Another One Bites the Dust: North Adams House Torn Down

Staff reportsiBerkshires
05:07PM / Wednesday, October 21, 2009Print Story | Email Story

Old Quincy St. Boarding

House Demolished

A backhoe makes short work of the big building; bottom, pulling off the roof reveals detritus from past residents.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Neighbors along Quincy Street were awakened Wednesday morning to the sounds of destruction.

A backhoe was methodically demolishing the house at 74 Quincy St., turning the former boardinghouse into a pile of splinters and trash within a few hours.

The Victorian has been among those in the last few years that have been targeted by the city as a blight on their neighborhoods. It was taken by the city in August 2008 for back taxes.

Daniel Connerton, a resident of Quincy Street and former chairman of the North Adams Historic Commission, said the building had once been a boarding house for young women who worked in the local mills.

The house had more than a dozen suites and single rooms, and Victorian stylings such as fireplaces, built-in wardrobes, marble sinks and woodwork, said another neighbor. The house has been empty for some time but had been carved into apartments.

It was owned by Glenn E. Johansson, Trustee of 74 Quincy Street Realty Trust. Johansson had purchased the apartment building in 1985 for $62,500 from John and Virginia Beck; the realty trust was created in 1998. Johansson also owns other property in the Quincy and Church Street area.

Three years of back taxes were owed on the property and total liens came to $8,776.84 according to documents in the Northern Berkshire Registry of Deeds when it was taken a year ago.

Thanks to Gabriella Bond for sharing her memories of the house below. Anyone else have stories to tell?

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A Low Life Landlord Walks Away From His Responsibilties And North Adams History Suffers.
from: Sam Brown	on: 10-23-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

74 Quincy Street is gone. There was just a cellar hole left. This may not mean much to most people, but it was my home and my Mothers house. It was called Connieâ€™s Lodge (after my Mother Constance Mancini). It had a sign that hung from the front porch. So what was so great about it? My Mother bought the house during World War II and it was used as a rooming house. She only had women tenants, because she had 5 daughters and no husband and didnâ€™t want men in the house. At the time the only place for poor people to go was the City Farm on South Church Street. My Mother had converted the downstairs for our familyâ€™s living space and rented the upstairs. There were four small apartments that had cooking, and 5 single rooms. I remember the women who lived there very well. One lovely lady whoâ€™s husband lost everything in the crash of â€˜29 was forced to live in one room with help from Welfare. Others were on Welfare also. Welfare wasnâ€™t very nice at that time, but that is another story. No one had Social Security, it hadnâ€™t been around and there were no other programs to help the elderly. The third floor was rented to young women. If you worked in North Adams and lived in say Readsboro and had no car you rented a room for $5.00 a week and your parents knew they did not have to worry because no men were allowed above the first floor. There was a YMCA but no YWCA. It was a beautiful old Victorian, with a wraparound front porch. The second floor, reached by a beautiful stairwell with a wrap around banister, had an alcove of four windows and two other windows which made is very bright. It was nicely furnished with easy chairs and curtains in all the windows. It was also a place in the winter for the women to gather and watch the people going up and down Quincy Street. It was a two way street at that time. San Soucieâ€™s funeral home was two houses down, so we had a lot of traffic on our street. In the summer the Ladies would sit on the front porch and see many old friends walk by. When I got my license to drive, I would sometime take some of them for ice cream and a ride. Miss Tessi Sullivan, the Math teach for Drury High, lived in the front room. She liked to entertain her friends at bridge at least once a week. They loved to drink their wine and it was a hoot listening to them having a good time. I am sure there are many of us still alive that remember Tessie. She loved to gamble on the horses. One day one of the women fell on the stairs and we immediately called Dr. Rosenthal, who lived at the end of our street. He came running. Jack, my husband, later said you never saw Dr. Rosenthal walk, he was always running to his next patient. Miss Loomis, the lady that fell, was not hurt badly and my future brother-in-law carried her up stairs and actually took care of her for a few day. One thing I am not, is a nurse and I could never be a school teacher. I kind of was the handy man at age 13, and ran the house for my mother. Shoveled snow, mowed grass, burned the trash, fixed broken toilets etc. Being right around the corner from Main Street it became a hang out for a number of young people both Drury and St Joe. I went to St. Joe. My Mother never objected, she said I always know where you are when you are home and didnâ€™t mind all the company. Besides with all those elderly women upstairs keeping an eye on us, what could happen. I miss those old days. There are still plenty of use who remember 74 Quincy Street, and its hospitality. It was a beautiful old house with tile fireplaces and beam ceilings, oak floors and built in cabinets. The Miss North Adams Diner is gone and my Mothers Italian restaurant that was on State Street, near the fire station, 18 Lincoln Street where I was born, and now 74 Quincy Street are all gone. All I have is the memories of all those places. Sad. Time moves on.
from: Gabriella Mancini Bond	on: 10-24-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Thanks for sharing your memories.
from: NA Resident	on: 10-27-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:37PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.

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