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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
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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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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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