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North Adams historian Paul W. Marino did his usual comprehensive and entertaining job last month with his tour of the First Congregationalist Church in North Adams as part of its celebration of its 175th anniversary. “No one has been in town longer as a religious organization than the Congregationalists,” said Marino. The first settlers who came to the area, at least after Fort Massachusetts, were from Connecticut and were Congregationalists. They built a meeting house from logs at Hodges Cross Road. Marino said they chose Hodges Cross Road because it was close to the center of the township of East Hoosick, which consisted of what is now Adams and North Adams. “The church rather foundered during the American Revolution partly due to nationwide poverty caused by the war,” he said. “And also the church was located in a rather swampy area.” Even today fields in the area are under water during much of the spring. The community could not support its minister, and the church closed down in 1778. However, the minister, Rev. Samuel Todd, retained ownership of the land and the First Congregational Church owns a cemetery there. One historian says the next meeting house was built in 1782 as an ecumenical organization, a cooperative effort of members of different denominations. “But according to the records that I got from the church here, it was the Congregationalists who were leading the charge,” Marino said. “That’s the implication.” Interjected, First Congo Rev. Jill Graham, “Well, we wrote the document.” This meeting house was built at what is now the corner of Church and Pleasant streets, where the Masonic Temple is now. “And it was a very rough building; it just had loose boards for a floor. The pews were just benches, with no backs. Very uncomfortable, and in fact it was without doors or windows for about 12 years,” Marino said. “And the reason it went so long without being finished was because there was a general apathy toward religion nationwide.” This apathy was quite strong in North Adams, he added. A revival wave swept the country in 1794, and the evangelist who came to this area was a Baptist. “So most of his converts became Baptists. And in that year ... Jeremiah Colgrove cleared the stumps out of Church Street, then headed up a team of men to move the meeting house from where it was built over to where the Baptist Church is now,” he said. “But it remained ecumenical until 1808, which was when the Baptist Society formed.” The Congregational Church started up again on April 10, 1827 under the Rev. John W. Yeomans, and they purchased a lot of land, including land the church is now on, for $400, he said. In 1828 they built a brick building 42 feet wide by 62 feet long and seated 400 at a cost of $4,000. The organ cost $600 and it was the first church organ in the town. “The church was originally let by oil lamps for a quote, unquote ‘dim and religious light’ — whatever that means,” Marino said. At first the church struggled financially, the smallest Congregationalist parish in the area. Williamstown had a large and successful Congregational Church, Florida and Savoy had a more successful parish, and even Peru had a church with 200 members. “Down here they had something less than 100. It was very much a hand-to-mouth existence for many years. They were actually being supported by the Massachusetts and Berkshire missionary societies,” Marino said. “They borrowed money a few times from Williams College, and a few times Williams College threatened to foreclose on those loans.” In 1850 things began to look up for the Congregational Church, when a Rev. Crawford converted about 250 people over the 10 years he was in North Adams. “The early Congregationalists were very fundamentalist, as you might guess,” Marino said. “Most of the early ministers were strict Calvinists. There was a great deal of emphasis on God, not as a loving father but as a judge and king. And a great deal of emphasis was put on final judgment.” The early ushers would beat on the floor twice with sticks when it was time to stand up during the service, and again when it was time to sit down. “But also, during the service, and particularly during the sermon, they were supposed to walk up and down the aisles making sure everyone was paying attention,” he said. “And if someone was dozing, they’d reach over with their stick and give them a poke.” “The Congregational Church was also very pro-abolition, very pro equal rights. In 1835 they took in three members who were black,” he said. At one time the church formed a committee to deal with members who were drinking heavily. In 1863 the church was deemed unfit for worship, and a five-member building committee was formed. One of these was the original James Hunter, of James Hunter Machine Company, Marino said. The new church — the current First Congregational Church — was built in 1864, and is the oldest standing church in the city. It seats 700 and cost $40,000, he said. Though tastes very, the First Congregational Church may well have the most striking stained-glass windows of any church in the city. Nine were made by Tiffany. The Rose Window is a great, magnificent window above entrance of the church. In April 1865, this window, consisting of 5,000 pieces of glass was installed. It cost $500 and was paid for entirely by Sylvander Johnson, who owned the Johnson Manufacturing Company on Brown Street. According to a history produced by the church of the stained-glass windows, the first memorial window was installed in 1902 in one of the side windows of the sanctuary, replacing the amber glass placed there in the late 1870s or 1880s. There does not appear to be a comprehensive scheme for the windows, though the subject matter of the windows include illustrating the parables or teaching of Christ, scenes from the life of Christ, or virtues personified. No specific Old Testament themes appear in the windows. One of the windows is I Am the Good Shepard in memory of Daniel James Butler, 1836-1909. “Mr. Barber ... was the owner and I believe the founder of the Barber Leather Company,” Marino said. Later, Rev. Graham showed me a document signed in 1772 by the Rev. Samuel Todd, the first Congregationalist pastor. Family Pizza Night for Conte Students and their families will be held at Conte Middle School in North Adams on Tuesday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy pizza while sharing ideas on ways to “grow the 21st Century Programs.” Dinner will be followed by an After School Program Open House. See demonstrations of the programs and activities available to your child after school. You must call Elayne Murphy to register, 662-3070. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink in North Adams will present a professional wrestling program on Saturday, May 11, beginning at 7 p.m. The program will benefit youth skating programs at the rink. Tickets cost $12 in advance and can be purchased at Nassif’s Pharmacy, the Williamstown Youth Center, and the skating rink. The cost of tickets will increase to $15 at the door. Children aged 6 and under will be admitted for $5 at the door only. For more information, call 662-5112. St. Mark’s Church, 39 Commercial St., Adams, will host a Family Day Breakfast on Mother’s Day, May 12. There will be one church service that day at 9 a.m. and a full country breakfast will follow. A free will offering will be accepted at the door to defray the cost. This will also be a chance to say farewell to the Rev. Jane R. Dunning at her final public event with us. Everyone is invited to attend this fun event. For info, call 743-0947.
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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

 

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.)  The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.  

 

 

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

 

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few.  All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

 

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house.  New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house.  New paver patio in the back yard.

 

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

 

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

 

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

 

 

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

 

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

 

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

 

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

 

What do the current owners love about this home?

 

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

 

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

 

 

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

 

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.  

 

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

 

 

 

 

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