Adams Historical Society Annual Meeting

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ADAMS, Mass. — Samuel M. Trudel, award-winning graphic designer and family historian, will present "Dr. Samuel M. Jones, the Man Who Transformed the Renfrew Mill into the Arnold Print Works Jones Division," at the Adams Historical Society's annual meeting on Sunday, April 28, at 3 p.m. in Memorial Hall of the Adams Free Library.
 
Trudel, Dr. Jones' grandson, recently published the second of a two-book companion series covering Arnold Print Works history between 1868 and 1942. Arnold Print Works, with divisions in North Adams and Adams, was a leading Berkshire textile manufacturer with offices in New York and Paris. The presentation will focus on the story of the Jones Division in Adams, established by Dr. Jones after Arnold Print Works purchased the Renfrew Manufacturing Company in 1928.
 
Trudel's presentation will include never-before-published photographs of the company's operations, samples of original Jones Division fabrics, and family photographs. Materials from the historical society's collection will also be on display.
 
A brief business meeting for annual elections, reports on recent accomplishments, and discussion of future plans will precede the program. Refreshments will be served following the presentation.
 
All members of the historical society, as well as the general public, are invited to attend. Memorial Hall, on the second floor of the library, is handicap accessible by elevator from the Melrose Street entrance.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Adams Housing Authority Rededicates McAndrews Community Center

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The new dedication sign includes the names of the first director and board chair of the Housing Authority. 
ADAMS, Mass. — It started with changing out the old box lights in the community room at Columbia Valley.
 
It ended with fully refurbished room along with a refreshed kitchen and ladies room. 
 
Residents of the senior living facility gathered in the new community room on Wednesday to rededicate it to James McAndrew and welcome Housing Secretary Edward Augustus.
 
"This room hadn't been touched since the 1980s," said Adams Housing Authority Executive Director William Schrade, describing it as a place to gather that "wasn't friendly, wasn't smiling." 
 
So first came the box lights, and then in consultation with maintenance chief Matthew Puricelli. Then it was replacing the old leaky windows, and why not take off the old wallpaper and paint, and if you're doing that, might as well pull up the old carpet and put down a new one. 
 
"We thought we were done. I said kitchen really needed to be done because they has a 1970s look," said Schrade. "[Puricelli] took charge of that, too, and got creative and with the tools that were given to him.
 
"He knocked it out and then made the worst mistake and said, 'I've done all this I might as well finish and do the women's bathroom.' I said I think that's a great idea. [Secretary Augustus] is coming in three weeks, so you're gonna have to jump on this."
 
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