Patrick-Murray Administration Announces Agreement to Extend Berkshire Scenic Rail Rides

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LENOX, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Housatonic Railroad today announced the extension of an agreement that will allow the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum to operate scenic rail rides along the Housatonic River for the next two seasons.

"Through this partnership we have come up with a plan that will allow residents and tourists to experience the beauty of the Berkshires in a very unique way," said Governor Deval Patrick.

The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum, founded in 1984, it is a nonprofit, living museum dedicated to preserving the history of railroading in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts. Located in the restored 1907 Lenox Station, the museum offers 20 mile, round trip scenic train rides through the towns of Lenox, Lee and Stockbridge on an active railroad line that follows the Housatonic River. The museum will open for the 2010 summer season on Saturday, May 29. For more information, visit www.berkshirescenicrailroad.org or call 413-637-2210.

"We have made it a priority to strengthen our commitment to rail throughout the Commonwealth. This is yet another example of how we can partner with the private sector to deliver rail improvements that will benefit our economy and communities," said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Jeffrey Mullan.


"We must be taking advantage of every opportunity to craft solutions like this one that will support our local tourist economies," said MassDOT Rail and Transit Administrator Richard Davey.

Housatonic Railroad is a freight railroad that connects to the national rail system through CSX Transportation in Pittsfield. Housatonic freight operations on the Berkshire Line in Massachusetts began in 1991 after the line segment from Pittsfield to Canaan, Conn. was purchased by Housatonic from the Boston and Maine Railroad.

Housatonic operates approximately 38 miles in Massachusetts and serves two paper companies along with 8 other customers. The Berkshire Line passes through the communities of Pittsfield, Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge, Housatonic, Great Barrington and Sheffield.
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Ventfort Hall: Baseball in the Berkshires

LENOX, Mass. — Larry Moore, Director of the nonprofit Baseball in the Berkshires, and a retired Physical Education Specialist, will tell about the history of baseball in the Berkshires at Ventfort Hall on Tuesday, July 16 at 4 pm. 
 
A tea will be served after the presentation.
 
According to a press release:
 
The game of baseball has a long and storied history in the Berkshires. From the broken window by-law of 1791 and the first college game ever played in 1859, there were 60 years of minor league teams calling the Berkshires their home. There are 40 major league players coming from the Berkshires and two of them are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Over 220 minor league players were born, raised or settled in the Berkshires. Just when you think you have a grasp on those stories someone asks about women's baseball and black baseball in the Berkshires. Going back to the late 1800's both the history of women and people of color have strong roots here. The long list of famous baseball visitors that left parts of their stories here contains the names of "Say-Hey Kid," "Joltin' Joe," "The Iron Horse" and of course, "The Babe."
 
Larry Moore worked as a Physical Education Specialist in the Central Berkshire Regional School District for 37 years. He taught a popular yearlong unit about the history of baseball for 25 years, along with his regular Physical Education program, to his fifth graders culminating with a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He now volunteers at the National Baseball Hall of Fame as an Outreach Educator. Nine years ago he, along with Tom Daly, Jim Overmyer and Kevin Larkin, established a group of baseball enthusiasts who established the nonprofit organization, Baseball in the Berkshires. Its mission is to tell the fascinating stories of baseball in the Berkshires through exhibits and educational programming.
 
As director of this group he, and his fellow volunteers, have created numerous exhibits and educational programs throughout the Berkshires. He co-authored the book "Baseball in the Berkshires: A County's Common Bond." 
 
He is a resident of Lenox and has spent many years working with the young people of the Berkshires, as an educator, coach, official, and business owner.
 
Tickets are $40 for members and with advance reservation; $45 day of; $22 for students 22 and under. Ticket pricing includes access to the mansion throughout the day of this event from 10 am to 4 pm. Reservations are strongly encouraged as seats are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call at (413) 637-3206. Please note that all tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox.
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