image description — The store is approaching its 110-year milestone in 2024, originally opening as a variety store in 1914.

Update: Harry's Supermarket Fire Started at the Deli Counter

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
08:28PM / Tuesday, July 11, 2023Print Story | Email Story

The mural on the side of the building did not appear to be affected by the fire.

Updated on 7/12/2023 at 7:43 A.M.: A Pittsfield Fire Department report released early Wednesday morning stated that the fire origin area is where the deli counter was located.

PFD members worked aggressively to control/extinguish the fire, ventilate the smoke, and prevent the fire's spread. The fire was eventually brought under control in a little over an hour and a fire watch was posted through the evening.

The report continued that there is no damage estimate at this time, and the building sustained heavy fire damage in the rear of the store, smoke, and water damage.

But the building is sound, and the damage incurred is not expected to cause the building to be razed.

There were no reported civilian injuries associated with this fire. One Pittsfield firefighter was transported to BMC with heat exhaustion. He was treated, released, and expected to make a full recovery.

The report went on to say firefighters responded at 6:25 after the supermarket closed at 6. Upon arrival, they found a large volume of smoke showing from the single-story, non-combustible

market.

Car2 arrived shortly after E5 and found heavy smoke conditions permeating from all sides of the building. The smoke conditions consisted of heavy dark smoke pushing through openings with a high velocity. This smoke condition was consistent with a high probability of heavy fire conditions inside.

A 2nd alarm was struck immediately, bringing all on-duty companies to the scene.

The report indicated that entering the secure building was a challenge. Firefighters also faced high heat conditions.

Lanesboro, Dalton, and Lenox fire departments covered the city during the fire. Hinsdale Fire Department provided their firefighter rehabilitation and air trucks.

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Smoke billowed out of Harry's Supermarket Tuesday evening as firefighters responded to a two-alarm blaze.

Residents crowded a closed-down stretch of Wahconah Street as crews broke the over 100-year-old store's front windows to allow the smoke to release.

The alarm occurred around 6:30 p.m. just after Cory Wilcox, Nico Amuso, Nathan Myers, and Alexander Sawicki were appointed to the Pittsfield Fire Department during City Council.

"Tonight we were swearing in four firefighters, four new guys sworn in on City Council. Just walked out of the chambers downstairs and got a report of a structure fire here at Harry's Supermarket on Wahconah Street," Chief Thomas Sammons reported around 7:30 p.m.

"We got here and there was heavy smoke showing immediately, made entry into the building through guarded doors, and vented the roof. We got into the seed of the fire. There was heavy smoke and not a lot of fire so right now, we're rehabbing our crews, cycling new crews in, and we're going to hope to have it put out here in another hour."

The investigation is said to be "very preliminary" but Sammons said that the fire was on the first floor in the kitchen area.

All of the city's initial crews responded. At the scene were six engines a truck company in service.

"Everybody's here," Sammons reported. "We have surrounding towns. We have Hinsdale's rehab here at the scene helping our guys out and then we have Dalton and Lenox covering our stations."

He noted the high temperatures and said that keeping the firefighters from overheating is a big priority. Bottles of water were being distributed on the scene.

Wahconah Street was blocked from Alcove Street to the intersection of Pecks Road to make room for the response.

In 2021, Robert and Thomas Nichols sold the operation to Ravikant Patel, who owns a number of other businesses in the county including Williamstown Wine and Spirits and O'Geary's in Adams.

The store is approaching its 110-year milestone in 2024, originally opening as a variety store in 1914.

From the street, Harry's hallmark advertisement signs could be seen charred. The mural on the side of the building did not appear to be affected by the fire.

Tags: structure fire,

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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