After many years of neglect, this typical village house was judged unsafe in 2010 and demolished despite being in the Lenox Historic District.  This demolition alters the look of the neighborhood and illustrates the challenges of preserving small houses that are not architecturally significant in themselves but contribute to the overall historic integrity of a neighborhood.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

The following information is from the 01/31/1987 Form B.

Matthew and Mary Colbert bought this property from Henry Cook in 1853, although the deed was lost or mislaid and the transaction was not recorded until 1857. This building is identified on the 1876 atlas as a shop, and may have been the blacksmith shop of Thomas Colbert, listed in the 1885 directory as a blacksmith and horseshoer.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Atlas of Berkshire County, Mass. F.W. Beers, 1876

Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield, MA 153.236

Gazatteer of Berkshire County, Mass. Hamilton Child, 1885

Lenox Assessor’s database 2012