This community and its prestigious liberal-arts college were both named for Col. Ephraim Williams, who was killed in 1755 in one of the French and Indian Wars. He bequeathed the land for creation of a school and a town. His college grew, spreading east from the central common along both sides of Main Street (Rte. 2). Over the town's long history, buildings have been erected in several styles of the times. That makes Main Street a virtual museum of institutional architecture, with representatives of the Georgian, Federal, Gothic Revival, Romanesque, and Victorian styles, as well as a few that are yet to be labeled. Inserted into this diverting display is the new '62 Center for Theatre and Dance, a thoroughly contemporary structure that opened in September 2005 . They stand at dignified distances from one another, so what might have been a tumultuous visual hodgepodge is instead a stately lesson in historical design. The impressive Clark Art Institute is the best reason to make a special trip, perhaps in conjunction with a performance at the increasingly ambitious Williamstown Theatre Festival.
A free weekly newspaper, the Advocate (tel. 413/664-7900), produces useful guides to both the northern and southern Berkshires. For a copy, write to the Advocate, 87 Marshall St., North Adams, MA 01267. An information booth, at North Street (Rte. 7) and Main Street (Rte. 2), has an abundance of pamphlets and brochures free for the taking.
Getting Outside
Waubeeka Golf Links, 137 New Ashford Rd. (Routes 7 and 43), Williamstown (tel. 413/458-8355 for tee times, 413/458-5869 for the restaurant), is open to the public, with greens fees of $33 on weekdays, $47 weekends. Golf carts cost $15 per rider. The 18-hole course is still not widely known in the region, so last-minute tee-times are often possible.
Mount Greylock State Reservation contains the highest peak (3,491 ft.) in Massachusetts as well as a section of the Appalachian Trail. A long, narrow, bumpy road allows cars almost to the summit, where the War Memorial Tower affords vistas of the Taconic and Hoosac ranges, far into Vermont and New York (parking $20). The ride down is very popular with mountain bikers. The park is open from sunrise until a half-hour after sunset, the visitor center mid-May to mid-October daily from 9am to 5pm, and mid-October to mid-May weekends and holidays from 8am to 4pm. Black bear and deer are often sighted. Trails radiate from the parking lot near Bascom Lodge, North Main Street off Route 7 in Lanesboro (tel. 413/743-1591 or 413/443-0011), a grandly rustic creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the New Deal 1930s. Simple dormitory beds ($26 per night) and four private rooms ($68-$98) accommodating at total of 32 guests are available for rent from mid-May to mid- October. Family-style dinners are available by reservation.
Shopping
In the small downtown shopping district, Library Antiques, 70 Spring St. (tel. 413/458-3436), is filled with a wealth of English chess sets, African carvings, Peruvian alpaca sweaters, Polish stoneware, and antique American fishing lures and creels. South of the town center on Route 7, Saddleback Antiques, 1395 Cold Spring Rd. (tel. 413/458-5852), features country, wicker, and Victorian furniture. Slightly south of town on Route 7, Collectors Warehouse, 105 North St. (tel. 413/458-9686), has a little bit of everything -- jewelry, books, dolls, furniture, and glassware.
Nightlife
The Williams College Department of Music sponsors diverse concerts and recitals. Call its Concertline (tel. 413/597-3146) to learn of upcoming events. In addition, the Clark Art Institute hosts frequent classical-music events.
