Dalton Historical Hosts Art Month

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass.—The Historical Commission voted to hold an art month this September at the Fitch Hoose House. 
 
The Commission will remove some of its permanent displays from its current collection to make room for displaying some of George Hoose's paintings.  
 
Each week the museum will showcase different pieces by the artist known for the "Indian Head" painting on Gulf Road. 
 
The paintings are currently stored on the second floor of the Hoose House which is not accessible to the public due to safety concerns. 
 
The commission was going to have an exhibition in September but decided to change it to an art month in an effort to save time upon receiving word that they would be moving back into the town hall in September. 
 
They were concerned about the amount of time it would take to plan and implement a large event due to the time restraints and wanted to ensure the safety of the pieces. 
 
Having a large event outside would require them to strategically place the pieces in a way where they would not get dirty from the traffic. 
 
During Dalton Day many residents expressed their surprise at the fact that tours of the Fitch Hoose House tours are free and expected that the tours would be brief considering that price, commissioner Bonnie Eastwood said.
 
Eastwood said although the house is small, there is a lot of history to cover and the tour guides include town history. She said the tours are not as brief as often expected.
 
More information on the museum here. Check out our video here.
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Dalton Police Station OK for Zoning, Once Location Is Chosen

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The proposed police station is eligible for a special permit in all zones except a Planned Industrial Development zone, following a public hearing and board consensus. 
 
The town has been exploring solutions to address the station's needs, forming the Public Safety Advisory Committee in July 2024 after reports highlighted the department's deteriorating condition.
 
Now more than a year into the initiative, progress seems to have stalled because of conflicting opinions on where the proposed station would go, Police Chief Deanna Strout said during previous meetings. 
 
The sticking points have been cost and location, which has had the advisory committee in gridlock for months. Several public officials have expressed their desire to have a new station constructed on town-owned land for the cost savings. 
 
However, the only land sizable to fit the facility is next to the Senior Center, but some neighbors have conveyed their disapproval for that space, which had been earmarked for affordable housing.
 
So, the committee sought guidance from the Zoning Board but left with few answers. 
 
"We wanted to have a discussion with you as a board about where you would consider this and what your thoughts as a board were specifically,"  Town Manager Eric Anderson said to the board at the Tuesday meeting. 
 
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