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Late Spring/Summer

June 2017: Pittsfield Public School Children to tour the Samuel Harrison House.

July 16th, 2017 3pm - 5pm: Book Signing: Author Ann-Elizabeth Barnes will host a signing of her new book entitled; The Rev. Samuel Harrison (Press Release).

 


 



Recent Events

 

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.


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.


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. 

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wednesday, July 4th, 2007
The Samuel Harrison Society participated in the annual Pittsfield 4th of July Parade.

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 PO Box 378, Pittsfield, MA 01202 about purchasing the DVD.

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.

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 PO Box 378, Pittsfield, MA 01202 about purchasing the Book.

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 PO Box 378, Pittsfield, MA 01202 about purchasing the DVD.

View the documentary theatrical trailer here.