Sand Springs Group Reaches Goal to Buy Pool

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Sand Springs Recreational Center has raised more than $550,000 to reach its goal to buy the Sand Springs pool.

Last month's townwide appeal to residents raised more than $36,000 to complete the drive. SSRC and owner Wampanaug Springs Inc. have scheduled a closing date for July 8. It will take a week or so to ready the pool for the season, and the board is targeting a July 15 opening date.

"We are thrilled," said Josiah Low, a trustee of center and, along with his wife, Penny, the lead donor to the project, whose initial grant was seminal to the campaign's success. "The people of the Northern Berkshires came together and saved a special community gathering place.  We are touched by the hundreds of people — 305 of them to be exact — who contributed to this campaign to save Sand Springs."

Gifts ranged from $5 to $82,000 and donations came from Williamstown, North Adams, Pittsfield, Pownal, Vt., and 22 states, including Hawaii.

The drive to purchase the property began two years ago upon the closure of the landmark pool by owner Wampanaug Springs Inc., which had been trying to sell it since 2008. The group plans to reopen the recreational center and maintain it through membership fees. It is also seeking an executive director.

"We are delighted to be able to reopen this historic treasure to the community," said Janette Kessler Dudley, Sand Springs president. "In addition to the wonderful recreational opportunities, we will re-introduce fresh and healthy food, build a high-quality swimming program, offer scholarship opportunities, and, in the fall, build a beautiful new community room. Please come experience the new Sand Springs. Thank you to all our donors for making our vision a reality."

Lead donors to the pool, in addition to the Lows, include The Alice Shaver Foundation, Williams College, The Jake Foundation, Sheila Stone, Eric and Stacy Cochran, the Clark Art Institute, Williamstown Savings Bank, Orion and Lisa Howard, and several anonymous donors.

Sand Springs has been a Northern Berkshire attraction for nearly 250 years. The curative properties of the spring water and the bucolic setting have attracted residents and tourists for generations. One of the only thermal spas in the Northeast, the water of Sand Springs bubbles to the surface at a mean temperature of 72 degrees throughout the year.  

The Wampanaug Inn and Bath House was built on the site in 1907. The George family purchased the property in 1950 and operated it for more than 50 years before selling it to Wampanaug Springs in 2003. Under Wampanaug's ownership, the facility was completely renovated and updated. Although it was opened briefly last summer, the owners have no plans to open it in the future.

The Sand Springs Springwater Co., previously owned by Maxine and Jennifer Morin, has existed on the property above the pool since 1893, and was the site of the former four-story Greylock Hotel and the smaller Sand Springs House. (The Sand Springs Springwater Co. is separate from the Recreational Center and still in business.)

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.