Welcome to my hometown! But to be perfectly honest with you, I haven’t lived there for more than fifty years…and I’ve never really given much thought to the history of Pittsfield, Massachusetts until the Fillies suggested doing a blog about our hometown towns.
So, here goes…
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, located in western Massachusetts, is a city rich in history and culture. Situated in Berkshire County, it encompasses a unique blend of natural beauty, significant landmarks, and a vibrant community.
The city can trace its roots back to the colonial era when it was first settled in 1752. The city was named after British Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder. Initially, Pittsfield relied on agriculture, with crops like corn, oats, and wheat being important for the settlers. However, during the 19th century, the city experienced rapid industrial growth, transitioning from an agrarian society into a thriving manufacturing hub.
By the end of the Revolutionary War, Pittsfield had nearly 2,000 residents. While mainly a farming area, because of the many brooks that flowed into the Housatonic River, the land was dotted with mills that produced lumber, grain, paper (Eaton & Crane writing paper was known worldwide), and textiles. When Merino sheep from Spain was introduced in 1807, the area became the center of woolen manufacturing in the U.S. for nearly a century.
By the late 1800s, the town was a bustling metropolis. In 1891, the City of Pittsfield was incorporated. In that same yar, William Stanley Jr., who had recently relocated his Electric Manufacturing Company to Pittsfield produced the first electric transformer. Stanley’s enterprise was the forerunner of the internationally known corporate giant, General Electric (GE). Thanks to the success of GE, Pittsfield’s population in 1930 had grown to more than 50,000. Though it continued to be one of the city’s largest employers until the 1980s, a workforce that once topped 13,000 was reduced to less than 700 with the demise of General Electric. On a personal note, I worked at GE after college for two years, made some great friends, and learned how a big conglomerate operated…which made me turn to public education for the remainder of my working career!
Weather in Pittsfield has four distinct seasons…however, winter often begin around Columbus Day in mid-October and can last to Mother’s Day in May. Spring is nearly non-existent, and summers can be cool & rainy or hot…however, nothing compares to the Berkshires in Autumn. It is glorious!!!
Pittsfield and Berkshire County is less than three hours from New York City to the south, and Boston to the east, making the area home to a myriad of world-class art, theater, dance, music, film, and historic sites. The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts in North Adams and Tanglewood in Lenox and Stockbridge have long drawn the culturally inclined to Western Massachusetts. Berkshire Theatre Group in Pittsfield and venues like the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge also draw tourists from around the world.
Pittsfield can lay claim to a number of famous residents who have made significant contributions to our nation’s history, including Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick, written at his Pittsfield home he called Arrowhead. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., lived in Pittsfield for 7 years. His poetry put him in the company of other writers living in the area in the mid 1800’s. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, poet, educator, linguist, owned a home which is now the site of Pittsfield High School.
Other notables include
- Robin Williams, actor, maintained a summer home in Pittsfield
- Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric
- Brian Piccolo, Chicago Bears halfback, subject of movie Brian’s Song
- Marshall Field, founded Chicago’s Marshall Field’s department stores, took first job in 1853 as a clerk in Pittsfield
- Silvio O. Conte, congressman (He and my dad were good friends during their school years)
- Niraj Shah (born 1973/74), billionaire CEO and co-founder of Wayfair
If you, like me, are surprised by the city where I was born and raised, I have one more interesting, albeit, tragedy that occurred in Pittsfield.
At approximately 10:15AM, President Theodore Roosevelt’s motorcade was travelling along South Street when the mounted troopers assigned to protect him noticed the speeding trolley. As the streetcar turned onto the street with the presidential carriage, the driver rang the trolley bell and attempted to stop. Two cavalrymen flagged down the motorman, ordering the trolley to stop, but it nevertheless collided with the back left wheel of the carriage, smashing the carriage’s back and striking the front wheel as well. The impact sent the carriage into the air briefly.
William Craig yelled for the president to “Look out! Hold fast!” before they were both thrown off the wagon. Craig was thrown under the streetcar and killed instantly while Roosevelt was thrown out and hit his head on the sidewalk. Cortelyou sustained serious injuries. Governor Crane escaped uninjured. Pratt, the driver, struck his head, resulting in a fractured skull. One carriage horse was also killed in the collision.
Like many of New England’s manufacturing centers that experienced an economic decline in the latter part of the 20th century, Pittsfield has been forced to redefine itself. With the reconstruction of prime industrial property at the heart of the city, and an energized arts and entertainment scene in the downtown, Pittsfield has established itself as a cultural center in Berkshire County with the prospect of renewed economic vitality.
Thanks for coming along on this portrait of an American city — my hometown, Pittsfield Massachusetts.
To stay up on our latest releases and have some fun, too, join our Facebook Reader Group HERE!
Born and raised in western Massachusetts, Jo-Ann Roberts was fascinated by America’s Old West and always felt she was destined to travel on a wagon train following the Oregon Trail. With her love of history and reading, she began reading historical romance during high school and college. Victoria Holt, Jude Deveraux, and Roseanne Bittner were among her favorites. Influenced by her father, she fell in love with John Wayne, James Garner, and her all-time favorite, James Stewart and grew up watching Wagon Train, Bonanza and Rawhide.
A firm believer in HEA with a healthy dose of realism, Jo-Ann strives to give her readers a sweet historical romance while imparting carefully researched historical facts, personalities, and experiences relative to the time period. Her romances take her readers back to a simpler time to escape the stress of modern life by living in a small town where families and friends help one another find love and happiness.
When she isn’t creating believable plots and relatable heroes and heroines, Jo-Ann enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandson. She also enjoys baking, quilting and eating way too much chocolate.
After 38 years in public education in Connecticut and Maryland, she’s now calls North Carolina home.
Cool history of your hometown.
Welcome, Denise! Thanks for stopping by P&P to read about Pittsfield. I know it’s not as exciting as some of the Western hometowns, but it is probably one of the oldest!
And all I remembered from Social Studies/History classes was the manufacturing, especially cloth. I was born in Washington, D.C. but my folks moved us to the MD suburbs over the District line when I was very small.
Welcome, Mary! Thanks to the Housatonic River and its many streams, Pittsfield did have their share of mills that manufactured cloth. Sady, most of them are now abandoned. Thanks for stopping by P&P.
Good morning Jo-Ann! Thanks for the history of your hometown!
Welcome, Tracy. I know it’s not as exciting as some of the Western hometowns, but it is probably one of the oldest! Thanks for stopping by P&P.
Interesting info!
Welcome, Karijean. I know it’s not as exciting as some of the Western hometowns, but it is probably one of the oldest! Growing up there, I never gave its history much thought…it was just home! Thanks for stopping by P&P.
Welcome today. Thanks for sharing this cool history of your town.
Welcome, Lori. Growing up there, I never gave its history much thought…it was just home! Thanks for stopping by P&P.
Neat history!! I’ve never been to Massachusetts, though it does sound beautiful!! Maybe someday! It would definitely be different from Florida!!
Welcome, Trudy. Massachusetts is indeed very different. Roads are narrow, houses are traditional. Lots and lots of leafy trees, no palm trees. Please visit! There are lots of historical sites from the landing of the Pilgrims in 1620…but come in the summer or better yet, come in the autumn and do some “leaf peeping”. Thanks for stopping by P&P.
What a fascinating article. I had never heard about this accident with President Roosevelt. How sad. Thank you for sharing.
Welcome, Barbara. As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, I didn’t know much about my hometown, so when I came across this news article, I was surprised, too. Thanks for stopping by P&P.
Jo-Ann, this is so interesting. Pittsfield certainly has a lot of colorful history. How crazy to have the trolley run into the president. Nothing like this ever happened in my hometown.
Linda, as I mentioned in the opening paragraph, I didn’t know much about my hometown, so when I came across this news article, I was surprised, too. Looking back on it, local history was sadly never taught in school. I’m not sure why.
WOW that is some history. I’m from one of the many suburbs of Toledo OH. We have history also but I can’t think of it off the top of my head. lol
Welcome, Carrie. As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, I didn’t know much about my hometown. Looking back on it, local history was sadly never taught in school. I’m not sure why. Thanks for stopping by P&P.
Thank you for sharing such interesting facts.
Welcome, Linda. I know it’s not as exciting as some of the Western hometowns, but it is probably one of the oldest! Growing up there, I never gave its history much thought…it was just home! Thanks for stopping by P&P.
I grew up hearing of Pittsfield but not knowing much about it. When I was quite young we drove through there one Sunday when we were going to visit some distant relative who had moved to North Adams. Since we lived between Saratoga and Lake George, NY, it was just a day trip.
Welcome, Alice. I’m very familiar with Saratoga and Lake George. Like you, it was just a day trip for us. My mother was born and raised in Rensselaer, NY, just over the Hudson River from Albany. I spent many summers with my grandparents in the Capital District. Thanks for stopping by P&P.
Thank you for sharing. I really enjoyed reading this information.
Welcome, Bonnie. I know it’s not as exciting as some of the Western hometowns, but it is probably one of the oldest! Growing up there, I never gave its history much thought…it was just home! Thanks for stopping by P&P.
I knew we had been to and through the Berkshires several times. I couldn’t remember where we stayed, but we did go to the Rockwell Museum and attended a concert at Tanglewood. I grew up in the Adirondacks and that whole Northeast section of the country is so very special. It is rich in history and natural beauty. I am glad to hear good use is being made of the old mills and factories. They offer such good possibilities for restoration and development. It is just a bit expensive.
Thanks for sharing.