National treasures here in Berkshires

Written Aug 25, 2006 by John Zola in The Berkshire Eagle

To the Editor of THE EAGLE: I wholeheartedly agree with Elaine Gunn (letter to the editor, Aug. 14) who spoke so highly about the exhibit at the Old Stone Store in Sheffield, that wonderfully documented the rich history of African Americans in Berkshire County. Mrs. Gunn and I also visited an exhibition at the Du Bois Center  in Great Barrington, called “Paul Robeson/W.E.B. DuBois and the Spirit of African Culture.” Like never before, history came alive for me.

Imagine seeing Robeson’s own gown worn in the Broadway production of Othello, or his original 1943 contract to play that historic role, or unpublished letters between Du Bois and Robeson. I think places like the Old Stone Store and the Du Bois Center  are absolute national treasures — call them our own Smithsonian Berkstitutes!