Page 12 - BusinessWest March 20, 2023

“If you go back
to the 1800s, we were the largest paper producer
in the country
... and Lee has marble that’s been in a number of buildings in Washington, D.C..”
CHRISTOPHER BRITTAIN
tion ... if you really want to experience the Berkshires and everything that it has to offer, Lee’s just right in the middle
of everything,” he said. “The Berkshires is an absolute cul- tural mecca for anybody who’s interested in the arts, outdoor theater, anything of that nature. In the summertime, you have Jacob’s Pillow, Tanglewood with all of their concerts, and such. In the wintertime, you have skiing, and you have outdoor hiking. There are so many things that draw people to the area, it’s hard to say one thing in particular. For us, it’s really location, location, location.”
Chambéry Inn started off as a parochial school in the late 19th century amid some controversy over the fear of taking resources from public schools. A determined resident, Jane Sedgwick, went overseas for an audience with the Pope over the matter, and the Vatican sent five nuns from Chambéry, France to staff the building, hence the name of the inn.
The school eventually outgrew the location, and a senti- mental family whose nine children attended purchased the building for one dollar and moved it to its present location on Main Street — one block away — to prevent its demoli- tion. Now, visitors can experience the history and school- house flavor of the preserved school-turned-inn.
That’s just one of the many vignettes hidden within this storybook town. There is a present theme of preservation when it comes to the structures of Lee’s past, shown through the repurposing of spaces for businesses as well as preserva- tion-conscious municipal projects. Evidence of Lee’s historic and economic past is present all over town — and all over the country.
“If you go back to the 1800s, we were the largest paper producer in the country ... and Lee has marble that’s been in a number of buildings in Washington, D.C.,” said Christopher Brittain, Lee’s town administrator.
Lee’s major industries have stemmed from its paper mill, marble quarry, and tourism — but now events and music per- formances are also becoming economic drivers.
“I think the Lee business community is always teetering
between tourism and serving the residents,” Nacht noted. “I think we are going to see a great deal of economic growth in the next five years with new businesses and residents mov- ing in, also realizing the benefits of Lee.”
Making a Comeback
Businesses everywhere were heavily impacted during the pandemic, and those in Lee were no exception.
Take Chambéry Inn, for example, forced to shut down for the first time in 2020 — what should have been its 30-year celebration — after being deemed non-essential travel. It closed its doors for three months while not allowed to rent rooms. Despite that clear setback, the inn’s owner took the pandemic as an opportunity to come back better than ever through a few major construction projects.
“We actually took the roof completely off the building,” Healey said. “Over 130 years of roofing — three layers, ply- wood, and shingles. It was a ginormous feat ... they took the roof completely off, did a whole new roof, all new copper and chimneys. We had about 40 windows rebuilt ... we took pretty good advantage of that time.”
Similarly, the rest of Lee is in the process of bouncing back stronger than ever in the coming years. Nacht said downtown shops and the Lee Premium Outlets were hit hard, but the town is rebounding. She explained that new businesses and residents are moving in as a result of people leaving Boston and New York City, citing Lee as one of the affordable towns in the Berkshires.
One way Lee is making efforts to bounce back is by updating its 20-year comprehensive master plan. Despite being a bit behind schedule, Brittain explained, a committee is currently working on community outreach. A major ele- ment will be the Eagle Mill project, a major renovation of an old Schweitzer-Mauduit paper mill that was once a pillar of Lee’s economy.
“There will be some retail on the street end, and then the middle will be housing, apartments, that sort of thing — both
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Diana Szynal
President Springfield Regional Chamber
INTRODUCING THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The Springfield Regional Chamber’s advocacy work continues to thrive on simple, core principles that create jobs, catalyze economic development, bolster our economic health, capitalize on the diversity of our workforce, protect the competitiveness of our region and
the Commonwealth as a whole, and build a more prosperous future for us all.
Today, as a Commonwealth and a nation, we face many unique challenges. During this time of evolution and growth, we must lend our voice to the process, listen to each other’s ideas, and work together to elevate our entire community.
To our Chamber members, we thank you for your investment in our work. We are making changes, and you are making it possible. And
to those who are not Springfield Regional Chamber members, we encourage you to support our work, become a member, and be a part of the solution.
springfieldregionalchamber.com
12 MARCH 20, 2020 << COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT >> BusinessWest