Berkshire Insurance Group Relocates to Historic Old Town Hall

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Insurance Group, a Berkshire Bank affiliate, has moved its headquarters from 66 West St. to 43 East St. (Old Town Hall) in the city’s Park Square Historic District.

Berkshire Insurance Group's new headquarters will offer the following services: property and liability coverage for individuals and business clients as well as life, disability, long-term care and a full suite of employee benefits. Berkshire Insurance Group provides services in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Vermont.

The interior renovations made to Old Town Hall by Berkshire Insurance Group included removing a teller line and a bank safe as well as constructing cubicles for its staff.  All renovations were made with the utmost integrity to maintain the historic significance of the building.  The new location is conveniently located in downtown Pittsfield and offers plenty of free off-street parking for customers.

"Our agency has a history of helping Berkshire County customers dating back to the 1870s," said Steven W. Cronin, vice president of Berkshire Insurance Group.  "We are pleased to call the historic Old Town Hall our home, and look forward to continue to serve generations of clients."

Old Town Hall is a historic building on Park Square in the heart of downtown Pittsfield. Located at 43 East St., on the corner with Allen Street, this 1832 building served for 135 years as the center of municipal government. Built in the Federalist style to serve as the town hall, it became City Hall when Pittsfield became a city in 1891. The hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and included in the Park Square Historic District in 1975.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.