Ruby Bridges Continues to Make History

Nichole DupontiBerkshires Staff
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Norman Rockwell Museum
Rockwell immortalized then 6-year-old Ruby Bridges Hall's first day of school in 1960.
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Last Friday, I had the great privilege of speaking with Ruby Bridges Hall (to many she is and always will be Ruby Bridges). Fifty years ago on Nov. 14, 1960, Bridges made history as the first black student to step foot in the William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. Escorted from her home to the school, 6-year-old Ruby became a symbol for the Civil Rights movement and an icon for American schoolchildren. For that entire year of school, Bridges was the only student in her class as many white parents pulled their children from the school in protest. Barbara Henry, her teacher, was the only teacher in the school who did not refuse to teach the new student.

In 1999, Bridges founded the Ruby Bridges Foundation and is a motivational speaker for schoolchildren across the country, speaking out against racism and intolerance.

Bridges' historic journey to school was immortalized in Norman Rockwell's painting "The Problem We All Live With," which appeared on the cover of Look Magazine on Jan. 14, 1964. This weekend, the museum honors Bridges' journey and Rockwell's painting with a small installation and a talk on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. by curator Corry Kanzenberg.

Question: What stands out in your mind about that first day of school 50 years ago?

Answer: That first day I remember driving up in front of the school with the U.S. marshals. People were chanting and throwing things and they seemed really angry.

Q: Did you ask your mother about what was going on?


Bridges, seen here in New Orleans last month, speaks at schools around the country.
A: I wasn't the kind of child to ask questions. I just did what I was told and watched everything go on around me, then asked the questions. It would've been hard to try and explain what was going on then to a 6-year-old. I was concentrating on behaving and listening to the teacher. That was it.

Q: What do you think is the greatest challenge that children face today?

A: I have four grandchildren. I think the greatest challenge is the violence that's in the world that is directed towards our children. I believe that there's a greater evil out there amongst us. This has touched me personally because I've lost a son to violence. We're concerned about the wrong things. We are so focused on education but we really need to get back to the basics.

Q: Do you ever question your role in history? Do you wish things were different?

A: No, no, I know now that this was the plan for me all along. I'm comfortable in my own skin. Of course, I still question and doubt myself and there are days when I don't want to get up out of bed. But I still have hope. My biggest fans are the kids and I'm always amazed at how welcoming they are to me. For as much as we see in the media and all of the negativity we see I see that kind of hope every time I go into a classroom. And I know that we are going to come out OK.
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Friday Front Porch Feature: This Luxury Home Has Plenty of Amenities

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LENOX, Mass. — Are you looking for a big house to enjoy your days with a big movie theater, a sauna, and more? Then this is the house for you.

Built in 2004, this seven-bedroom, and nine-bathroom home is 7,073 square feet on more than an acre. The home comes with an elevator to the lower level to access a theater, sauna, gym, wine cellar, massage room, and its very own soda fountain. 

The home also has a guest house with a saltwater pool. A multi-car garage greets you with heated floors.

The this home is listed for $4,950,000 and is located in the 125-acre, gated Pinecroft compound.

We spoke to Leslie Chesloff, the listing agent with William Pitt Sotheby's.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Chesloff: This gated Berkshire stone estate truly redefines luxury living in the Berkshires. What sets it apart is the rare combination of resort-style amenities and complete privacy. The property offers Canyon Ranch-level wellness living with a full spa experience at home — including a sauna, massage room, and gym — plus an eight-seat hi-def theater with wine cellar for entertaining. The heated, gunite saltwater pool and spa are complemented by a fully equipped pool house with a guest suite and complete kitchen, perfect for extended family or guests.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

The moment you step inside, you're struck by the quality and craftsmanship — those 300-year-old reclaimed timber floors set an immediate tone of authenticity and warmth. The scale is impressive but never overwhelming; this is a home designed for gracious living, not just show. The natural light, cathedral ceilings, and thoughtful flow between spaces create an inviting atmosphere that balances grandeur with genuine comfort.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home?

This home feels like a private wellness retreat meets sophisticated family estate. There's a serene, spa-like quality throughout — enhanced by features like the sauna, steam shower, and massage room — but it never feels clinical or cold. The Berkshire stone exterior and reclaimed timber floors ground the home in a sense of place and permanence. It's designed for people who appreciate the finer things but want to actually live well — whether that's screening a film in the eight-seat theater with wine from your own cellar, hosting poolside gatherings, or simply unwinding in your own spa sanctuary.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

This is perfect for the discerning buyer who values wellness, privacy, and culture in equal measure. I envision someone who spends their days hiking or exploring the Berkshires, then comes home to unwind in the sauna or pool. They might entertain guests in the theater wine room, host multi-generational gatherings with family staying in the pool house guest suite (which has a full kitchen), and appreciate being minutes from Tanglewood, world-class dining, and Berkshire arts.

This could be an executive looking for a primary residence with work-from-home flexibility (there's an office/bedroom suite), a wellness-focused family, or empty nesters who want to host adult children and grandchildren in style and comfort.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Picture Saturday morning: you're sipping coffee on the terrace overlooking your heated saltwater pool, planning a day at Tanglewood. Your guests are making breakfast in the pool house kitchen — they have their own private retreat but are steps away when you're ready to gather. Evening arrives, and you screen a favorite film in your eight-seat theater, selecting a perfect bottle from your wine cellar. This isn't just a home; it's a lifestyle that brings resort-level wellness, entertainment, and hospitality to your doorstep — all within a secure, maintenance-free compound where nature meets luxury.

Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?

Absolutely. The home includes an elevator for multilevel accessibility, which is both practical and forward-thinking. The lower level is exceptionally well-conceived — a true entertainment and wellness wing featuring the eight-seat hi-def theater, wine cellar, sauna, gym, massage room, and even a charming soda fountain. The gourmet kitchen has been recently updated, customized wet bar, while outdoor living is elevated with the heated gunite saltwater pool/spa, firepit, and that incredible pool house with guest suite and full kitchen. Also, new HVAC system and heated driveway.

Thoughtful details like cedar closets, steam showers, central vacuum, and backup generator show this home was built to the highest standards.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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