Farewell to a Local Landmark:

If you’ve lived in Otis long enough, you know that certain places become more than just stops on a map — they turn into little landmarks of daily life. Places you pass without thinking, yet somehow expect to always be there. For more than a century, the Otis Poultry Farm was one of those constants. A small-town icon with big personality, tucked right into the quiet rhythm of North Main Road.

This spring, after 121 years in business, the Pyenson family closed the doors for the last time. And while the building still sits there — soft light on its weathered siding, the silence feels tangible. Like a chapter has been tucked away, or perhaps even torn out from our small town’s history.

Some folks remember the early days, when it was a true poultry farm. Others remember the shelves full of quirky knick-knacks and unexpected treasures you didn’t know you needed.

For locals, it was a weekend ritual.
For seasonal visitors, it was a “you have to stop here at least once” moment.
For kids, it was a candy shop disguised as a grocery store, and for the rest of us, it was simply a warm, familiar presence — the kind of place that made the Berkshires feel like home.

And of course, no memory of the Otis Poultry Farm would be complete without mentioning the wood carver who worked right out front — a fixture just as recognizable as the building itself. That was sculptor Ken Packie, the artist behind Berkshire Mountain Sculpture, an art studio and gallery based right here in Otis. His work transformed raw wood logs into intricate, life-sized sculptures using chainsaw carving, chiseling, and burning techniques — a blend of skill and imagination.

Nearly every passerby remembers slowing down to glance at whatever new creature was taking shape beneath his tools from small owls to enormous dragons like the one in this pic...