Adams Historical Commission Talks Susan B. Anthony Signage

The Historical Commission is hoping to raise Susan B. Anthony's profile with better signage.

ADAMS, Mass. — Susan B. Anthony may be getting more visibility in the town of her birth.

The Historical Commission met Wednesday afternoon with commission liaison Selectman Joseph Nowak to discuss signage that would make tourists more aware of the civil rights activist.

"I just think Susan B. Anthony being so prominent in our history, there should be a little more focus put on her in this community," Nowak said.

Anthony was born at the family home on East Road in 1820; her family later moved but the house was converted into a museum about her a number of years ago.

Nowak said there has been additions to the "Welcome to Adams" signs that notify people driving through that Adams is the birthplace of Anthony, but Nowak advocated for something with more information on it that is "historic looking in nature."

"I'd like to see some really classy signs when you come into Adams saying 'This is The Birthplace of Susan B. Anthony,' " Nowak said. "It would be nice to have a plaque with a picture of her that tells a little bit of history because it is certainly a drawing card."

Commissioner Eugene Michalenko said the birthplace museum has been pushing for more signage and he attributed much of the neglect of Anthony to conflict between the town and past managers of the museum.

Nowak said he thinks a lot of the conflict came from the strong pro-life stance the museum's organizers felt was representative of Anthony, a newspaper editor and women's suffrage advocate.

Chairman Ryan Biros said this perspective has diminished with new management.

"They are trying to, not bury it, but get a little bit away from it," he said.

The commission agreed with a new town administrator they may be able to rekindle the conversation.

Nowak also asked the commission if they would be opposed to installing a lightning rod on the 1782 Quaker Meeting House (which Anthony attended) in the Maple Street Cemetery to prevent any damage to the building.

"It would just be a shame if it ever got hit by lightning, and … it's out there in the open," Nowak said. "I don't think it would be anything too intrusive that would diminish the character of the house."

The commissioners agreed it was a good idea and said they would look into it.

Cheshire Town Meeting Oks Budgets, Debates Potential Prop 2 1/2 Override

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
10:12PM / Monday, June 08, 2026

Moderator Carol Francesconi, left, and Anne Marie Furey were presented flowers in memory of the Rev. William Furey, their brother and husband, respectively. The town report was dedicated to him. 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Town meeting on Monday approved all 35 articles on the annual meeting warrant, including a total spending for fiscal 2027 of more than $8.5 million. 

 

Some 77 of the town's more than 2,500 registered voters filled the Cheshire Community House meeting room, debating on a number of articles during the meeting that lasted nearly three hours

 

The town dedicated its annual report to the Rev. William David Furey, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church and more recently Berkshire Union Chapel in Lanesborough. Furey died last year at age 77.

 

His wife, Anne Marie Furey, and his sister, Town Moderator Carol Francesconi, were presented with a bouquet of flowers in tribute to him. 

 

He was an exemplary member of the community who left a lasting impression in each and every life that he touched, said Town Clerk Whitney Flynn. 

 

Voters approved several warrant articles that make up an operating budget of $3,840,314 for fiscal 2027. Of this amount, $1,642,481 is allocated for the general government budget, which was approved after clarification of a few questions.

 

One item was the administrative assistant's salary. Prior to the annual meeting, the town eliminated the executive assistant salary of $54,309 in favor of a part-time administrative assistant salary of $27,155, to reduce costs considering the financial constraint the town is in.