Five & Dime sale could spell change for Lee

By Anthony FydenPrint Story | Email Story
The H.A. Johansson Five & Dime on Main St. holds a special place in the hearts of many Lee residents
LEE — People get attached to certain buildings. Landmark buildings and the businesses they house are a part of the streetscape, a part of the fabric of a community — much more than simply brick and mortar. When the England Brothers building in Pittsfield was razed a few years ago, for example, folks stood by in groups for weeks and watched the effort, swapping stories of the building’s glory days. The H.A. Johansson Five & Dime building in Lee, which author Joe Manning once called “an exercise in time travel,” has the same kind of aura — although it appears to be on track for a much happier fate. New York businessman Levi Bar-Zeev purchased the building, which has housed a five and dime store for nearly 70 years, from George Inman late last month for $400,000. The new owner told The Berkshire Eagle that, while his plans for the site have not been finalized, he would like to see a variety store there, adding that he may make renovations to the property as well. And while H.A. Johansson’s Five & Dime appears to be on its way out, folks in downtown Lee this week seemed pleased that the building may get a new lease on life — particularly if that means maintaining a catch-all variety store. “Years ago, people would come from Pittsfield, from all over, to go to the Five & Dime,” said Mildred Dulin, who works in the Lee Library, just a few blocks from the Johansson building. “The tourists really enjoyed it, too. It was like an old-time country store, where you could get anything — clothing, yarn, even candy.” Dulin said she was optimistic about the purchase, especially given the nearly vacant atmosphere of the store over the past few months. “I’m glad it’s been sold. It’s great news,” she said. The Five & Dime’s location in the heart of downtown has helped add to its renown. It’s often the first landmark mentioned when locals give directions to tourists. Local historian Christopher Niebuhr said he believes the business was helped by its propinquity to the out-of-town bus depot. People stepping off the bus from New York or Boston or people waiting for an outbound bus would often peruse its aisles, either out of curiosity or to kill time. According to Niebuhr, Johansson’s Five & Dime was once referenced on the front page of The New York Times — but for a rather dark reason. When writer Sydney Howard, who had just adapted “Gone With the Wind” for the screen, was killed in a freak accident in 1939, The Times reported that his wife was tracked down and notified of the death while she was shopping there. The Five & Dime, with its varied stock and abundant nostalgia, helped define the community, Niebuhr said. It was a place where folks could get the odds and ends needed to run a household and possibly find a bargain as well. “I got some very nice shoe polish there just last week — half-price, too,” Niebuhr said with a smile. At Steve’s Barber Shop, several customers recalled going to the Five & Dime since they were kids. “It was the main building in town,” said shop owner Mario Privitera. Some customers recalled a small bowling alley and arcade that once operated in the building; others thought there was once a plan to develop parts of it for senior citizen’s housing. But the building was always known primarily for the Five & Dime, with its brick exterior and old-time store lettering. “I think its construction, its architecture, had something to do with it being so popular,” said Lee resident Phil Skowron. Like others, Skowron said he hoped the new owner would follow through on possible plans to restore the building to its former grandeur. “I think it is good news,” he added. By Tuesday, the lettering had already been removed from the building, although the faded “H.A. Johansson” outline could still clearly be read. Handmade signs on the windows touted a half-price sale in progress. Most of the main show floor was already empty, but shelves along two walls were still lined with possible bargains — dishes, coffee carafes, string, tools and other odds and ends. At the counter on Tuesday afternoon, George Inman, wearing a checked fedora, slowly leaned back in a chair and sighed. “It’s been a great 22 years,” he said. “A great time.” Inman wouldn’t discuss his plans for the future, but he noted that it was the building that was sold, not the Five & Dime business itself. “I would have liked to see it stay the Five & Dime, but we couldn’t’ come up with the money,” he said. Recalling some of the store’s history, he reached over to the cash register and punched in some numbers. “Lets see, I’ve had it for 22 years, Johansson had it for 35 years, and the [E.J.] Perry family had it for 12 years. That’s 69 years … and that’s it.”
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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