HAYMAN 2 - 2008

Berkshire Bank, through its Berkshire Bank Foundation, has brought back the very popular scarecrow project to downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts during the month of October. This year’s event, HAYMAN 2, presents 91 life-size hay sculptures that were built by 275 community residents in late September and installed throughout the downtown for the public to view. They include scarecrows of Dracula, Frankenstein, Darth Vader, Bat Man and the Joker, students, a Bride & Groom, sports figures and many other creative figures. See photos on this site.

Berkshire Bank Foundation once again underwrote all costs associated with the project and it was a free community event. Artist Michael Melle of Plainfield was the project’s artistic director and artist Michael Rousseau was the project coordinator. Wood for the scarecrow bodies was cut and donated from woodlots owned by Joe Wheaton and Dave Pill. Workers from the Berkshire County Sheriff’s office, Carmen C. Massimiano, Sheriff, cut and prepared all the wood for the scarecrow construction. Noble Farm donated the hay. Noble Farm, Dave Pill and Brown Oil donated trucks to haul the completed scarecrows. St. Joseph Church provided a free lunch to volunteers who installed the scarecrows on September 28th. Alan Hayes took photographs of the scarecrow building day and the installed scarecrows. The Berkshire Eagle provided free ads to promote the project. Numerous other community volunteers helped as scarecrow building trainers and installers. This has truly been a community project.

Maps of the scarecrow locations and builders are available in various locations throughout downtown including the Pittsfield Visitor’s Center in the Colonial Theatre. Come take a walking tour and see all the creations decorating downtown.

The scarecrows will remain up through October 26, 2008 at which time the builders can take them down and bring them home for Halloween.

Berkshire Bank and the Storefront Artist, Project co-sponsor, thank all those who have worked so hard to make this project a reality.