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Norman Rockwell Museum Receives Donation from Chubb Following Return of a Stolen Painting

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STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Norman Rockwell Museum received a contribution earlier this month from an unexpected source: Chubb Insurance presented the museum with a $15,000 check that was the returned claims payment resulting from the discovery and return of a stolen Norman Rockwell painting.

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company with operations in 54 countries.

The painting, "Boy Asleep with Hoe," had been stolen from a family home in Cherry Hill, N.J., in 1976. It was one of Rockwell's earliest Saturday Evening Post cover paintings, completed in 1919. At the time of the theft, the family submitted a claim to Chubb, and following a claim payment, Chubb acquired the painting's title.

The theft remained unsolved for four decades. But with renewed efforts by the family and the FBI Art Crime Division in Philadelphia, the painting was finally found.

During their search, the FBI had contacted Norman Rockwell Museum, and museum curators provided key background and other information about the painting to assist FBI agents in their recovery efforts.



The family returned their claims payment to Chubb in exchange for the Rockwell painting. And in an emotional and dramatic press conference on Friday, March 31, in Philadelphia, the FBI and Chubb presented the stolen painting to its rightful owners. The museum's director of Curatorial Operations attended the event and congratulated the family, the FBI, and Chubb.

"We are deeply appreciative of this wonderful gesture by Chubb to donate the claims payment to our museum," notes Norman Rockwell Museum Director/CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt. "We also are grateful to the FBI for their steadfast efforts to find the painting, and are delighted that they reached out to us for help."

"We are pleased to donate the entire claim repayment amount to the Norman Rockwell Museum," said Fran O’Brien, senior vice president, Chubb Group, and division president, North America Personal Risk Services. "As a company that is deeply committed to and an enthusiastic supporter of the arts, we believe that our donation will help the museum continue in its mission of education and art appreciation."

The original tearsheet for the September 6, 1919, Saturday Evening Post cover featuring Rockwell's Boy Asleep with Hoe illustration is currently on view in the Norman Rockwell Museum's exhibition, Norman Rockwell's 323 "Saturday Evening Post" Covers.

 


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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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