Sheffield is the oldest town in the Berkshires—settled in 1725, incorporated in 1733. It also has the largest concentration of working farms, and of antique dealers. SHS was founded in 1972 to preserve Sheffield’s historic heritage — buildings, archival records, documents and objects. Since then, it has restored seven historic structures, including a 1770s brick home with period rooms, a 19th-century carriage house now exhibiting tools, an 1814 home now used as a research center, and the 1834 Stone Store, now a visitor center and exhibit space. In 2001 it received a National Institute of Museum Services grant to survey, assess and conserve its collections; this led to two National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Assistance grants, to support hiring technical consultants. NEH grants, however, require SHS to raise public matching funds — a challenge for rural historical societies. It launched an annual fund in 2003, but it needs more “public support.” Here is an excellent rural historical society, doing its best with distinction to help protect our heritage. It needs help from donors like you — so why not have some fun and surprise them?