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Upcoming Events
Sunday, July 16th, 2017
Book Signing: Author Ann-Elizabeth Barnes hosted a signing of her new book entitled; The Rev. Samuel Harrison (Press Release).

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Saturday and Sunday, August 3rd and 4th, 2013
Samuel Harrison Society members Jeannie Williams, Ruth Edmonds Hill, and Blayne Whitfield traveled to Peterboro, NY (Hamlet of the town of Smithfield, NY) to participate in the 4th annual Emancipation Days. The Smithfield Community Association celebrated the Emancipation Proclamation in a two-day program event. On the first day, African American veterans of the Civil War and abolitionist and philanthropist Gerrit Smith were honored at the Peterboro cemetery. On the second day, the Samuel Harrison Society presented the Harrison documentary, "A Trumpet at the Walls of Jericho". Blayne Whitfield and Ruth Edmonds Hill spoke after the showing of the documentary. |
Thursday, June 27th, 2013
The Samuel Harrison Society purchased an inscribed brick to be part of the exterior wall of the new building for St. John's Congregational Church in Springfield, MA. The brick was unveiled as one of over 200 bricks during the Cornerstone Laying and Unveiling of the Inscribed Bricks Ceremony on June 27th, 2013. The ceremony was part of Church Dedication Week (Saturday, June 22nd
through Sunday, June 30th) for St. John's new building. Samuel Harrison served as Pastor of the formerly known Sanford Street Free Church from 1866 to 1870. |
Friday, July 1st, 2011
The Greylock Federal Credit Union announced on Friday, July 1st, 2011, that they are donating $50,000 over the next three years to support the restoration of the Samuel Harrison House and the opening of the museum. Greylock President Marilyn Sperling, Executive Vice President John Bissell, Pittsfield Mayor James Ruberto, Samuel Harrison Society President Churchill Cotton, and Samuel Harrison's great granddaughter, Ruth Edmonds Hill were present for the announcement. |
Sunday, April 17th, 2011
The Samuel Harrison Society (SHS) sponsored their 6th annual Samuel Harrison Birthday Celebration honoring the Rev. Samuel Harrison. Also, Second Congregational Church was officially dedicated as an African American Heritage Trail site and received a plaque. Rev. Leonard D. Comithier, Jr. was the guest speaker. The Service began at 3:30pm at the Second Congregational Church, 50 Onota St. Pittsfield, MA. |
Sunday, February 27th, 2011
SHS member Blayne Whitfield gave a
presentation at the Lanesborough Read: Civil War at the Lanesborough Public Library. |
Sunday, February 27th, 2011
The Samuel Harrison Society (SHS) sponsored a Spaghetti Dinner. The Spaghetti Dinner (from 12pm to 2pm) was held at the American Legion Post 68 at 41 Wendell Avenue in Pittsfield. Pittsfield Mayor James M. Ruberto was in attendence. |
Sunday, April 18th, 2010
The Samuel Harrison Society
(SHS) sponsored their 5th annual Samuel Harrison Birthday
Celebration honoring the Rev. Samuel Harrison. The
celebration was held from 2pm to 4pm at Second
Congregational Church. Dr. Homer "Skip" Meade,II, Ed.D. was the guest speaker.

Also participating and providing musical selections were the Second Congregational Church Choir and the Women of Joy.

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Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
The Samuel Harrison Society
(SHS) participated in the Veteran's Day presentation of the documentary, A Trumpet at the Walls of Jericho: The Untold Story of Samuel Harrison by St. John's Congregational Church, Springfield, MA. SHS member Blayne Whitfield introduced the documentary to the audience before it was shown Wednesday evening at 7pm in the church sanctuary. SHS members Churchill Cotton and Jeannie Williams were also present to take part in the festivities.
St. John's Congregational Church presented the documentary as part of their 165th Anniversary celebration. The Rev. Samuel Harrison was a former Pastor of St. John's from 1866 to 1870. The Massachusetts 54th Color Guard will be performing a flag presentation at the beginning of each worship service on Sunday, November 15th, 2009, |
Saturday, July 4th, 2009
The Samuel Harrison Society
(SHS) participated in the annual Pittsfield 4th of July
Parade. The marchers for the SHS accompanied marchers
from the Morningside & Westside Initiatives and
Downtown Inc. In addition, the Samuel Harrison Society marchers were escorted by the Massachusetts 54th Color Guard.
 
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Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
SHS member Blayne Whitfield gave a
presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Friends of the
Dalton Free Public Library in the Crane Room of the Dalton
Town Hall.
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Saturday, April 11th, 2009 The Samuel Harrison Society
(SHS) sponsored their 4th annual Samuel Harrison Birthday
Celebration honoring the Rev. Samuel Harrison. The
celebration was held from 2pm to 4pm at Second
Congregational Church. Massachusetts State Representative Byron
Rushing was the guest speaker.
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Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 Samuel
Harrison Society (SHS) member Blayne Whitfield was guest
speaker of the Friends of the Berkshire
Athenaeum. A discussion on Samuel Harrison's
life, his service to the Pittsfield community, and to our
nation during the U.S. Civil War was held in the Library
auditorium. |
Thursday, February 5th, 2009
Samuel Harrison Society (SHS)
members Ivan Newton, Frances Jones-Sneed, and
Blayne Whitfield were guests on the PCTV show
Jerry's Place. |
Sunday, October 19th, 2008 The Samuel Harrison Society
(SHS) hosted a Family Genealogy Day as part of 'The Big
Read Project'. The Family Genealogy Day was held at the
Second Congregational Church between 2 - 4pm.
Participants were encouraged to share stories and experiences
regarding growing up and living in Pittsfield.
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Sunday, October 5th, 2008
The Samuel Harrison Society (SHS) sponsored a Heritage Walk
at 1pm. The walk will began at the corner of
North and Linden Streets at the NAACP Office. The walk
proceeded down North, East, Wendall, and First
Streets. The walk ended on Third Street at the
Samuel Harrison house. |
Friday, August, 22nd, 2008 Groundbreaking
Ceremony: The Samuel Harrison Society (SHS)
celebrated the beginning of the restoration and preservation
of the Samuel Harrison House by holding a Groundbreaking
ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Senators,
Representatives, Friends, Neighbors, and descendants of Samuel
Harrison. |
Thursday, August 21st, 2008 The Samuel Harrison Society
(SHS) attended the summer play, "The Colors of War: A Story of
Love and Courage" at Ventfort Hall in Lenox, MA.
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Friday, July 4th, 2008 The Samuel Harrison Society
(SHS) participated in the annual Pittsfield 4th of July
Parade. The marchers for the SHS accompanied marchers
from the Morningside & Westside Initiatives and
Downtown Inc. |
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 Samuel Harrison Society
members Linda Tyer and Frances Jones-Sneed were guests on the
show 'Common Sense' with the Berkshire Brigades Topic: Samuel
Harrison Project.  |
Thursday, September 27th, 2007 The Samuel Harrison Society
(SHS) held a reception at the Lichtenstein Center for the
Arts. The Board of Trustees gave a presentation
introducing themselves, the Rev. Samuel Harrison, and the
preservation development team. The presentation also
included stating the mission of the SHS, as well as the
concept for renovating the house as a museum.
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2007 The Samuel Harrison Society
participated in the annual Pittsfield 4th of July Parade.
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Sunday, April 15th, 2007 The Samuel
Harrison Society sponsored their 2nd Annual Birthday
Celebration honoring the Rev. Samuel Harrison. The
celebration started at 2 pm at the Second Congregational
Church. |
Wednesday, February 28th, 2007 The Samuel Harrison Society
donated the documentary "A Trumpet at the Walls of Jericho:
The Untold Story of Samuel Harrison" to the Pittsfield public
schools. A donation ceremony took place in the
Pittsfield High School library. Superintendent Katherine
Darlington was present to accept on behalf of all the public
schools. A copy of the DVD was delivered to each of the
schools in Pittsfield.
Please contact
the Samuel Harrison Society at this website or write us at 82 Third St., Pittsfield, MA 01201 about purchasing the DVD.
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Friday, September 15th, 2006
Three concurrent Bus
Tours left Second Congregational Church in Pittfield for
destinations in Sheffield, Great Barrington, and
Pittsfield. These tours culminated in the dedication of
the Upper Housatonic Valley African American
Heritage Trail (UHVAAHT) and the opening of the
Mumbett room at the Colonel Ashley House in Sheffield,
MA.
The Samuel Harrison House is a site on along the
Upper Housatonic Valley African American Heritage Trail.
The Rev. Samuel Harrison and his homestead are featured in the
Trail Guide.
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Thursday, September 14, 2006
Book
Release/Sale: The Upper Housatonic Valley African American
Heritage Trail (UHVAAHT) have release the book, "African
American Heritage in the Upper Housatonic Valley". The
UHVAAHT is a non profit organization which manages the
national heritage area encompassing western Massachusetts and
northwestern Connecticut.
Please contact
the Samuel Harrison Society at this website or write us at 82 Third St., Pittsfield, MA 01201 about purchasing the Book.
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Saturday, April 15th, 2006 The
Samuel Harrison Society held its 1st Annual Birthday
Celebration honoring the Rev. Samuel Harrison at the Second
Congregational Church. |
Saturday, January 22nd, 2005
Premiere of "A Trumpet
at the Walls of Jericho" A PBS documentary
entitled “A Trumpet at the Walls of Jericho: The Untold Story
of Samuel Harrison” premiered in Pittsfield.
Please contact
the Samuel Harrison Society at this website or write us at 82 Third St., Pittsfield, MA 01201 about purchasing the
DVD.
View the documentary theatrical trailer here.
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