image description
The paintings of George Hoose are being highlighted this month at the Fitch-Hoose House museum.

Fitch-Hoose House Names August 'George Hoose Art Month'

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

The exhibit is being extended into September to display more of Hoose's fall and winter scenes. 
DALTON, Mass. — The Historical Commission has designated August as George Hoose Art Month at the Fitch-Hoose House and is showcasing some of the painter's work. 
 
The 1846 house is the last remaining home of Dalton's early Black residential neighborhood. A wide range of information has been gathered surrounding the Hoose family that is also on display. 
 
The small two-story building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is believed to have been active on the Underground Railroad.
 
George Hoose died in 1977 at age 80. He was a prolific painter and was known for the "Indian Head" painting on Gulf Road that has long since been painted over and weathered away.
 
"We're celebrating his artistic abilities through his paintings," co-Chair Louisa Horth said. 
 
The paintings showcase how hard-working and successful Hoose and his family were. The self-taught artist was successful and was commissioned to paint a number of pieces, co-Chair Deborah Kovacs said.
 
The Fitch-Hoose House has a collection of about 15 paintings by Hoose, which have been donated to the museum over the years. 
 
Ordinarily they are stored on the second floor of the house which is not accessible to the public becaue of safety concerns.  
 
Commissioners have blended eight of his painting in with the museum's current collection. The museum is open every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. 
 
Due to the many paintings centered around autumn and winter, the museum will extend the exhibit into September, swapping some currently displayed works with his seasonal pieces.
 
More information on the museum here. Check out our video here

Tags: art exhibit,   historic structure,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Police Facility Report Complete; Station Future Still Uncertain

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee's final report is complete but the future of the station remains uncertain. 
 
Several members of the committee attended the Select Board meeting last week, as co-Chair Craig Wilbur presented four options delineated in the presentation — build on town-owned land, build on private land, renovate or repurpose the existing buildings, and do nothing. The full report can be found here
 
According to the report, addressing the station's needs coincides with the town facing significant financial challenges, with rising fixed costs and declining state aid straining its budget. 
 
These financial pressures restrict the town's ability to fund major capital projects and a new police station has to compete with a backlog of deferred infrastructure needs like water, sewer, roads, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
 
In June 2024, Police Chief Deanna Strout informed the board of the station's dire condition — including issues with plumbing, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and damaged cells — prompting the board to take action on two fronts. 
 
The board set aside American Rescue Plan Act funds to address the immediately dire issues, including the ventilation, and established the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee to navigate long-term options
 
Very early on it was determined that the current facility is not adequate enough to meet the needs of a 21st-century Police Facility. This determination was backed up following a space needs assessment by Jacunski Humes Architects LLC
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories