image description — The landscape painting was donated by Karen and Patricia Quinn, who discovered it while working on the Linda Gaffney estate.

Fitch-Hoose House Receives Another Painting Donation

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:04PM / Saturday, October 14, 2023Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — The Fitch-Hoose House has received another George Hoose painting donation.

The landscape painting was donated by Karen and Patricia Quinn, who discovered it while working on the Linda Gaffney estate.

This is not the only donation that the Historical Commission has recently received. In September, the museum received a painting donation of an "Indian Head" by George Hoose.

Since the museum was renovated in 2014, the commission has brought and continues to bring to life its scattered history, co-Chair Debora Kovacs said during a previous interview. The house museum has reunited members of the Hoose family with their ancestry.

The Historical Commission hopes that as more light is shined on the history of the Hoose family more residents will step forward with stories or items to share with the museum, Commissioner Thomas Snyder said in a previous interview.

The commission also announced that the Fitch-Hoose House's art month during September was a success and hopes to continue showcasing George Hoose's work in the future.

Not only did the art month bring in more visitors to the museum, but it also made the tours richer, Kovacs said at last week's meeting.

The museum's permanent displays were removed for the month to make room for displaying Hoose's paintings, with different pieces showcased each week.

The paintings are normally stored on the second floor of the small house, which is not accessible to the public due to safety concerns.

Next year, the Historical Commission wants to host a bigger exhibit so it can display more of Hoose's paintings but needs to find a safe way to do so.

The commission was going to have an exhibition this year but decided to change it to an art month in an effort to save time upon receiving word that it would be moving back into the Town Hall in September.

The museum is open by request through October by calling the Town Hall at 413-684-6111.

Check out our video of the Fitch Hoose House here.

Tags: donations, historic buildings, historical commission, painting,

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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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