GREAT BARRINGTON’S HISTORIC CASTLE STREET FIREHOUSE GETS NEW LIFE WITH MAHAIWE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AMONG ITS FIRST TENANTS TO OCCUPY THE NEWLY RESTORED LANDMARK
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Rick Miramontez / Morgan Zysman
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
GREAT BARRINGTON’S
OLD FIREHOUSE
GETS NEW LIFE
MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR RESTORATION NEARS COMPLETION
MAHAIWE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
AMONG FIRST TENANTS TO OCCUPY THE NEWLY RESTORED LANDMARK
AS YEAR-ROUND PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX
SEEKS TO EXTEND ITS MISSION
Great Barrington, MA (March 8, 2024) – Warrior Trading announced today that it is nearing completion of the restoration of Great Barrington’s Historic Firehouse at 20 Castle Street. Following a multi-million-dollar refurbishment, including a new roof and windows, brick repointing, steel girder stabilization, environmental remediation, ADA compliance, rebuilding the historic “hose tower,” and more, the scaffolding on the iconic structure has come down, making way for use for first-floor retail and second-floor office space.
Purchased by Ross and Lauren Cameron in 2020, the architecturally-significant firehouse, built in 1898, became a labor of love and, in its preservation, a gift to the town. In addition to their own business, Warrior Trading, Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center will also be among the first tenants, using it to supplement to their existing space next door.
In a statement, the Camerons said, “We are so thrilled that the Mahaiwe will be moving into the Castle Street Firehouse. As long-time Mahaiwe supporters, we were excited to be able to offer the space at a reduced rental rate so they could expand their work. The Mahaiwe’s use of the space to bring more performing arts to Great Barrington seems like one of the best ways we can honor the history of the building.”
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Executive Director Janis Martinson says, “We are grateful to Lauren and Ross for making it possible for the Mahaiwe to extend its mission with this space, and we look forward to sharing our plans in the coming months.”
The property’s myriad improvements will also include a complete relandscaping, designed to invite pedestrians to flow from the top of Railroad Street to the attractions on Castle Street.
Warrior Trading was founded by Ross Cameron in 2012. Today Warrior Trading is a thriving community of thousands of day traders learning to trade under the curriculum designed by Ross. The Camerons, through their business, have donated more than $1million to charity, mostly benefiting local Berkshire non-profits, including the Mahaiwe and other local performing arts programs. For more information, see Warriortrading.com. One ground floor space in the restored building is still available. For more information see castlestreetfirehouse.com.
The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is a year-round presenter of world-class music, dance, theater, classic films, Live in HD broadcasts, and arts education programs for the southern Berkshires and neighboring regions. The intimate jewel box of a theater opened in 1905. Since 2005, the performing arts center has hosted over 1,500 events and welcomed over half a million people through its doors. More than 26,000 students from 75 different schools have benefited from the Mahaiwe’s school-time performances and in-school artist residencies. For more information, see Mahaiwe.org.
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