The 1865 structure and its 1960s brick addition were demolished last Thursday.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The former Sun Cleaners finally came down last week years after the city was first approached to take over the troubled structure.
The city took possession of the former dry cleaning shop in 2019 as part of a portfolio of properties transferred by the now-dissolved Housing Opportunities Inc. That process took several years because of site testing and over concerns of liabilities for cleanup.
Testing found high enough levels of contamination by solvents used in dry cleaning and some petroleum. A state Brownsfield grant is being used for the demolition and remediation of the quarter-acre property.
The HOI board, which was also the North Adams Housing Authority, was not clear on why the first-time homebuyer agency acquired the property back in 2008, two years after the business closed. The director and the board members had changed over since that time.
Both the cleaners and the building had a long history in North Adams. The dry-cleaning business was established by John Polumbo in 1923 as Berkshire Cleaners on Center Street. A victim of urban renewal, Polumbo moved to 109 and 111 River St. in 1961. His son, David, later operated the business along with a gift and party supply store and pool supply store. David Polumbo died in 2013.
Parts of the building date to 1865 when it was constructed by Jacob Coon, who operated a grocery at 109 River and had a livery in the back. The barn was taken down with the building.
The structure had been a single-family house before the brick facade was added on. A sign noting it as the Jacob Coon house was attached in 2002 and the building was listed on the city's historical survey. Coon was active in local politics and was captain of the Wilson Hose Company. He died at age 81 in 1916.
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Mass MoCA Commission Approves Mental Health Practices as Tenants
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Mass MoCA Commission on Thursday approved three new tenants for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.
Kimma Stark, project manager at the museum, gave the commission the rundown on each of the new tenants.
Eric Beeman is a licensed mental health counselor who uses art in his therapy. He holds a master's degree in expressive arts and arts therapy from Lesley University, where he's also taught graduate-level practices and principles of expressive art therapy.
He integrates creative arts based interventions into his clinical work including drawing painting, poetry, writing, brief drama and roleplay, movement and sound. Beeman works one-on-one and with small groups and said he mostly works with adults.
He will be operating as Berkshires Expressive Arts Therapy on the third floor of Building 1.
Beeman said Stark has been very helpful. "It's different than just renting a space and she's been very helpful and personable and accessible," he said.
Mary Wilkes, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, works with individuals with severe mental illness, with attachment and relationship issues and needing support navigating major life transitions. She works with teenagers, college and students and adults.
Cory Ahonen, chief engagement officer for the state's Executive Office of Veterans Services, served his country in the Air Force from 2008 to 2014 as a staff sergeant. click for more
The Berkshires' Academy for Advanced Musical Studies Inc. (BAAMS) has recently garnered significant support from the family of the late Edward J. Noel Jr. click for more
But not enough for Finance Committee member Andrew Fitch, who voted against the compensation and classification plan because it did not include a city planner.
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The Corps of Engineers is in the midst of a three-year, $3 million study of the aging concrete flood chutes that control the passage of the river through the city.
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This weekend, the Berkshires and surrounding areas will have a variety of events, including concerts, comedy, farmers' markets, and more.
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