We stopped at the 1896 House Pondside on the way home from our tour of New England to visit the Williamstown Theatre. Three of us (me, my sister and my nephew) shared a standard room with a rollaway bed. It was very clean, the beds and linens were great, and the continental breakfast, now served in the restaurant , was very good. I had previously been directed to the inn seven years before while on a business trip and was pleased. The accomodations and food have only improved since. We are now planning to do a tour of the Berkshires next year, using the 1896 House as the home base. Bravo!

We stayed in The Empire Room at The Barnside Suites-it had an enormous sitting room and bedroom with fireplace, along with dressing room and huge bathroom with jacuzzi- it was also immaculate.
The breakfast in Suite 200 is great- you are waited on hand and foot at this place!!!!!
Nancy and Brent Wilson

We stayed at the 1896 House during our recent trip to Tanglewood. We found the Brookside rooms to be charming. The knotty pine interior was cozy and typified New England. The room was very clean (a high priority for us) and the beds were very comfortable. The manager was very friendly and accomodating when we made the reservations. There was a good selection for the continental breakfast, although the breakfast room was a tight sequence when several people tried to get breakfast at the same time.... but everyone took it in stride and manuevered accordingly. We also ate the 1896 Pub.... the resturant is charming. We ate at a table with high backed uphostered chairs. Our soup and salad were very good.

We spent two nights at the 1896 House. The name is rather deceiving as it really is two separate motels, and then a converted barn with 5 luxury suites across from the motel. I was skeptical as I was looking more for a B & B atmosphere, but after viewing their website, the Luxury suites looked very nice. We originally booked the "Victorian Room" but after arriving, I really didn't care for the decor and asked if we could switch seeing that there was no one else in any of the suites. We chose the "Early American" and loved it. It is brand-new and decorated with beautiful furniture, 2 TV/DVDs, kitchenette (not all suites have this option), large bathroom with jacuzzi and it was all very clean. Breakfast was served across the street at a very nice restaurant and was delicious, although this also takes away from the feeling of a quaint B & B. The motels looked very neat and well kept and would definitely be a good option for those looking for a more affordable room. Williamstown is a lovely little college town with several quaint, casual restaurants and a beautiful campus at Williams College.