New Drew book grounds Great Barrington in aviation history

Bernard A. Drew with his new book, Runway 29: A History of Walter J. Koladza Airport in Great Barrington, Mass.
Ruby Citrin
Bernard A. Drew with his new book, Runway 29: A History of Walter J. Koladza Airport in Great Barrington, Mass.
GREAT BARRINGTON — Far from any commercial airport, travel can be an ordeal for residents of Great Barrington, Massachusetts. But this little town has historically been a hub for aviation.
Before airplanes, there were balloons. The first recorded balloon flight in Southern Berkshire County took off from Park Square in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on June 14, 1859. In two hours, the balloon traveled 35 miles before landing in Otis, Massachusetts, about 12 miles from Great Barrington.
With advancements in technology, new innovators entered the scene. In November 1910, Elson Barnum, Merritt Ives Wheeler, and Emmon Sutton (ages 15, 16, and 17 respectively) built the town’s first real airplane. Wheeler flew the plane a quarter of a mile, landing at Lake Mansfield.
As airplanes became more popular, landing strips materialized in Great Barrington. Free of surrounding mountains, a farm owned by Jacob Rossi was soon recognized as the best location for touchdown. Though locals knew where to find these landing strips, they were poorly marked and somewhat inaccessible to visitors. In February 1929, the Great Barrington Chamber of Commerce publicized plans to buy 80 acres from Rossi and establish a permanent airfield.
The airport’s grand opening came in late summer of 1931. Over three days, thousands of people congregated to spectate an array of flying competitions.
While numerous nearby towns – including North Canaan, Connecticut – already had their own airports, most did not withstand the test of time. Great Barrington’s airfield, however, has served the community for almost a century.
Bernard A. Drew, an author based in Great Barrington, recently published a complete history of the airport titled, “Runway 29: A History of Walter J. Koladza Airport in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.” Announced June 22, the project originated at the suggestion of Great Barrington Historical Society Archivist Gary T. Leveille. Drew, impressed by the wealth of available information, agreed to take it on.
He began his research by combing through old photos, digging up articles and conducting interviews to assemble a detailed timeline of sources and stories. When Drew sits down to write, his work as an editor and columnist at The Berkshire Courier, The Lakeville Journal, and The Berkshire Eagle enables him to churn out volumes in as little as six months.
Drew’s 58 books include numerous histories of Berkshire County. He moved to Great Barrington in 1978, and over four decades later, almost every business in town has changed ownership. “New people come in and have no sense of place or what went on before,” he said. He documents local history to connect newcomers to the past and root them in their environment.
All proceeds from sales of “Runway 29” will support Walter J. Koladza Airport’s scholarship fund for student pilots and the Great Barrington Historical Society. Copies can be found at the airport, Wheeler House, The Bookloft, and Shaker Mill Books. Keep an eye out for future publications.
Though allegedly retired, Drew already has two more books in the works.
LAKEVILLE — Barbara Meyers DelPrete, 84, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at her home. She was the beloved wife of George R. DelPrete for 62 years.
Mrs. DelPrete was born in Burlington, Iowa, on May 31, 1941, daughter of the late George and Judy Meyers. She lived in California for a time and had been a Lakeville resident for the past 55 years.
Survivors, in addition to her husband, George, include son, George R. DelPrete II, daughter, Jena DelPrete Allee, and son Stephen P. DelPrete. Grandchildren; Trey, Cassidy, and Meredith DelPrete, Jack, Will and Finn Allee, and Ali and Nicholas DelPrete.
A Funeral Mass was held at St. Mary’s Church, Lakeville, on Saturday, Oct. 4. May she Rest in Peace.
Ryan Funeral Home, 255 Main St., Lakeville, is in care of arrangements.
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com
SHARON — Shirley Anne Wilbur Perotti, daughter of George and Mabel (Johnson) Wilbur, the first girl born into the Wilbur family in 65 years, passed away on Oct. 5, 2025, at Noble Horizons.
Shirley was born on Aug. 19, 1948 at Sharon Hospital.
She was raised on her parents’ poultry farm (Odge’s Eggs, Inc.).
After graduating from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, she worked at Litchfield County National Bank and Colonial Bank.
She married the love of her life, John, on Aug. 16, 1969, and they lived on Sharon Mountain for more than 50 years.
Shirley enjoyed creating the annual family Christmas card, which was a coveted keepsake.She also enjoyed having lunch once a month with her best friends, Betty Kowalski, Kathy Ducillo, and Paula Weir.
In addition to John, she is survived by her three children and their families; Sarah Medeiros, her husband, Geoff, and their sons, Nick and Andrew, of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Shelby Diorio, her husband, Mike, and their daughters, Addie, Lainey and Lyla, of East Canaan, Connecticut,Jeffrey Perotti, his wife, Melissa, and their daughters, Annie, Lucy and Winnie, of East Canaan. Shirley also leaves her two brothers, Edward Wilbur and his wife Joan, and David Wilbur; two nieces, three nephews, and several cousins.
At Shirley’s request, services will be private.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Sharon Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund, PO Box 283, Sharon, CT 06069.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
MILLERTON — Veronica Lee “Ronnie” Silvernale, 78, a lifelong area resident died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Connecticut. Mrs. Silvernale had a long career at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, where she served as a respected team leader in housekeeping and laundry services for over eighteen years. She retired in 2012.
Born Oct. 19, 1946, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Bradley C. and Sophie (Debrew) Hosier, Sr. Following her graduation from high school and attending college, she married Jack Gerard Silvernale on June 15, 1983 in Millerton, New York. Their marriage lasted thirty-five years until Jack’s passing on July 28, 2018.
Ronnie is survived by her daughter, Jaime Silvernale (Wm. MacDaniel, Sr.) of Millerton, her beloved grandson, Wm. MacDaniel, Jr.; two special nieces, Shannon and Rebecca and a special nephew Sean Hosier. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Bradley C. Hosier, Jr. and her dear friend Ruth Fullerton of Millerton.
Visitation was private. A celebration of Ronnie’s life will be held in the future. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family or to plant a tree in Ronnie’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
Christine Gevert, Crescendo’s artistic director, is delighted to announce the start of this musical organization’s 22nd year of operation. The group’s first concert of the season will feature Latin American early chamber music, performed Oct. 18 and 19, on indigenous Andean instruments as well as the virginal, flute, viola and percussion. Gevert will perform at the keyboard, joined by Chilean musicians Gonzalo Cortes and Carlos Boltes on wind and stringed instruments.
This concert, the first in a series of nine, will be held on Oct. 18 at Saint James Place in Great Barrington, and Oct. 19 at Trinity Church in Lakeville.
For those unfamiliar with Crescendo, the award-winning organization was founded in 2003 and brings lesser-known works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods — along with contemporary fusion pieces — to new life. Its performances often blend classical composition with nontraditional instrumentation for a refreshing new take on an established body of work.
Gevert, who is German, Chilean and American, is a conductor, keyboardist and musical scholar. As the multi-national, multi-lingual (German, Spanish and English) creative director, she is a veritable whirlwind of talent, professionalism and inspiration who conceives of new musical treats for her audiences. She also hires and nourishes local talent, sources internationally known vocal and instrumental professionals, and provides her audiences with well-researched program notes for each concert, packaged in lush, full-color programs that resemble illuminated manuscripts.
“It is the excitement about and dedication to the music, along with the prerequisite vocal and instrumental talent, that characterizes a Crescendo member,” said Gevert. “I don’t care about things like how old or young you are or where you’re from — it’s all about bringing these performers together to provide unforgettable musical experiences for its audiences.”
“Traditional audiences for classical music performances tend to skew older,” Gevert continued. “For that reason, I’ve embarked on an effort to reach younger listeners, and have done things like taken a Crescendo choral group to perform at Housatonic Regional High School. I’ve also launched an effort to recruit and train young singers in Baroque singing techniques so they can perform with our existing choral group.”
The upcoming 2025-26 season includes, among other performances, a solo recital and benefit concert on Nov. 22 by the international Baroque opera star and countertenor Nicholas Tamagna. The curated program will include works by Handel, Vivaldi, and Monteverdi.
Two dazzling Christmas concerts follow: on Dec. 6 and 7, Crescendo presents J.S. Bach’s “Sweet Comfort” cantata and Mass in G minor, featuring the full chorus and soloists with a period instrument orchestra. On Dec. 21, the annual Holiday Concert will be presented: “A Tapestry of Traditions: Unraveling the History of Christmas Carols,” with the entire Crescendo vocal ensemble and Gevert on organ.
For the full schedule, concerts details and ticket information, visit: www.crescendomusic.org