On June 22nd, a Severe Storm wreaked havoc in my town. Damage was widespread, with trees down in every which direction, a sure sign of a tornado.
My property was in the direct path of the storm, and my car was destroyed by multiple hits of broken tree pieces. My deck also suffered damage to the railing, flooring, and furniture.
Things could have been worse. I was about to get in my car to go visit a friend. If the timing of the storm had been a few minutes later, I might have been near or in the car when the flying debris came down. As it was, I witnessed the storm from inside my house, which, aside from the deck, was not damaged. It was over in minutes.
I have two items to share with you today:
My month of recovery efforts following our tornado
My plans to lead local forest walks over the next few months
Dealing with the insurance companies has been a long, convoluted, and frustrating experience. In the end, it appears I will be fully compensated for my losses.
After two weeks without a car, a long-time friend and neighbor generously lent me a set of wheels. While all of this was going on, I was trying to get my clothes dryer fixed. The repair person ultimately told me it could not be rehabilitated. Now that I had a car, I could go over to Henry’s Electric and see what they had on offer. I purchased new laundry equipment, although the first installation date they could give me was August 19th. Meanwhile, between the local Laundromat and the generous help of friends, I am getting my clothes dried.
Yesterday, the final piece of the puzzle may have been found. I finally had a contractor come and look at the damaged deck, and we agreed on a price.
Although nothing has been fully resolved, I am on track for a full recovery. Much storm damage remains. I am enjoying being outside and picking up the pieces.
And now I can turn my attention to my next Berkshire OLLI course (more on that to come), and the walks that I mentioned earlier.
As part of the ongoing commemoration of our town’s 250th anniversary of Colonial incorporation, I will be leading several walks:
to the Devil’s Den on July 27th (fully booked)
to the peak of Tom Ball Mountain
two different walks on the Alford Springs Reserve (a BNRC property)
Berkshire OLLI, in cooperation with Housatonic Heritage (part of the National Park Service) is offering four walks in September and October. I will be leading the first two (September 8th and 14th). Here is a description:
For those wishing to learn more about the culture and history of the Muhheconneok, Berkshire OLLI and Housatonic Heritage are offering four guided walks.
I will be leading the walks on September 8th (1 o'clock) and 14th (10 o'clock). If you have any questions, or wish to register for one of the four walks, go to https://berkshireolli.org/event-5751634 -- contact info for the OLLI office is at the bottom of the page.
The walks will take place on Plain Street in the Indian Town of the Housatonics (now known as Main Street in Stockbridge). The English called the local Native people the "Housatonics" because that is where they lived. The word Housatonic (Awassadenic) means "the place beyond the mountain" and was the name given to our area (Berkshire County today) by the people who lived along the Muhheconnetuck ("the waters that are never still"), also known as the Hudson River.
The photo below shows the Reverend Josiah Slingerland, who came from Wisconsin in 1879 to address the annual meeting of the Laurel Hill Association. He also dedicated the obelisk in the Indian Burial Grounds (which will be visited on the walks). [This was a Colonial tribute -- the Natives did not use grave markings of any kind.] During his visit, Reverend Slingerlands noticed the use of the word "Mahaiwe" and pointed out that the proper spelling is "Nahaiwe" -- meaning [literally] "going downstream" or [figuratively] "going home" -- so that may have been the Native name for this area [my speculation]. I have not yet learned the Native name of the river that flows though this area. It is now known by the borrowed English word Housatonic.