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Decaying Steeple on St. Francis Headed for Demolition

Eagle and North Church streets are closed until further notice.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Eagle and North Church streets are closed until further notice because of concerns over the structural integrity of the 150-year-old steeple on St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Mayor Richard Alcombright said the decision was made to close down traffic around the area and evacuate two nearby buildings on Eagle after meeting with engineers sent by the Diocese of Springfield.

The steeple is expected to be demolished next week. Alcombright said he would have more information on Sunday.

Several "pieces" of the steeple fell Thursday on the south side of the church, hitting the lower roof on that side and falling onto the lawn and onto North Church Street.

The diocese quickly sent an engineering team to look at the structure after being contacted through the local parish. The structure was assessed over the last two days.

Diocese spokesman Mark Dupont said in a statement Sunday morning that "large pieces" of building material were found on the sidewalk and walkways on Thursday.

An emergency inspection by structural engineer Bernie Hunt of Barry Engineers in Pittsfield "found serious structural issues with the steeple."

"Additionally, the buttresses show signs of failing which would compromise the lateral support for the walls of the church," wrote Dupont. "He immediately notified the Diocese of Springfield and the city building inspector of his findings."

The church building was declared unsafe on Friday and the diocese installed safety fencing around the perimeter.

"The diocesan structural engineer has determined given the scope of the serious conditions identified, the only recourse is demolition," he wrote, adding the diocese was planning "the immediate demolition of the steeple followed soon after by the remainder of the church."

The property has been listed with Colebrook Realty; the church is 14,838 square feet and the connected rectory, 12,823 square feet.

Alcombright had hoped the building could be salvaged for some use.

"This is a public safety matter now," he said. "Our concern first and foremost is if it fell, what would it hit?"

It was determined that the street and Flatiron Building and possibly the Village Pizza building could be damaged, and both buildings were closed. The former rectory attached to the church is vacant.

Large signs and jersey barriers are set up on Eagle and North Church to close them off from traffic.

The mayor on Saturday did not know how extensive the demolition would be, if would be just the steeple or also the church.

"We'll be assessing the next steps," he said.

Updated Sunday morning with comments from the diocese.

Northern Berkshire United Way: Founding in the Depression Era

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:45PM / Sunday, February 01, 2026

Northern Berkshire United Way is celebrated its 90th anniversary this year. Each month, will take a look back at the agency's milestones over the decades. This first part looks at its founding in the 1930s.

 

Northern Berkshire United Way has scrap books dating to its founding, recording the organization's business and the work of the agencies it has funded. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — It was in the depths of the Great Depression when a group of local leaders came together to collectively raise funds to support social service agencies. 

 

The idea wasn't new; community chests had been established by the hundreds across the country in the years following World War I. Even President Franklin Roosevelt had promoted the concept, calling on communities to pool their resources during the hard times. 

 

North Adams had been discussing a charity fund at least since Pittsfield had established one a decade earlier. 

 

It was late 1935 when the North Adams Chamber of Commerce finally moved forward, with some of the city's most notable businessmen leading the way. 

 

The North Adams Community Chest wouldn't be formally organized until January 1936. Over the next 90 years, it would raise millions of dollars to support families, public health, child care, social services as the Northern Berkshire United Way. 

 

Herbert B. Clark, inheriting the presidency of North Adams Hospital from his late father, would be the impetus to transform talk into action. One of his first actions was to inform the board of directors that the hospital would not run its annual appeal — and that it was all in with the new community chest.