Berkshire Railway Gets $200K Grant for North Adams Location

Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON – The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum has received $200,000 in state funding to help it move some of its equipment to North Adams.

The railway is partnering with North Adams and Adams to develop the Hoosac Valley Service line between the two municipalities, with help from the state.

The money will aid in the nonprofit in bringing necessary equipment north from its headquarters in Lenox and in developing a ticket booth and boarding area in North Adams. The town of Adams recently authorized the purchase and renovation of a former car wash as a boarding area near the projected southern terminus of the rail on Hoosac Street.

The North Adams train station was torn down in the 1960s, but a development group is hoping to raise funds for a new building to house local museums and the new scenic railway needs.

The funding is a Community Development and Tourism grant from the Executive Office for Administration & Finance.

A total of $616,210 was awarded to four projects in the district of state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield.
 


The program, funded as a pilot initiative with a $2 million appropriation in the fiscal 2014 state budget was developed to promote community development and tourism in central and Western Massachusetts. Activities eligible for funding included: capital improvements to recreational, community, cultural and historical facilities as well as the outreach and promotion of recreational, community, cultural and historical opportunities.  Eligible award recipients included municipalities, school districts and not-for-profit organizations.

Twenty awards were given to projects in Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden and Worcester counties. Locally, the following grants were approved:

Town of Dalton/Dalton Historical Commission – Rehabilitation of the historic Fitch-Hoose House: $180,000
 
Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum – Relocate train equipment and build a facility at a new northern terminus in North Adams: $200,000

Arms Library Association, Inc. – Restoration of the Pratt Memorial Library building in Shelburne: $180,000

Franklin County CDC – Regional award, from Athol to Williamstown, helping to leverage the 100th Anniversary of the World Famous Mohawk Trail to create a unified strategy and collaboration along the trail: $56,210


Tags: railway,   scenic rail,   state grant,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

View Full Story

More North Adams Stories