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61-666: The town of Lee, Massachusetts was incorporated in 1777, and quickly became known as a center of the papermaking industry. Marble quarried in the area achieved a reputation for strength and quality in the 19th century, seeing use in a number of high-profile buildings, including the United States Capitol and the Massachusetts State House . The town's first secondary school was established by Alexander Hyde, son of its first minister, in his house on West Park Street. Townspeople not long thereafter banded together to form

122-438: A boat ramp close by, which serves as the only public access point. In recent years, Goose Pond has been the site of several notable incidents. In July 2021, a woman drove her car into the pond after taking a wrong turn while following her GPS. The woman escaped unharmed, and the car was later towed from the water. In another incident, a fugitive from Maine was found hiding in the hikers' shelter near Goose Pond after fleeing from

183-615: A camp at Petersham . Along the way they raided the shops of local merchants for supplies, taking some of them hostage. Lincoln pursued them, reaching Pelham , around 10 miles (16 km) from Petersham, on February 2. On the night of February 3–4, he led his militia on a forced march to Petersham through a bitter snowstorm. Arriving early in the morning, they surprised the rebel camp so thoroughly that they scattered "without time to call in their out parties or even their guards." Although Lincoln claimed to capture 150 men, none of them were officers, leading historian Leonard Richards to suspect

244-655: A car accident on Route 90. The man was apprehended without incident after a multi-agency search. Laurel Lake is a 170-acre body of water that straddles the border between Lee and Lenox. The lake is a popular destination for boating, fishing, and swimming. It is stocked annually with trout by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Laurel Lake has been facing challenges with invasive species, particularly Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels. Efforts to manage and control these invasive species have been ongoing. The Laurel Lake Association, in partnership with

305-466: A few ringleaders. Eighteen men, including Shays, were convicted and sentenced to death. Most of these either had their convictions overturned on appeal, were pardoned, or had their sentences commuted. Two of the condemned men, John Bly and Charles Rose, were hanged on December 6, 1787. Shays was pardoned in 1788 and he returned to Massachusetts from hiding in the Vermont woods. He was, however, vilified by

366-596: A landless farm laborer. In 1772, he married Abigail Gilbert, and they settled in Shutesbury, Massachusetts , where he owned a sixty-eight acre farm and they had six children. Shays joined the militia immediately prior to the American Revolution and attained the rank of sergeant in the regiment commanded by Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge . The Battles of Lexington and Concord took place on April 19, 1775, and

427-476: A popular tourist destination, noted both for its New England charm and its bed and breakfast establishments. It is known as the "Gateway to The Berkshires " because it provides one of only two exits on the Massachusetts Turnpike that serve the county, and the only one going eastbound. Arlo Guthrie 's court appearance before the blind judge and his seeing-eye dog for dumping garbage as described in

488-610: A populist uprising against controversial debt collection and tax policies that took place in Massachusetts between 1786 and 1787. The actual role played by Shays in the rebellion is disputed by scholars. Daniel Ogden Shays was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts , sometime between April and August 1747 to Irish immigrants Patrick Shays and Margaret Dempsey. Daniel was the second of seven siblings; his siblings were Margaret, James, Roger, Phebe, Mary, and Polly. He spent his early years as

549-785: A post office. The town's library is a member of the regional library networks. On the state level, Lee is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by the Fourth Berkshire district, which covers southern Berkshire County, as well as the westernmost towns in Hampden County. In the Massachusetts Senate , the town is represented by the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin district, which includes all of Berkshire County and western Hampshire and Franklin counties. The town

610-539: A reference to the Regulator movement of North Carolina that sought to reform corrupt practices in the late 1760s. On September 2, Governor Bowdoin issued a proclamation denouncing such mob action, but took no military measures in response beyond planning militia response to future actions. When the court in Worcester was shut-down by similar action on September 5, the county militia (composed mainly of men sympathetic to

671-497: A request to issue paper currency. Such inflationary issues would depreciate the currency, making it possible to meet obligations made at high values with lower-valued paper. Merchants, among them James Bowdoin , were opposed to these proposals because they were generally lenders who stood to lose. The proposals were repeatedly rejected. Governor John Hancock , accused by some of anticipating trouble, abruptly resigned in early 1785. When Bowdoin (a loser to Hancock in earlier elections)

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732-463: A response to several high-profile fires in the town, at a cost of $ 30,000. It served as the town's high school until 1916, when Rice High School was built. It then served as an elementary school until 2003, when it was taken out of academic service. The building was enlarged by an addition in 1936 that added a library and gymnasium, and again in 1977 when the Rice School was demolished. The building

793-469: A similar number, but chose only to demonstrate, exercising their troops outside Shepard's lines, rather than attempt to seize the building. The judges first postponed the hearings, and then adjourned on the 28th without hearing any cases. Shepard withdrew his force, which had grown to around 800 men (to the Regulators' 1,200), to the federal armory , which was then only rumored to be the target of seizure by

854-403: A two-story addition was added to the southeast corner of the building. This addition, built with a steel frame, housed classrooms on both levels, and a gymnasium/auditorium complex. This construction was faced with Lee marble and trimmed with Indiana limestone in a style sympathetic to that of the main building. A corridor connecting the two sections was added in 1976, when fire code necessitated

915-616: A valley along the Housatonic River . It is west of October Mountain State Forest , with two sections of the forest in Lee. In the southwestern corner of town lies a portion of Beartown State Forest , where Burgoyne Pass crosses the northern end of the mountain. Hop Brook, a marshy brook which flows from Tyringham, flows into the Housatonic in the south; other bodies of water include Laurel Lake to

976-725: A wing of the Capitol in Washington , 250 sculptures adorning Philadelphia City Hall , as well as the General Grant National Memorial , and St. Patrick's Cathedral (both in New York City). The town's 19th-century prosperity is still evident in its architecture, including its town hall, library, several churches and private homes. South Lee includes a historic district listed on the National Register . Lee has become

1037-413: Is a 263-acre enlarged Great Pond. It is a glacially formed body of water that is long and narrow, stretching over two miles in length but only a quarter-mile at its widest point. The pond is known for its clear, clean water and is home to various species of fish. The pond's ability to carry trout from year to year has led to its designation as special brown trout water. The pond is divided into two parts:

1098-457: Is a former mill town . In the autumn of 1786 during Shays' Rebellion , about 250 followers of Daniel Shays encountered state troops commanded by General John Paterson near East Lee. The Shaysites paraded a fake cannon crafted from a yarn beam, and the troops fled. Early industries included agriculture, lumbering, and lime making. Abundant streams and rivers provided water power for mills that produced textiles and wire. Papermaking became

1159-576: Is also a popular option. Lee experiences a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. As of the census of 2000, there were 5,985 people, 2,442 households, and 1,606 families residing in the town. By population, Lee ranks seventh out of the 32 cities and towns in Berkshire County, and 227th out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. The population density was 226.7 inhabitants per square mile (87.5/km ), which ranks sixth in

1220-605: Is home to the First Station of Barracks "B" of the Massachusetts State Police . On the national level, Lee is part of Massachusetts's 1st congressional district , represented by Richard Neal of Springfield, Massachusetts . Massachusetts is represented in the United States Senate by senior Senator Elizabeth Warren and junior Senator Ed Markey . Lee operates its own school department, which also serves

1281-509: Is now Hampden County (but was then part of Hampshire County) organized an attempt to shut it down. They were anticipated by William Shepard , the local militia commander, who began gathering government-supporting militia the Saturday before the court was to sit. By the time the court was ready to open, Shepard had 300 men protecting the Springfield courthouse. Shays and Day were able to recruit

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1342-537: Is now known as Crossway Village, and includes a senior housing complex and senior center. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The school sits on an irregular parcel of land on a rise above Main Street in Lee. The original 1895 building is sited at the end of Academy Street, and the 20th-century additions, located to its south and east, do not intrude on the view. The three-story building

1403-506: Is part of the Berkshires resort area . Lee occupies land that was originally territory of Mahican Indians . The first non-native settlement in the area was known as Dodgetown as early as 1760. Dodgetown was named after its founding settler, Asahel Dodge, who immigrated to the area from Cape Cod . Lee was incorporated in 1777 from parts of Great Barrington and Washington . It is named after Revolutionary War General Charles Lee . Lee

1464-995: Is still the area's primary rail link to New York City 's metropolitan area, Boston, and Albany . As of 2013 negotiations are underway to restore rail commuter service between the Berkshires and New York City along this route. The town is covered by the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) bus line, which runs between Pittsfield and Great Barrington. Regional bus services make regular daily stops, and maintain year-round schedules through Lee. Peter Pan and Bonanza Bus Lines each make scheduled stops at Town Hall. Regional air service can be reached at Pittsfield Municipal Airport . The nearest national and international air services can be reached at Albany International Airport in Albany, New York, about 55 miles (89 km) away. Bradley International Airport , near Hartford, Connecticut , approximately 70 miles (110 km) from Lee,

1525-546: Is the South County Center of Berkshire Community College in Great Barrington, and the nearest state university is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts . The nearest private college is Bard College at Simon's Rock . Goose Pond and Laurel Lake are two significant bodies of water located in Lee, Massachusetts. Both are popular recreational areas, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. Goose Pond

1586-418: Is water. Lee is bordered by Lenox to the northwest, Washington to the northeast, Becket to the east, Tyringham in the southeast, Great Barrington to the southwest, and Stockbridge to the west. Lee is 10 miles (16 km) south of Pittsfield , 42 miles (68 km) west-northwest of Springfield , and 125 miles (201 km) west of Boston . Lee is in the southern section of the Berkshires , in

1647-627: The "old Mass Pike", which was the main route to New York until the interstate. A small section of U.S. Route 7 crosses through the northwestern corner of town before meeting Route 20 in Lenox. Massachusetts Route 102 's eastern terminus is at Route 20, at the Exit 2 toll plaza. Lee lies along the Housatonic Railroad line, which travels from Pittsfield to Great Barrington and Sheffield , terminating near at New Milford, Connecticut , near Danbury . The line

1708-431: The 1870s was the country's largest producer of paper. The mills previously owned by Smith Paper Company were closed in 2008. Today, Lee has only a single papermaking facility. The town's marble is famous for its quality. The first quarry was established in 1852. In 1867, almost 500,000 cubic feet (14,000 m ) of marble was excavated and shipped on the Housatonic Railroad . Buildings constructed of Lee marble include

1769-566: The Boston press, who painted him as an archetypal radical opposed to the government. Shays was later granted a pension by the federal government for the five years he served in the Continental Army without pay. Shays lived the last few years of his life in poverty, a heavy drinker. He supported himself on his pension and by working a small parcel of land. Shays died at age 78 in Sparta, New York and

1830-536: The Connecticut River in West Springfield , and the third force, under Eli Parsons , was to the north at Chicopee . The rebels had planned their assault for January 25, but Luke Day changed this at the last minute, sending Shays a message indicating he would not be ready to attack until the 26th. Day's message was intercepted by Shepard's men, so the militia of Shays and Parsons, around 1,500 men, approached

1891-629: The July 1779 Battle of Stony Point . He subsequently served as commander of a company under the Marquis de Lafayette , which patrolled farmland on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River to prevent British troops from foraging. In 1780, Lafayette presented several officers, including Shays, with ornamental swords in honor of their military service. Shays sold his for cash to help pay off debts; he argued that there

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1952-530: The Town of Lee, has been actively involved in the prevention and management of these invasive species. These efforts include the use of benthic barriers to smother the milfoil and prevent its growth, as well as public education, boat inspections, and boat washing, to prevent the spread of zebra mussels. Daniel Shays Daniel Shays (August 1747 – September 29, 1825) was an American soldier, revolutionary and farmer famous for allegedly leading Shays' Rebellion ,

2013-401: The activists. On November 28, a posse of around 300 men rode to Groton to arrest Job Shattuck and other protest leaders in the area. Shattuck was chased-down and arrested on the 30th, and was wounded by a sword slash in the process. This action and the arrest of other protest leaders in the eastern parts of the state radicalized those in the west, and they began to organize an overthrow of

2074-422: The age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91. In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.1% under

2135-462: The age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males. The median income for a household in the town was $ 41,556, and the median income for a family was $ 49,630. Males had a median income of $ 35,565 versus $ 26,232 for females. The per capita income for

2196-412: The armory on the 25th not knowing they would have no support from the west. When Shays and his forces neared the armory, they found Shepard's militia waiting for them. Shepard first ordered warning shots fired over the approaching Shaysites' heads, and then ordered two cannons to fire grapeshot at Shays' men. Four Shaysites were killed and twenty wounded. There was no musket fire from either side, and

2257-535: The county and 241st in the Commonwealth. There were 2,927 housing units at an average density of 110.9 per square mile (42.8/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 96.93% White , 0.62% Black or African American , 0.15% Native American , 0.95% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.74% from other races , and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population. There were 2,492 households, out of which 28.6% had children under

2318-421: The exterior marble had never required maintenance. Inside the main building, each floor had six classrooms, and the layout remains fairly intact. The classrooms retained their blackboards and much of the original woodwork. The original floors were covered by vinyl tiling. In the front entry, one of the two stairs was removed to comply with modern fire codes, but the other retains its original woodwork. In 1936

2379-586: The lower larger pond, surrounded by summer homes, and the upper pond, which maintains a more wilderness-like atmosphere. The upper pond lies in the 112-acre Goose Pond Reservation, where it intersects the Appalachian Trail and an Appalachian Mountain Club shelter for hikers is situated on its shore. Goose Pond Reservation is managed by the Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations. The town of Tyringham maintains

2440-733: The next day Shays's unit was mobilized and marched to Boston . His company took part in the Boston campaign and Siege of Boston , and Shays fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill . Shortly after Bunker Hill, Shays was commissioned as a second lieutenant in recognition of the bravery and skill he demonstrated during the fighting. In late 1776, Shays joined Varnum's Regiment of the Continental Army , with which he served during fighting in New York and New Jersey . After performing temporary recruiting duty in Massachusetts during late 1776, on January 1, 1777, Shays

2501-521: The north and Goose Pond to the southeast. The Appalachian Trail skirts the eastern part of town, passing through Tyringham, Becket and Washington. Lee is on Interstate 90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike ), and is home to Exit 10, the westernmost full exit on the turnpike (Exit 1, in West Stockbridge , is only a turnaround exit) as well as the first service area along the Pike. Lee is also on U.S. Route 20 ,

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2562-509: The principal industry in 1806 with the construction of the Willow Mill by Samuel Church in South Lee. The Columbia Mill in central Lee was established in 1827, and eventually became the first to supply 100% groundwood newsprint to The New York Times . By 1857, there were 25 paper mills in Lee. The Smith Paper Company discovered how to manufacture paper solely from wood pulp in 1867, and through

2623-463: The private Lee Academy on a parcel of land above the town center. Lee Academy was gradually transferred to town ownership, and became its public grammar school. It was destroyed by fire in February 1894. The town had the new Hyde School constructed on the original site of Lee Academy in 1895; it was dedicated to Alexander Hyde. It was designed by James Bryning and constructed of locally quarried marble,

2684-516: The protestors) refused to turn out, much to Bowdoin's amazement. Shays, who had participated in the Northampton action, became involved in the uprising in November; though the precise role that Shays played is unclear and, as scholars have suggested, appears to have been exaggerated by contemporary elites. Historian Leonard Richards observes that "much of the backlash [against Shays and the protestors]

2745-521: The rebel advance collapsed. Most of the rebel force fled north, eventually regrouping at Amherst . On the opposite side of the river, Day's forces also fled north, also eventually reaching Amherst. General Benjamin Lincoln had mustered 3,000 men at Worcester to deal with the rebels. When he heard of the Springfield incident, they immediately began marching west. Shays led the rebel force generally north and east to avoid Lincoln, eventually establishing

2806-526: The removal of some wooden stairs from the main building. A modern 1977 classroom addition further extended the 1936 addition. Lee, Massachusetts Lee is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts , United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts , metropolitan statistical area . The population was 5,788 at the 2020 census . Lee, which includes the villages of South and East Lee,

2867-452: The same financial situation. At commoners' meetings veterans asserted that they were treated unfairly upon release, and that businessmen were trying to squeeze money out of smallholders in order to pay their own debts to European war investors. Many Massachusetts rural communities first tried to petition the legislature in Boston, but the legislature did not respond substantively to those petitions. The petitions and proposals often included

2928-524: The song "Alice's Restaurant" took place in the courtroom at the Lee Town Hall. Lee was a filming location for Before and After (1996) and The Cider House Rules (1999). According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 27.0 square miles (70.0 km ), of which 26.1 sq mi (67.7 km ) is land and 0.89 sq mi (2.3 km ), or 3.22%,

2989-491: The state government. "The seeds of war are now sown", wrote one correspondent in Shrewsbury , and by mid-January rebel leaders spoke of smashing the "tyrannical government of Massachusetts." While government forces organized in the east, Shays, Day, and other rebel leaders in the west organized their forces, establishing regional regimental organizations that were run by democratically elected committees. Their first major target

3050-472: The state legislature adjourned without considering the many petitions that had been sent to Boston. On August 29, a well-organized force of protestors, Shays among them, marched on Northampton and successfully prevented the county court from sitting. The leaders of this and later forces proclaimed that they were seeking relief from the burdensome judicial processes that were depriving the people of their land and possessions. They called themselves Regulators ,

3111-671: The town of Tyringham, and has an option to serve Otis and Sandisfield . Lee Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grades, and the Lee Middle and High School serves students from seventh through twelfth grades. Lee's athletics teams are nicknamed the Wildcats, and their colors are black and orange. Additionally, Lee is home to Saint Mary's School, a parochial school which serves students through eighth grade. Other private schools can be found in Great Barrington and other surrounding towns. The nearest community college

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3172-474: The town was $ 19,799. About 2.5% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over. Lee is the least populous municipality in Massachusetts not to use the open town meeting form of government; instead, it uses the representative town meeting , and is led by a board of selectmen and a town administrator . Lee has its own police, fire and public works departments, as well as

3233-410: The veracity of the report. Shays and some of the other leaders escaped north into New Hampshire and Vermont. Around four thousand people signed confessions acknowledging participation in the events of the rebellion (in exchange for amnesty); several hundred participants were eventually indicted on charges relating to the rebellion. Most of these were pardoned under a general amnesty that only excluded

3294-405: Was built in a cross-shaped plan, with a seven-bay core section, and wings three bays wide. A four-story tower rises above the center of the front facade. The exterior wall and trim work is all of local marble. The original slate roof was replaced in 1994 with asphalt shingles, at which time the building was also equipped with gutters and downspouts. At the time of its National Register nomination,

3355-663: Was due to the Boston elite. Had they treated Daniel Shays as simply a small-town rebel leader, the aftermath might have been different. But they portrayed him instead as a major villain." On September 19, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts indicted eleven leaders of the rebellion as "disorderly, riotous, and seditious persons." When the supreme judicial court was next scheduled to meet in Springfield on September 26, Shays in Hampshire County and Luke Day in what

3416-582: Was elected governor that year, matters became more severe. Bowdoin stepped up civil actions to collect back taxes, and the legislature exacerbated the situation by levying an additional property tax to raise funds for the state's portion of foreign debt payments. Even comparatively conservative commentators like John Adams observed that these levies were "heavier than the People could bear". Protests in rural Massachusetts turned into direct action in August 1786 after

3477-522: Was later buried at the Union Cemetery in Scottsburg . The original gravestone for Shays contained an error; by dropping the "s", Shays was incorrectly spelled as "Shay". Philip R. Shays, of Clarence Center, New York , a descendant of Daniel Shays, led an effort to correct the error. Because the original stone did not contain enough space to add a letter, a new marker was created. The new gravestone

3538-534: Was nothing wrong with his action, because he already owned a sword, but his decision to sell his was frowned upon by his peers. After British officer John André was captured while collaborating with Continental officer Benedict Arnold 's plot to surrender West Point to the British, Shays was assigned as one of the captains of the guard who oversaw André's imprisonment, a task for which Continental Army commander-in-chief George Washington personally selected him. Shays

3599-445: Was present when André was executed on October 2, 1780, and was probably the officer who escorted him to the gallows. Shays resigned soon afterwards, and was discharged from the army on October 14, 1780. Upon returning home, Shays was summoned to court for unpaid debts, which he could not pay because he had not been paid in full for his military service. Shays was alarmed to discover that many of his fellow veterans and farmers were in

3660-565: Was promoted to captain as commander of a company in the 5th Massachusetts Regiment . During 1777, Shays took part in several engagements in upstate New York, including the Battles of Saratoga . After Saratoga, Shays continued to serve with the Continental Army in upstate New York. As commander of a company in the Corps of Light Infantry, which was commanded by Anthony Wayne , Shays took part in

3721-416: Was the federal armory in Springfield. General Shepard had, however, pursuant to orders from Governor Bowdoin, taken possession of the armory and used its arsenal to arm a force of around 1,200 militia. The insurgents were organized into three major groups, and intended to surround and simultaneously attack the armory. Shays led one group east of Springfield near Palmer , Luke Day had a second force across

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