We converged on campus in the Purple Valley traveling by plane, by train, and mostly by car. From points to the south, the Taconic Parkway north provided a pastoral ride with a hint of cooler fall weather and the color of leaves beginning to turn. We had definitely left the hot summer behind. For high […]
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The Man behind “The Village Beautiful”
By the time of our college years, Williamstown was already well-known in travel circles as “The “Village Beautiful”, a slogan the town had adopted. Who was the promotional genius responsible for it? The story begins with the Greylock hotel, the summer resort hotel on the corner of North and Main Streets, in the immediate area […]
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The Fraternity Debate — 1868 to 1968!
The Fraternity Debate — 1868 to 1968! by John Dirlam Fraternities began to take root at Williams in 1833 with the arrival of Kappa Alpha, followed one year later by Sigma Phi. By the time of the Civil War, four more fraternities had joined them in competing for students—-Chi Psi, Alpha Delta Phi, Delta Psi, and Delta […]
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The Bittersweet History of Black Students in the Purple Valley
Black students at Williams refused to let their geographic isolation inure them to the historical changes taking place in the greater society. Instead, students of the classes of 1967-1970 sparked revolutions at Williams that changed the college forever.
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Fred Stocking
Perhaps Fred Stocking was not as passionate or flamboyant as Clay Hunt. Perhaps he did not possess the intimidating intellect of Charles Samuels. Nor did he command the immense treasury of knowledge of Don Gifford. I enjoyed my classes with each of those men. And Hunt and Samuels didn’t hesitate when I asked them to […]
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Silk Road Incident (Willie Williams)
One thing I’ve discovered while writing these recollection pieces is that my memory has gaping holes. I’ve mentioned that I don’t remember whose idea the Comiskey Park incident was. And later, you’ll find I don’t remember whose idea the bus trip was. But here the hole is that I don’t remember going to college. Not being in college. I’ll write some about that. I don’t remember getting to college. I’m pretty sure my dad drove me. But I remember nothing about the drive, which must have taken two days. Is this from a faulty memory, or the wondrous subconscious? Did we discuss my future? Did Pop reminisce about his college days? I don’t remember.
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Commencement 1968—“God Save the Commonwealth of Masschusetts!”
At our commencement, we were amused by the local custom of following the High Sheriff of Berkshire County in the procession. He was none other than John Courtney, Jr. (1922-2001), Class of 1970, who served in the position from 1963 to 1978. He wore the traditional attire: top hat, cutaway coat, vest and bow tie. […]
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