BHCA History

For many of you these events took place before you were born, but you may be interested in the beginning of our community. It is a trip down memory lane for those of us who have lived here for 35+ years.

The first homes were built in Berkshire Hills in 1972. The first meeting to establish a Civic Association was held on June 13, 1977 at the Carroll Township building. At that time there were probably about 30 homes and I imagine that every home had a representative at that meeting. The attendees nominated and voted on officers and approved the bylaws. The first Board meeting was held on June 29 and the officers approved a $10.00 membership fee and established Social, Membership, Communications, and Ways and Means committees to oversee numerous functions of the neighborhood. There was a Community Liaison committee formed as the roads were not maintained by the township; they were pothole-riddled and some were not paved. There was no cable TV, no house numbers, and the telephone service was terrible. The board was very active socially and at fundraising and were anxious to get the recreation area developed. They requested donations for the rec area as the dues would not be sufficient. Plans were mainly for a baseball field, playground area, and volleyball equipment. There was talk of eventually putting in a community swimming pool but they were told that would not be allowed because of the power lines. Swings and a sliding board were built by men in the neighborhood in the summer of 1983. The pavilion was not built until September of 1984.

Berkshire Hills in 1992.