History
July 4, 2025
Happy Independence Day!
Yesterday, the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in America, and a greater, perhaps, never was nor will be decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, “that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, and as such they have, and of right to have, full power to make war, conclude peace, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which other States may rightfully do.” You will see in a few days a Declaration setting forth the causes which have impelled us to this mighty revolution, and the reasons which will justify it in the sight of God and man. A plan of confederation will be taken up in a few days.
John Adams to Abigail
Philadelphia, July 3, 1776
The Declaration of Independence is an unmatched American document that has made a lasting impact on the global stage. It enshrined the essential principles that form the foundation of our great nation, summarizing the basic rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, along with the significance of consent from the governed and the necessity to oppose tyranny. As the first success in the field of declarations of independence, its effect resonates worldwide, acting as a source of inspiration for many movements striving for autonomy, self-determination, and revolutionary change in the years after 1776.
The 56 brave men of the Continental Congress committed treason by signing that great document that inspired our patriot ancestors to continue the struggle for independence and throw off the most powerful empire in the world.
June 17, 2025
A Little History
Do you remember Lanesborough’s ‘Flintstone House’? Here’s how it got its odd shape
- By Jim Shulman
I have always been fascinated with unusual houses, and over the years have visited many.
In the 1990s I was told by a friend that there was a house in Lanesborough on National Street made of foam. On a visit to the Berkshires, I had to find it and at least take photos.
My first thought when I drove up was that it looked like a cross between a couple of igloos and a large outgrowth of mushrooms. This then-vacant and boarded-up structure was built in the 1970s and described in a Berkshire Eagle article as something out of a Flintstones cartoon. From then on it apparently became known by local baby boomers as the “Flintstone House.”
This abode was the brainchild of the Raymond “Randy” Barriere of Lanesborough, who built it and lived in it when completed. Randy was the oldest of six children of Ernest R. and Jean Barriere.
Ernest was a 1937 graduate of Pittsfield High School who later earned an engineering degree at MIT. After college and the service, he took a job with the General Electric Co. in Schenectady, where he worked for 40 years before retiring in 1990.
Although the Barriere couple raised their children in Scotia, N.Y., they had family in Pittsfield and summered in Lanesborough for years at the family cottage at 44 National St.
Their son, Randy, graduated high school in 1961 in Scotia and then went to college at the University of Florida, where he majored in landscape architecture. While there he learned about out-of-the-box houses — specifically built with urethane foam. Randy left college in his senior year to pursue the construction of such houses and even built a small school using urethane foam.
After four years in the Air Force as a flyer, Randy and his new bride moved to the family cottage in Lanesborough. He decided to build his own house across from the cottage on family-owned land at 45 National St. His goal was to introduce to the Berkshire community its first foam homes. He planned to build a prototype and eventually give it to his parents as a future retirement gift. In 1973 at age 30, he completed the home and started his own construction firm in Pittsfield called Plexi-Foam Corp.
The foam technology was an interesting one, especially to both doubting and curious traditional builders in the Berkshires. Initially Randy had a concrete slab poured and included space for 4-foot foam footers. Basically, the structure was built around several large inflated balloons that were then sprayed with the urethane foam.
Randy’s, sister, Wendy Darling, shared with me that she and her mom, Jean, sewed the canvas to create the balloons and later helped install a chicken wire covering. The urethane was supplied in 55-gallon drums.
It had to be heated to 140 degrees and then it was sprayed from an airless gun. The urethane was not considered toxic as were many similar insulation chemicals that were banned in later years.
With his architectural background, Randy created a well-thought-out design and plan. A first floor or basement had burlap paneled walls squaring off the lower parts of the domed tops, which were also covered with the foam. Wooden decking to support the upper floor had been incorporated in the design.
After the foam settled, Randy had cut out space for doors and windows. He installed traditional doors and plexiglass oval-shaped, fixed windows primarily to let light in. He then added more foam to the outside to reach at least 4 inches of thickness and to seal tightly around the windows. Air circulation was accomplished by fans and venting, not through windows.
Finally, the entire outside structure was coated with off-white colored Duratite. This vinyl concrete sealant was for waterproofing the outside.
Randy’s younger brother, Greg, a Pittsfield architect, shared with me that a sealant also was applied on the inside, not only for waterproofing, but also to totally enclose the flammable urethane foam rendering the building fire safe.
The home was all electric, with wiring and minor duct work both enclosed in fiberglass. Greg said the building was so well insulated that a single light bulb could easily heat a whole room in the winter. In the summer the interior remained cool.
When totally completed, the building would be protected from drafts, fire, water leakage, and invasion of termites and other varmints. Randy claimed the structure would be maintenance-free for two to three decades and energy economical in all seasons due to the insulation offered by the foam.
The home’s design provided 1,600 square feet of indoor space in the two main domed sections. The downstairs or basement included a two-car garage, storage space and a workshop/utility room.
Between the two sections from the front door and passageway, Randy designed a curved stairway leading to the second floor with a laundry room a few steps up on a landing. Upstairs, the larger section had a living room, a dining room and a kitchen with a few steps down to a sitting area and fireplace. The other second floor section had a bedroom, bathroom and study.
From this prototype, Randy estimated his homes could be built for a cost of about $22 per square foot, or between $30,000 to $35,000 per home, with 1,300 to 3,000 square feet. The market was a tough one as new homeowners were unfamiliar with such an unusual construction.
Randy did build a larger structure in Connecticut, but most of his business was from projects such as insulating existing structures and adding foam rooms to traditional homes. He also served as a lecturer locally in programs on his unique constructions and on energy efficiency.
Randy Barriere was a pioneer in not only building unique foam houses, but he was one of the earliest contractors in the Berkshires to use foam insulation for more traditionally built homes. Unfortunately, his contracting business was a short-lived one. This innovative designer and contractor died in an auto accident on upper North Street near Crane Avenue on March 11, 1981. He was only 38 years old.
Randy’s wife continued living in the house for several years. In December 1985 a strong wind broke a hemlock tree at its trunk and it demolished part of the home. The damage was repaired, but soon afterward, his widow vacated the house, moving to Rhode Island to be close to her family.
When I visited the house in the late 1990s, some of the wood supports were exposed and the deck wood was rotting. A decade or so of neglect had taken its toll on the structure. Being boarded up, and covered with no-trespassing signs, I could not see the inside condition.
On Oct. 31, 2013, an explosion occurred at Flintstone House, causing the entire structure to burn to the ground. The cause of the blast was a mystery. With the destruction of the building’s sealants, the flammable urethane foam was exposed to the flames.
Debris was strewn over a quarter-mile radius surrounding the residence and smoke could be seen by motorists on Route 7 all along Pontoosuc Lake.
From time-to-time I read comments on local social media sites about the Flintstone House. It really was unique. I often think about how many more interesting homes would have eventually been built throughout the Berkshires if Randy was with us today.
(Special thank you to Wendy Darling and Greg Barriere, siblings of Randy Barriere for their input.)
June 1, 2025
Mr. Pauley Joins the Hall of Fame
2 manufacturers, a retailer, a supplier tapped for 2025 Hall of Fame
Vicky Jarrett //Managing Editor//May 29, 2025
HIGH POINT — Four influential industry leaders will be inducted into the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame on Oct. 26 during the fall High Point Market.
Joining the current 139 members of the Hall of Fame are Jeffrey S. Child, president, R.C. Willey Home Furnishings; William A. Hinks, founder and chairman, Furniture Mart USA; Stanley F. Pauley, former CEO and chairman, Carpenter Co.; and Norman Waxman, Norman Waxman Consulting.
“This year’s class of inductees represents the core values of superior accomplishments and enduring excellence by two retailers, a manufacturer and a supplier,” said Satya Tiwari, president of the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation board of directors. “Each has impacted the industry with innovation, and each represents high personal character and ethical standards.”
A seven-member selection committee chose this year’s inductees based on their contributions to the growth and development of the home furnishings industry in the U.S.
Jeffrey S. Child has grown the Top 10 retailer fivefold in his 24-year tenure as president of R.C. Willey Home Furnishings, a Berkshire Hathaway company based in Salt Lake City. He began working in the family business when he was 14 waxing the warehouse floors and then working his way up as a sales associate, buyer and merchandise manager where he developed his great love for furnishings. Child is known for sharing strategies for success not just within his company but also with other retailers.
Under Child’s leadership, the retailer has honed a fully integrated supply chain to enhanced its competitive edge. The retailer of furnishings, appliances, electronics and flooring operates 10 stores and three distribution centers in Utah, Nevada, Idaho and California.
William A. Hinks started selling used furniture in 1977, becoming a serial entrepreneur who provides consumers in rural markets with the access to a wide range of brands typically only found in metropolitan stores. The Top 40 Furniture Mart USA operates in six Midwestern states offering furnishings, flooring and design services supported by an in-stock, rapid delivery network.
With a mission to transform “houses into homes, employees into family and customers into friends,” the three-generation family business based in Sioux Falls, S.D., owns most of its 60 storefront and warehouse properties. The Priority Sales program partners with nine Native American Reservations to provide private funding to tribal members, thereby enabling many to buy furniture for the first time.
Stanley F. Pauley became president of Richmond-based Carpenter Co. seven years after E. Rhodes Carpenter was founded in 1950 as a latex foam distributor. Over the next 60-plus years, he built the company into a global vertically integrated manufacturer of polyurethane foams used for upholstery, bedding, carpet cushioning, furniture and fabrication, and other consumer products.
An electrical engineer by education, Pauley had an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement and creating innovative foam solutions for Carpenter’s customers. He was known for his attention to every detail of the business, always doing things the right way and keeping an eye on reducing waste, promoting sustainability and practicing circularity. The company employs some 7,000 people at its more than 70 production facilities located around the world.
Norman Waxman has been an advisor and mentor to dozens of manufacturers and retailers. His career began in upholstery sales, expanding into executive management positions for Schnadig Corp., Rowe Furniture Corp., Quaker Fabrics and Corson Furniture Inds.
Waxman was an early adopter of merchandising the whole room through correlated groups and developing brands by expanding market share through the export business and engaging with retail customers as partners. He is known for growing talent through executive development based on a foundation of trust as the right way to conduct business, and he is a socially responsible leader and philanthropist.
May 15, 2025
Reflections from the Foam Frontier: A Conversation with John Meehan
Recorded: May 2024
Published: May 2025
Location: PFA Conference, St. Petersburg, FL
At the 2024 Polyurethane Foam Association meeting, we sat down for beers and a candid conversation with industry legend John Meehan, who has now retired after more than 60 years in the Urethane business. What followed was a rich tapestry of stories — from the birth of flexible foam to corporate buyouts, mysterious plant fires, and lessons in loyalty that today’s chemical industry would do well to remember.
Summary of the conversation at the bottom. Listen to the interview here:
Read the transcript in full here:
From Hand Mixes to Multinationals
Meehan started his journey in 1960 at Olin Research Labs doing hand mixes, balancing part-time work with school. By 1970, he was formulating rigid and flexible foams for Olin, just as the industry was beginning to take shape.
“We had a $30 million TDI plant — the pilot plants today are bigger than that.”
Back then, Olin was a sprawling industrial force — aluminum, brass, Bible paper, even skis — and Meehan had a front-row seat to its dive into isocyanates and polyols.
The Industry Evolves
The interview charts the transition from conglomerate-dominated foam production to the rise of entrepreneurial foam shops, some run by characters straight out of central casting.
“Chuck Moeller ran a multi-million-dollar operation and spat tobacco juice into a Styrofoam cup at board meetings.”
From dealing with General Tire’s foam division to confronting delinquent customers like Joe DiMaggio’s brother, Meehan’s stories illustrate both the grit and absurdity of business in the chemical trenches.
Then vs. Now: Relationship-Driven Sales
One of Meehan’s recurring themes was the loss of human connection in modern sales.
“In those days, you shook a customer’s hand — and that was the deal. Now, they don’t even answer the phone.”
He describes a time when sales was personal: you knew your customers, their kids’ names, their lunch orders. Today, too often, it’s just price-checking and ghosted emails.
The Vanishing Mentor
Meehan laments the decline of in-house R&D and mentorship, once the bedrock of technical sales and innovation.
“We had a ton of people doing real R&D. Now you can’t even find a pilot machine.”
Companies, Meehan argues, have become too focused on short-term returns, cutting staff and gutting their ability to nurture new talent or develop future technologies.
Is There Hope for Small Companies?
Despite the challenges, Meehan believes companies like Everchem have an opportunity to thrive — precisely because they still value relationships and technical integrity.
“You get spec’d in, and you don’t have to worry about the nickel-and-dime pricing.”
His advice: stay close to the customer, focus on being reliable, and speak the language of the people who actually use the product — not just the procurement departments.
Final Thoughts
Meehan’s reflections are more than nostalgia — they’re a call to rebuild the human side of an industry that too often runs on autopilot.
“Sales and marketing is still the best job in the world — if you do it right.”
As he steps away from the business, we’re left with a deep appreciation for the people, processes, and personalities that built the urethanes world — and a reminder that people still matter.
May 1, 2025
Carpenter Celebrates 75 Years
Carpenter Co. Celebrates 75th Anniversary
RICHMOND, VA – Carpenter Co. will officially mark its 75th anniversary on April 28, 2025. Celebratory events are planned across all operating locations with additional initiatives planned for later in the year.
Carpenter began as a single-building latex foam distributor in Richmond, Virginia, and has since become the world’s largest vertically integrated manufacturer of flexible foam and specialty polymer products, with operations throughout North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
“Reaching 75 years is an impressive accomplishment, and Carpenter is proud to be able to celebrate this milestone,” said Brad Beauchamp, President and CEO of Carpenter. “This anniversary is an opportunity to appreciate the legacy of E. Rhodes Carpenter and Stan Pauley, the loyal customers that we’ve had over the decades, and the individuals whose dedication and commitment to continuous improvement have helped us get where we are today.”
He added that while acknowledging the past is exciting, Carpenter is also focused on what’s to come.
“Our goal has always been to provide the most innovative and cost-efficient products and solutions for our customers, and we’re eager to continue doing so well into the future,” he said.
About Carpenter Co.
Founded in 1950, Carpenter Co. is the world’s largest vertically integrated manufacturer of flexible polyurethane foams. Carpenter also serves a diversified global marketplace with polyurethane raw materials, chemical solutions, consumer products, polyester fibers, insulation materials and recycled flexible foam solutions through a network of more than 70 production locations. Our approximately 7,000 employees across the globe seek to provide the most innovative products and solutions with a focus on enhancing the quality of people’s lives while being a good steward of our resources.
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