Bennington to consider using town-owned spring water as a source of revenue

12:00AM / Wednesday, April 24, 2002Print Story | Email Story

One familiar sight along the roadways of Southern Vermont is to see someone filling gallon-jugs with water from a nearby stream. A plan being pursued in Bennington, Vt., may bring some of that spring water to consumers across the region, without having to collect it on their own. Bennington Town Manager Stuart Hurd is considering using a town-owned spring as a source of revenue in the bottled-water industry. Hurd says the Morgan Spring, located near the town playing fields near Gage and Bradford streets, provides pure spring water that could be bottled and sold, possibly under the Vermont Pure brand label. Hurd sent a letter April 3 to Vermont Pure, based in Randolph, Vt., which is the largest carrier of bottled water in the region, supplying more than 80,000 customers, according to the companyâ€™s web site. Vermont Pure has since responded to the letter, Hurd said, and will be "exploring our offer" by sending someone to Bennington to test the water, look over the site, and discuss with town officials goals for the project. "Itâ€™s an interesting project and we look forward to seeing what Vermont Pure has to say," Hurd said. He explained that the Morgan Spring was once a large pond in the center of town, which was capped to make way for the playing fields. The spring also serves as a secondary source of water to the municipal system. "[About a decade ago] when we were formalizing the connection to the municipal system, our estimates were that the spring could provide up to 2.1 million gallons a day," Hurd said. He said further testing showed that "the waters of the spring were more than 35 years old," meaning that they have been contained underground for at least that amount of time. "We were able to establish this because there was no tridium â€” a radioactive isotope â€” in the water when it surfaced, which indicated the age of the water." He said the age is a "testimony to its depth, and how it moves through the surface of the ground." He suspects that the purity of the water is very high, but further testing will have to prove this hypothesis. At this point the town is unsure of how much water is stored in the aquifer, but due to the waterâ€™s age, he expects it to be "a relatively large, deep aquifer." Interestingly, the source is largely from the west, the south and easterly portions of Mount Anthony and parts of Pownal, Vt., rather than the Green Mountains to the east. Before it was capped, the water forced itself to the surface: "itâ€™s a true artesian source; it doesnâ€™t have to be pumped," Hurd said. "Itâ€™s been well monitored, and we look forward to any advice that Vermont Pure has to offer." The Randolph-based Vermont Pure employs 380, about one-quarter of which are in Vermont. The company gets its water from a variety of sources within the state. Hurd said he is not sure if anything will come about from the situation. â€œAt this point, weâ€™re just seeking advice on what our options might be. We would like to generate revenue from this if possible, with Vermont Pure or some other bottling company.â€

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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:57PM / Friday, December 19, 2025

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.) The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few. All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house. New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house. New paver patio in the back yard.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

What do the current owners love about this home?

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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