The Story Behind the Monterey Historical Society

Pre-Colonial – 1760s

Ancestral Lands & Early Colonial Settlement

Monterey and the surrounding region are the traditional homelands of the Mohican people and earlier Indigenous communities. The Mohicans, part of the Eastern Algonquin family, lived throughout the East Coast and became known in this area as the Stockbridge Indians. Though later displaced, their descendants — the Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Wisconsin — remain active stewards of these ancestral lands.Monterey was originally part of Township No. 1, chartered in 1735. Settlement began in 1739 after land was purchased from the Stockbridge Indians. Early settlers like Capt. John Brewer established sawmills along Konkapot Brook near what is now Lake Garfield. The area, once known as Brewer’s Mills, grew into a village center connected by early roadways still in use today.

Monterey and the surrounding region are the traditional, ancestral homelands of the Mohican people, and before them, other Indigenous peoples whose presence predates memory or written record. The Mohicans, part of the Eastern Algonquin family, inhabited much of the East Coast and New England. The group that lived in the Housatonic River Valley prior to European settlement became known as the Stockbridge Indians. Despite being displaced from their homelands, the Mohican community continues today as the Stockbridge-Munsee Community in Wisconsin. They remain active in advocacy and stewardship of their ancestral lands, and we thank them for their ongoing guidance. Monterey was originally part of Township No. 1—one of four townships chartered in 1735 along a planned road that followed the old Indian Path between Westfield and Sheffield (now Great Barrington). After the land was purchased from the Stockbridge Indians, permanent settlement began in 1739 with Lieutenant Isaac Garfield, Thomas Slaton, and Captain John Brewer among the first settlers. Brewer brought his family from Hopkinton, MA, and built the first sawmill and gristmill along the Konkapot Brook at the outlet of Twelve Mile Pond. The lake was named Brewer’s Pond and later renamed Lake Garfield in honor of President James A. Garfield, a relative of Lt. Garfield. This early settlement area became known as Brewer’s Mills. The town developed in the southern part of Tyringham, with the original settlement focused along what are now Hupi Road, Mt. Hunger/Art School Road, Beartown Mountain Road, and Brett Road—an area referred to as the “Old Center.” It was here that the first and second Meeting Houses were built, surrounded by the homes of the 67 original proprietors. Many of the roads laid out during this period still follow their original courses.

1750s – 1850s

Foundations & Community Formation

Captain Brewer’s mills, located two miles southeast of Old Center, eventually became the heart of the village of Monterey. Roads such as the eastern part of Beartown Mountain Road and the southern part of Tyringham Road were constructed before 1750 to connect the mills and the Meeting House. Later, the Hop Brook area developed as North Tyringham, which is now the separate town of Tyringham.The town’s first minister, Reverend Adonijah Bidwell (1716–1784), arrived in 1750 and served until his death in 1784. He built what is now known as the Bidwell House around 1762. The house and surrounding 196-acre property—including the site of the original Meeting House and a segment of the old Boston–Albany Post Road—are preserved today as the Bidwell House Museum, which opened in 1990. The property features a historically restored house furnished with period antiques, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Bidwell House Museum offers seasonal guided tours and year-round public access to its fields, gardens, and six miles of trails, including a Native American Interpretive Trail.In 1847, Monterey was officially separated from Tyringham, and the third Meeting House was constructed in the village. The new town was named to commemorate the American victory at the Battle of Monterrey during the Mexican–American War. Monterey’s boundaries were later expanded in 1851 with a portion of New Marlborough and again in the 1870s with part of Sandisfield. Monterey village retains most of the Georgian-style homes that were built during the 1850s.

1800s – Early 1900s

Agriculture, Industry & Environmental Change

Throughout its history, Monterey’s economy has centered on agriculture and timber. By the early 1800s, most of the land was farmed, leaving behind dozens of cellar holes from abandoned farms and miles of the stone walls that still line today’s forests and hillsides. The introduction of Merino sheep in the 1820s led to even more clearing and fencing. Monterey’s Konkapot River and many streams supported a wide range of water-powered industries. An 1830 map of Monterey Village shows two sawmills, a carding factory, and a gristmill, soon followed by a paper mill and woolen factory by 1858. Additional industries included shingle mills, and factories producing twine, rat traps, whips, and even a distillery. These were primarily located along the Konkapot River and River Road in both Monterey Village and Old Center, with others on smaller brooks throughout town, by the late 1800s, charcoal production for nearby iron furnaces became a major industry. In 1875, Monterey was the largest charcoal producer in Massachusetts. As a result, much of Monterey—and the surrounding Berkshires—was essentially deforested by the end of the 19th century.

1920s – Present

Conservation, Recreation & Modern Identity

About 4,500 acres of Monterey are part of Beartown State Forest, established in 1921. During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps developed projects there, including the creation of Benedict Pond. Many original home sites—now just cellar holes and stone walls—remain in the forest. The Appalachian Trail passes through this area and is popular for hiking and recreation. Many other trails exist throughout Beartown State Forest and on conservation lands owned by Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Bidwell House Museum, and other preservation groups.Starting in the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, Monterey grew into a summer destination. Cottages were built around Lake Garfield and Lake Buel, and the town hosted numerous boarding houses, hotels, and summer camps that thrived through the 1970s. Though most camps have since closed, many cottages have been expanded into year-round homes. Monterey now has a large second-home population, with families returning for generations and contributing actively to the community. Skiers enjoy nearby Butternut Basin and Otis Ridge, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the many trails. Monterey’s year-round population has remained relatively stable at around 750 since 1850. The population hit a low of 282 in 1920 and steadily increased to a recorded 1,095 residents in the 2020 census. In summer, the population swells to more than 2,000.