Page 13 - BusinessWest October 27, 2021

Stockbridge
Continued from page 11
bridge built in 1878. Canales said the town has approved funding to refur- bish all the internal mechanisms.
“It’s a neat structure, but it needs some tender loving care,” he added. “We’re hoping to make repairs that will keep it playing for the next 50 years.”
Still relatively new in the job, Cana- les said it’s been exciting to learn about the rich history of Stockbridge. While people all over the world are familiar with Tanglewood, the Norman Rock- well Museum, and the town’s mention in James Taylor’s song “Sweet Baby James,” there are even deeper his- torical references to be found which Canales said “makes it a fascinating community.”
For example, the town is working on a project to protect old-growth forests, specifically Ice Glen, a ravine in the southeast area of Stockbridge. Its name comes from the many moss-covered rocks with deep crevices that can sus- tain ice into the summer.
“Whether we’re going through good times or difficult times, it’s a community that comes together to get things done. I couldn’t be prouder of that.”
During the time he wrote Moby Dick, Herman Melville lived in Pitts- field and is said to have visited Ice Glen at least once. The Stockbridge ravine is referenced in the novel when narrator Ishmael describes Pupella, a seaside glen, as “a wondrous sight. The wood was green as mosses of the Icy Glen.”
These days, the town is exploring several options to protect the old- growth trees from insects that are caus- ing damage in Ice Glen.
The Chamber of Commerce has joined the effort to help tourists find both famous and lesser-known sites
in Stockbridge. As an ongoing project, it has developed and begun install- ing new signs to help direct people to the many attractions in town. Right now, they’ve been installed downtown, but the plan is to expand the green- and-white signs to more areas of the community.
“We want to help people get around outside the downtown area because there is a lot to see,” Kerswill said. “If someone is here only for a weekend, we want to make sure they can find all the attractions that interest them.”
Better Days
While the town navigates the vari- ous stages of the pandemic, Canales
said he and many others are looking ahead.
“We are staying on top of things and keeping an eye on trends so that when we come out of this, Stockbridge will be in the best possible shape to return to normal, or as close as we can get to normal,” he noted.
Kerswill added that Stockbridge is a place that continues to amaze her.
“Whether we’re going through good times or difficult times, it’s a commu- nity that comes together to get things done. I couldn’t be prouder of that.” u
Repair work will begin next year on the Children’s Chime Tower, a fixture since 1878.
Choose a business bank that doesn’t have shareholders, only neighbors.
As a mutual bank, Florence Bank has no shareholders. That means our first and only responsibility is to you, our customers. It’s what we have always believed. And it’s why we have assembled the Valley’s best business bankers and equipped them with the products and services your business needs. Let’s talk about what Florence Bank can do for you. Neighbor to neighbor.
FlorenceBank.com/ChooseAlways
Member FDIC / Member DIF
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
OCTOBER 27, 2021 13
BusinessWest