Tea & Talk - "The History of Paper Making in the Berkshires"

Patricia Begrowicz, President and Co-owner of Onyx Specialty Papers, Inc. in South Lee MA, explores the history of papermaking in the Berkshires from early cotton rag paper to the innovations of today and the community it served and built. A tea will follow her presentation. Starting in the early 1800s, papermakers were drawn to the banks of the Housatonic River, where the supply of clean water was plentiful for making paper and generating the power needed to run a paper mill. Paper manufacturing has had a significant impact on the economy of the Berkshires since Zenas Crane’s first paper mill started operating in Dalton in 1801. At its peak in the mid-1800s, there were over 60 paper mills operating in Berkshire County. While there are only three mills currently operating here in 2025, the economic impact of those mills in our community is strong and products produced in those three mills are shipped around the world. In this talk, we will explore the history of papermaking in the Berskhires, from the early days of making paper from cotton rags for use in the newly born United States, to the paper of today made from natural and synthetic fibers used throughout the world. Tickets are $45. Members receive a discount code for $5 off all ticket prices. Students 22 and under are $22. Ticket pricing includes access to the mansion throughout the day of this event from 10 am to 4 pm. Reservations are strongly encouraged as seats are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call us at (413) 637-3206. Please note that all tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable.