Pierson’s Place. Richmond, Massachusetts. © By Paul Goldfinger. Click left for full view.
Photographer’s note: If you go to the Berkshires in Massachusetts, near Tanglewood, there are lots of old B and B’s. Our friend Dick and his wife Luisa used to stay at Pierson’s Place, an old house, sort of ramshackle, with a large barn in the back where the kids could play and even sleep.
Mrs. Pierson would make breakfast each morning — nothing fancy like some places where they serve Eggs Benedict. Dick is an internist, now retired, who also is a pianist. His wife Luisa is an artist, so they’re the sort of people you run into at Pierson’s Place.
Eileen and I went there a few times. During the day you could visit farmers’ markets or historic attractions or towns in the area such as Lenox and Stockbridge. You could also wander the grounds of the Tanglewood Music Festival where the peaks of the Berkshires give off vapors in the morning. You can listen to a rehearsal in the afternoon and then picnic on the great lawn, under the stars, while enjoying the magnificence of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
One morning I got up and meandered around the property at Pierson’s Place. There’s something about those cool mornings in the mountains as the new sun ripples across everything that’s still wet with dew and crisscrossed with leftover shadows.
I looked at the old house and the barn. There were flowers all around, and you could touch them, but not pick them. That’s what Mrs. Pierson did before everyone came down for breakfast.
As I walked about, I came upon an old garage where I was startled by the eye of a creature peering out at me. It seemed alive even after I moved closer and identified it. The big red eye belonged to an old English sports car that was just itching to roar out of there onto the country roads. — Paul Goldfinger
SOUNDTRACK. ”Someday Soon” by Judy Collins.
Wish I was there. Lovely photo.
I’ll carbon-date myself and say this reminds me of the Rush song “Red Barchetta,” where the theme of the song is driving the restored red English sports car stored in his uncle’s barn in Canada.
Paul, That is such a nice piece. I didn’t remember that I had spoken about it to you. Some more information is that the first time we stayed there we just happened upon it by accident looking for a place to stay.
The main house was quite stately and dated back to the 1700′s and in the dining room
was a gigantic walk in fireplace roaring even in the summer. I remember that the wall paper was original old hand-pressed paper and everywhere else were dated antiques—each beautiful.
You didn’t mention the large pond where we swam and the row boat etc. Looking back, it was quite something which, at an older age now, I can think that I didn’t appreciate it as much as I could have, although we all knew we hit upon a treasure.
Mrs Pierson sat with us, talked etc. She was an employed cartographer once with the US government and, at that time, when we were there, teaching at some college; I
do not remember which.
We stayed there many times, several with Phoebe and Wally and also with Cilli and Yehoushua from Israel and others.
Also, after the evening concerts there was always coffee, tea and pastries for us when we returned.
What a nice memory you have just evoked.
Hi Paul dear…what a lovely piece on Pierson’s Place…
you are a romantic to the core,,,you pair music with your delightful writings as some pair wine with food..
your piece brought back memories and smiles….all my best to you and Eileen…Luisa
I love your writing style. would you consider holding writing workshops?
just read the piece on the b and b in mass…had to write.
Paul, Did you hear Judy Collins when she sang here in town? It was a wonderful change from some of the entertainment.
Judy Fan: I totally missed that performance. Too bad. I really like this song. It’s very emotional.