DALTON, Mass. — The Historical Commission has embarked on the first phase of establishing its second historical district.
During last week's meeting, co-Chair Louisa Horth brought three maps of the proposed district, which would run from the cemetery on Park Avenue down to Depot Street.
She recommended dividing the proposed district into multiple sections and assigning each section to specific commissioners.
The commission is responsible for taking pictures of every building within the district that meets historical status. On the back of each photo, they need to include the building's historical significance, the year it was built, and the type of architecture, Horth said.
The commission can use the state's Cultural Resource Information System map, which shows some of the area's historic buildings, to help during the process, Commissioner Nancy Kane said.
Once this phase is complete, the commission sends all of this information to the Massachusetts Historical Commission to review and continue with the next phase where it can hire a preservation specialist.
Horth forewarned that this phase will take some time, so members may need to request an extension for the $5,000 state cultural grant. The Cultural Council awarded the commission the grant so it could hire a preservation specialist.
It also has funding from a $15,000 matching grant that was approved during a town meeting in May 2022 for the establishment of the second and a third historic district.
At the town meeting, the Historic Commission estimated that establishing the next two districts would cost $30,000.
When the commission decided to lower the scope of the project in June, it was determined it would cost $10,000 to establish each district.
The commission originally planned on establishing the Main Street Corridor Historical District and the third district, East Main Street, simultaneously but decided it would be easier to establish them one at a time.
Using the $5,000 from the state cultural grant will allow for a matching amount of $5,000 from the town, which will be used to establish the Main Street Corridor Historical District,
The commission can not hire a preservation specialist until Massachusetts Historical reviews what it gathers in its first phase and determines that the district has a substantial enough historical significance to be considered a district.
In other news:
• The commission voted to appropriate $484 from the town account to be utilized for 500 Fitch Hoose-House brochures. It hopes to distribute the brochures at various locations, including the libraries and the Du Bois Freedom Center.
The funds could come from supplies line item in the commission's budget, Horth said.
She will communicate with Town Accountant Sandra Albano to ensure the purchase can be made using the town account.
The commission has $2,923 left in this year's budget, which needs to be spent by July 1.
Kane also noted that the more the commissioners promote the Fitch-Hoose House, the more donations they may receive from visitors because of the increased traffic.
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Berkshire United Way to Massachusetts: Early-Learning Educators Need Better Wages
By Katherine von Haefen Guest Column
As reported in iBerkshires, state education officials met with Western Massachusetts childcare and early education advocates at Berkshire Community College recently. I had the opportunity to share the following testimony on behalf of Berkshire United Way and our community partners.
Early childhood education provides tremendous benefits to our region. High-quality child care dramatically influences brain development and the future health and success for children in school and life, as well as provides a safe and secure space for our youngest community members so their parents or caregivers can work and provide for their families.
Berkshire United Way has invested in improving early childhood development opportunities in the Berkshires for decades. We fund high-quality nonprofit child-care centers that provide slots for income-constrained families. We also support the sector by co-hosting monthly child-care director meetings to work on shared challenges and collectively propose solutions. We advocate for early childhood education and have a great partner in this work, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.
Staffing is a key component of high-quality care. The research shows that skilled and consistent educators in a classroom create long-lasting change for children. However, wages are stagnant and frequently do not provide educators with basic financial stability. We often hear that educators have left the field because they are unable to make their finances work. Wages need to improve to better reflect the expertise and indelible impact teachers have in the field.
When we look specifically at our region, our data is concerning.
As Berkshire County emerges from the pandemic, we are struggling with transportation, affordable housing and lack of mental health resources, much like the rest of the state. We are also seeing a rise in economically challenged households.
After nearly 10 years of decline, Berkshire County has experienced a significant jump in income inequality, now exceeding the state and national trends and far above comparable counties, according to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Over half of our population are "economically challenged," meaning they are working but struggling to make ends meet. A single parent with a school-aged child needs between $70,000 and $80,000 in income and public benefits just to meet their basic needs.
A large limb from a 32-foot sugar maple in the park fell next to the fountain area over the weekend. Caution tape and traffic barrels now surround the aftermath.
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The last estimate for construction was overly optimistic because, at the time, it was unclear how long obtaining the two easements would take, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said.
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Full cost estimates have not been completed but based on recent repairs made to the Clapp Park splash pad, it is estimated to cost between $350,000 and $450,000.
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King Kone had a soft opening at the end of the week, offering the frozen treats on a "pay what you will" basis while employees perfected the craft.
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