A Berkshires Sojourn

Naumkeag, a National Historic Landmark with
gardens designed by Fletcher Steele

Last week was a whirlwind and officially marked the end of my first month at The Trustees.

I spent a few days in Stockbridge getting to know the history of Naumkeag, a National Historic Landmark and one of The Trustees' flagship properties. Naumkeag is a beautiful reservation, made possible by the Choate family. Young Mabel Choate lived at Naumkeag with her parents and siblings and then eventually inherited this country estate. She spent the greater part of her life partnering with the now legendary landscape architect, Fletcher Steele, to create a series of garden rooms that are now the hallmark of this property. Visitors hail from all over the world to visit the Blue Steps and Afternoon Garden, early examples of the modern approach to garden design, which bring a sense of whimsy to the estate.

Nearly 100 friends, supporters, and
volunteers joined us to celebrate
Naumkeag and the Berkshires.

I had the great fortune to meet Tootie Alsopp and Celia Kittredge, relatives to Mabel, who toured the property with me and gave some intriguing personal insights. Mabel loved children, as Tootie would say, especially the naughty ones. I am certain this reinforced the fun times Mabel encouraged at Naumkeag. We carried that spirit at an evening reception for close to 100 friends, supporters, and volunteers during my visit. It was so exciting to see the grounds alive with chatter and laughter, as the property welcomed friends, old and new, to discuss the next chapter of The Trustees' work here in the Berkshires and across the state.

It was also rewarding to learn about our dreams for Naumkeag. Under the guidance of Jocelyn Forbush, our Regional Director, and Cindy Brockway, our Cultural Resources Director, we've begun to conceive a restoration of the gardens and think through opportunities to improve the house and property in a sustainable fashion. Efforts like these require a long-term view as full-scale improvements can take three years or more. The team working on this is dedicated and excited, two key ingredients to success.

But it takes a village, and, in addition to our dedicated volunteers, we have incredible staff on the ground, including veteran Jim Prince, who has been working for The Trustees for more than 20 years; historic resource guru Mark Wilson, who has read and analyzed writings of Fletcher Steele's to inform our decisions; and Colleen Henry, who supports the visitor experience. They, together with other colleagues and volunteers, are what make Naumkeag such a special place for the thousands who visit every year.

Field Farm is a modernist gem with a sculpture garden
and walking trails.

Our Berkshire properties are amazing and all thirteen are unique. One can visit many of our reservations over a weekend and stay at Field Farm with our Innkeeper, Ole Retlev, as your host. Spend time exploring the Berkshires and you can appreciate its cultural vibe that blends so well with the landscape, which I'm distinctly proud to have The Trustees be a part of.