image description — Jim Scalise and Rich Rowe when the sale was completed.

Crane Sells Majority Stake in Wahconah Country Club Back to Club

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
03:19PM / Tuesday, May 07, 2019Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — Crane Currency has essentially given its stake in the Wahconah Country Club to the existing shareholders there.

The company had the majority share of the private golf course and event venue since the club was founded. Over the last couple of years, the company has been looking to shed some of its assets unrelated to the business at hand and the latest is selling its share of the golf course back to the club.

"It is for a modest sum of money, essentially a gift," said Crane Currency Vice President and General Manager Rich Rowe.

The move to sell to the current shareholders of the 18-hole course was made with the goal of keeping the club managed and overseen locally. Crane had originally donated the land for the creation of a golf course and the club has been essentially operating independently from the company.

"The main focus is on the local community and to give back to the community," Rowe said.

Wahconah Country Club President Jim Scalise was unavailable to provide more insight in the transaction but in a prepared statement heaped thanks upon Crane for the support of the club.

"We are grateful for this generous action by Crane Currency in terms of their support of our Club and the broader community," Scalise said.

The transfer follows a donation of some 126 acres of land known as Jericho Woods to Berkshire Natural Resources Council in 2016 and the donation of 685 acres of land known as the Boulders in 2015. Both of those are eyed to keep the spaces open for public use.

Rowe recognized that Crane Co., a previously unrelated company from Connecticut, had finalized the purchase Crane Currency last year and this sale signals continued support to Dalton and the Berkshires.

"Crane is significantly involved in the community," Rowe said. "Crane is really focused on the Dalton campus. We will be investing a large sum of money on the campus in the coming years."

The company says it is planning more than $5 million worth of capital expenditures this year and that over the last four years some $14 million had been invested. Rowe described the investments not as new buildings but upgrades, technology and equipment.

"We're investing more in the U.S. currency programs," Rowe said, describing Crane has having a "big, big commitment" to Dalton and the Berkshires.

Tags: Crane & Co., golf course,

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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.

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