Preservation & People (PM Newsletter), Winter / Spring 2006

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S.POSTAGE PAID

BOSTON, MAPERMIT NO. 52216

PreservatiON MASS45 School StreetBoston, MA 02108tel. 617-723-3383fax 617-523-3782www.preservationmass.org

PRESERVATION

MASS

Save Your Seat!

Preservation Massachusetts Awards DinnerThursday, May 11, 2006

The Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston(image courtesy of the Fairmont Copley Plaza)

&PRESERVATION

Vol. 21, NO. 1 PRESERVATION MASS WINTER/SPRING 2006

PreservationPeopleMASS

• Trinity and Ten: 2005 Fall Event ..........5

• 2005 Ten Most Endangered ................6

• Into the West ........................……….11

• 2006 Seminars & Workshops ............13

I N T H I S I S S U E

Here Today…

…Gone TomorrowThe First J.P. Coburn House on Beacon Hill was listed on the 2005 10 Endangered for its architectural and historic significance.Before the official announcement could take place, the building was gutted and partly demolished by the removal of the roof andsecond story in October. See the complete story on page….

2005 Ten Most Endangered

2 Preservation & People, Winter/Spring 2006

Preservation MassBOARD OF DIRECTORS 2006

Officers

James G. Alexander, FAIA, ChairClaudia Sauermann Wu, Vice-ChairJames W. Igoe, PresidentDavid Siewers, TreasurerJack Hodgkins, Assistant TreasurerAllen F. Johnson, Clerk

Board of DirectorsThomas F. BirminghamKathleen Leahy Born, AIACarol BratleyJean Carroon, AIAMark ChardavoyneAnthony ConsigliMerrill H. DiamondBeverley JohnsonDouglas KelleherRobert H. Kuehn, Jr.Sean McDonnellLouis MillerClarissa RoweYanni TsipisRita WalshLynn Wolff

Staff

James W. Igoe, PresidentElsa Fitzgerald, Special ProjectsManagerLinda K. Lukas, Corporate DevelopmentErin D A Kelly, Office Manager/Preservation Advocate

PreservatiON MASS gratefully acknowledges

the following Corporate Members

Plat inumArchi tectural Her i tageFoundat ionBoston Red Sox Foundat ionWinn Development

GoldJames W. F lett Co. , Inc.The Max and Victor ia DreyfusFoundat ion

BenefactorsThe Beacon CompaniesBoston Red SoxCarpenter & Company, Inc.C.B. R ichard E l l i s – NE Partners LPCBT/Chi lds.Bertman.Tseckares. Inc.Cons ig l i Const ruct ion Co. , Inc.Eps i lon AssociatesF inegold Alexander + AssociatesHis tor ic Boston, Inc.NER Const ruct ion Management,Inc.Suf fo lk Const ruct ionWorcester Center for Per formingArts

P lease v i s i t www.preservat ionmass.org

for a complete l i s t of a l l our

Corporate Members

From the President,Traditionally, this issue of Preservation & People describes our Ten Most

Endangered resources. This year has been an exceptional one for our strongestadvocacy program. Before our official announcement of the list, we experi-enced the thrills of success and the pain of loss. Supporters of the WenhamTown Hall used an early notice to stave off demolition and an amendment thatwould severely compromise the authority of a local Historic District Commis-sion. Only a few days later we learned of a partial and compromising demoli-tion at the site of the First John P. Coburn House on Beacon Hill that broughtthe fragility of our historic resources right to our doorstep. This is also theappropriate time to look back at last year and as importantly, look forward toour vision for 2006 and our optimism as we move both new and current pro-grams forward.

Amazingly; I’m in my fifth year at Preservation Massachusetts. In the fourplus years that I’ve been a part of the statewide, there have been lots of changes,new board members, new programs and new challenges. I want to thank every-one, past and present, who’ve worked so hard on landscape and historic proper-ties issues over the past 20 years.

Let’s look back at some of our accomplishments during a terrific 2005. TheAnnual Awards Dinner with the Red Sox owners replete with World Series ringswas not only exciting but hugely rewarding as our most important fund raisingevent of the year. As always, our Fall Event, showcasing our Ten Most Endan-gered Properties list has become a big annual event in its own right.

Preservation Massachusetts’ leadership efforts with the State Tax Credit tookwhat was initially nothing more than a bit of hope and a proposal three yearsago to being recognized nationally as an excellent economic development moti-vator. The annual cap, when passed, will be between 30 and 50 million dollars.This tax credit has created and solidified partnerships between preservationistsand developers that was thought unimaginable several years ago. Clearly thisleadership effort has been good for preservation in Massachusetts but alsoimportant as we’ve developed growing corporate relationships and membershipbase. We can very proudly say that we’ve taken the initiative and the lead forseveral years and today it’s really paying off.

Looking ahead, we hope to make 2006 just as successful a year, if not moreso! Our ever growing Barn Task Force is capitalizing on two successful confer-ences with a series of seminars and their third annual conference this fall. Wecontinue to look for funding opportunities for a Field Service Coordinator toassist communities dealing with the still lingering Archdiocese property closings.Our Historic District/Historic District Commissions Committee has scheduled aseries of the educational Preservation 101 and 201 programs for the year. Andour latest venture, a Circuit Rider proposal for Central and Western Massachu-setts! In partnering with the National Trust, we see this program as a great toolto effectively broaden our statewide influence and impact, while providing pro-fessional preservation assistance and support to areas of the Commonwealth thatwe currently unable to reach. Please read the “Into the West: AdventuresBeyond Rt. 495” article for the full story!

Clearly, Preservation Massachusetts continues to grow and mature into thestrong, effective and supportive statewide preservation organization that all ofus envisioned when I came on five years ago. There is still much to do and weseek all the support we can get from our membership and preservation mindedcitizens of the Commonwealth! Here’s to building on our success in 2006!

Jim IgoePresident, Preservation Mass

Winter/Spring 2006, Preservation & People 3

A Great Preservation Tool: The Consultant’s Directory

PPRREESSEERRVVAATTIIOONN CCOOAALLIITTIIOONN

U P D A T EErin Kelly

2005 was an extremely busy and productive yearfor the Massachusetts Preservation Coalition. Ourwork with the Massachusetts State Tax Credit neverfaltered, and we start 2006 by awaiting an increasein annual cap to somewhere between $30 and $50million. With the help of Paul Pezzella, the Coali-tion Lobbyist, our presence at the State House hasbeen a tremendous asset to the Coalition, the TaxCredit, and preservation in general.

The Coalition has also been monitoring the ongo-ing property dispositions within the Boston Arch-diocese. The Coalition’s Religious PropertiesSubcommittee has reconvened to keep updated onthe status of many of the properties up for sale.Preservation Massachusetts submitted a proposal toThe Boston Foundation for funding for a Field Ser-vice Coordinator who would work with communi-ties facing the sale of Archdiocesan properties. TheArchdiocese closings and dispositions are a preser-vation issue that requires full time attention and lotsof community interaction. As a statewide, Preserva-

tion Massachusetts is the ideal organization to seekout funding such a position, with the support andhard work done by the Religious Properties Sub-committee.

In December 2005, the Coalition was given apresentation on Building Codes as they relate to his-toric buildings, by Wendell Kalsow of McGinleyKalsow & Associates. The presentation highlightedseveral issues with regards to the building codes,and has prompted discussion within the Coalition ifbuilding codes is another issue to tackle.

The Coalition also saw a few new faces this year.Historic New England joined the Coalition, withPreservation Team Leader Wendy Price attendingmeetings. The Waterfront Area Historic League ofNew Bedford gained a new Executive Director inLisa Sughrue, and the National Trust for HistoricPreservation brought on Rebecca Williams as theirCoalition attendee. Boston Preservation Alliance’snew Director Sarah Kelly had her first Coalitionmeeting in January 2006.

Preservation Mass is a clearing-house for preservation informa-tion and resources throughoutthe state of Massachusetts on adaily basis. Over the past yearwe have fielded numerousinquiries from interested partiesseeking preservation profession-als; whether it was a preservationconsultant, architectural historianor architect to assist with historicresources surveys, national regis-ter nominations, state and federaltax credit applications, stainedglass restoration or materials con-servation just to name a few cate-gories of interest. In response tothese requests, Preservation Masshas developed a ConsultantsDirectory, under the supervisionof Elsa Fitzgerald, Special ProjectManager. This compilation of

various consultants will list theirindividual specialties along withcontact information. This direc-tory will be posted on our web-site as a public service and hardcopies made available for a fee of$5.00. Advancing the best ofpreservation methodologies andpractices throughout Massachu-setts is an important role forPreservation Mass. If you wouldlike more information about theConsultants Directory or applica-tion materials, please contact ElsaFitzgerald at 978-535-5556,email: [email protected] call Preservation Mass at 617-723-3383 Please note thatPreservation Mass does notassume any responsibility for theaccuracy of the listings or for theperformance of those listed.

Anyone using the directoryassumes full responsibility forchecking the consultant’s creden-tials. Listing does not imply orendorsement or recommendationby Preservation Mass.

YOUR AD HERE!!Did you know that Preser-vation & People reachesover 900 people acrossMassachusetts and otherstates?? Send your message,promote your presence!Advertise in Preservation &People NOW!

Contact [email protected]


0 – 30 + In Three YearsTThhee SSttoorryy ooff tthhee MMaassssaacchhuusseettttss SSttaattee HHiissttoorriicc RReehhaabbiilliittaattiioonn TTaaxx CCrreeddiitt

Erin Kelly

Nearly four years ago Jim Igoe knew therewas a need. A need for the statewide preser-vation organization to take a position of lead-ership amongst the Massachusettspreservation organizations. The Massachu-setts Preservation Coalition brought togetherlocal, state and national preservation organi-zations in Massachusetts in an effort to speakwith a unified voice for preservation issues.The first question they asked themselves wassimple: what is the most important goal thatthe Coalition can achieve to advance historicpreservation across the Commonwealth? Theresulting answer would chart the Coalitionand Preservation Massachusetts’ course forthe next three years and change the view ofhistoric preservation across the Common-wealth.

The State Historic Rehabilitation TaxCredit was seen by the Coalition as importantfor the advancement of historic preservation,but it was equally as important to educate ourlegislators as to the value of preservation.This was no small task by any stretch of themind.

Working tirelessly with our lobbyist, theCoalition and Preservation Massachusettsearned credibility within the legislature anddevelopment community. Studies andresearch into other states with tax credit pro-grams, such as Rhode Island, Maryland andMissouri, avoided the Coalition having to“recreate the wheel”. Economic projectionsand numbers were calculated and presentedto show our legislators and developers thatpreservation is a viable tool for economicdevelopment and yes, preservation can work!Many historic buildings were not feasible forrehabilitation before this valuable credit. Addin the ability to dovetail with the Federal TaxCredit and this credit became all the moreappealing.

The Coalition witnessed success as the taxcredit was signed by Governor Romney inNovember of 2003, with a 20% credit, $10million available annually for 5 years. Nowthe real work could begin. For the the pasttwo years the Coalition has watched the over-whelming demand for the credit far exceedthe allotted amount available. Many wonder-ful and catalyst preservation projects were notable to receive critical funding. By pushingfor a substantial increase or removal of thecap, the Coalition hopes to see many worthypreservation projects receive the valuablecredits needed to make them a reality.

Our work and determination has notwavered and our hard work is showing. Thisyear our tax credit was included in both theHouse and Senate Economic Stimulus Pack-ages, at the amounts of $50 million and $30million respectively. We continue to lobbyour legislators and advocate for that highercap for the benefit of our cities and townswith hundreds of historic buildings awaitingrehabilitation.

We hope to become a template from whichother states seeking tax credits can draw. This

past December, JimIgoe gave the KeynoteSpeech at the ReznickGroup’s Tax Credit

Conference at the Ritz Carlton, telling thestory of our path to tax credit success to near-ly 100 attendees from across the country.Our work has also been featured by theNational Trust Statewide and Local PartnersProgram. We have done a lot to be proud of,but much more awaits us! We feel these cred-its exemplify the benefits of preservation part-nering with development and economicrevitalization. We started at zero, who knowswhere we will go next!


Trinity and Ten2005 Fall Preservation Event

Preservation Massachusetts President Jim Igoe and Board Chair Jim Alexander spoke a few words of wel-come and the importance of this 12th annual listing. Event Co-Chair Yanni Tsipis, also from the Board, alsoextended his welcomes and thanks for a great event. Board Member Jean Carroon from Goody Clancy, whoundertook the restoration project, discussed the restoration. Special recognition was given to several sub-contractor firms who had joined Preservation Massachusetts as Corporate Members because of the event atTrinity Church. Their great work is evident to all who visit this great new space.

Jim Igoe with the Rocky Nexk Attendees Jim Igoe with Ruth and “Brother Blue” Hill. Ms. Hill is SamuelHarrison’s great-granddaughter

Bradford College Campus NominatorsAuburn High School Attendees

O n a November night, Preservation Massachusetts gathered together supporters, friends, membersand advocates for the 4th annual Fall Preservation Event. Guests mingled and marveled in thenewly redesigned and renovated Undercroft of Trinity Church in Copley Square. In the midst of

the wonderful masonry work, woodwork and warmth of this restored space stood 10 examples of our Com-monwealth’s Most Endangered Historic Resources. The juxtaposition of a great preservation success andpreservation success waiting to happen is the central component of the event.

Along with our Board of Directors, valued members, preservation colleagues, and guests, there was atremendous showing of support from the nominators of the Endangered Resources. Their presence andpassion for their resource resonated in a tangible energy throughout the entire evening. From large andenergetic groups, to descendants of the resource’s original owners, their attendance was a wonderful addi-tion and their stories captivated all.


For the past 12 years, Preservation Massachusetts has annually spotlighted imperiled buildings andlandscapes across the Commonwealth. Using our statewide presence, we rally support for historicresources threatened by neglect, insufficient funding, inappropriate development, insensitive public pol-icy or vandalism. Endangered nominations are made by local groups and individuals throughoutMassachusetts who are concerned about the possible loss of these historic resources. Each nominationis then subject to a detailed process of selection by a varied committee representative of state, local, andnational preservation expertise. The listing helps focus attention on the condition of the properties andtheir importance to their communities, strengthening their ability to negotiate the future of theseresources. To date, fewer than one dozen of the more than one hundred sites listed have been lost todemolition and at least fifteen sites have been saved, while many more are progressing well towardstheir preservation goals.!

Preservation Massachusetts has taken a leading role to provide focus for these resources on a highly visiblestatewide level. By bringing together the efforts of many preservationists and organizations, we have madethe 10 Most Endangered Historic Resources an effective and impactful advocacy program. We now take onthe task of making the 2005 list preservation success stories!

2005 Ten Most EndangeredHistoric Resources of Massachusetts

Photos: Top left, Union Station, Worcester

(1993), Detail from Immaculate Conception,

Holyoke (2003), East Brookfield Railroad

Station (2002).

Bottom Left: Vacant Buildings of Downtown

Holyoke (2002), Union Station, Worcester,

Present day success.


Auburn High School, Auburn

Photo: Auburn Historic Commission

Auburn High School, designed by famousWorcester architect Lucius Wallace Briggs, was builtin 1935. With money from “New Deal” programs,the exceptional craftsmanship and high qualitymaterials used were possible through governmentfunding during the Great Depression. Sitting atop agrassy embankment on a major thoroughfare,Auburn High School retains its original grandeurand historic elements.

The entirety of Auburn High School is slated fordemolition in 2006 when a new school facility willopen. Demolition of the 1935 school will clear theway for planned softball fields. Relocation of thesefields invokes Title Nine conflicts. The AuburnSchool Reuse Committee was granted a three yearwindow, ending in December 2005, to find viablereuse scenarios for the original portion of theschool. The Committee has identified other loca-tions for the disputed sports fields and believes theschool could be used for housing, community eventsor function space. In a community with little his-toric fabric remaining, many see Auburn HighSchool as a site to be saved.

First John P. Coburn House, Beacon Hill

Situated in an enclosed courtyard blocked frompublic view, the First John P. Coburn House is a wasa two story early 19th century Federal Style brickhouse, evident of early Beacon Hill architecture.John P. Coburn was a successful African Americanbusinessman and abolitionist who lived in the housefrom 1835 until 1843. His story is essential to the

history of the black community on Beacon Hill andBoston.

The future of the Coburn House hangs by athread. Exempted from demolition delay and notvisible from a public way it was also exempted fromreview by the Beacon Hill Architectural Commis-sion. The owner of the property recently actedupon approved permits for “rehabilitation” whichresulted in the excessive removal of the second floorand roof. ISD recently halted all further work butthe proposed plans would totally erase any trace ofhistoric integrity.

Many in the community were unaware of theplight of the Coburn House and as preservationistsplanned to announce its fragile state, worst fearswere realized. It is a reminder that even buildings onBeacon Hill can fall through the cracks of preserva-tion. The fragility of our historic resources is a factthat must never be forgotten or taken for granted.

Rocky Neck, Gloucester

Photo: Rocky Neck Art Colony

Photos: Historic Boston, Inc.Left: September 2005, Right: October 2005


Rocky Neck began as an isolated sheep pasturethat eventually became a hub of maritime industry,with the famed “Tarr & Wonson” copper bottompaint factory right on Gloucester Harbor. Artistsflocked to this scenic locale during the 1880’s, cre-ating one of the oldest continually operating artistcolonies in the nation. The first threat to RockyNeck is recent development plans for the Tarr &Wonson factory that would demolish 70% of thefactory buildings and do little to replicate its historicintegrity. Second, increased demand for waterfrontresidential property is pushing out artist housingand gallery space as market rates rise, which couldultimately lead to the demise of this unique culturaljewel.

The Rocky Neck Art Colony, along with othergroups, wish to increase recognition to keep theircommunity intact. Without the aid or protection ofany preservation ordinances, these groups are hop-ing to educate a wider audience about their tangiblehistoric links and importance to Gloucester.

Bradford College Campus, Haverhill

Photo: Haverhill Historic Society

The campus of Bradford College centers on aclassical “U” shaped quadrangle and encompassesbuilding styles from Second Empire to Colonial andClassical Revival, ranging from the 1860’s, 1930’sand 1960’s. Academic roots stretch back to the1830’s, but Bradford became the first accreditedJunior College in 1932. Buildings such as Academyand Hasseltine Hall are part of the Bradford Com-mon Local and National Register Historic Districts.These campus buildings are integral historic ele-ments of a largely residential neighborhood.

Closed in 2000, the campus was purchased byGFI Partners in 2002 with plans for rehabilitationand resale to an educational institution. HistoricKimball Tavern was to be gifted to the Bradford

Alumni Association and Haverhill Historic Society.Presently the buildings are receiving barely minimalmaintenance and are suffering from vacancy. Thepromised gifting of the Tavern is not progressingand there is a fear that the buildings could end upbeing demolished if not rehabilitated soon. TheHaverhill Historic Society, partnered with the Brad-ford Alumni Association feel that the buildings pres-ent tremendous reuse opportunity and are deeplyconcerned for the future of this campus.

Jabez Lewis Farmhouse, Jamaica Plain

Photo: Jamaica Hills Association

Built between 1822 and 1827, the Jabez LewisFarmhouse is a largely intact Federal style testamentto the agricultural roots of the communities sur-rounding the urban center of Boston in the early19th century. Sitting on land owned by the ArnoldArboretum of Harvard University, the house is acomponent of the National Historic Site designationgiven to the Arboretum.

The house is currently vacant and overtaken byvegetation, but the largest threat is posed by theArboretum itself. A proposed Institutional MasterPlan cited possible demolition of the house to makeway for a maintenance facility. The Arboretum stat-ed they were exploring all options, including mov-ing, restoration and reuse, but quoted costs werehigh. Very recently Harvard announced the cancel-lation of the maintenance facility plan, due to com-munity concerns and pressures. Still, this resourcesits vacant, unused, and could succumb to demoli-tion by neglect.

The Jamaica Hills Association and other citizenshave voiced their concern that the house should be


preserved as one of the few remaining farmhousesin the metro Boston area. The community sees arestoration and reuse as the only way to truly savethis valuable historic resource.

Fairhaven Mills #4, New Bedford

Photo: WHALE

Fairhaven Mills #4, originally known as BennettMills, was constructed in 1892. At the height of thetextile industry, New Bedford was the largest pro-ducer of fine cotton in the country. From 1911 -1912, master photographer Lewis Hines pho-tographed children working in the Fairhaven Millsas part of a nationwide documentation of childlabor. His resulting work led Congress to enact theChild Labor Law of 1916.

In May 2005, New Bedford City Council votedto approve demolition of the Mill for parkingspaces for a new Home Depot development whichwould include a Home Depot retail store and futureretail and restaurant space. Demolition could beginas early as spring of 2006.

Along with WHALE, many in the city believe themill can be incorporated into the proposed projectplan. The mill is structurally sound and currentlyoccupied, presenting many opportunities for reuse.Fairhaven Mills stands apart, as a tangible link tothe very foundations of our government and thecreation of the laws that shape the society we live intoday.

Samuel Harrison House, PittsfieldThis small Greek Revival home was built in the

1858 by Reverend Samuel Harrison. Harrison, anAfrican-American clergyman and longtime residentof Pittsfield, contributed an important voice to thephilosophical and political debate over race rela-tions throughout the 19th century. Harrison wasalso chaplain of the 54th Massachusetts VolunteerInfantry, the “Glory” brigade of all African Ameri-can soldiers during the Civil War.

Photo: Samuel Harrison Society

The home remained in Harrison’s family until itwas given to the Samuel Harrison Society. It is cur-rently unoccupied and this leads to the constantthreats of vandalism, arson, dumping and vagrancy.Outright demolition is not a concern but the Societyand interested citizens in Pittsfield fear the housecould still be lost.

The Samuel Harrison Society endeavors torestore the property and grounds for use as an edu-cational tool to promote Harrison’s noble life,enduring beliefs and extraordinary writings. Thehouse is the embodiment of Harrison’s values in atumultuous and radical time in Massachusetts andAmerican history, the results of which changed thecourse of a nation.

Civilian Conservation Corps. Camp, Upton

Photo: Upton Historical Commission

The CCC Camp, located in Upton State Forest, isone of only five remaining examples of Corps.Camps in the state. Consisting of parade grounds,barracks, a main building and cottages, this complexhoused the Corps. members while they undertookprojects like Dean Dam, Park and Middle Road dur-ing the Great Depression. In the 1940’s, the Massa-chusetts State Guards used the site as Camp Stoverand it was field quarters for Massachusetts Fish andGame and Phillips Wildlife Lab through 1956.

The camp is currently unoccupied with minimalsustaining maintenance. As a satellite of the Black-stone Heritage Area with a small staff, there are no


budgeted funds specifically for the Upton buildings.Main concerns are structural failure due to weatherconditions as well as vandalism.

There is an immediate need for an assessmentsurvey of the various building conditions. Con-cerned groups see the camp as a potential reuse withpossibilities ranging from meeting spaces to class-room that showcase the CCC and life at the camp.

The Town Hall, Wenham

Photo: Citizens for an Affordable Town Hall

The Town Hall, built in 1854, sits in the midst ofWenham Town Center, forming the crux of a localhistoric district and an interesting architectural col-lection along Main Street. The building has servedthe town through a number of uses over the years,from school rooms, housing the town library, tosocial functions and selectmen’s meetings.

Due to lack of maintenance, town offices weremoved in 2002 and restoration estimates were moreexpensive than originally thought. Plans to demol-ish the Town Hall for a new facility including aPolice Station were considered, but the Historic Dis-trict Commission refused the demolition proposal.Selectmen proposed to exempt the Town Hall andother town owned properties from the District andprotection of the Commission. Such an act wouldhave been a devastating precedent setting event andusurping of the Commission’s authority.

Many local citizens were outraged at the pro-posed demolition and rallied to save the Town Hall.At a special town meeting in October of 2006,Preservation Massachusetts made an earlyannouncement of the Town Hall’s inclusion on theTen Endangered List. The recognition and aware-ness generated helped to vote down the districtexemption, demolition and approved a restoration,which will make this Town Hall a true preservationsuccess.

Butters Farm, Wilmington

Photo: Wilmington Historical Commission

Butters Farm has been continuously lived in forover 320 years, and retains some original first peri-od fabric. It is thought to be the second oldesthouse in Wilmington. The Butters Family wereamong the town’s earliest settlers and their farmsaw the discovery of the Baldwin Apple in the lateeighteenth century.

Butters Farm sits on a parcel of land being sold toa developer, with plans to demolish the house fornew construction. The town has the option to pur-chase the house at market price for $450,000 withan extended decision deadline of June 2006. Thedeveloper has offered to gift the house with the pro-vision that it be moved from the site, but many inthe town feel the land is just as significant as thehouse itself.

Many in the community feel the house should besaved due to the ties with the historic beginnings ofWilmington and not lost in the waves of new con-struction. Reuse options are being considered in aneffort to keep this historic resource a part of thecommunity.

Please visit our website, www.preservationmass.org to view more images andinformation about these resources and also viewarchives of our past endangered listings. Preservation Massachusetts compiles this listing ofendangered historic resources on an annual basis.Endangered nomination forms are available fromour office and on our website. We will be accept-ing nominations for the 2006 list beginning thisspring.If you would like more information about theprogram, please contact Erin Kelly at 617-723-3383.


Stretching westward from Metro-Boston, the Commonwealth boasts sce-nic landscapes of rolling hills and fields,beautiful rivers, forests and mountains.The natural beauty of the central andwestern regions of Massachusetts isundeniable. Amid these physical featuresare wonderful historic resources; build-ings, structures, communities and land-scapes, comparable to anywhere else inthe Commonwealth. Those quaint“quintessential” New England towns,19th century industrial sites, historicmain streets and storefronts, etc. can befound in many wonderful locations westof Route 495.

But these historicresources are faced withthe same issues andproblems that plaguepreservationists every-where. Many smallcommunities are tryingto find ways to retaintheir sense of characterby utilizing preservation.Convincing local govern-ment and citizens as tothe importance and justi-fiability of preservationin an effort to keep vinylsiding from being placed

on the historic town hall or rehabilitatinga historic school rather than demolitionin favor or a new building only are onlya few of difficulties facing many of thesecommunities.

These problems are not unique to thecentral and western parts of Massachu-setts. As the preservation organization

for the entire Commonwealth, Preserva-tion Massachusetts has often noted withdismay, the lack of preservation expertiseand assistance in these parts of our state.There are no staffed local preservationnon-profits west of Worcester, and theinactivity of local Historic Commissionswest of 495 is staggering. Those dedicat-ed preservation professionals in theseregions are doing all they can, but moresupport and assistance is clearly needed.

Preservation Massachusetts has oftenfelt the pull to the western regions of ourstate. There is a definite need for ourorganization’s support and expertise, butwith such a small staff, even a state thesize of Massachusetts can feel like impos-sibly large. So what could we possibly doto support these regions?

Ten years ago, the National Trustteamed up with the Preservation Trust ofVermont to test a Shared Field Servicepilot program. This program foundfunding for two part-time preservationprofessionals who would be “in thefield”, working with locals and commu-nities hands-on in their preservationissues while educating about the services

Into the West:Adventures Beyond Rt. 495

Erin Kelly

Abdandoned Buildings, MainStreet, Holyoke

Plunkett Hospital, North Adams


of the National Trust and VermontStatewide. This program was a tremen-dous success and demonstrated tangibleimpact and network building in manycommunities throughout Vermont. Simi-lar programs have been implemented inConnecticut, and most recently NewHampshire received funding to begin asimilar program. The next logicalthought; would this work for Massachu-setts?

Given the amount of preservationexpertise and the level of sophistication inBoston and on the eastern half of thestate, this program appeared to be a logi-cal way to extend Preservation Massachu-setts’ mission into the areas that were inthe most need.

During the last week of January, 2006,Preservation Massachusetts, along withthe Northeast Office of the NationalTrust, packed some bags and headed intothe west for two days of PreservationRoundtables to listen to the concerns,ideas and opportunities in these centraland western Massachusetts communities.Meetings were held in Worcester,Holyoke, Pittsfield and Fitchburg andwere well attended by historic commis-sion members, concerned citizens, elected

officials, developers, preservation consult-ants, and more. Before PreservationMassachusetts embarked on a proposalfor these Shared Field Service officers, or“Circuit Riders”, we really wanted to hearwhat the communities thought. Wouldthis program be beneficial? Where didthey most need the support?

The sessions were thought provoking,inspiring, deeply insightful and gave usresounding affirmation that this programwould be embraced and beneficial to cen-tral and western parts of the state. Ideal-ly, Preservation Massachusetts sees theseCircuit Riders as another layer of profes-sional support to the people already “inthe trenches” and work in tandem withwhat already exists. Partnership is key topreservation!

During our two day adventure outWest, we gained valuable knowledge, gotterrific feedback and met a great group ofpeople all engaged with preservation!Now we set about the task for formulat-ing our proposal in an effort to get thisgreat potential off and running!

Jim Igoe & Mayor Dan Mylott of Fitchburg

The Roundtable at Open Square, Holyoke


The HDHC COMMITTEE: 2006 is getting offto a flying start with a schedule of three regionalworkshops being planned for early February in EssexCounty, March 11th in Metro-West at the Museumof Our National Heritage, Lexington, and in May inWorcester. Three more workshops are planned forthe Springfield, Pittsfield and New Bedford areas inthe fall.

The Historic District and Historic CommissionCommittee of Preservation Mass has developed sev-eral training modules in collaboration with theMassachusetts Historical Commission.

The February and May workshops, co-sponsoredby Essex National Heritage Commission and Preser-vation Worcester, will present Preservation 201:Workshop on MHC Historic Property InventoryForms. The community-wide survey is a preserva-tion planning and research tool. Completing a com-prehensive inventory represents a town’s historicaldevelopment by being chronologically and geo-graphically comprehensive, and reflecting a fullrange of historic resource types within a community.Preservation 201 will assist you to meet those goalsand include topics such as organizing a survey proj-ect and identifying local survey priorities, developinghistoric contexts, use of architectural terms in draft-ing property descriptions, and completing historicproperty inventory forms, with a focus on Form B-Building.

The March 11th workshop co-sponsored by theMuseum of Our National Heritage, will presentPreservation 101 which will introduce the basic con-cepts of preservation planning on a local level andalso introduce you to the array of organizations andagencies that make up the preservation constellation.

There are many entities both large and small thatcan assist the local commissioner and his/her col-leagues in maintaining a community’s sense of placeand character. Tools that are available to the localhistoric preservation community, such as architectur-al surveys, listing on the National Register of His-toric Places, demolition delay bylaws, andpreservation restrictions, will be discussed.

The BARN TASKFORCE of PreservationMass held their verysuccessful annual con-ference in Leominsteron October 29th. As afollow up to that event,the BTF is planning a “Barn Basics”seminar on April1st at Northshore Community College, in Danvers.This event is co-sponsored by the Essex NationalHeritage Commission. “Barn Basics” will present aprogram that provides practical, cost effective ideasfor restoring and rehabilitating old barns. The BTFis also planning some “Barn Talk” gatherings for aninformal exchange of barn issues at various sitesaround the state as well as the annual Preserve MassBarns Conference, which is planned for the fall, sostay tuned for details!

Please visit www.preservationmass.org click onHDHC Committee or Barn Task Force for moredetails on dates and registration after January 6th.

2006 Workshops and Seminars from

Preservation MassachusettsElsa Fitzgerald

Individual Memberships

Springfield Armory National ParkInternet Hockey DatabaseShantia AnderheggenDouglas AndersonJohn AndersonPeter Aucella Daniel Barton Barbara Bashevkin Laura Rigsby Bernstein Jean Allen Bird David L. Bittermann Evelyn Davoren Bon Tempo Anne Booth Sarah Robbins Bradshaw Nancy S. BrickleyJohn K. BullardMichael Burrey Christian C. Carey Sarah Carothers Christoper Carpenter Susan McDaniel CeccacciDavid CecchiThomas Charnecki Sara B. Chase Barbara Cleary, Historic Salem, Inc.Bruce S.CohenDoris Cole, FAIA James Nicoll Cooper Cheryl A. Copeland Anthony Costello Claire Dempsey, BU Preservation

Studies ProgramJean Marie DerderianJoan K. Dillon Brett Donham Thomas J. ElmoreMinxie Jensvold FanninGregory Farmer Russel Feldman Marilyn Fenollosa Winifred Fitzgerald John Fobert

Anne McCarthy Elizabeth Friedberg Allan S. Galper Barbara George Alan Gordon John K. Grondalski Anthony T. Guerriero Craig HalvorsonBeth A. HardingMelissa Haskell-DeTerraGrace G. Hoag Jack Hodgkins Erica A. Holthausen Kevin Hudson Joanne L. Iovino Stephen Jendrysik Esther M. Jepson Margo P. ones Wendall C. KalsowArthur J. Krim Paul Lapointe Joan Lee Monique Lehner Richard J. Lundgren Barbara Mac Ewan Kaethe O’ Keefe Maguire Aaron A Marcavitch Judy Markland Fred Martin Mary Rhinelander McCarl Paul J. McGinleyHeli Meltsner Nancy Merrill A. Brown Miller Theresa A. Mitrowski Andrea Mones Charlotte B. Moore Susan S. Nelson Wendy Nicholas Dorsey Carl R. Nold Historic New EnglandEric O’Brien Jeryl Oristaglio George Ostler

Bonnie Parsons Jane Philippi Cristina N. Prochilo Charles Raso Allan Rodgers Joseph V. Roller Daniel L. Romanow Jessica Rowcroft McKenna Tamara Safford Priscilla Sapienza Gretchen Schuler Ralph SchulmanPeg Senturia William Shaw Philip Shwachman Betty Slade Robert F Slechta Lynn Smiledge Edward Stanley Marcia D. Starkey Barbara Timken Karen Timmermans Electa Kane Tritsch Yanni Tsipis Norman P. Tucker Howard Van Vleck Donna Walcovy Rita Walsh Marcia Wengen D. Bradford Wetherell Katherine Winter Penny Wortham

Organizational Memberships

Kathleen Bartolini: FraminghamPlanning & Economic Development

Patricia Butler: Nantucket PreservationTrust

Ann J. Chapdelaine: NorthAttleborough Historical Commission

J. Francis Cove: Uxbridge HistoricalCommission


Preservation Massachusetts New and Renewed Members

4/1/05-2/28/06

THANK YOU!

Craig W. Dalton: Kingston HistoricalCommission

Sarah Korjeff: Cape Cod CommissionCarol Kowalski: Town of Concord

Historical CommissionJ. Donald Lennerton: Leicester Historical

CommissionMartha H. Lyon: Martha Lyon

Landscape Architecture, LLCMartha Remington: Bolton Historical

CommissionLori Tanner: Pioneer Valley Planning

CommissionJacqueline C. Tidman: Westborough

Historical Commission

Corporate MembersDonorA. W. Perry, Inc.Barr & Barr, Inc., BuildersThomas G. Gallagher, Inc.A.J. Martini, Inc.Stonegate Group, LLCJudith Nitsch Engineering, Inc.Dimeo ConstructionJ & M Brown Company, Inc.Lee Kennedy Co., Inc.R.F. Walsh Company

Structures North - Consulting EngineersInc.

Icon Architecture Inc.

ContributorsBrown Richardson & RoweNational Architectural TrustArrowstreet, Inc.Bratley AssociatesJohn Canning & Co. Ltd.Goody ClancyColantonio Inc.Einhorn, Yaffee, Prescott A&EBuilding Conservation AssociatesRestoration Preservation MasonryShawmut Design and ConstructionMark Richey Woodworking & Design,

Inc.Menders Torrey & Spencer Inc.Stanley Roofing Co., Inc.E.A. Fish & Associates, LLCCorcoran Jennison Company

PatronsBratley AssociatesSimpson Gumpertz & Heger, IncThe Raymond CompanyMeredith & GrewVanasse Hangen BrustlinKeith Construction, Inc.

BenefactorsBoston Red SoxConsigli Construction Co.Cassin Winn DevelopmentWorcester Center for Performing ArtsEpsilon Associates, Inc.NER Construction Management Inc.Finegold Alexander + AssociatesBeacon Communities LLCCB Richard Ellis- N.E. Partners, LP

GoldJames W. Flett Co., Inc.

PlatinumThe Boston Red Sox Foundation

Please indicate your choice of Membership Category:Personal/Non Profit: Corporate:

cc Benefactor: $1000 and above cc Benefactor: $5000 and abovecc Patron: $500 cc Patron: $2500cc Contributor: $250 cc Contributor: $1000cc Donor: $100 cc Donor: $500cc Organization: $50cc Individual $35 cc Senior/Students: $20

Join Preservation Mass! Our strength lies in the working partnership we have forged with people throughout the Commonwealth. Wewelcome all people and organizations who care about the preservation of our historic and cultural resources.

q I would like to give a gift membership to theindividual(s) listed below.Please make check(s) payable to PreservatiON MASS and mail to:PreservatiON MASS, Old City Hall45 School Street, Boston, MA 02108

Name ________________________________________________

From ________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________

City______________________State ______ Zip ____________

Phone ______________________________________________

Email ________________________________________________

PRESERVATION and PEOPLE is a membership benefit of PRESERVATION MASS. For additional membership information please call 617-723-3383.

PRESERVATION MASS can also be reached over the Internet at www.preservationmass.org


Documents

Preservation & People (PM Newsletter), Winter / Spring 2006