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The structure, originally built in the 1800s and expanded in the 1870s, has previously been the site of a criminal lockup, a butchery, a shoe store and a photography studio.
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The auction was held Tuesday Dec. 6, after a walkthrough.
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The building has been vacant for several years, with visible damage to the building's outside brickwork and woodwork.

Former Moderne Studios Building Sold at Auction

By Brian RhodesiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The former Moderne Studios building at 19 Eagle Street that has been vacant for several years sold at auction for $100,000 on Tuesday.

$100,000 was the lone bid for the property, despite several interested parties showing up for the auction. Prior to the bidding, potential bidders were given a tour of the three-floor, 5300-square-foot building.

Skip Barry of The Barry Group Real Estate, who placed the winning bid, said he is unsure what he plans to do with the property but spoke highly of the building itself and its location on Eagle Street.

"I think it's a fabulous location and a fabulous building," he said, noting that he owns other properties in the downtown area."

Barry said he has no connections to any businesses or owners previously involved with the property.

Irving Shechtman & Co., Inc. ran the auction.

According to Historic North Adams, the original structure, 21 Eagle St., was built in the 1800s and had been the site of a criminal lockup between 1864 and 1869. In 1869, the building was deemed unfit for use.
 
The building was then bought by the Tower Brothers, Horace and Henry Tower who renovated the building and in 1876 began using it as their butcher shop. 
 
In 1870, the Tower brothers began building 19 Eagle St., expanding the property. This was completed in 1872.
 
The company went bankrupt in 1901. 
 
In 1915, the building was sold to Charles Kronick who opened a shoe store in 1920.
 
In the fifties, Moderne Studios Photography opened in the building. They closed in the early aughts. 

The building has been vacant for several years, with visible damage to the building's outside brickwork and woodwork.

The property received new electrical work in 2003 before its purchase by the previous owner in 2005. In 2008, an excavation of the basement took place, in addition to the construction of a rear egress from the second floor. In 2009, the previous owner added beams and structural steel.

The building can house one commercial space on the first floor and four residential units on the second and third floors.


Tags: auction,   Eagle Street,   

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NAFD/NAPD Advances to Finals of Women's Softball League

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Anna Dix Thursday went 3-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs batted in to lead North Adams Fire Department/North Adams Police Department to a 14-9 win over Alternative Living Centers and a berth in the North Adams Women’s Softball League Championship Game.
 
Abby Lear was 3-for-5 with a double for the first responders, who survived the losers bracket in the double-elimination tournament and will face Belle Ame Lashes on Monday at 6 p.m. at DiSanti Field in the first game of the title round.
 
A win for NAFD/NAPD on Monday will force a winner-take-all game; Lashes is just one win from the championship.
 
On Thursday, NAFD/NAPD jumped on top early with an eight-run top of the first and never looked back.
 
Kalley Vanuni singled up the middle, and Lear doubled to left to bring home the game’s first run.
 
Heather Morris and Carrie Brassard each singled to keep the rally going, and Dix and Kenzie Dobbert delivered two-out hits before each scored on an outfield error to make it 8-0.
 
ALC managed just one run against Dobbert in the circle through the first three innings.
 
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