During the drive through Adams, Ma, we stopped to wonder what McKinley was doing in the town square. June 15th - Monday.

He was a Ohioian.


That's a bronze statue of William McKinley - the 25th President of the US. Where? In Adams Mass, opposite the library - the same library where he laid a cornerstone to commemorate the endowments coming from the robust industry that grew up in the Berkshires. McKinley was a republican - a moderate republican - and represented values that today's republicans can't seem to locate. He defended labor where it was warranted and supported tariffs (taxes) on foreign imports - to protect American jobs. He defeated Grover Cleveland in the second election of the 1890's - an election that was predicated on the recovery years after the 93 crash.

So as a journeyman - here we are in Adam's Mass, stopping to pause for a photo of William McKinley as he looks over the town's main street. McKinley was assassinated in Buffalo NY - by an anarchist - two bullets - one that lodged in his abdomen and began to infect. The assassin was electrocuted.









So now comes the odd connection. The Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing company ran it's course until the post WWII years - it was bought by a young stockbroker named - Warren Buffet; hence Berkshire Hathaway. Economics winds its way to the oddest places.

Specialty Minerals was right down the street and I almost pulled in to talk to management. Maybe next time.