Beautiful, New Stone Flag in Front of Otis Town Hall
By Alice Fluckiger
October 2026
Have you seen the beautiful stone flag recently built in front of the Otis Town Hall? It is beautiful, made of locally sourced stone, by a local resident, and for a local reason.
Greg Middleton is a mason who has lived in Otis his entire life. He became a mason 45 years ago because while looking for his first job after school; the local lumber yard had no work, but the local mason was hiring. Greg needed a job and the local mason hired him. Throughout his career, he has worked for different companies and for himself (Middleton Masonry). All the while he has loved the challenge of making something out of stone, the pleasure of satisfying his customers, and the opportunity for creativity. The projects he has completed through the years have mostly been local to Berkshire County but some have taken him as far away as Wisconsin and the farthest point on Lake Champlain.
Greg’s reason for building this flag is to celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary in a special way that not only will last a lifetime, but also is a celebration that his late mother Marion (Noni) Middleton would appreciate. In 1976, the last milestone birthday of our country, Marion (Noni) painted the American Flag on the street at the intersection of West Center Road and Pearl Road in Otis. She repainted the flag herself on the road for three years and after that, her son Greg repainted the flag on the road every year until about five years ago when the Town of Otis asked the family to stop. After being asked to stop, they moved the flag to Marion’s driveway where Greg’s brother, Mark, today maintains the painted flag. All the while, the Middleton family is showing their love of the American flag and our town of Otis.
Master Mason Greg Middleton, in front of the new stone flag. Photo by Troy Fluckiger
Since Greg’s mother Marion (Noni)’s recent passing this summer, Greg brought his idea to honor her, her love of the American flag, their family’s love of the Town of Otis, and our country’s 250th anniversary to the Otis Select Board. Greg’s original request of the Select Board was to grant permission for him to paint the flag on the road where it once was painted years ago. While the Select Board did not grant that request, Greg was ready with a second idea, which was to build a flag out of stone for display in the center of town. The Select Board meeting quickly moved outside to agree on the location and size of the project. By the end of the meeting, Greg had approval to move forward. This quick decision from the Select Board showed its support of the town and our country’s 250th anniversary.
The flag was built by Greg Middleton at his own personal cost, time, and design. The flag is approximately 8 feet wide and 46 inches tall. The red and blue stones are not painted. It is granite and are naturally the colors red and blue. The blue granite is from Norway and the red granite, known as “Ruby Red,” is from Wisconsin. The white stone, known as “Danby marble,” is marble from Vermont. The fieldstone that surrounds the flag comes from the land right here in Otis. Here is a great example of a mason’s creativity. The granite and marble are all small pieces that Greg picked out from the local quarry, Chester Granite in Blandford. Greg walked through the quarry to select the stone that would be perfect for the flag. It is amazing to learn that this stone comes from the land right here in our country. There is much to appreciate about our country’s land, and the stone that this flag is made from is just one of them.
While building the flag, Greg has had many Otis town residents stop to meet him, ask questions about the project and compliment his work. He told me this opportunity to talk to people was an unexpected bonus for him because he enjoyed interacting with town residents that he had not previously met and validated for him that this project was good for our town. He heard residents tell him, “this flag feels good” and “this flag makes me love this town even more than I already do.” One resident even asked to “help put one rock in.” So of course Greg obliged because this is all Greg was hoping for: to bring goodness and “feel good” to the town of Otis while also remembering his mother and celebrating our country’s anniversary.
Greg hoped to finish the project before September 15, because that is when deer hunting season begins and he is an avid hunter. He plans to put solar lights shining on the flag so that those passing by can view the flag at night. In the spring he will add two plaques: one to honor his mother and one to celebrate our county’s 250th anniversary.
To know that a local resident built this flag out of stone from local land in order to honor his mother, a lifelong resident of Otis, and our country, sure “feels good.” This is exactly what our town and our country needs right now. When you drive by, I hope that you will think of Greg, Marion (Noni), our town, our land, and our country because that is what Greg hopes we will do for many years to come. OO