Southworth conversion Project Manager Robert Jarvis stands beside a soaring arched window in the former school, which was renovated into 15 apartments for Williams College faculty and staff. (Photo By Linda Carman)
WILLIAMSTOWN — Retired Superintendent of Schools Helen Renzi was among 400 residents, many of whom had studied or taught in its classrooms, who toured the former Southworth School Saturday.
“I saw my office made into a wonderful apartment,†said Renzi.
Williams College opened the doors of the tall, red brick 100-year-old former Williamstown High School and elementary school building, which has undergone a $5.5 million renovation into 15 apartments for college faculty and staff. The college paid the town $100,000 for the school, which was no longer needed as a school once the new elementary school on Church Street was completed.
Apartments at Southworth will rent for between $900 and $1,350, according to a letter the college recently sent to faculty members. Their completion brings the college’s holdings of apartments to 115, according to Helen Ouellete, Williams vice president and treasurer. Occupants will be chosen through a housing lottery next month, she said.
She said she was very proud of architects Black River Designs’ reuse of the historical building and the building’s energy efficiency, which has gained it an “Energy Star†rating from the U.S. Department of Energy, overseen by the Center for Ecological Technology. BlackRiver Designs is based in Montpelier, Vt.; the contractor was Engelberth Construction of Keene, N.H.
“It’s a good thing for the community and a great thing for the college,†Ouellette said. “It’s so historic on the outside and so up to date on the inside.â€
Apartments range from studios to two bedrooms; four are accessible for the handicapped, while two can be adapted for the handicapped. Three apartments retain the original narrow-board maple flooring. One, on two levels, incorporates the large arched window overlooking School Street. In the kitchens, the original blackboards have been fitted to serve as backsplashes behind sleek granite counters. All the rooms, of course, have high ceilings and tall windows. Each apartment has a distinctive color combination. And corridors have exposed brick walls.
Christopher Bolton, who teaches Japanese at Williams, toured the building with his wife, Kija, and their baby girl.
“I’m trying to find my old sixth grade classroom,†Bolton said.
Sue Lenhoff, viewing the building with fellow teacher Nancy Bottesi, said, “We both want to get one of these apartments and never go home.â€
Jeanne Roy, another teacher, said she remembered the building’s former layout and appearance.
“It’s bright, cheery, welcoming. It’s amazing,†she said.
Beverly Ames, a teacher for 32 years, said, “Oh, it’s wonderful. It’s absolutely wonderful. It’s amazing what they could do. It’s gorgeous.â€
Barbara Sylvester, who graduated from the former Williamstown High School there in 1956, toured the building with Shirley Sylvester, class of 1950, and Paul and Marlene Dube, ’52 and ’50, respectively.
Marlene Dube noted that the college let her high school reunion group tour the building.
Beverly Sylvester added, “Where we came in was the Aggie Room. That was the Future Farmers of America.â€
The renovation, she said, was well done.
“On, it’s lovely: big rooms and lots of storage
Town Historical Commission member David Loomis recalled, “Mom taught right upstairs [His mother, Dorothy Loomis, taught sixth grade in the building].â€
“I like the building,†he said. “I like the reuse of historic structures.â€
Project manager Robert Jarvis said the construction costs had come in under bid, with costs averaging $160 to $170 per square foot, including purchase, design and mechanicalsm as well as materials and labor.
Local contractors were used as much as possible, Jarvis said.
Showing visitors around the building, he pointed out cut nails in the exposed brick walls. And, in a third- floor apartment, he showed how skylight windows and their shades opened and closed by a remote control.
“It’s been a real labor of love,†he said.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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