Lecture on the History of the Williamstown Public Library

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The first in a series of lectures celebrating the 150th anniversary of Williamstown's public library will take place on Saturday, April 13, at 2:00 p.m. in the Milne Public Library, 1095 Main Street in Williamstown.  
 
Dustin Griffin will give a talk on "The History of the Williamstown Public Library" from its beginnings in a corner of a general store on Water Street in 1874, through a move to the Botsford House on Main Street in 1941, and the complex real estate deal that made it possible to move in 1996 to its present location, where it became known as the Milne Library.
 
Dustin Griffin is well-known to Williamstown audiences for his public lectures and his several books, including "Williamstown and Williams College: Explorations in Local History" (2018), "Further Explorations" (2021), and "Williamstown and Williams College Volume 3" (2023).  
 
He is a Williams College graduate, a retired professor of English, and a resident of Williamstown since 2003.  
 
Details of events occurring during the 150th anniversary year can be found on the Milne website: www.milnelibrary.org
 
The events and programs of the Williamstown Library's 150th anniversary are made possible through funding by lead sponsor MountainOne, your local Berkshires bank.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Williamstown Housing Trust Agrees to Continue Emergency Mortgage, Rental Programs

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The board of the town's Affordable Housing Trust at its December meeting voted to extend its mortgage and rental assistance programs and discussed bringing in some consultants early next year before embarking on any new programs.
 
Chair Daniel Gura informed the board that its agreements with Pittsfield's Hearthway Inc., to administer the Williamstown Emergency Rental Assistance Program and Williamstown Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program was expiring at the end of the year.
 
Gura sought and obtained a vote of the board to extend the programs, born during the COVID-19 pandemic, through the end of January 2026, at which time the board plans to sign a new long-term agreement.
 
"In 2024, we distributed $80,000," through the programs known as WERAP and WEMAP, Gura said. "This year, to date, we gave $16,000, and Ihere's $17,000 left. … It's a little interesting we saw a dropoff from 2024 to 2025, although I think there were obvious reasons for that in terms of where we are in the world."
 
Gura suggested that the board might want to increase the funding to the programs, which benefit income-qualified town residents.
 
"If you look at the broader economic picture in this country, there's a prospect of more people needing help, not fewer people," Thomas Sheldon said in agreeing with Gura. "I think the need will bump up again."
 
The board voted to add an additional $13,000 to the amount available to applicants screened by Hearthway with the possibility of raising that funding if a spike in demand is seen.
 
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