image description — The Fire Department rescued four people and one cat from the Spruces Mobile Home park.

Four Rescued By Boat From Spruces

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
08:22PM / Sunday, August 28, 2011Print Story | Email Story

Water was nearly five feet deep in the park.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Four people and one cat were rescued by boat from the Spruces Mobile Home park after the Hoosic River overflowed.

According to Fire Chief Craig Pedercini, the park was flooded with as high as 4 or 5 feet of water. A bus was brought in to evacuate the residents earlier this morning but some refused to leave. After the river overflowed, rescue workers used the boat to save the few that were remaining.

"As far as I know everybody is out of there," Pedercini said. "People changed their minds since the river crested over on the east side."

Even still, a couple residents initially refused to leave but Pedercini said emergency personnel was "persistent" and able to convince them to leave on the boat. The power and gas was cut from the park. At about 5:30 p.m. fire officials left the scene.

Residents were urged to evacuate prior to the onset of Hurricane Irene but many remained. Park manager Kimberly Purcelli said the residents were given yellow pieces of papers to hang in their windows to signify that they had left the home. However, some had hung the sign and stayed which made it difficult to know who had actually left.

"We pleaded with them to leave," Purcelli said, adding that the park managers and some park residents had knocked on everybody's door and asked residents to leave.

At about 5 p.m. Purcelli said the damage to the park is significant. People are being turned away from entering the park until at least Tuesday, Purcelli said.

The Williamstown Elementary School was opened as a shelter but some people went to the homes of friends or family.

Purcelli said a stop sign was completely underwater and Pedercini said 8 inches of water have been reported in the homes.

Despite the few that needed to be rescued by boat, Purcelli sang high praise for the residents' response to the storm.

Tags: flood, Irene, Spruces,

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Your Comments

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If you are asked to leave and you choose not, at least have the common courtesy to indicate you are still in your home so rescue worker don't waste valuable time having to check every house of the people who have actually left.
from: Laurie	on: 08-28-2011 10:43PM I Agree (44) - I Disagree (1)

Wow. I hope the residents who intentionally misled the rescue workers are fined or charged. How self-centered.
from: really?	on: 08-29-2011 07:38AM I Agree (33) - I Disagree (3)

does anyone know when residents can return to the spruces ?
from: Mike	on: 08-29-2011 10:41AM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

Is it true that The Spruces has been condemned?
from: TT9F	on: 08-29-2011 01:45PM I Agree (2) - I Disagree (2)
Editor: The homes have been condemned because they are temporarily, at least, uninhabitable.
I Agree (2) - I Disagree (0)

Many places now make people who stay after being asked to leave sign a paper that says they know rescue workers will not come back for them if things turn ugly, and put down a next-of-kin notification. It is very harsh but it gets people moving. Those self-centered people forget they are endangering the lives not just of themselves, but also those of emergency responders.
from: Enough	on: 08-30-2011 08:00AM I Agree (18) - I Disagree (1)

Someone is misleading someone. People "in the know" around Williamstown have said that The Spruces is condemned and that after every resident salvages their possessions, the place will ultimately be bulldozed. The news stories tell a different story, in that people "MAY" be able to return to their homes at some point. Who's telling the truth????
from: Cockerbeagle	on: 08-31-2011 07:30PM I Agree (2) - I Disagree (0)
Editor: We would like to talk to those so-called "knowledgeable" people and find out who they're getting their information from.
I Agree (4) - I Disagree (0)

St. Stan's Students Spread Holiday Cheer at Williamstown Commons

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
12:50PM / Sunday, December 21, 2025

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Students from St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Adams brought the holiday spirit to Williamstown Commons on Thursday, delivering handmade Christmas cards and leading residents in a community caroling session.

"It honestly means the world to us because it means the world to them," said nursing home Administrator Alex Fox on Thursday morning. "This made their days. This could have even made their weeks. It could have made their Christmas, seeing the children and interacting with the community."

Teacher Kate Mendonca said this is the first year her class has visited the facility, noting that the initiative was driven entirely by the students.

"This came from the kids. They said they wanted to create something and give back," Mendonca said. "We want our students involved in the community instead of just reading from a religion book."

Preparation for the event began in early December, with students crafting bells to accompany their singing. The handmade cards were completed last week.

"It's important for them to know that it's not just about them during Christmas," Mendonca said. "It's about everyone, for sure. I hope that they know they really helped a lot of people today and hopefully it brought joy to the residents here."

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