Italian Cultural Center suffers damage from pipe burst

Feb. 15, 2018 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

The first floor of the Italian Cultural Center has been gutted due to water damage from a faulty pipe.
Reminder Publications photo by G. Michael Dobbs

SPRINGFIELD  – The Italian Cultural center (ICC) is calling on the community to help it from severe water damage caused in early January.

Director Lucille Brindisi and former president Gary MacQueston showed Reminder Publications the extent of the damage to the center at 56 Margaret St. The entire first floor is in the process of being gutted. Blowers are running to dry out the walls and ceilings as workmen carry debris out.

MacQueston explained that he came to the ICC on Jan. 9 and was shocked to several inches of water on the floor and water pouring from the second floor. He was almost hit by a piece of falling ceiling.

“It was raining inside,” MacQueston said.

The center had been fine just several days before. The cause of the flood was a water valve on the second floor of the building separated from the pipe and the water flowed out in full force.

As of Feb. 12, the ICC board has yet to receive an estimate from its insurance company to repair the damage.

Brindisi said they have no way to accurately guess, but is sure there are tens of thousands of dollars worth of repair.

The insurance company has approved removing the damaged materials, though, they added. The walls have been stripped down to the building’s original brick surface. MacQueston explained the structure was constructed in 1912 as a fire station, but was later used as a convent and as a school.

The first floor was the area of the building where activities such as Italian movie nights and cooking classes were conducted. There was a large Italian language library located on the first floor, as well as a gift shop. MacQueston is hoping that at least some of the books can be saved.

Brindisi said the loss of the space means an immediate decrease in revenue for the non-profit organization. “Our chief source of income is gone,” MacQueston said.

The Italian language classes the ICC offers have been moved to a nearly by school thanks to Mayor Domenic Sarno, but the rest of the events have been suspended, with the exception of one bus trip scheduled to visit the Italian North End of Boston.

The water damage has meant the ICC fuel oil bill has shot up as well in an effort to dry out the building. MacQueston said for January the cost was $1,500.

What made the situation worse was the building’s alarm system was destroyed by the water that left the building vulnerable. Thieves broke into the building and “went through ever door and cabinet in here,” Brindisi said. She added the vandals obviously used a crowbar to pry open areas to see what they could steal. Electronics as well as food and wine were stolen, among other items.

“That added insult to injury,” MacQueston said. “It was really demoralizing.”

The ICC has started a Go Fund Me page at www.gofundme.com/s6h5d-disaster-at-italian-cultural-center with the goal of raising $100,000.  On the page, Stephanie Spolzino, the president of the ICC wrote, “Our building is shut down, and scheduled dinners, cultural events, cooking classes, lectures and Italian movie nights had to be cancelled. These events are needed to pay our bills and we have lost these sources of income. We don’t know how much of the damage will be covered by insurance, or when we’ll be able to open again. Early feedback from the insurance company has not been encouraging.

“In these days of electronic social media it’s easy to lose a personal connection to the culture and traditions of our parents and grandparents that made us who we are. Since 1985, our Cultural Center has strengthened those old bonds and forged new ones for younger generations.”

Donations may also be made by send a checked made out to the Italian Cultural Center, 56 Margaret St. Springfield, MA, 01105.

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