North Adams – Sen. Edward M. Kennedy delivered $2 million worth of good news to the city and a promise of continuing support for a Mohawk Theater restoration project during an Aug. 5 Berkshire region trip.
The junket included a 45-minute stop at the Main Street-based theater, and Kennedy spoke to a crowd of about 70 city and state elected officials and citizens from the theater’s interior.
Kennedy’s wife Victoria accompanied Kennedy for the visit, which included stops in Pittsfield and at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown.
The federal transportation funds awarded to the city are part of a bill approved earlier this summer by the U.S. Congress. Kennedy noted the fierce competition for such funds and credited Mayor John Barrett III for diligent efforts on behalf of the city.
“The projects [that received funding] had to be well-defined and well thought through,†Kennedy said. “North Adams did that.â€
One Grant, Double BenefitA significant portion of the funds will be used to pay for work slated to occur behind the Mohawk Theater. The planned improvements will benefit both the theater and the city as a whole, according to Barrett. Overall theater renovation plans include restoration of the interior and the demolition and reconstruction of a rear brick wall; that wall and the surrounding grounds are easily visible from Route 2 and serve as one of the city’s visual calling cards.
“Because the Mohawk Theater [rear] faces the street, we want to make that as attractive as possible,†Barrett said. “There’s going to be a lot of work needed behind the Mohawk Theater.â€
A share of the money will benefit a city-wide beautification project that works in tandem with theater plans, Barrett said. Anticipated work includes burying overhead utility lines, building pedestrian walkways, creating and erecting signage that will guide visitors to downtown venues, and adding additional sections of period lighting in the areas of River and Union streets.
City Councilor Marie Harpin hailed the financial news as “a big plus for the city.â€
“This shows that our elected officials don’t think of us just at election time,†she said. “We are the smallest city in the state and we have Sen. Kennedy here to make the presentation.â€
“It’s fantastic, it’s a very big deal,†said state Sen. Andrea F. Nuciforo Jr. D-Pittsfield.
“We’re all joining in the celebration of what’s to come,†said City Councilor Gailanne Cariddi.
City Councilor Alan Marden termed the theater renovation as vital to the city’s economic future.
“This is the centerpiece that will bring it all together,†he said.
State Rep. Daniel E. Bosley D-North Adams was also among the dignitatries who came to the theater for Kennedy's appearance.
HUD Funding Sought
The theater project is considered a pivotal piece of the city’s arts-and–tourism based economic revitalization. The property first opened on Nov. 5, 1938 as part of the E.M. Lowe movie theater chain. For over five decades, the “Mohawk†was an integral part of the city’s downtown and social climate, but competition from multi-screen theaters proved too much for many single-screen movie houses and the already-deteriorating theater closed in 1991. The theater is the last large-screen movie house remaining in the Northern Berkshires and is one of a very few “art-deco†style theaters in the nation.
Barrett has long been committed to renovating and opening the property and restoring the site as a Main Street destination.
Kennedy is working to acquire $280,000 in federal Department of Housing and Urban Development funds for the theater project. The money is part of a spending bill that will be considered – and, according to reports, likely approved – during the fall. If secured, the money would join $200,000 in financial assistance given to the project last year.
“These are just down payments in the beginning,†Kennedy said of the first funding rounds. “We know this is a multi-million-dollar project.â€
Following his introduction by Barrett and an enthusiastic standing ovation delivered by about 70 spectators, Kennedy praised Barrett and the theater project as an example of economic development rooted in culture and the arts. The Mohawk Theater is a significant component of the city’s continuing success, he said.
“This theater was one of the outstanding, unique theaters in New England,†Kennedy said. “We’ll all have a chance to be here some night for a grand opening performance.â€
Barrett acknowledged the opening of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art on Marshall Street as an economic “engine†but stressed that more must be done to fulfill the city’s economic vision.
Project architect James Alexander of the Feingold and Alexander architectural firm noted that E.M.Loew invested in the city decades ago, and the same site is generating new investment. Plans described as “very preliminary†were on display during Kennedy’s visit, and Alexander told the crowd that the planned renovations are not expected to be difficult to accomplish from a construction standpoint.
“We can replicate and restore this without a great deal of difficulty,†he said.
Construction drawings could be completed by year's end, and if funds are in place, theater renovations could begin sometime in 2006. Alexander said that the project will likely unfold in phases.
A Building of Significance
Current plans call for a 46-foot expansion of the “stage house,†and a reconfiguration of a theater parking area. Anticipated seating capacity is about 1,000 seats, with some seats located in the once popular theater balcony. Illustrations included dressing rooms, a “green room,†wardrobe rooms, and new restrooms.
Theater project consultant Martin Vinik spoke about the project during an interview prior to Kennedy’s arrival. The importance of the theater to the city and its’ residents is understood and appreciated by project officials, Vinik said.
“Anytime you deal with a building like this it’s exciting,†he said. “But here, there is a building that has such a special public place in community hearts, and you treat it with a great deal of respect.â€
Vinik also spoke to the crowd as part of the morning conference.
“The [theater] doors need to be open and the marquee needs to be lit,†he said. “The things you see on this drawing board will allow the building to have a life.â€
And a goal is to hear former theater patrons visit a renovated site and say “boy, this is the theater I remember,’†said Vinik.
New Economic ForceThe arts are gaining national attention and respect as viable economic forces, Kennedy said while making his public comments.
“[The arts] give us a degree of satisfaction and inspiration in our lives,†he said, and noted that art-focused venues allow for appreciation of various cultures and have proven to be solid revenue sources.
Barrett’s leadership and vision delivered the city through “a bleak and difficult time†to a greatly improved economic condition, Kennedy said.
“The Mayor has never altered his strong belief in North Adams, his belief in the people,†Kennedy said.
Additional information about the Mohawk Theater renovation project is available at the www.mohawktheater.com website.
Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush123@adelphia.net or at 802-823-9367.
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State Fire Marshal Offers Cold Snap Heating Safety Tips
STOW, Mass. —With temperatures expected to dip into the teens overnight this week, Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is reminding residents to stay warm safely and protect their loved ones from some of the most common home heating fires.
"We're expecting very cold weather in the nights ahead, and home heating appliances will be working overtime," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. "Heating equipment is the leading cause of carbon monoxide at home and the second leading cause of residential fires. Whether you're using gas, oil, solid fuel, or space heaters to keep warm, be sure you keep safe, too."
State Fire Marshal Davine said there were nearly 6,000 heating fires in Massachusetts from 2019 to 2023. These fires claimed eight lives, caused 139 injuries to firefighters and residents, and contributed to over $42 million in damage. And in 2023 alone, Massachusetts fire departments reported finding carbon monoxide at nearly 5,000 non-fire incidents.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Every household needs working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of their home. Check the manufacturing date on the back of your alarms so you know when to replace them: smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years, and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced after 5 to 10 years depending on the model. If your alarms take alkaline batteries, put in fresh batteries twice a year when you change your clocks. If it's time to replace your alarms, choose new ones from a well-known, national brand. Select smoke alarms with a sealed, long-life battery and a hush feature.
Natural Gas and Oil Heat
If you have a furnace, water heater, or oil burner, have it professionally checked and serviced each year. This will help it run more efficiently, which will save you money and could save your life. Always keep a three-foot "circle of safety" around the appliance clear of anything that could catch fire. Never store painting supplies, aerosol cans, or other flammable items near these appliances. If you smell gas, don't use any electrical switches or devices: get out, stay out, and call 9-1-1 right away.
Residents struggling to pay for heating bills or maintenance may be eligible for assistance through the Massachusetts home energy assistance program (HEAP). No matter what type of heating equipment you use, HEAP may be able to help you pay your winter heating bills or maintain your heating system. All Massachusetts residents are encouraged to explore eligibility for this free program and apply for assistance.
Solid Fuel Heating
If you use a fireplace or a stove that burns wood, pellets, or coal, always keep the area around it clear for three feet in all directions. This circle of safety should be free of furniture, drapery, rugs, books and papers, fuel, and any other flammable items. To prevent sparks and embers from escaping, use a fireplace screen or keep the stove door closed while burning. Use only dry, seasoned hardwood and don't use flammable liquids to start the fire. To dispose of ashes, wait until they are cool and shovel them into a metal bucket with a lid and place it outside at least 10 feet away from the building.
Have your chimney and flue professionally inspected and cleaned each year. Most chimney fires are caused by burning creosote, a tarry substance that builds up as the fireplace, wood stove, or pellet stove is used. If burning creosote, sparks, embers, or hot gases escape through cracks in the flue or chimney, they can cause a fire that spreads to the rest of the structure. Annual cleaning and inspection can minimize this risk. Contact the Massachusetts Chimney Sweep Guild or Chimney Safety Institute of America to identify reputable local companies.
Space Heaters
Keep space heaters at least three feet from curtains, bedding, and anything else that can burn. Plug them directly into a wall socket, not an extension cord or a power strip, and remember that they're for temporary use. Always turn a space heater off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
When purchasing a space heater, select one that's been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL). Newer space heaters should have an automatic shut-off switch that turns the device off if it tips over. Unvented kerosene space heaters and portable propane space heaters are not permitted for residential use in Massachusetts, State Fire Marshal Davine said: the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning that they pose is too great.
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