Built around 1760 by Reverend Adonijah Bidwell, the first Minster of Township #1, today's Monterey and Tyringham, the Bidwell House remained in the Bidwell family for close to 100 years before being sold in the mid-19th century. In 1960, Jack Hargis and David Brush purchased the house and spent close to 25 years restoring and furnishing it in the style of the 18th century. It opened to the public as a museum in 1990 and continues to serve as a resource for learning about early Berkshire history, the lives of the first inhabitants of Township #1, and the Indigenous peoples who had lived there for centuries, including the Mohicans who resided on this land. The property includes 194 acres, 6 miles of trails, and a Native American Interpretive Trail.

Photo: Steve Stoessel