concert was given in the High School auditorium at the House of Mercy graduation exercises when sixteen voices under the direction of James C. Morton sang "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" and "Steal Away."
The group rehearsed weekly at the First Congregational Church and gave concerts throughout the Berkshires, and over local radio Station WBRK and WGY of Schenectady. To remove any suggestion that membership was limited by re- ligious affiliation, the place of rehearsal was soon moved to the music room in the High School, later to the Berkshire Museum, where it has since remained.
Resigning as director in 1939, Morton was succeeded by Hans Vigeland, organist and choir director of the Congregational Church in Great Barrington. When the latter entered the armed services early in 1941, his place was taken by Robert A. Leslie of Chatham, New York, a General Electric employee who had had much previous experience in directing church choirs. Robert R. Clearwater, radio engineer at station WBRK, became the Orpheus' fourth conductor in the fall of 1943.
At this time, largely because of difficulties posed by World War II, a meeting was held at the Morningside Baptist Church to consider whether or not the chorus should disband. After
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much discussion, the feeling of the majority was well expressed by the Reverend John H. Evans, assistant pastor at St. Stephen's:
"I am new here and can do little to make this chorus a suc- cess. But it seems to me that especially now, in time of war and the stress of hard times, is not the time for men to stop singing."
The Orpheus Chorus has been singing ever since, giving an increasing number of concerts each year in Pittsfield and neigh- boring communities, under the direction (1947-1951) of Mor- ton Wayne, then supervisor of music in the city's junior high schools, and of Clarence W. Noyes, the present director, super- visor of music in the public schools of Lee and vicinity. It is continuing its tradition of "Music in the Berkshires," whether in a Halloween parade, a religious service, a civic or a United Nations program, or a grand assemblage of the Associated Male Choruses of America, which the Orpheus Chorus joined in 1950.
Pittsfield has many other smaller choral and instrumental groups in the schools, churches, service and other organizations, and some of the larger business enterprises. The Stanley Club, composed of General Electric employees, for several years spon- sored a junior symphony orchestra.
Pittsfield Community Concert Association
The Pittsfield Community Concert Association has contribut- ed much to local musical life by bringing to the city many of the world's greatest singers, instrumentalists, and symphony orchestras for performances at the High School auditorium. The series has continued annually since 1934, subscribers averaging 1,400, the capacity of the hall. Leaders in the Asso- ciation have been Miss Mary A. Bristol and Jay C. Rosenfeld, respectively the secretary and president for the first eight years. Miss Bristol died in 1947.
The city's musicians especially identified with the develop- ment of community interest in music have included Ulysse A. Buhler, pianist and teacher; Charles F. Smith, supervisor of music in the public schools for many years; Carl F. Escher,
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violinist; Jay C. Rosenfeld, violinist and music critic for The Berkshire Eagle; James C. Morton, tenor; and Anthony Reese, singer and teacher.
Town Players
Organized in 1921, the Town Players of Pittsfield constitute one of the oldest continuously active Little Theatre groups in the country. The first president was the Reverend Charles R. Joy, pastor of the Unitarian Church. The first production was held in the Unitarian Church in 1922. Sets were built on Bart- lett Avenue in Dr. Fred K. Chaffee's barn, which served as the first workshop. Suitable workshop space has since been a major problem with the group, which has made use of barns and garages all over town.
In 1924, the Town Players inaugurated the first one-act play festival in New England. Theatrical groups in neighboring cities, towns, and colleges were invited to participate. A plaque is presented annually to the winner of the festival. It must be won three times for permanent possession.
In 1955 the program called for the production of four three- act plays, a one-act play festival, and the maintenance of a theatre workshop for instruction and practice in all phases of play production and acting techniques.
In addition, the Town Players assist Community Fund and other drives by presenting television, radio, and stage skits. In summer, the members direct drama classes for the Parks De- partment, the Girls' Club, and other organizations.
Many members of the staffs of the local radio and television stations-WBRK, WMGT, and WBEC-are members of the group: Robert Burbank, Alan Vaber, Pat Turner, Theda Haru- bin, and others. Those of the Town Players who have gone into the professional theatre include W. P. Geary, Neil Bridges, Paul Lipson, Richard Burdick, and Joseph Gennaro.
Theatres
In Pittsfield, as throughout the country, the growing popu- larity of motion pictures reduced interest in "legitimate" drama
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as represented by the road shows and stock companies popular at the turn of the century.
In 1916, the silent screen remained something of a novelty. Keith's vaudeville acts still drew large audiences to the Union Square Theatre, and Loew's artists to the Majestic-now the Palace. These acts were presented between flickering cinema productions.
In 1923, one of the best stock companies to perform in Pitts- field, directed by actor Harry Bond, had a brief run at the Union Square, falling a victim to public preference for Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and their Hollywood contem- poraries. Stock companies and traveling shows alternated with seasons of motion pictures for many years at the Colonial, which, opening in 1903, closed as a theatre in 1951.
In 1955, the city had five movie houses-the Capitol, Palace, State, Tyler, and Union Square-four of them mid-town units presenting first-run pictures. There was also the Berkshire Museum's "Little Cinema," and a drive-in theatre far out on West Housatonic Street. No "legitimate" theatre has survived.
Only one of Pittsfield's old-time managers remains in active business. He is John M. Cooney, of the Union Square, who took over from his father, John F. Cooney, in 1915. Starting as an Academy of Music usher at the age of ten, Cooney has watched the changing tastes of local theatre-goers for over a half cen- tury. He vividly recalls the advent of motion pictures at the Colonial, with a home-town orchestra in the pit led by Carl F. Escher, and the surprising fiasco when Victor Herbert and his costly 60-piece orchestra failed to draw a crowd at the Union Square.
The want of local "live" productions is partly supplied dur- ing the summer by offerings of the so-called "straw-hat circuit." Competent stock companies, featuring visiting stars supported by ambitious younger actors, play to good-sized audiences, which include many from Pittsfield, at the Berkshire Playhouse. in Stockbridge and at other nearby summer theatres. Ted' Shawn's dancers at Jacob's Pillow in Becket are also popular: during the vacation season.
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Discussion Groups
Several organizations to stimulate public discussion and in- crease a knowledge of world affairs have been notably success- ful. Established in 1935 with the Reverend Charles R. Prewitt of the First Methodist Church as chairman, the Community Forum brought nationally known lecturers to the city each year until 1943, when activities were suspended. Meeting at the High School auditorium, the Community Forum had an open ques- tion period after each talk, and many of its 1,400 subscribing members asked questions with gusto.
Started in 1949 largely through the efforts of Konstantin K. Paluev, a research engineer at General Electric, the Workshop for World Understanding has stimulated broader knowledge of local, national, and international problems on a non-partisan basis. Conceived as a court of public opinion, the Workshop encourages the presentation of opposing ideas for free and open debate.
Similar discussion groups are frequently sponsored by the League of Women Voters and other organizations. Seminars on "Great Books," begun at the Berkshire Athenaeum by String- fellow Barr and Scott Buchanan in 1947, now held at the Berk- shire Museum, have also had an active following.
For a city of its size, Pittsfield offers unusual opportunities and stimulation for those interested in the arts and the life of the mind.
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XVII
Business and Industry
PITTSFIELD-OR PONTOOSUC PLANTATION, as it was first known-was born two centuries ago as a small isolated mountain hamlet in which each family was necessarily de- pendent upon the produce of its own farm acres for its liveli- hood. By 1800, the farms were producing a surplus, which was sold and shipped to outside markets, chiefly west to Albany, Hudson, and other ports on the Hudson River because trans- portation over the mountains that way was easier. Pittsfield has always been as much oriented toward New York as toward eastern Massachusetts.
In 1800, a young Englishman from Yorkshire, Arthur Schol- field, came to Pittsfield, bringing with him a knowledge of how to copy the manufacture of new English machines to speed up the production of textiles-carding and picking machines, comb plates, looms, spinning jennies, spindles, and other apparatus. He built such machines and, on the West Branch of the Housa- tonic, erected a small shop, the community's first industrial plant, "The Pittsfield Factory."
In 1807, Elkanah Watson settled in Pittsfield, to the com- munity's great benefit. A successful businessman, Watson had become interested in agriculture-more especially, in breeding sheep that would give more and better wool. He brought with him to Pittsfield two Merino sheep, prized for their fine fleece -the first of their breed in New England. With Watson as
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president and Arthur Scholfield as one of the trustees, the Berkshire Agricultural Society for the Promotion of Agriculture and Domestic Manufactures was organized in 1811, holding annual county fairs in Pittsfield.
Between them, Scholfield and Watson laid the foundation of Pittsfield's prosperous textile industry, especially in woolens, which was the community's strongest economic interest for almost a century. Many a familiar local name became prominent through the family's success in textiles-Pomeroy, Stearns, Barker, Russell, Peck, Tillotson, Rice, and others.
The local textile industry still carries weight. Since the turn of the century, however, the community's largest industry and chief economic support has been the Morningside plant of General Electric, which will be considered in the next chapter.
Sun Printing Corporation
The oldest business institution in Pittsfield is the Sun Print- ing Corporation. Its antecedents go back to 1800 when the Sun, a weekly, was founded by "Fighting Parson" Allen's nephew, Phinehas Allen. A staunchly Democratic journal from first to last, the Sun ceased publication in 1906.
But the Sun Printing Corporation, organized in 1882, con- tinued, doing job printing of every kind and description. Short- ly before the Sun ceased publication, the concern had moved to its present quarters on Renne Avenue, occupying the basement and first floor of what had been the Stanley Electric Company building.
During World War I, Sun Printing had more orders than it could fill, having to struggle with shortages of supplies and skilled help. In 1921, the company increased its capital stock and bought the building it occupies. The concern did largely sample book and catalogue work, but added a department for mail advertising. Later, it went into magazine printing. Today, it prints such publications as Yankee Magazine, Sports Age, Poultry Magazine, Park Avenue Social Review, and issues of Drug and Cosmetic Industry, in addition to its job printing orders.
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The recent presidents of the company have been Theodore L. Allen (1896-1918), Robert P. Easland (1918-1942), Edward Hamilton Gray (1942-1944), and Warren H. Osborn (1944-).
Agricultural National Bank
Pittsfield's next oldest business institution is the Agricultural National Bank. Organized in 1818 with a capital of $100,000, it established itself in a small wooden structure on what was then named and is still known as Bank Row, occupying the site where the Berkshire Athenaeum stands. Thomas Gold was the first president. The bank grew steadily as Pittsfield and the sur- rounding area developed. In assets, it has been for decades the largest bank in Berkshire County.
Having long occupied quarters in the Berkshire Life Insur- ance Company Building at the corner of North and West streets, the "Aggie" bank in 1909 erected a marble structure of its own on the east-up to then, the "wrong"-side of North Street. The building has since been improved and enlarged. The current president of the bank is Laurence R. Connor. What "Aggie" says is of great moment to the business and personal lives of many in the city and the county.
Berkshire County Savings Bank
Pittsfield's second bank was the Berkshire County Savings, organized in 1846 with Henry Shaw of Lanesborough as its first president. The first deposit was made by David Stockbridge, for $25. At the end of the first year, deposits totalled $2,805, and the dividends declared on January 1, 1847, amounted to $11.01. As of July 1, 1955, assets totalled almost $49,550,000.
The bank originally occupied the second floor of the wooden building owned by the Agricultural Bank on Bank Row. In 1865, it moved to the southwest corner of the first floor of Town Hall, now the City Clerk's office. Three years later, it moved to the second floor of the newly completed Berkshire Life Insurance Building, remaining there until 1896 when it erected its own building at the corner of Park Square and North
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Street, long a Pittsfield landmark. In 1926, it enlarged this building by constructing an addition along North Street which added a third to its capacity.
Arthur H. Rice was president of the bank from 1908 to 1928, when he was succeeded by William L. Adam. Upon the latter's mysterious disappearance in 1933, William A. Whittlesey was named president, serving until 1946 when he was made chair- man of the board. Gardner S. Morse succeeded to the presi- dency of the bank, a post he still holds.
Pittsfield National Bank
In 1853, with David Carson as president, what is now the Pittsfield National Bank was chartered with a capital of $150, 000. It opened for business in what was known as the "middle room" in the present City Hall. Moses England, founder of England Brothers department store, was one of the first de- positors.
The bank moved in 1856 to its own building on South Street where the south wing of the Wendell Hotel now stands. A few years later, it sold its property at a profit and moved into the newly completed Berkshire Life Insurance Building, where it has since remained, having its main quarters on the southeast corner of the ground floor.
Before the use of vaults and burglar alarms, banks hired guards to sleep overnight on the premises to guard their treas- ures. One of the first guards at the Pittsfield National was Ralph B. Bardwell, who rose from the ranks to become in time chairman of the board.
In 1929, the Pittsfield National, with Charles W. Power as president, merged with the Third National (established in 1881), under the presidency of Bardwell, to become the Pitts- field-Third National Bank and Trust Company, with combined assets of $6,640,000. Power remained as president and Bardwell became chairman of the board. By degrees, the name of the institution was changed until it again became the Pittsfield National Bank. The current president, Malcolm W. Lehman, took office in 1949, having successively been cashier and exec-
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utive vice president. At the close of business in 1955, the bank had assets of $14,583,000.
Berkshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Other local business institutions have passed the century mark. With headquarters in Pittsfield, the Berkshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company was founded in 1835. The first policy it wrote, one for $750, covered St. Stephen's Rectory, which was then on North Street.
Until the 1880s, the company confined its business to Berk- shire County. During the next two decades, it expanded its operations over the state. Today, it does business in sixteen states, not only in fire insurance, but automobile property dam- age, inland marine, and casualty insurance.
From 1915 through 1954, its assets have risen from $267,600 to $4,744,700; its surplus, from $102,700 to $1,326,700; its annual premium income, from $138,400 to $2,742,900. Its more recent presidents have been Henry R. Peirson (1906-1928), Robert A. Barbour (1928-1938), and Karl E. Greene, the present incumbent.
In 1915, the company occupied quarters in the Agricultural Bank Building, moving to the Berkshire County Savings Bank Building in 1924. In 1931, it erected its own building at the corner of East Street and Wendell Avenue Extension.
Berkshire Life Insurance Company
The Berkshire Life Insurance Company was founded in 1851 with its headquarters in Pittsfield. Its first president was George Nixon Briggs of Pittsfield, who had been elected to the House of Representatives for six terms and served seven times as gov- ernor of Massachusetts. His tenure continued until he died in a tragic accident in 1861, when he was succeeded by Thomas Fitz- patrick Plunkett.
During Plunkett's regime, the company built one of the land- marks of Pittsfield, the Berkshire Life Insurance Company building at the corner of West and North streets, completed in 1868. For decades it was the business hub of Pittsfield, hous-
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ing all kinds of enterprises, including the post office, the tele- graph office, the telephone exchange, the express offices, three national banks, and the offices of the gas company and of the water commissioners. Almost every businessman found occasion to visit it at least once a day, either for business or to exchange the news.
Growing slowly but steadily, Berkshire Life had nineteen agency offices in eleven states by 1916. In 1955, it had thirty-six general agencies in twenty-six states. Today, it has assets of almost $155,000,000, has approximately $500,000,000 of insur- ance in force, and is writing $50,000,000 of new insurance every year.
The company was among the first to write juvenile insurance, to incorporate cash and non-forfeiture values in its policies, and to write disability insurance in its life policies. Berkshire Life has always been a mutual company and has paid dividends to its policyholders for more than a century.
In 1911, William Dow Wyman became president of the company, being succeeded in 1925 by Frederick Harrison Rhodes. Upon the latter's death in 1942, the presidency went to Harrison Lewis Amber, a native of Iowa, long an agent and officer of the company. In 1953, Amber became chairman of the board and W. Rankin Furey was chosen as president.
In 1952, realizing that there was no room to expand its pres- ent building, the company purchased a 23-acre plot on South Street opposite the Pittsfield Country Club for the erection of a new home office building with plenty of air, space, light, and parking facilities. In 1955, the company announced the sale of its old home office building for a price reported to be more than $500,000. Berkshire Life planned to occupy its old quarters under lease until the new home office building should be com- pleted. At the end of 1955, construction had not yet started.
E. D. Jones & Sons
The firm of E. D. Jones & Sons, manufacturers of paper mill machinery, the second largest plant of its kind in the country, dates back to 1845 when Edward D. G. Jones estab-
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lished the business in a small machine shop in nearby Lee, once the largest paper-making center in the world. In 1867, Jones moved his plant to Pittsfield to be on the railroad, estab- lishing operations on Depot Street, where the company still has headquarters.
Jones conducted the business until 1904 when he died at the age of 80, being succeeded as president of the company by his son, Edward Archie Jones. The Pittsfield plant was gradually expanded as the company received more orders for planning paper mills and manufacturing the equipment for them, not only in this country but abroad, in China and elsewhere.
During World War I, the company turned much of its ma- chinery to the manufacture of military "hardware." In the 1920s it expanded its national and international markets. It weathered the Great Depression of the 1930s with only a small fall in production.
With the outbreak of World War II, it turned to meeting the military needs of Britain and France. In 1942, a year after we entered the war, 85 per cent of its production was for American military needs. Among other things, it turned out propeller shafts for merchant ships, bearings for destroyer escorts and LSTs, and complicated rammers for the Navy's 16-inch guns. It later produced military materiel for the Korean War.
In 1950, the Jones company made contracts with concerns in many foreign countries for licensing the sale of its products or their manufacture in plants chosen for capacity to produce quality machines and equipment.
Among the licensees in 1955 were firms in Italy, France, West Germany, Spain, Japan, and Canada. There is scarcely a paper- making country in the world where Jones machinery is not in use. In 1955, the Eagle described Arnold J. Barea, the com- pany's export manager, as the "travelingest traveling salesman" of Pittsfield. He is "on the road" nine months of the year, mak- ing his way around the world.
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