Wheatleigh Going Up for Sale

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STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — One of the county's most exclusive hotels is not completely closing this Valentine's Day. 
 
But the owners of Wheatleigh, L. Linfield and Susan Simon, did confirm to The Berkshire Eagle that they will on putting the 1893 Italian-style villa up for sale later this year.
 
It will close as a hotel but will be open for private rentals and for weddings and events that were booked through the summer. 
 
iBerkshires and other media posted an announcement made Monday on the hotel's Facebook page: 
 
"It is with great sadness, we bid you all a fond farewell. The Wheatleigh ownership has made the difficult decision to close the property, and put it up for sale as a private residence. Our last day of operation will be February 14th. We thank you all for sharing your lives with us, and we wish you all the very best as we usher in a new chapter for the house we all love."
 
The Eagle reported Wednesday that the post was a hoax by "an unhappy former employee." The newspaper reported that the Simons are seeking to options for the hotel's future and that the company that was managing it the last few years is no longer involved. 
 
Banking and railroad magnate Henry H. Cook built the Berkshire cottage as a summer home. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and, at one point, was designated five stars by Forbes. It is listed on the Leading Hotels of the World website. It passed out of the Cook family and for a short time was a jazz and folk music school and resort, connected to the Music Inn, and then as a summer hotel. 
 
The Linfords purchased the property in 1983 as Su Lin Inc. It was refurbished in the early 1990s and renovated it in 2002. It's assessed at about $4 million. 
 
It has 19 rooms and suites on 22 acres designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Within walking distance of Tanglewood, the hotel has been a frequent stop for notable celebrities over the years. It is known for its fine dining, wine cellar and luxuriously appointed accommodations. 
 
Updated on Feb. 7, 2024; 2 p.m.

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Episcopal Bishops Visiting Christ Trinity in Sheffield

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, will be the presider at Christ Trinity Church on Sunday, March 30, at 10 a.m. 
 
Fisher visits all the 50-plus congregations in the diocese every two years. Bishop Nathan D. Pipho, of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will preach. 
 
Christ Trinity is an officially Federated congregation connected fully with both the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and the New England Synod ELCA. This is the first time both bishops have shared the visitation day in Sheffield.
 
The Rev. Erik Karas, who has led the congregation since 2017, will welcome the bishops to this growing community of faith. Following the service on Sunday, the bishops will enjoy coffee hour with the community and will meet with the vestry afterwards. This is the governing body of the congregation elected by the members.
 
Christ Trinity is deeply engaged in the local community. In addition to the ecumenical "Trail Magic" ministry, which offers hospitality and a meal to hikers, Christ Trinity has a summer cycling hospitality program. The church provides water, a rest station, chairs and a table, and a fix-it station for small bicycle problems. Believe Out Loud, an Episcopal designation, and Reconciling Works, a Lutheran designation, mark this congregation as intentionally LBGTQ-plus affirming. The rainbow chairs on the front lawn are a sign of this welcome.
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