Adams Historical Commission to Review Quaker Meetinghouse Condition

The Historical Commission is planning to walk through the historic Quaker Meetinghouse to list any repairs.

ADAMS, Mass. — The Historical Commission will schedule a maintenance walk-through of the 200-year-old Quaker Meetinghouse to catalog repairs that may need to be made.

Commissioner Jody Fijal asked if any commissioners noticed any damage in over the summer. She suggested holding a tour before winter.

"We should take a walk through there at some point and take a really hard look at it and see what's going on," Fijal said on Wednesday. "We need to take care of stuff before it gets worse."

Commissioner Eugene Michalenko added he has noticed plaster falling off the fireplace.

"It looks like has a chunk has fallen off," Michalenko said. "It's not anything life threatening but it doesn't look good."

The building dates to 1782 and was used as a house of worship by the Friends who settled Adams, including the Anthony family,

Fijal also noted that the meetinghouse signs have been taken down prematurely.

"I drove by the other day and they had the fall foliage signs up and everything," she said. "It's not supposed to come down until Columbus Day weekend and that is almost a month away."

She said she will ask the Department of Public Works to put the signs back up.

Michalenko noted signage may not help because the meetinghouse has seen few visitors this summer.

He said he has been working with Berkshire Scenic Railway on informational displays for the train. Construction on the rail line from North Adams looks good and that the rails are "brand spanking new," he said.

Michalenko said William Kolis may have secured a bus from Berkshire Rides that will bring people who get off the train at Printworks Drive to downtown Adams.

"They only work during the week because they take people to work so they have nothing on the weekend," he said. "He thinks something might happen with it."

Chairman Ryan Biros added that the board may receive new membership with the appointment of Linda Rhodes. He said she recently relocated to Adams with her husband and wants to serve on the board, which has three open seats.

Commissioner Bruce Dumouchel said her resume is impressive and she was editor for major journals throughout New England.

"Gobsmacked is a good word after reading her resume," he said. "It's good to get her engaged. If we have that kind of talent around here may as well use it."

Rhodes will be appointed in October.

The commission received a letter stating the Department of Conservation and Recreation to install a weather mechanism on a historical garage built by the Civilian Conservation Corps on Mount Greylock. Dumouchel said Massachusetts Historic Commission has asked that the mechanism on be installed on the communications tower so no historical buildings will be compromised.

Michalenko said the Mil Children Exhibit, which was displaced from the 5 Hoosac Street Gallery, may have secured a home in the Berkshire Mill.

"I guess they finally went through the whole rigamarole with the building inspector, and it may actually happen in a few weeks," he said.

He added he was concerned about residents of the Columbia Street row houses painting the bricks on the apartments.

"Painting the bricks doesn't allow the bricks to breath so it damages the mortar," he said. "It looks interesting but it is not good for the brick."

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.