Group Nears Goal of Purchasing Williamstown Pool

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A group formed to try to purchase the landmark Sand Springs pool is within reach of its $550,000 goal.

Sand Springs Recreational Center says it has raised $505,000, but must come up with another $45,000 in the next four weeks in time to open the pool for the summer season.

Recent contributions include foundation grants totaling $37,500 and institutional pledges of $15,000.

Williamstown residents are getting direct appeals in their mailboxes to help the group over this final hurdle by June 15.

The facility includes one of the only thermal spas in the Northeast, the pool and bathhouse. Sand Springs has been closed for several years as the current owners seek a buyer. The Sand Springs Recreational Center formed nearly two years ago to buy the property.

• Building a learn-to-swim program organized by Olympic gold-medalist Samantha Livingstone and Carl Samuelson (longtime Williams College head swim coach);
• Opening a recreational center for swimming, exercise machines and sauna, hot tub, healthy suppers, basketball, volleyball, croquet and horseshoes
• Preserving a 250-year old landmark that's been a place to relax and recreate for generations.
• Keeping the membership dues affordable.

As part of its final push, board members are meeting with donors, conducting a social media campaign, and issuing press statements.

"We can see the finish line," said Janette Kessler Dudley, president of Sand Springs Recreational Center, "but we won't get there unless everyone who cares about this important community endeavor pitches in today to make it a reality."

Other members of the SSRC board include Joe Bergeron, Stephanie Boyd, Joe Cleary, Hugh Daley, Treasurer Christina Howard, Maryam Kamangar, Josiah Low, John McAlister, Clerk Steve Narey, Jane Patton, Carl Samuelson, Malcolm Smith, Jeff Stripp and Jennifer Trainer Thompson.

To help support the effort to re-open historic Sand Springs, donations may be made online at www.sandspringspool.org or by mail to Sand Springs Recreational Center Inc., P.O. Box 800, Williamstown, MA 01267.

Sand Springs Recreational Center is a 501(c)(3) organization and all contributions are fully tax-deductible. For more information: info@sandspringspool.org.

Williamstown Recognizes Local Farmer, Library Director at Town Meeting

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
09:35AM / Thursday, May 21, 2026

Win Chenail has had a farm stand at his Luce Road dairy farm since 1965. The Chenails have been farming in Williamstown since 1916. Right, Select Board Chair Stephanie Boyd thanks board members whose terms were up this year. 

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — For more than 60 years, Winthrop F. Chenail has been selling his bountiful crops to residents of Williamstown and beyond. 

 

"The family dairy farm at the top of Luce Road has been an anchor farm in our community since 1916," said Elisabeth Goodman. "His farm stand has been operating since 1965 and that's where we get our sweet corn, homegrown tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, cabbage, peppers, summer squash flowers, and pumpkins that he and his grandson Nick Chenail grow as a side business to the family dairy farm."

 

Win Chenail's integrity, excellence, and dedication of service to the citizens of Williamstown was recognized at the annual town meeting on Tuesday with the 11th annual Scarborough Solomon Flint Community Service Award.

 

"At age 90, Win has not slowed down much," Goodman said. "I never did get to speak to him on the phone when notifying him about this award, as his wife told me he was busy in the greenhouse repotting 2,000 tomato plants."

 

Five generations have worked the Mount Williams Dairy Farm that Chenail's grandparents purchased, and Chenail's also been a caretaker of 130 acres of town land at the Spruces and Burbank properties. 

 

"The Chenail family has been managing the land since the 1950s keeping the fields green, lush, and productive with sustainable management practices," she said. "They fertilize it with manure from the dairy farm and lime as needed. With such careful, long-term stewardship of the soil, the land has continued to be fertile and productive for half a century under his fare."

 

Chenail thanked his family and fellow farmers for contributing to the welfare of the community and said it had been a privilege to keep the town-owned fields in farming.