Letter: Berkshire Scenic Railway Exhibit Worth Saving

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To the Editor:

The Scenic Railway's retirement of its Berkshires History museum-car will surely disappoint the donors who contributed in excess of $110,000 in cash and labor to create it. How sad to read on the Internet, “This exhibit is now closed" — and not just sad for the lost investment.

This was the only educational facility in existence dedicated to covering the entire county’s beginnings, from exploration and first settlement in the 1700s through the cultural ascendancy of Tanglewood and Jacob’s Pillow today.

It’s true the displays emphasized South County, which is where settlement began and the Gilded Age flourished. The collection of interior photographs of the "Berkshire cottages" was unmatched but so was the depiction of the whole region's literary riches.

It’s also true no one came forward to maintain the museum car and its contents after tourist train service was halted and the Scenic Railway's revenue stream disappeared.

Tammy Daniels’ story mentions long-range plans or a museum at the former Sons of Italy site. If any of the unique displays survive the ravages of time — especially the compelling record of our region’s great role in literary and social life of America — perhaps they could find a home there. Berkshires schoolchildren deserve such a resource that otherwise seems headed for the recycle bin.
 

 

 

William C Sexton
Sarasota,Fla., & Pittsfield
Former board member, BSRM

 

 


Tags: historical exhibit,   scenic rail,   

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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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