Colonel John Ashley House
Colonel John Ashley House
Colonel John Ashley House
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Learn about two very different people who fought for freedom and liberty – and changed our history.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
9 reviews
Excellent
3
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
janbobla
Pittsfield, MA7 contributions
Jul 2014
A must see for black history as well as all people interested in freedom. Out on a country road. Not a local tourist trap. Good peek into how colonial people lived.
Written July 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Im_traveling_solo
Chicopee, MA353 contributions
Jul 2022
First - because the house in a very remote area and does not have a large amount of traffic it is currently open one Sunday per month with tours limited to small groups at 1 and 2. You can find out when they are open at thetrustees . org / berkshires. You can purchase your $5 tickets there.
Second - parking is elusive. It is not in the drive at the house. Instead the parking area is an unmarked dirt lot just north of the house. It is only after entering the lot that you'll see a large sign posted confirming that you are indeed in the right place. Stone steps to the left of the sign will take you along a path to the house.
Third - wouldn't recommend for children
I had a wonderful solo tour with Kendra. Because I was the only one on the first tour we were able to go more in depth about the unique antique items in the house I'd never seen elsewhere - like a voting table and bed key.
It was wonderful learning the details of Col John Ashley, Elizabeth "Mum Bet" Freeman and Theodore Sedgewick and the effect that incidents in this house had on Massachusetts slavery laws.
There is a small building on the south side of the property that contains a collection created by UMASS students on Elizabeth Freeman.
If you love history or antiques, this is a great place to visit. Bartholomew's Cobble and Ashley Falls are nearby attractions that you can visit the same day
Second - parking is elusive. It is not in the drive at the house. Instead the parking area is an unmarked dirt lot just north of the house. It is only after entering the lot that you'll see a large sign posted confirming that you are indeed in the right place. Stone steps to the left of the sign will take you along a path to the house.
Third - wouldn't recommend for children
I had a wonderful solo tour with Kendra. Because I was the only one on the first tour we were able to go more in depth about the unique antique items in the house I'd never seen elsewhere - like a voting table and bed key.
It was wonderful learning the details of Col John Ashley, Elizabeth "Mum Bet" Freeman and Theodore Sedgewick and the effect that incidents in this house had on Massachusetts slavery laws.
There is a small building on the south side of the property that contains a collection created by UMASS students on Elizabeth Freeman.
If you love history or antiques, this is a great place to visit. Bartholomew's Cobble and Ashley Falls are nearby attractions that you can visit the same day
Written August 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maf06040
18 contributions
Jun 2018 • Solo
Part of my childhood neighborhood,this property is now one of the Trustees properties.There is much history in this house.Definately worth a visit.You will hear the story of Mumbet.
Written January 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dave d
Bradford, MA322 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
Park here instead of Bartholomews Cobble and save the parking fee. At the same time you can do a very short hike to the Ashley house then add on the cobble and Hurlburt's hill.
Written August 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George C
New York City, NY22 contributions
Aug 2015 • Friends
As I wrote concerning the Cobble, this is a must see. Be careful in scheduling as it doesn't have the most user friendly hours, but is totally worth it.
Written September 2, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda V
Pomona, NY74 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
This is an interesting house with an interesting background. As historical things happened here. However, my trip here wasn't a great experience. My tour guide was very nice but was not clear regarding certain information. I was left with so many questions. When I asked questions I was made to feel like a child in school asking the teacher a question that I should already know the answer .Then I added information I learned about this home and the tour guide questioned "Who told you That?" and told me my information wasn't true. It's hard to go back long ago and know what's the truth and what's not. I would have liked to learn more about Colonel Ashley, his family and Elizabeth Freeman, as well as the home. I left full of questions. I feel the tour guides should have accurate information and be patient with those with questions.
Written July 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ALouise
2 contributions
Aug 2019
This seems like such an interesting and important historical site. But trying to figure out when or if it is open became the obsession of our weekend. We were not the only people circling the house and looking for signage. Is it open, ever? We tried to call the number on the website but I reached a disconnected extension. .So while I am SURE this would be fascinating (couldn't tell since the drapes were pulled shut tight), it was impossible to know how and when to enter. I have an idea? How about put a SIGN up on the house and tell the public what the hours are??
Written August 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bcnett
Stoneham, MA441 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
Since we were in the area and are members of the Trustees of Reservation, we discovered this wonderful house and the fascinating story of Elizabeth " Mumbet" Freeman, a black slave who sued for her freedom in 1780 and won (with a jury of 12 white men). This led to the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts. She went on to work for the family of her lawyer, Theodore Sedgwick. The Sedgwick family thought so highly of her that she was buried in the Sedgwick plot. The only non-family member to be buried there. When Mumbet, died she was the second wealthiest black woman in the state.
We had a great tour of the Colonel Ashley House with a tour guide who does tours for a lot of school groups so we learned a lot of interesting things from her such as the expression "Jumping the Broom". There is also a barn next to the house with a lot of information.
Since we are members of the Trustees of Reservation, we did not have to pay the $5.00 admission fee. As of August 2017, the house is only open on Sundays in July and August for tours at 12, 1, and 2 P.M.
Bartholomew's Cobble is located about a half mile from the Colonel Ashley House. There are hiking paths and a visitors' center with rest rooms, a water cooler, and a large room tp wait for the tour at Ashley house.
We had a great tour of the Colonel Ashley House with a tour guide who does tours for a lot of school groups so we learned a lot of interesting things from her such as the expression "Jumping the Broom". There is also a barn next to the house with a lot of information.
Since we are members of the Trustees of Reservation, we did not have to pay the $5.00 admission fee. As of August 2017, the house is only open on Sundays in July and August for tours at 12, 1, and 2 P.M.
Bartholomew's Cobble is located about a half mile from the Colonel Ashley House. There are hiking paths and a visitors' center with rest rooms, a water cooler, and a large room tp wait for the tour at Ashley house.
Written August 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Douglas T
Los Altos, CA1,688 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
This location has tours for groups that reserve of 6 or more. Nevertheless, it is on a beautiful road that you should take to the top for good views. And although there is no indication, there is a small shed near the house and a driveway that goes around it. We pulled in for no reason and to our surprise, the shed was open on the non-road side. There were many exhibits describing the remarkable life of the Ashley slave who brought a lawsuit and won that was a big part of the end of slavery in Massachusetts (and that was even though her master Ashley was a Revolutionary War hero). This was well worth the time and the house is interesting,as are the filed surrounding it still farmed 250 years later. Also, if you go to Bartholomew's Cobble, less than a half mile away, you walk over more of the land that was the Ashley possessions.
Written August 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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