Church Demolition.docxHaving been raised in Northampton and upon noting the recent notices in the Daily Hampshire Gazette regarding the proposed demolition of St. John’s Cantius Church, I share the following
portion of a letter I sent to Carolyn Misch (Central Business Architecture Committee) in February of 2021.
“It is my hope that further review will be done and that serious consideration can be given to this building being repurposed. I suggest that the individuals involved in this decision
take a look at what was done in Pittsfield at the former St. Mary The Morning Star Church. David Carver of the CT Management Group (North Adams, MA) has done an amazing job with turning
the premises into extraordinary apartments with extensive thought and care taken in preserving the beauty and history of the building. St. John Cantius is an architecturally beautiful
building and it would be such a sad day for Northampton to lose this building and its history. It seems more thought and consideration could be given to all the Polish immigrants
who put so much of their love, hard work, and money into this building.”
I encourage area residents to support the Friends of St. John Cantius Church in their endeavor to stop this demolition and save this historical landmark in the City of Northampton.
Christine (Zawalick) Barbuto