Monterey 150th Anniversary

Commemorations at the Museum

From an article in the winter 1997 members' newsletter,
by Anita Caroll Weldon

The Bidwell House and its property remain as testimony of the early days of the entire settlement. So it is very fitting that the museum took an active part in the celebration of Monterey's anniversary.

During the Revolutionary War, practically every able-bodied man in the town took up arms and fought. In honor of these people and the families who were either left behind to work the farms, or who followed these soldiers to pitch camp for them, the museum staged a reenactment of a Revolutionary War campsite. Groups from the Department of American Revolutionary War Interpretation, which is a division of the Living History Association,  represented Colonial and British Troops and civilians and interpreted camp life during the War of Independence. All participants had authentic and proper clothing, accoutrements, weapons and camp gear. Visitors could view 18th century camp life and ask questions of the re-enactors regarding the period. This event was staged on June 22nd and 23^rd.

In addition, the Bidwell House featured an Heirloom Clothing Exhibit of vintage clothing from the collections of Monterey residents June Tryon, Barbara Tryon and Judy Hayes, and from the Berkshire County Historical Society, including items belonging to the Bidwell family. The exhibit ran from July 19th through August 19^th. The earliest piece was a dress dating around 1830. Several dresses from the Civil War era, complete with original 'hoop skirt' undergarments, formed the bulk of the exhibit.

These dresses were mostly made from silk taffeta and included two plaid wedding dresses (see photograph) and a black funeral outfit. The late 1800's were represented with two filmy white cotton "lawn dresses" and a silk "tea" dress. Also from this time period was the wedding dress of Helen Higgly who married Orlando Bidwell. 

Other pieces displayed were two mid 19th century children's dresses  belonging to the Bidwell family. A black chintz blouse, a silk evening cape and fur muff, a top hat with it's original carrying case (all late Victorian) rounded off the display. The 20th century was represented by a collection of baby clothes from 1924.

As part of the August 1st Monterey 150^th anniversary celebration, The Bidwell House in collaboration with the Bigger Light Theater Company presented a theatrical performance based on the life of Mercy Partridge Whitney, Rev. Bidwell's granddaughter, who was born in Tyringham. Mercy's diaries of her days as a missionary in Hawaii inspired the opening chapters of James Mitchner's "Hawaii". The Bidwell House is proud to be a vital member of the community of Monterey, preserving and interpreting the history of the town.