Stockbridge Public Library, Stockbridge, Massachussetts

 The Stockbridge Library, Museum and Archives
Association

46 Main Street

Stockbridge, Massachussetts

https://stockbridgelibrary.org/

Even though this Library building is old, it looked brand new in September 2016, when I first visited. You'll be able to tell by the photos, everything was white and clean. A major renovation had just been completed a few months prior. I don't have any ancestors or family members from this area, but I was curious to see the library Norman Rockwell used, and possibly my favorite sculpturer, Daniel Chester French since lived nearby in the summer. The library owns some artwork by Mr. Rockwell and sculpture by Mr. French. I learned this library is an association, it is not owned or run by the town. Perhaps that is why their website is one of the best I've seen and used; it is so user friendly, I loved the larger font size, and color photos.

Once I entered the building, I walked around the first floor, looking at it's huge windows, some books, sculpture and art work in the reading rooms and hallways. Read about the history of the library HERE.

 

Abraham Lincoln, by sculpturer Daniel Chester French.

Portion of the exterior wall of the old library

Jackson Library

Erected

A. D.

1862

Photo showing the before renovation.

 The round enclosed fence like feature is an opening to see the lower level. You walk down a nearby staircase.

When you look down you'll see this nice circular tile design, so naturally, we went down to read it.

The Proctor Museum and Archives was around the hall, but unfortunately closed. I was a little bit disappointed, but knew I'd be back (well I did in December 2017, and the entire library was closed.) Third time will be a charm.

Procter Museum and Archives

Commemorative Medallion

 

September 2016

December 2017.

The genealogies for Stockbridge families only, and history of the town are in the Museum and Archives room. The curator, Barbara, gave me permission to copy their listing of records that is online.

Museum & Archives Collections

1. Institutional and Business Records

• American Legion Records
• Berkshire Republican Library Records
• Brown Book of Deeds
• First Congregational Church Records
• Hill Water Company Records
• Indian Hill Music Workshop Records
• Interlaken Congregational Church Records
• Laurel Hill Association Records
• Stockbridge Bowl Association Records
• Stockbridge Casino Records
• Stockbridge Library Association Records
• Tuesday Club Records
• Williams High School Alumni Association Records

2. Personal and Family Papers

• Clark (Anson) Collection
• Eaton (Walter Pritchard) Papers
• Edwards (Jonathan) Family Collection
• Field Family Collection
• Franz (Joseph) Papers
• French (Daniel Chester) Collection
• Lynch Whitney Family Collection
• Sedgwick Family Collection

3. Miscellaneous Collections

• Alice’s Restaurant Photography Collection
• Cookbook Collection
• Map Collection
• Oral History Collection
• Stockbridge Authors Manuscript Collection
• Stockbridge Imprints Collection
• Stockbridge Indian Collection
• Stockbridge School Collection
• Wilcox (Richard) Deed Research Collection

Posts I wrote, with photos about Daniel Chester French:

Where Was The Lincoln Memorial Made?

https://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2016/10/where-was-lincoln-memorial-made.html

Daniel Chester French Led Me on a Trail

https://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2013/12/daniel-chester-french.html

I have decided not to use the Comment feature for my blog. If you would like to leave a comment for me or ask a question, please write me at my email: BarbaraPoole@Gmail.com. Thank you.

My reason is because since November 2017 to May 2018, I received no comments, but upon investigating I found that I had indeed received 167 legitimate ones and 1,000 were in the spam folder. Google Blogger had made some changes that I was unaware of. Please be aware that I do not know who reads my blog, I may know who subscribes, but that is all.

Where Was The Lincoln Memorial Made?

Photo by B. Poole taken at Chesterwood,
Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Several years ago, I wrote a few posts about Daniel Chester French, a Concord, Massachusetts sculptor 

who was commissioned in 1873 by the town to make the bronze Minuteman statue which is displayed near the Old North Bridge. That fact is something I've known for many years, but when the Concord Museum had an exhibit of his works, I became more aware of his work pertaining to the Lincoln Memorial.

I then discovered he summered for 30 years in Stockbridge, Massachusetts at his estate and studio, called Chesterwood, with 120 acres. The good news is, these buildings are open to the public for the price of admission.

The pictures below are of the main house, only a few rooms were shown, the studio, and the few gardens showed evidence of fall because almost all the flowers had gone by. If you have ever seen the Lincoln Memorial, I believe this post might interest you or your children.

Although the entire Lincoln Memorial wasn't made here, the preliminary design work was. That fact, was enough to impress me.

The above is the main entrance to the house, and below is what you see on the opposite side, the fields and Taconic Mountains, shown below.

From the edge of the woods, another view of the house.

Main hallway. I believe we saw three rooms: the dining room, sitting room and private office with Mr. French's original typewriter (all shown below).

Study with Daniel's typewriter shown on the right.

Part of the 2nd floor hallway above, and three bedrooms below.

There were several gardens to enjoy as well as trails in the woods to explore.

Unfortunately, I didn't take a front picture of the studio, probably because I was so taken with the bench by the open door. The picture below is the side entrance with the huge door and the back porch overlooking the property.

The porch with bench was to the left of the entrance door. You are allowed to sit on it and view the meadow and mountain in front (see my 2nd picture).

When you first enter the studio, this is what you see! Notice the huge door as well?

General Charles Devens is on the horse. The statue may look small, but it was quite life-size.

I'm glad the chair is there, it's a good way to get an idea of the size of things.

You are looking at an open drawer with Mr. French's utensils. The window above the table provided an interesting reflection.

Looking toward the house, from the woods.

Daniel Chester French Led Me on a Trail (My post with quite a few of pictures)

Daniel Chester French Led Me on a Trail

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_North_Bridge

Sculptor Daniel Chester French's world known statue of the Concord Minute Man stands in front of Diane MacLean Boumenot, a fellow blogger and friend. We were there in October, and the following month I went to the Concord Museum to see the exhibit, "From the Minute Man to the Lincoln Memorial,  The Timeless Sculpture of Daniel Chester French."

General Joseph Hooker, an enormous statue in front of the Boston State House. I saw it less than a week ago, but it too dark to take a photo.

At the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington, D. C., putting his pieces together.

Plaque states this was his drawing of his first studio in Concord, Massachusetts. This needs to be corrected (9/18/16) to read this painting was done by William Merchant Richard French, 1879. The exterior of the Concord Studio, built in 1879 was built next to his family's home on Sudbury Road in Concord. The artist was Daniel's brother.

The Museum exhibit was large, but I'm cutting back my photos, because of the things I discovered on my own, and new photos I want to share. Yes, another adventure trying to find out where Mr. French lived and where he died. Neither of which was easily obtained via the internet, except for wonderful FindAGrave.

When I saw his painting stating he had a studio in town, I asked a multitude of questions, like is it still standing, and where. I was given a map with two locations marked, on the same street, for the house and the studio. It was too dark to look for them, so we came home. Then with a lot of luck, I discovered the studio (now as a house) had just been sold...with photo of the outside, and about 20 interior photos! Thanks to Zillow it made my future visit all the more easier (I removed the address, because of privacy for the new family).

Back to Concord a few days later and I found the house, the former studio. (see below.)

Daniel Chester French Studio 1879

However, I couldn't locate the small house (original studio), so I called the Museum and spoke with two people, and both gave different answers as to where it was. In all, three people tried to help (and one wrote on the map), but I still couldn't find both buildings even after a 2nd trip. It's amazing, I didn't get stopped by the police and questioned as to why I was slowing down, turning around in quite a few driveways and going back and forth.

Regarding his death, all sources I read stated he died in Stockbridge, Massachusetts at his summer home called Chesterwood. The minute I discovered he was buried in Concord, I returned to the town a fourth time in two weeks. FindAGrave was a big help as was a map from the Concord Library online site. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is quite large, but although it was a warm day, and I was the only one there, I didn't mind, because I was on a mission. The photos below show where he was buried.

Within a short distance of the cemetery is the Concord Free Library, and that meant another stop. Through my reading, I discovered Mr. French had made a sculpture of Ralph Waldo Emerson (after his death) and it was in the reading room of the library. I had been in this library many times (it was where I hung out two days after 9/11), but never looked at the many pieces of sculpture, including two of Louisa May Alcott.

Below is the detail on Mr. Emerson's coat collar.

My photo of the Concord Minute Man was taken several years ago.

I then discovered he summered for 30 years in Stockbridge, Massachusetts at his estate and studio, called Chesterwood, with 120 acres. The good news is, these buildings are open to the public for the price of admission. Please see my post with lots of photos of the studio and estate at: http://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2016/10/where-was-lincoln-memorial-made.html