A Young Men’s Association was organized in 1865, with a library, reading-room, collection of curiosities, and provision for amusement and exercise.  It had a very successful career for about eight years.  Meanwhile the Library Association, its name having been changed to the Berkshire Athenaeum, was put on a better footing by the liberality and efforts of Thomas F. Plunkett, who afterwards, together with Calvin Martin and Thomas Allen, was instrumental in forming it into a free library.  In 1874, by means of a bequest from Phinehas Allen, and the gift of its present building from Thomas Allen, the Berkshire Athenaeum was placed upon a firm foundation.  For the past eleven years it has been under the efficient management of Mr. E.C.  Hubbel, Curator and Librarian.  To-day it contains 16,000 volumes, and with an average annual circulation of 50,000; less than ten volumes have been lost.

The history of the public schools is in no important respect different from that in hundreds of other towns.  They were first carefully graded in 1874, and have enjoyed an excellent reputation.  By far the greater proportion of the young folks in town attend them.  The system of free text books was early adopted.  The High School, under the care of an able scholar, Mr. Edward H. Rice, has been steadily growing in favor during the past few years.  Graduates yearly enter the various colleges, and from neighboring towns a considerable number of its pupils come and pay the tuition required by law.

For the higher education of young women the Pittsfield Female Academy was incorporated in 1806, with Miss Hinsdale as principal.  It has continued ever since, usually with a lady at the head, and for the last few years especially has done good work under Miss Salisbury.  The Maplewood Young Ladies’ Institute, the most noted school of education that has ever existed in Pittsfield, has this year closed an existence of forty-three years.  Its loss will be mourned by many friends in the town and elsewhere.  Among the illustrations is given a view of the avenue and the chapel; behind the latter stands the meeting-house of 1793, of late years used for a gymnasium.

About the time of Shay’s Rebellion the first newspaper, the American Sentinel, was published.  It was printed on a sheet ten by eighteen inches in size, and gave the greater portion of its space to two or three prosy essays.  Three other newspapers appeared and vanished in turn until, in the year 1800, the Pittsfield Sun was established by Phinehas Allen.  It remained in his hands for nearly three-quarters of a century, and to this day gives its support to the Democratic party.  James Harding is the editor.  The Argus was started in 1827, as a rival, by Henry K. Strong.  Four years later it was removed to Lenox, and united with the Berkshire Journal.  In 1838 the name was changed to the Massachusetts Eagle, and soon afterwards it was brought back to Pittsfield.  In 1852 it was given the name, The Berkshire County Eagle, which it bears to-day.  Both of these papers are weeklies.  The Journal is of later date, and is issued daily.  Joseph E. See is editor.  In mentioning the educational facilities of a community it would be an act of thoughtlessness to omit its bookstores.  There is but one in Pittsfield.  It contains a large supply of books, selected with judgment, and is well managed by Mr. J.B.  Harrison.