The Spell is Broken in 2023
State and Church Absolve 12 People Accused of Witchcraft in Colonial Era By Patricia Platt It has been over 370 years since Connecticut conducted the first witch trials in New England, but their shadow still reaches into 2023. Between 1647 and 1663, at least 34 people were accused of witchcraft in the Connecticut and New […]
Norfolk Then…
Once there was a tower in Norfolk from which Rapunzel could have let down her hair. Rising from the east end of the Royal Arcanum building, built in 1904, it served as a hose tower for the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department. The Royal Arcanum building was a joint venture between the NVFD and the Wangum […]
Food Pantry Reports Surge In Visits as Grocery Prices Remain High
Goal remains dignified client experience By Elizabeth Bailey Food price inflation has slowed from this time last year, down from an annual rate of 8.5 percent to 4.3 percent, but families continue to experience the shock waves. “We have undoubtedly seen a drastic increase in the number of people utilizing the food pantry, including many […]
As Challenges to Library Books Surge, Norfolk Library Celebrates the Freedom to Read
By Bina Thomson What began as a pushback against book bans has become a modern fight against censorship. Established in 1982, Banned Books Week, generally held the first week of October, is an annual event recognized by libraries, bookstores and intellectual associations across the United States. To further educate the public on the issue, the […]
Out and About: Mining a Family’s History in the Hills of North Canaan
By Jude Mead Limestone quarries have played an essential role in the economic history of the Northwest Corner. Tim Hitchcock, a local resident, and his ancestors have been an important part of that history since the 1800s. Six generations of his family have lived and watched the town of North Canaan grow and change over […]
Proposed Firehouse Advances to Planning and Zoning Commission
Public hearing set for Nov. 14 By Joe Kelly Plans for a new Norfolk firehouse have received financial backing from the State of Connecticut and approval from the town’s Inland Wetlands Agency—two milestones for a project that could reshape Norfolk’s emergency response capabilities for years to come. Attention now shifts to Norfolk’s Planning and Zoning […]
Canaan Regroups for Economic Revival
By Daryl Wilson Downtown North Canaan, slightly edgier and perhaps more of a bargain than Great Barrington, 15 minutes to its north, is not generally included in the cultural sphere of the Berkshires, but that may be changing. An expanding economy in the Southern Berkshires based on recreational, cultural and food experiences brings with it […]
Norfolk Then…
This photograph was taken about 1880 from the ledges on the Stoeckel property looking north to Haystack Mountain. By then the hills of Norfolk had been deforested by the iron industry and the trees cut down to make charcoal. We have a clear view of the landscape and the pastures of Haystack Mountain Farm. Shepard […]
Fire Claims home of longtime norfolk family
while battling blaze, firefighters experience hydrant failure By Joe Kelly A longtime Norfolk family has lost the house they called home for more than 50 years. Early in the morning of Sunday, Sept. 10, as intense lightning storms swept through the Norfolk area, the home of Jenny and Michael Langendoerfer, located south of the village […]
The Greenwoods Puppet Festival Returns
Handmade puppets tell timeless tales By Bina Thomson Eileen Fitzgibbons, events coordinator for the Norfolk Library, stayed busy this summer preparing for the return of the Greenwoods Puppet Festival. Fitzgibbons was initially inspired by several puppet theater performances she attended in 2018 and says she knew instantly that she wanted to bring puppetry to Norfolk. […]
