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The historic Fitch-Hoose House.

Dalton Weighs Fitch-Hoose House Repainting Options

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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An image of what the home used to look like from the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System database.
DALTON, Mass. — The Historical Commission is reviewing financing options so that it can repaint the Fitch-Hoose House museum. 
 
Commission co-Chair Louisa M. Horth had said in August that the nearly 200-year-old house is in need of repainting.
 
The paint is starting to peel and weather, and would need to be repainted this year or next year, she said. The house was painted six or seven years ago during a restoration. 
 
According to Town Manager Tom Hutcheson, the commission will need to provide the Select Board with two quotes for how much the project will cost and was recommended to look into applying for a grant, Horth said during commissioners' meeting on Wednesday. 
 
Until they have a better idea of what the project will cost it is unclear what funding route they will take, whether it's through a grant, the Historical Commission budget, or through an article at town meeting. 
 
In 2014, the Historical Commission got a grant from the "Promoting Community Development and Tourism in Central and Western Massachusetts" program in the amount of $180,000 grant to restore the 1840s-era house. 
 
The back addition with its kitchen and bedroom had been taken off several years ago because of its condition but was added back on during the restoration. 
 
Over the years, the home has gone through a variety of changes, from the now gone vinyl siding to the yellow color and the commission has worked to make the exterior as historically accurate as possible. 
 
In 2019, the Fitch-Hoose House's restoration received the Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award.
 
In other news: 
 
The fireproof cabinet is coming in next Wednesday. 
 
• The commission announced that it has received requests from residents for its reissuing of the book "Down Memory Lane." More information here
 

Tags: historic buildings,   historical commission,   

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Truck Crashes Into Pittsfield's Samel's Deli

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Elm Street will be partially closed as cleanup continues. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wednesday morning was busy for Pittsfield first responders, as a pickup truck crashed into Samel's Deli & Catering and a fire broke out on First Street.

Around 9:45 a.m., the police reported that the street in front of Samel's Deli & Catering would be closed or down to one lane as a result of a two-car collision that sent the truck careening into the deli.

The department posted two photos on Facebook, one depicting the silver truck with New York license plates crashed through the glass of the front entrance and another of a white Honda CR-V with significant damage to the front end.

"A vehicle was coming out of one of the alleyways here and struck this truck, which continued into the building," Police Officer Craig Jones explained when iBerkshires arrived on the scene.

Jones reported that there was one injury but whether it was someone in the vehicles or in the deli. A crossing signal near Samel's front entrance was also taken out by the truck.

Around this time, crews worked to clear debris in front of the restaurant as the truck was towed away. That section of the road reopened around 11 a.m.

The police, firefighters and an ambulance responded to the accident and police intend to release a statement on the incident.

Around 6:15 a.m., the Fire Department reported that it had responded to a possible structure fire at 233-235 First St. Windows on all three floors of the multi-family building are now broken or boarded up and the cause is under investigation by the Fire Investigation Unit and investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office.

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