May 13 Important Update

The major creditors of The Mount have agreed to grant a six-month extension (until October 31) of the foreclosure deadline, allowing us to fully plan for the 2008 summer season. "The agreement of Berkshire Bank and our other major creditors to grant the six-month extension represents a significant milestone in our determined fight to resolve our problems and establish The Mount on responsible financial footings going forward. This extension allows us to capitalize on the Berkshires' peak tourist months to generate much needed operating revenues while at the same time provided a realistic time frame to achieve our $3 million fundraising goal....We have a considerable way to go and do not underestimate the enormity of the challenge." (Mount Trustee, Gordon Travers).
We indeed continue to be grateful for the interest and support shown for The Mount and look forward to an exciting and highly successful season!

The Staff and Volunteers at The Mount

Opening Weekend Update

Happy Mother's Day! We had an excellent opening weekend, with nearly 200 visitors on Sunday alone. The weather on Sunday was spectacular, as were the tulips and jonquils in the garden and periwinkle along the driveway. The interest shown in keeping Edith Wharton's legacy alive and well was heartening. We had quite a few visitors from our neighbors to the west; the Upper Hudson Library System had recently featured The Age of Innocence in its Albany Reads program. Many thanks to those who came out to support us in person and to those who continue to support us through donations and pledges.
We hope to see you soon!

The Staff and Volunteers at The Mount

Keeping Edith Wharton's World Alive

I am distressed to hear that The Mount may be in danger of foreclosure.
Edith Wharton Restoration has struggled for years to renovate and
preserve this historic home for the enjoyment of the public. Through keeping
this home open to guests, you keep Edith Wharton's world alive.
I have visited The Mount twice and can see why Edith was drawn to the
tranquillity of the Berkshire woods. It is a perfect writer's retreat,
and for a nature-nurturing mind like Edith's, it provided the perfect
setting for creating many masterpieces.
I hope you will accept a donation toward keeping this historic
treasure open. Through your dedication to preserving Edith Wharton's home, you
have preserved her life, legacy, and work. Those of us who value these
appreciate your continued efforts.

Sincerely,
Kay Davis
Cultural Studios
Exploring the Past through Multimedia
http://www.culturalstudios.org

From Brook Farm Inn

(posted April 29th)
As the owners of Brook Farm Inn, within walking distance of The Mount, we know very well what a treasure it is. In order to contribute to the fundraising effort, and also to introduce more Berkshires visitors to The Mount, we're offering to buy admission to The Mount for our guests. We'll buy a ticket for any guest who books a 2-night stay between May 9th and June 12th, 2008.
Readers can view our website and our blog - which mentions The Mount as well - at www.brookfarm.com.

Linda and Phil Halpern
Brook Farm Inn
15 Hawthorne Street
Lenox, MA 01240
413-637-3013
800-285-7638

Long live Edith!

My husband and I made a special trip to Lenox this past fall to visit the Mount, as Edith Wharton has long been one of my favorite authors. It was a gray-skied day in late October, but the brilliant flowers in the garden stood out in bright pinks and purples and yellows. Wharton's spirit was everywhere as we toured the house. We had even read Wharton's "Old New York", four novellas about life in mid-to-late nineteenth century New York, as a husband and wife book club as part of our trip. Edith Wharton is a towering figure in American literature. . . .Long live Edith! The Mount must be saved!

Maria Mangano
Durham, North Carolina