Bidwell House Museum to Host Online Discussion on Historical Interpretation

MONTEREY, Mass. — The Bidwell House Museum will present an online lecture titled "Creating History: The Art of First Person Interpretations" on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.

The program will explore the process behind historical reenactments, particularly in relation to the museum's living history events. Past participants in the Bidwell House Museum's American Revolution reenactments will discuss their approaches to historical interpretation, their interest in history, and their preparation for such events.

The speakers for this program include:

• Emma Cross, a historian from Williamsburg, Virginia, with 29 years of experience in museum work, including 22 years at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. She is the owner of Meadows and Stars, llc, a historical performance company. At the Bidwell House Museum in October, she will portray Frederika Charlotte Riedesel.
• Michele Gabrielson, a public school history teacher and 18th-century historic interpreter specializing in colonial women printers, 18th-century chocolate makers, and Mercy Otis Warren. She is the secretary for the Mercy Otis Warren Society and the coordinator for the Battle Road Guides for the Battle of Lexington and Concord reenactment. Gabrielson has received awards including the Rising Star Award for Public History by the Massachusetts History Alliance and has been recognized by the Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution and the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. She will portray Mercy Otis Warren at the Bidwell House Museum in October.
• Sandy Spector, a Revolutionary War reenactor since 2000, who currently interprets Martha Washington. She has portrayed Mrs. Washington in various states and venues, including the National Park Service’s Washington’s Headquarters. Spector is also writing a book about Martha Washington from her perspective. She will portray Martha Washington at the Bidwell House Museum’s opening program on May 17.
• Richard Smith, who has lectured and written on antebellum United States history and 19th-century American literature since 1995. He has worked as a public historian and Living History Interpreter in Concord for 26 years, portraying Henry David Thoreau. He has authored or edited 11 books and is a regular contributor to “Discover Concord.” He will portray Henry David Thoreau at the Museum in October.

Registration is required for the online lecture and can be completed on the Museum website at https://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org/event/creating-history-the-art-of-first-person-interpretations/. Access details will be emailed to registrants in advance.

The lecture is free for Bidwell House Museum members and $15 for non-members, with one registration required per household.

The grounds of the Bidwell House Museum are open daily from dawn until dusk, free of charge. Guided tours of the historic house will be available by appointment starting on Memorial Day. The museum’s full program of events is available at www.bidwellhousemuseum.org.

Greenagers Founder Will Conklin Honored as Business Person of the Year

By Breanna Steele12:17PM / Saturday, October 03, 2026

Casey Pease of state Sen. Paul Mark's office presents William Conklin, right, with a state Senate proclamation.

EGREMONT, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored a local businessman and nonprofit leader on Sept. 24 at Catamount Mountain Resort.

 

William Conklin was this year's Business Person of the Year, recognizing his work as founder and executive director of Greenagers, a nonprofit that helps youth and children engage in work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building. 

 

Conklin and his family also run Sky View Farm and he is a managing partner of Konkapot Tree and Timber, a small-scale forest products business.

 

"If you spent any amount of time in Southern Berkshire, chances are you've heard his name, whether you realize the connection at the time or not," said board member Sierra King Watson, who emceed the event. "You might be having a conversation about farming, a new barn or structure that was built, students learning hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, or a family that receives donated firewood to help keep their home warm through a cold Berkshire winter, or maybe you're simply talking about one of those community leaders who somehow manages to show up, support everyone, and seemingly be everywhere all at once.

 

"Well, one name has a way of continuously popping up, and that is Will Conklin."

 

Board President Mark Rulison said the region has more than 1,200 nonprofits. One in four jobs in the county is in the nonprofit sector, which ranks 27th nationally for nonprofit employment. He said the economic impact on the community is huge, thanking those who help.

 

For the event on Thursday, Conklin requested that as much of the food as possible was sourced locally. Most of it came from Greenagers, Sky View Farm, Indian Line Farm and Fancy Feast Supper Club, creative dinner series.