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"Spirit of Sheffield" Exhibit Opens
Nature is one of the most dramatic elements of the southern Berkshires and one that continually showers new insights upon local inhabitants and visitors to the region. "The Spirit of Sheffield: Then and Now" is a collaborative exhibition highlighting the natural world, with a special focus on rural landscapes and trees. The Sheffield Land Trust, the Sheffield Tree Project, Elm Watch, and the Sheffield Historical Society have collected a number of images of the region over the last 100 years and have brought these views together for this exhibition.
Each of the collaborating organizations seeks to widen public awareness of the ways in which society has shaped and been shaped by the environment. "He who plants a tree plants hope" is a thrust of the Sheffield Tree Project as they encourage the creation of beautiful and diverse trees along the public roads. Sheffield was known for its elm-lined streets in the 19th century. In fact, the town planted 1,000 elms in 1846 along Main Street; none of those trees are standing today. Elm Watch seeks to document and preserve the elms in our region. Did you know there is a Majestic Elm Trail in the Berkshires?
The Sheffield Land Trust, which has a wider mission, seeks to preserve the land's many forms, including farms, forests and wetlands. During the past year the Land Trust worked with local high school students to photograph present conditions and to document in detail the reality of the importance of land as a community resource and as an integral part of the fabric and spirit of Sheffield.
The Sheffield Historical Society holds within its collection over 1,000 glass plate negatives of life in Sheffield and environs during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many of these images were included in the exhibition to provide points of reference for environmental changes over time. The Society is pleased to offer its recently restored Stone Store as the location for these community groups to come together and present a forum for discussion of such critical issues as humanity's impact on the environment. Please join all of us as we explore this timely issue.
The Sheffield Historical Society's Old Stone Store, located on Main St. (Route 7) in Sheffield, is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. through March 8. The public is invited to a reception celebrating the wonder of our environment on Saturday, February 1 from 3-5 p.m. For more info or to make a weekday appointment to see the exhibit, contact the Sheffield Historical Society, 159-161 Main St., PO Box 747, Sheffield, MA 01257; phone 413-229-2694.
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