Elizabeth Freeman Center has a new home!

Why 66 Allen Street?

Photo by Kenneth C. Zirkel – via Wikimedia Commons

While the house on the hill at 43 Francis has served us well for many years, EFC is a growing organization, and we’ve simply run out of room. The building at 66 Allen St. has the space we need to perform at our best, and gives us the opportunity to add new and exciting programs for survivors, students, and the community.

Conveniently located next to City Hall and the Pittsfield Police Department, 66 Allen puts us within easy reach of many of our partner organizations. The location is more secure and more accessible than our Francis Ave. office, particularly for pedestrians and people using public transportation.

About The Old Central Fire Station

Built in 1895 from a design by Pittsfield building inspector E.J. Cowell, the Old Central First Station is the oldest surviving fire station in the city. It served as an active firehouse until 1976. In 1977, it was added to National Register of Historic Places. As of 1991, it is a part of Pittsfield’s Park Square Historic District.

You can read more about the building’s history and its architectural features in the original National Register of Historic Places application, available here.

Visiting 66 Allen Street

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EFC’s new office is located at the corner of Federal and Allen Streets, across the street from City Hall to the north and the Pittsfield Police Station to the west, next to St. Stephen’s Parish House.

While there is no designated EFC lot, parking is available on the surrounding streets and in public lots on McKay, First, and Willis Streets. Spaces are a mix of free but time-limited, and metered. All metered parking in downtown is free for the first 30 minutes during the day, as well as after 4pm on weekdays and all day on the weekend. You can view a map of available parking on this page, or visit the city’s interactive parking map here. Limited designated handicap accessible spaces are available in front of the building and across Federal Street, next to City Hall.

Our new space is in close proximity to the Pittsfield Police Department and is in an area with lots of surveillance. We recognize that this new location creates safety risks for some in our community. In line with our mission and values as an agency, we strive to safely serve our BIPOC, Immigrant, and LGBTQ community members. Our staff will work directly with clients to identify meeting locations for those who do not feel safe in our new location.