c1884 – THROUGH THE HOUSATONIC VALLEY TO THE HILLS AND HOMES OF BERKSHIRE

By Clark W. Bryan of Great Barrington, Massachusetts – Prepared for the Housatonic Railroad with illustrations from the Cameras of Julius Hall and George W. Lovejoy.

Offered is the uncommon original 32 page travel booklet (sadly also now available in Print on Demand) measuring about 4 7/8 inches by 6 3/4 inches. Fifteen wonderful B&W illustrations and in the rear a map of the Housatonic R.R. [Railroad) and Connecting Lines. This great takes you up the Connecticut River through Connecticut and towns in the Litchfield Hills to the hills of the Berkshires including Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Lenox, Pittsfield. Two pages include details on Summer Resort Hotels along the route. Packed with information and nostalgic details, I purchased this for my personal summer resort and travel collection when my bookshop was in the Litchfield Hills in New Preston, CT. But, now time for a new home.

Includes a list of summer resort hotel accommodations and rates in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut and lower Berkshires. On Page 5 in the text it states, “during the season of 1884” thus the date listed. Our shop was formerly in this area, and I found of interest the mention (and illustration) of the ABOVE-ALL MOUNTAIN HOUSE that was to be built in Warren, CT to be opened the next season. With an elevation of 2,000 feet the new hotel was to have a 125 tower allowing views all the way to the Hudson and Connecticut Rivers and the Brooklyn Bridge. Having always been fascinated by summer resorts, Cathy and I travelled to Above All State Park (actually only 1456 feet elevation) in my 1930 Model A Ford Roadster one day to see what I could find of the hotel. Alas, nothing was there, and I have never ever been able to find any reference about the existence of this Mountain House. A great piece of ephemera.

and, now four sample two page spreads followed by the route map