As far as I can tell, two parties govern Great Barrington: There is the “But that isn’t how it has always been done!” party and the “Why should we pay for that?” party. Unlike competing national political parties, these parties are often aligned against the issue of the day. While synced to safeguard against any perceptible change to the town, more often than not, one will spearhead opposition to an initiative. As regards the proposal for the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project at the Mason Public Library, for reasons that will be explained, the “Why should we pay for that?” party is letting “But that isn’t how it has always been done!” run point.
For a number of years, a group of engaged citizens has worked to honor Great Barrington’s most famous son with a statue. Rather than recite W.E.B. Du Bois’ contributions to sociology, civil rights, and political discourse, let’s agree both that no Great Barringtonite before or since stands as tall and that his impact would be worthy of honor in any town, small or large, from which he hailed. Great Barrington is simply fortunate to be able to call him our native son.
Susan B. Anthony is honored with a statue in Adams, her hometown, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton is honored with one in her hometown, Johnstown. But for the statue of Martin Van Buren on the Village Green, I would not have known that our eighth president was from Kinderhook (which is now the only thing I know about our eighth president). Unsurprisingly, there is a statue honoring George Washington in Fredericksburg, Va.; one honoring Thomas Jefferson in Shadwell, Va.; and one honoring Abraham Lincoln in Hodgenville, Ky. Honoring native sons and daughters is an American tradition.
The question shouldn’t be why would Great Barrington honor Mr. Du Bois, but how could it not? Statues speak volumes, quietly, about who we are and what we revere. Nothing more than “Statue of Liberty” needs be said to prove the power of a statue (even though this copper symbol of freedom is more than a bit tarnished of late). Statues remind us of our past and may inspire us to do well in the future. As far as role models go, Great Barrington got lucky with Mr. Du Bois.
Which brings us to the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project. Good grounds to honor Mr. Du Bois? Without question, yes. Obtained approvals from the Library Trustees? Check. Obtained approvals from the Historic District Commission? Check. Obtained support from the Selectboard? Check. Obtained support from the Finance Committee to expend funds for the project? Nope—because no Great Barrington funds will be expended. Despite all of that support—including, notably, the Historic District Commission—the “But that isn’t how it has always been done!” party objects, consistent with its platform that it will only support the old and tried and oppose the new and untried. This is a Great Barrington tradition.
“Why should we pay for it?” does not oppose the project for the simple reason that Great Barrington is being gifted the statue. Actually, it is more than that. The Sculpture Project will improve the currently condemned steps in front of the library. That really takes the wind out of “Why should we pay for it?”’s sails.
Article 3 on the October 23, 2023 Special Town Meeting Warrant appears innocuous: “We are petitioning the town of Great Barrington to put to a VOTE whether the VOTERS want a redesign of the Mason Public library grounds.” The question artfully avoids mention of Mr. Du Bois, the sculpture, or paid repair of the condemned stairs, to simply focus on the purportedly sacrosanct Mason Public Library.
Well, not really sacrosanct. If Article 3 were to be historically accurate, it would ask if the voters wanted to redesign a portion of the library yet again. The library has been in its present location since 1913, but not in its present form. In 2007, the library was doubled in size and made handicapped accessible. In 2006, both parties opposed the $11.5 million renovation; the “Why should we pay for that?” party objected to its cost and the “But that isn’t how it has always been done!” party objected then, as now, to marring the 1913 building. Good thing reason prevailed. Great Barrington now has a beautiful, energy-efficient, accessible, community library, albeit with some condemned steps out front.
If you were approached to sign the petition to put Article 3 on the Special Meeting Warrant and inquired as to why anyone would want to impede honoring Mr. Du Bois, you would have been told that there are concerns about altering the grounds. If by “alter” they mean enhance, that is true. But you would not have been told about our nation’s history of honoring its thought leaders. You would not have been told that only private funds would be used to improve the library. One wonders if some number of the 100 folks that signed the petition regret putting Article 3 on the warrant due to an erroneous fear that fern fanatics intended to replace green lawn.
The Special Town Meeting’s main event is approval of the necessary merger of the school districts, but please stick around for the undercard. The world will little note nor long remember the votes on each of the October 23 articles, but it will never forget that Great Barrington saw fit to dedicate a portion of the hallowed Mason Public Library grounds to a treasured American from Great Barrington. And, maybe, Great Barrington will note and long remember that simply because something isn’t how it has always been done does not mean that it shouldn’t be done.
Honoring W.E.B. Du Bois is absolutely warranted. Approving Article 3 is not.
