Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
When Hampshire County was established in 1662, it encompassed all of western Massachusetts, as well as parts of what is now Worcester County. In 1787, the county courthouse served as the site where Revolutionary War veterans were tried for their role in Shay’s Rebellion.
The current courthouse, in downtown Northampton, was completed in 1886 in a Romanesque style similar to that of Boston’s Trinity Church. On May 7, Hampshire County’s 350th anniversary kicked off with a celebration on the steps of the courthouse that included city councillors, mayors and state legislators.
Organizers hope that the anniversary will help the Hampshire Council of Governments to raise enough money to renovate the historic courthouse.
Todd Ford, the Hampshire Council’s executive director, said the repair and renovation of the courthouse in Northampton will cost an estimated $4 million. The council has hired a fundraising consultant.
“We are attempting to leave no stone unturned,” Ford said.
The organization is asking member communities that have adopted the Community Preservation Act to contribute CPA funds for the project. An auction of high-quality reproductions of rare maps and documents, including records from witchcraft trials, is expected to raise additional funds.
Since its creation in 1999, the Hampshire Council of Governments has assumed many of the functions previously provided by Hampshire County. The council of governments represents 15 of the county’s 20 city and towns.