image description
This monument was installed in 1951 on West Main Street to mark the location of the North Adams Iron Co., which smelted iron for the Union's first ironclad ship.

North Adams Marking Monitor Anniversary

Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Celebrations are being held all over the country in honor of the 150th anniversary of various Civil War battles and events. It is always nice to have a local connection.

The public is invited to attend when North Adams holds its own commemoration on Friday, March 9, at 1:30 p.m. for the sesquicentennial of the battle of the first ironclads the Monitor and the Merrimac.

The North Adams Iron Co. smelted pig iron from Furnace Hill and the Paul farm in the Notch and shipped it to a foundry in Troy, N.Y., to be used in making plates for the turret of the USS Monitor, the Union ironclad. The North Adams Historical Society will sponsor the laying of a patriotic wreath as well as pertinent readings by members at the Monitor Monument on West Main Street, the site of the former foundry.

Special guest will be Brian Ferris, who as a 5-year-old in 1951, was pictured in the North Adams Transcript when the plaque was completed and installed. His father ran Everybody's Market then close by at 19 West Main. The local monument was dedicated Dec. 10, 1951, because of the efforts of Clara Beckley, granddaughter of John Beckley of Canaan Conn., owner of the iron company in the 1850s and 1860s.

Robert Campanile will present the "Monitor vs. the Merrimac" as part of his regular weekly series of talks at the Visitors Museum at Western Gateway Heritage State Park on Saturday, March 10, at 3.
 


Tags: monument,   

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

North Adams Council Looks at Animal Commission, OKs Police Cruiser Deal

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council Tuesday took the first step toward forming a new Animal Control Commission.
 
Mayor Jennifer Macksey brought the council the request to create a body to help the Police Department "in carrying out their responsibility under [Massachusetts General Law] as well as conduct hearings related to dangerous and/or nuisance dogs."
 
At Tuesday's meeting, Macksey told the council that state officials recommended that the city establish a commission, a proposal endorsed both by the local animal control officer and the interim police chief.
 
"As most of you know, we have a new animal control officer, Matthew Reynolds," Macksey said. "Part of his job has been to look at our ordinances and make sure we have enough documentation that when we get ourselves in a situation with a dangerous dog or nuisance dog, that we have enough procedures outlined."
 
According to a draft ordinance submitted by Macksey, the new five-member board would advise the city's animal control officer after hearing cases regarding concerns or complaints on an as-needed basis.
 
It also would be empowered to create educational programs, publish statistics on the city's animals and make recommendations to other bodies about a long-range plan to meet the North Adams' "needs in connection with animal control."
 
The councilors agreed that an Animal Control Commission would benefit the city.
 
View Full Story

More North Adams Stories