In 1891, the Hart family made a bold decision: to leave the racism and segregation of North Carolina behind and start fresh in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts. With little more than a horse and a wagon, Henry Hart Sr. arrived in Williamstown and began building — literally and figuratively — a new life.

Building a Legacy

Henry Hart Sr. founded what would become a highly successful construction company bearing the Hart name. His sons — Henry Jr., William, James, and Allen — worked alongside him to grow the business, and Hart Construction Company continues operating today under the ownership of his grandson, Stephen Hart.

While Henry built the company, his wife Kate Alexander Hart built the community around them. She initially took in laundry from Williams College to support the family, and over time purchased several pieces of property in the area while raising their six surviving children.

Firsts and Milestones

The Hart children went on to remarkable careers of their own. Margaret Hart became the first Black graduate of North Adams State Teachers College (now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts) and the first Black teacher in Berkshire County — a trailblazer whose story deserves to be widely known.

Thomas Hart Sr., one of Henry and Kate’s five sons, earned his doctorate from NYU and founded Camp Hart in 1947. Running continuously on the South Williamstown property until 1963, Camp Hart provided a summer retreat for boys from urban communities along the East Coast. In later years, the property hosted golf clinics for young people from the area.

The Properties Today

The Farmhouse and The Cottage that guests enjoy today are a continuation of that same legacy. The antiques, the heirlooms, the photos on the walls — they’re not decoration. They’re the Hart family’s story, preserved and shared with every guest who walks through the door