Galvin Road
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Galvin Road is the most westerly street in North Adams. Until the ancient iron-girder bridge was declared unsafe for vehicular traffic, Galvin Road was an important connecting link between Massachusetts Avenue and State Road at the North Adams-Williamstown line.
Galvin Road, like many other streets in Blackinton was named for an early settling family. The Galvin family’s most prominent member was Dr. William E. Galvin who conducted his practice from his home at 1627 Massachusetts Avenue. In 1941 the Transcript reported in a news story that on his 83rd birthday he was still practicing although he had given up making house calls. On that day he was honored by friends and neighbors for his services in the village. In 1910 he was president of the Northern Berkshire Medical Society.
Dr. Galvin was 15 years old when his family moved to Blackinton from Troy, N.Y. He completed his secondary education in North Adams schools; went on to the University of Vermont where he received his degree in 1892. He completed post-graduate work in New York City and returned to North Adams to set up the practice he would pursue throughout his lifetime.
Files
Galvin Road.
This photograph shows Galvin Road as a dirt road that once traversed that area of the city. The image is from the early part of the 1900s. | Source: Courtesy of the North Adams Historical Society.
Galvin Road Railroad Crossing.
New Galvin Road railroad gates went into operation on March 24, 1954. | Source: Courtesy of the North Adams Historical Society.