The Russells of Great Barrington were rumored to have been Abolitionists, and to have helped slaves in the Underground Railroad on their way to Canada. Called Robbers Roost now was a stop on the underground railroad, the cave in which the Russells were rumored to have hidden slaves.

The Russell house was built in 1822, and at that time was considered the finest building in the village, and gave the street its name, “Castle” Street. The land prior to this time, and the house that stood on it, belonged to Asa C. Russell, and then Stephen Sibley, who later sold the property in 1810 to Dr. David Leavenworth. Dr. Leavenworth tore down the original Russell house, replacing it with the present one.

When Leavenworth died in 1831, the property was bought back by the Russell family. George Russell, son of John Russell, lived in the house most of his life. In 1920 the Russells donated the house to the Visiting Nurse Association, and later it was bought by the present owner, the Children’s Health Program.

The Russell family was very prominent in Great Barrington during the 1800s and early 1900s. Asa Russell, and his brother John Russell, together owned the Berkshire Woolen Co.

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