Here is a selection of frequently asked questions. If you have a query that is not covered here, please contact us at info@GBLibraryFund.org
Ramsdell was a gift to the Town by the family of Theodore H. Ramsdell, the president of Housatonic’s famous Monument Mills. It was designed by the Boston architectural firm, McLean & Wright and opened in 1908. An addition was added in 1930 and that addition has never been updated.
In other words, Ramsdell’s last significant building renovation occurred at the dawn of the Great Depression, two years after the invention of sliced bread.
Ramsdell is acknowledged to be a particularly fine example of Classical Revival architecture, featuring elements like Ionic columns, extensive intricate woodwork, and a dramatic pediment.
Ramsdell is one of only 13 places in Great Barrington on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only building owned by the Town to receive this designation.
Ramsdell has not been renovated in a century. The building is not ADA-accessible; its utilities are not code-compliant and in some cases, they are dangerous.
At present, Ramsdell’s obsolete and inefficient furnace is heating all three floors, but only one is open to the public. Once the facilities have been brought up to code and the basement and the second floor are made accessible with the addition of an elevator, The new Ramsdell will be the vibrant, civic centerpiece that Housatonic deserves. It can become a magnet for long-term residents and the residents of the new residential developments in the area.
Housatonic has long struggled with poor water quality, antiquated internet service, and an abandoned elementary school smack in the center of its downtown. In fact, its downtown has been designated a Massachusetts Environmental Justice Area based on both income and language deficiencies.
A renovated Ramsdell with a roster of programs and gathering spaces that cater to Housatonic’s young demographic will act as an anchor to a revived downtown. It will provide extended educational, learning and training facilities to meet the needs of a diverse population that is really the future of Great Barrington, and its proximity to our regional schools ensures a flow of young people after school.
Between 2000 and 2020, the Hispanic population of Great Barrington quadrupled, and the Asian/Indian/mixed race group tripled. Housatonic’s population is a reflection of this change.
MBLC grants are offered only every 5-8 years (For example, Mason Library received one for its expansion in 2004 and will not be eligible again until 2038). In 2024, Great Barrington was fortunate to be the recipient of one that has the potential to pay for as much as 60% of the cost of renovation.
Put another way, the grant will contribute $3 of state money for every $2 from the Town or other sources.
Ramsdell’s renovation was a top priority for Great Barrington when the award- winning 2013 Master Plan was approved. Yet, it has languished since then. As a community, we have a responsibility to preserve and utilize it.
Yes, there are other pressing infrastructure items that the town must address now, such as a new high school and bridge repair, but unlike those, our MLBC grant will not raise our taxes. But if we fail to raise sufficient funds and we lose the opportunity to take advantage of the grant, this historic property will continue to deteriorate before our eyes and the costs to patch it up and heat it will only increase.
At the conclusion of the construction, Ramsdell will have three fully-functioning, heated and air-conditioned floors. In addition to having new, accessible bathrooms, an elevator, a sensory/comfort room and expanded space on the lower level for the popular Library of Things, there will be three meeting rooms, a cozy outdoor reading porch, a catering area and an entire, restored second floor for community/performance space.
The many community engagement efforts since 2018 consistently show that a fully accessible Ramsdell could offer these sought-after uses:
The new Ramsdell is being specifically designed with an eye to maximizing space for off-hours activities. There will be a new, accessible vestibule on the east side that will lead to stairs and an elevator to take you to the meeting rooms and 1400 square feet of community/performance space with a small area dedicated to catering.
Ramsdell is 6,750 square feet, including its 1930’s addition, of which 3100 square feet is accessible to the public. The current proposal is for a two-story addition to the rear of the library, which would add approximately 5,700 square feet, for a total of 12,450 square feet. Close estimates of cost will not be performed until later in the MBLC process and we will update this space as information becomes available.
The book collections at Mason and Ramsdell will be complementary, not duplicated. Both libraries will continue to offer core services such as pickup of interlibrary loans, access to computers and free wi-fi, as well as instruction and support in using library resources such as the print collection, electronic resources, and library equipment.
Housatonic, 1593 people in 662 households in 2023 in zip code 01236 (per zip-codes.com), is a walkable community with lots of young families with young children. Its demographic profile runs counter to the aging demographic profile of the Berkshires in general, and its wide sidewalks and quiet roadways make it perfect for adults and seniors to walk, and children to ride bikes and enjoy trips to the library on their own.
Ramsdell is within the commercial center of Housatonic. Its proximity to Great Barrington’s schools and the communities of Alford, West Stockbridge and Stockbridge will allow a renovated Ramsdell to take advantage of partnerships beyond Great Barrington’s borders.
Approximately half of the project’s eligible cost is already secured through a prestigious award from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ competitive Construction Grant Program.
State Community Preservation Act funds will be a key source of funding. These monies are automatically collected and earmarked as part of our property taxes, partially matched by State funds, and then are returned annually to the municipalities to be allocated to open space, affordable housing and historic preservation. Therefore, any money that the Community Preservation Committee earmarks for Ramsdell will have no effect on our tax rate. It will only reduce the amount that the Town needs to contribute.
In the last 10 years, the CPC has collected $10 million, of which 32% has been allocated to historic preservation; historic Town-owned properties have received only 13% of the total grants. Ramsdell is the only Town-owned property on the National Register of Historic Places.
Additional funding will come from various public grants, which the Town and Library Trustees can apply for, and from private fundraising done by the Great Barrington Library Fund that will endeavor to raise matching funds against the amount contributed by the Town.
A fully-renovated building will enable Ramsdell to serve all the residents of Great Barrington. It will draw people to the neighborhood and provide cultural, educational and economic benefits that will enhance the quality of life for everyone. The new children’s room and adjacent children’s programming space will foster literacy and learning; the dedicated space for teens will allow them to collaborate and socialize.
People who want to start or expand their businesses can enjoy the improved technology and meeting rooms. The potential to conduct literacy and job training programs on the second floor, in the renovated community/performance space, can contribute to workforce development, which will have a positive economic impact.
Just as good schools raise property values, libraries attract businesses and are key components in community revitalization.
GBLF was formed in 2024 to raise funds for capital improvements and services to Mason and Ramsdell. The current priority is to supplement an MBLC grant and Town funding to bring the historic Ramsdell up to code so that its three floors can be utilized to full advantage. This grant is projected to cover up to 60% of the cost of renovation. With your donation, and in combination with CPA grants and any other government grants or bonds that the Town can raise, GBLF hopes to reduce the Town’s financial obligation for the rest.
During this “quiet period” while the Board of Library Trustees and the Town decide on the level at which they are going to support Ramsdell financially (there are certain milestones that the MBLC requires be met in order to continue to qualify for the grant), GBLF is assembling a full board, a strategic approach, professional guidance, a list of potential donors, and the support of community groups.
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