Anthony Museum Opening Sparks Debate on Abortion

Ben and Jeanne Matthews stand outside the Adams Free Library on Sunday to pass out leaflets directing people to a Web site on the new Anthony Museum's links to anti-abortion groups.

ADAMS, Mass. — Plans for the Susan B. Anthony museum at the suffragist's birthplace on East Road sparked controversy almost as soon as Carol Crossed purchased the property at auction in 2006.

A peace activist, Crossed has long been involved with groups advocating against abortion, including Feminists for Life of New York, which she intended to use the property in some way.

It was rumored for awhile that the house would be moved to Rochester, N.Y., where the group was headquartered, that it would be turned into a home for pregnant teens or headquarters for an anti-abortion chapter. So there was a sigh of relief in town when Crossed announced in early 2008 plans for an Anthony museum.

But some historians and abortion-rights activists say that group and others have been liberally interpreting Anthony's beliefs on abortion and that the museum won't express history but anti-abortion ideology. Anti-abortion groups insist the evidence is there if historians just opened their eyes.

Anthony is an iconic figure in the fight for women's rights and both sides have been been tussling over her stance on the issue — if she had one, that is.

On Sunday, Crossed made it clear where she thought Anthony stood during her remarks at the activist's 190th birthday celebration, shortly after opening the museum.

"Some of you know there's been some controversy around the museum," said Crossed. "As in her life, even in her death, Susan causes controversy, doesn't she? She would really enjoy that."

While it was good news she brought people together to make the museum happen, the "bad news," as she described it, "is through historical facts, the truth was going to be told in the museum, whether it was politically correct or not."

Crossed's statement got a round of applause in the Memorial Hall in the Adams Free Library, but not outside where a handful of people stood at the library steps handing out leaflets warning that Susan B. was being hijacked.

Jeanne Matthews said it wasn't a protest but some friendly, informal "leafletting" to let residents know what was happening at the museum at susanbanthonymuseum.com.
 

Dr. Anna Densmore French appeared in The Revolution. She believed that women who were educated about their pregnancies would be less likely to abort them.

"We want people to know there's more context for discussion about Susan B. Anthony's views," said Matthews, who says the museum's directors are using the town's heroine as cover to put forth their own agenda against women's reproductive rights.

Her husband, Ben, agreed, "we just want more people to know that in supporting the museum they support Feminists for Life."

Structure Fire in Adams Closes Schools, Calls in Mutual Aid

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
09:43AM / Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Fire Chief John Pansecchi, in white, talks strategy on Wednesday. 

ADAMS, Mass. — At least eight fire companies responded to a Wednesday morning a structure fire in the old MacDermid Graphics building.

Firefighters and responders from Cheshire, Dalton, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lee, Savoy, North Adams, Pittsfield, Williamstown. Hinsdale also sent its rehab bus and Northern Berkshire EMS was on the scene with its rehab trailer. 

The fire was reported at about 7:30 a.m. and black smoke could be seen looming over the old mill building at 10 Harmony St. Harmony and Prospect streets were closed to traffic. 

The Adams Police Department posted on Facebook that Hoosac Valley Elementary School and Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School classes were cancelled for Wednesday. The schools are located not far from the structure.

Their post also reads, "Children on the bus already for Hoosac Valley Elementary School will be brought to the middle school gym at Hoosac Valley High School."

"BArT was already in session and will be evacuating to the Adams Visitor Center."

 

Fire Chief John Pansecchi said firefighters are approaching the blaze by pouring water at it from every angle.

 

"We have a fire in the building, looks like we have a lot of fire in the building and we're trying to get to it," he said. "Places have already collapsed prior to the fire, place that have collapsed since the fire, so not a lot of activity inside the building."

 

The mill, the former W.R. Grace, is made up of a number two- and three-story structures covering about 236,749 square feet. The fire was located in a long building toward the back of the property that runs alongside the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. The roof was fully engulfed in flames and collapsed in on itself around by 8 a.m.

 

Trucks from Williamstown were being situated in the Russell Field parking lot and firefighters were trying to find a location where they could attack the blaze from the trail. 

 

Pansecchi said the building is supposed to be vacant.

 

"I was working when the call came in," he said. "My guys did a great job getting set up putting some hose lines and being prepared and got some plans put together when I got here to extend that and that's what were looking at."

 

The cause of the blaze is unknown at this time but the state fire marshal was on the scene. 

 

Pansecchi said firefighters are providing observations from the outside and the North Adams drone has been deployed to determine the extent of the blaze. The buildings are large and unsafe in most cases to enter. 

 

"We're making good progress but we're not at a point I'd call it contained," he said. "There's already places that have caved in prior to this."

 

He's been joined by fire chiefs from the various departments, who have been aiding the attack from different fronts. 

 

"It's a really big help [having them] because you've got so much going on fighting a fire you don't think of the other things," the Adams chief said. "They start making suggestions."

 

Some of the structures on the complex date to 1881, when Renfrew Manufacturing built to produce jacquard textiles. It was the last asset of the company, and its machines and inventory were stripped out in 1927. 

 

The mill's had various owners and periods of vacancy over the last century, but was probably best known as W.R. Grace, a specialty chemical company that bought it as part of the acquisition of Dewey & Almy Chemical in the mid-1950s. 

 

MacDermid took it over in 1999 but closed the plant three years later, putting 86 people out of work. 

 

The property has been vacant since and was purchased by 10 Harmony Street LLC for $53,500 in 2019, according the online assessor's records. Principal of the LLC is listed as John D. Duquette Jr.

 

Staff writers and photographers Breanna Steele, Jack Guerino, Tammy Daniels and Marty Alvarez contributed to this article.