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Berkshire Park, owned and operated by the street railway and formally opened to the public on Monday, August 18, 1902, was located in Lanesboro, a short distance north of the Pittsfield boundary, and was about 110 acres in extent. Among its attractions were a summer theater and a dancing pavilion. For many years, vaudeville performances were given during the summer season and frequent dances were held at the pavilion.

There was a herd of well-trained burros, on which rides were offered, and scattered about the grounds were swings, hammocks, picnic benches, and the like. It was a favorite resort for residents of the Pittsfield area and many were the vSunday school and church picnics, factory outings and similar events that were held there.

Until the automobile era began, there were many pleasure riders in the late spring, summer and early fall. When Berkshire Park was open, numerous extras were operated between Pittsfield and the resort at night and on weekends to accommodate the crowds, who also jammed the regular cars.

Despite its popularity, Berkshire Park represented a financial burden for the Berkshire. As early as April 1915, General Manager Richmond declared that if the public would permit, he would 'nail up the doors' on both Berkshire and Hoosac Valley Parks. While neither was closed at this time, Hoosac Valley Park was sold in 1926 after several years of inactivity. As late as 1923, Crane and Company employees held an outing at Berkshire Park -- but most of them came to the resort by automobile instead of trolley --



July 11, 1933-Berkshire Eagle ...

The last of 25 cars of the Berkshire Street Railway are being dismantled on the right-of-way of the company at Berkshire Park..Many of the cars with wooden bodies, stripped of controllers, etc. were burned there last September. The salvaged steel is being shipped to the American Steel and Wire Company in Worcester, Massachusetts, this firm having a contract to supply steel cable for the new bridge over the Golden Gate which will join San Francisco and Oakland in California.



(the Bay Bridge, opened in 1936, and not the Golden Gate Bridge, opened in 1937, connected San Francisco and Oakland)


CREDITS: EXCERPTS: Berkshire Street Railway-O.R. Cummings-Transportation Bulletin-National Railway Historical Society-1972.