TIMELINE

1676     Soldiers and Native Americans battle near Housatonic River.
1703     First purchase of land from the Indians by Dutch settlers.
1722     Land grants applied for by English settlers.
1724     Chief Konkapot deeds land to white men.
1727     Land disputes develop between Dutch and English settlers.
1733     Sheffield is incorporated as a town.
1742     First Meeting-house is built.
1744     Road built from Boston to Albany through Great Barrington.
1761     Great Barrington is incorporated as a town.
1774     First open resistance to British judicial rule in America.
1787     Last Battle of Shays' Rebellion.
1808     First settlement in Housatonic.
1834     The Berkshire Courier is founded.
1841     Housatonic Agricultural Society formed.
1842     Railroad arrives in Great Barrington.
1850     Monument Mills incorporates.
1854     Great Barrington Fire District created.
1857     Telegraph line is built.
1861     Great Barrington Library Association is formed.
1875     Present town hall built.
1882     History of Great Barrington published.
1884     Electric lights first used.
1886     William Stanley successfully uses Alternating Current.
1889     Bryant School completed.
1889     Rising Paper Company opens.
1896     Locustwood Golf Club organized.
1898     Searles High School opens.
1900     Present Fire Station built.
1902     Trolley line opens.
1905     Mahaiwe Theatre opens.
1909     Housatonic School built.
1913     Fairview Hospital opens.
1913     Mason Library opens.
1920     Chamber of Commerce incorporates.
1929     Traffic lights installed.
1930     Berkshire trolley line abandoned.
1931     Airport opens.
1940     Present post office built.
1956     Monument Mills closes.
1956     Radio station WSBS begins broadcasts.
1961     Bicentennial celebration.
1968     Monument Mountain Regional High school opens.
1977     Historical Society formed.
1995     Deadly tornado hits.
1999     Great Barrington: Great Town Great History published.
2005     New elementary and middle schools open.

2007     Historical Society rescues Truman Wheeler House for future headquarters.
2007     Rising Paper Mill closes.
2008     New fire station built.