preservation & people (pm newsletter), winter 2003
TRANSCRIPT
Boston Preservation AllianceThursday, May 8th, 2003Preservation AuctionLocation to be announcedFor more information visit the BPAwebsite: www.bostonpreservation.org
Department of EnvironmentalManagement & PRESERVATION MassSaturday, April 5, 2003Heritage Landscape InventoryWorkshopLocation to be announced
Lowell Historic BoardMay 9-10, 2003Second Annual Doors Open LowellFor more information, visit www.doorsopenlowell.org
2003 Massachusetts HistoricPreservation Conference“Linking Arts, Culture andPreservation”Friday, September 5, 2003Boston, MassachusettsFor more info call the MassachusettsHistorical Commission at 617-727-8470
Leadership Training SeminarSaturday, September 6, 2003For more info call PRESERVATIONMass at 617-723-3383 or visit ourwebsite: www.preservationmass.org
PRESERVATION Mass5:30 PM, Thursday, May 1, 2003Annual Preservation Awards DinnerCopley Plaza HotelFor more info call PRESERVATIONMass at 617-723-3383 or visit ourwebsite: www.preservationmass.org
Weymouth Historical Commission,The Order for the Preservation ofIndian Culture and the Fore RiverWatershed Association
Sunday, April 6, 2003, 2:00 PM380th Anniversary of the Killings atWessagussett - Memorial Ceremony. Wessagussett Memorial Gardenbetween 208 and 230 Sea Street, NorthWeymouth (off Rte. 3A).For information contact: Jodi Purdy-Quinlan, Exec. Dir., Fore RiverWatershed Association, [email protected]
Historical Records Forum“Celebrating History: Anniversaries toEducate, Promote and PreserveHistory”Friday, May 9, 2003 at MerrimackCollege in North AndoverOrganized by Secretary of theCommonwealth William FrancisGalvin, the Massachusetts HistoricalRecords Advisory Board and the EssexNational Heritage Commission.Contact: Bill Milhomme617-727-2816 X257. [email protected]
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S.POSTAGE PAID
BOSTON, MA
PERMIT NO. 52216
Mark Your Calendar!
PRESERVATION Mass
Old City Hall
45 School Street
Boston, MA 02108
PRESERVATION
MASS
&
In this Issue…From the Chair of the Board ............ 2
Grant awarded to SpringfieldPreservation Trust ............................ 4
Mass Real Estate Investment Act filedin 2002 (continued).......................... 8
Upcoming Events ..............Back Cover
Jim Igoe
I n 2002, PRESERVATION Mass createdthe Massachusetts Preservation Coali-tion, a coalition of national, state
and local organizations that meet regularlyto strengthen preservation advocacy, organiza-tional strategies. Since its inception, the Coali-
tion has been working hard to develop, file and
lobby for a state tax credit for the rehabilitation
of older commercial and residential structures.
In December 2002, after composing a final
draft, the Coalition filed the act with the State
Legislature on Beacon Hill. Representative Vin-
cent Pedone of Worcester, Representative Sal
Dimasi of Boston, Senator Jarret Barrios of Cam-
bridge, Representative Jim Marzilli of Arlington,
Senator Mark Montigny of New Bedford and
Senator Michael Knapik of Westfield were the
A.E. Coffin Press building, New Bedford, a potential state tax credit project. Built in1911, A.E. Coffin was the oldest printing company in New Bedford, specializing in busi-ness ads, calendars and bookbinding. Part of the Central New Bedford National RegisterDistrict, the Coffin building has been vacant since 1989.
The Massachusetts PreservationCoalition Files the“Massachusetts Real EstateInvestment Act of 2002”with the State Legislature
continued on page 8
PRESERVATION
Vol. 17, NO. 3 PRESERVATION Mass
PreservationPeopleMASS
2 Preservation & People, Winter 2003
From the Chair of the BoardWe’re just two months into 2003, but PRESERVATION Mass is
already working hard planning and implementing new ways to promote
and advocate for historic preservation across all 351 communities in the
Commonwealth! Over the past 12 months, we’ve changed our name and
logo, completed our Strategic Plan and brought new energy and interest
to our Board, Staff, members, partners and friends. In 2003, we hope to
further cultivate this energy through numerous exciting and important
activities:
PRESERVATION Mass joined the National Trust for Historic Preser-
vation’s (NTHP) Ad Council public service announcement campaign,
designed to raise the profile and urgency of historic preservation issues
through intriguing, amusing and informative television, radio and print
advertisements.
One of the first goals accomplished in 2003 was launching our new
website: www.preservationmass.org. While it’s a work in progress, we’re
pleased to have a fresh, up-to-date website that we’ll be building and
expanding throughout the year. Please visit the site often—we welcome
your ideas and comments on how we can continue to improve it!
In January, the Preservation Coalition of Massachusetts, a network of
local, statewide, private and public preservation organizations from across
the Commonwealth established by PRESERVATION Mass in 2002, had
the opportunity to meet with Richard Moe, President of the NTHP. The
Coalition took part in an informative and important dialogue with Mr.
Moe, during which they discussed issues such as the future of Federal
funding for local organizations.
In February, PRESERVATION Mass was a key player in the organiza-
tion of the Preservation Coalition’s Legislative Breakfast Buffet to pro-
mote the recently filed Massachusetts Real Estate Investment Act of 2002.
(See Jim Igoe’s cover article for more information about the Act.)
Our Annual Preservation Awards Dinner will be held May 1, 2003 at
the historic Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. Always an enjoyable event, we
hope to make this year’s Dinner our most successful to date! We hope
you will be able to join us for an unforgettable evening.
Our Historic District/Historical Commission (HD/HC) Committee is
diligently working on strategies for reaching out to local HD/HC’s
through educational programs. Look for information about the upcoming
HD/HC Conference in September in upcoming newsletters!
Riding on the success of the 2002 Fall Preservation Celebration, we’re
looking forward to making it an annual November event. The 2003 Cele-
bration will be particularly momentous, as it will not only promote the
2003 Ten Most Endangered Historic Resources list, but it will also com-
memorate the tenth anniversary of the Ten Most Endangered program in
Massachusetts.
We continue to be grateful for your financial support—it is essential.
But please remember that our momentum gets more and more exciting as
members like you take an active part. For one thing, we need your ideas
to help build this organization. Secondly, we encourage you to actively
join us in one or more of the following areas:
Public Outreach
School Programs
Ten Most Endangered Resources (identifying and documenting)
Marketing and Fundraising events
Government relations
It’s always a pleasure talking with our members, so please fell free to
call us. My own number is 617-262-4355.
Sincerely,
Maury Childs
Corporate Sponsors – FY 2003
Benefactor
CBT/Childs Bertman Tseckares
Patrons
Paul Faraca
Consigli Construction Company
Tofias, P.C.
Goody Clancy & Associates
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger, Inc.
Sponsors
Richard J. Lundgren
Carol Bratley, Bratley Associates Inc.
Barr & Barr, Inc., Builders
Finegold Alexander + Associates
Dimeo Construction Company
PRESERVATION Mass
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2003
Officers
Maurice Childs, FAIA, Chair of the BoardJames G. Alexander, FAIA Vice Chair
Samuel B. Knight, Jr., TreasurerClaudia Sauermann Wu, Clerk
Board of Directors
Katherine F. Abbott
Eleanor G. Ames
Peter Aucella
Ann Beha, FAIA
Arthur and Jean Bennett
Shary Page Berg
Charles Beveridge
Richard Candee
Marcia M. Cini, Esq.
Rolf Diamant
Grace Friary
Ruth Geoffroy
John F. Furlong, FASLA
Martha D. Hamilton
Gary R. Hilderbrand, ASLA
Robin Karson
David R. Keller
David Leach
Patrick A. T. Lee
Arleyn Levee
Barbara Levy
Ellen J. Lipsey
Wendy Nicholas
Julia B. O’Brien
Bruce Polishook
Christine Rinaldo
Michael Roberts
Gretchen G. Schuler
S. Christopher Scott
Stanley M. Smith
Antone G. Souza, Jr.
Jane Stirgwolt
Charles M. Sullivan
Wesley T. Ward
Patricia L. Weslowski
Tobias Yarmolinksy
Sally Zimmerman
Robert Bernstein
Carol Bratley
Jean Carroon, AIA
Anthony Consigli
Katherine D. Flynn Coughlin
Paul A. Faraca
Allen F. Johnson
Robert H. Kuehn, Jr.
Richard Lundgren
Paul J. McGinley, AICP
Otile McManus
Louis Miller
Marion Pressley, FASLA
Clarissa Rowe
Staff
Jim Igoe, Executive DirectorSarah DiSano, Program Coordinator
Kate Ranweiler, Office Manager
Community Preservation Advisors 2003
Winter 2003, Preservation & People 3
PRESERVATION Mass’
2002 Fall Preservation Celebration –A Night to Remember!
On Tuesday, November 19, 2002, PRESERVATION Mass
held its first ever Fall Preservation Celebration at The
Causeway, the former Stop & Shop Bakery in Boston.
Approximately two hundred people attended the Celebration,
making it an incredibly successful first time event! The evening
was an opportunity to celebrate numerous new and exciting his-
toric preservation events, including the official announcement of
our new name and logo and the adaptive reuse of The Causeway
building. But first and foremost, the evening was an opportunity
to focus attention on the 2002 Ten Most Endangered Historic
Resources. These significant, yet threatened resources are worthy
of preservation, due to their historic and cultural importance.
Furthermore, these resources are in need of recognition due to
their endangerment. Thank you to everyone whose generous sup-
port and enthusiastic participation helped to make the Fall Preser-
vation Celebration an exciting and extraordinary event!
L to R: Sally Daugherty of CBT, Marcia Molay, Carol Bratley ofPRESERVATION Mass, Maury Childs of PRESERVATION Mass.
L to R: Bill Steelman of Essex Heritage, Jim Igoe of PRESERVATION Mass, andLisa Burcham of the NTHP.
L to R: Marian Wrightington, Ellen Parker and VictorBonneville, advocates for the preservation of theTappan House in Attleboro.
L to R: Gregory S. Burns, Matthew D. Consigli, Evelyn BonTempo, Anthony M. Consigli, NoelC. BonTempo, and Paul E. Curran, advocates for the preservation of the Granite Building inMilford.
L to R: Richard McNeany and State Representative Mark J.Carron, advocates for preservation of the Railroad Station inEast Brookfield, with Jim Igoe of PRESERVATION Mass.
4 Preservation & People, Winter 2003
Over the past year Preservation
Mass has worked with four
local preservation organiza-
tions in Massachusetts communities in an
effort to support their ongoing efforts
towards local preservation initiatives.
The organizations are Historic Salem
(HSI), Springfield Preservation Trust
(SPT), Save Historic Holyoke and the
Waterfront Historic Area League
(WHALE) of New Bedford. Each com-
munity’s funding and/or professional
staff levels vary, but Preservation Mass
was able to work with all the organiza-
tions in differing capacities to assist them
towards their preservation goals.
One particular effort that proved
fruitful was the initiation of a Technical
Services Grant for the Springfield Preser-
vation Trust. Preservation Mass applied
to the National Trust for Historic Preser-
vation on behalf of SPT and was award-
ed a $5,000 matching grant.
Preservation Mass, as the applicant
organization, saw this as an opportunity
to reach out to the SPT and assist them
in developing tools for change. The first
step will be to hire a strategic planner
and/or organizational developer to work
with the SPT in assessing the needs of the
organization and developing specific
solutions that will lead the organization
to successfully complete its plans and
goals. Preservation Mass hopes that by
successfully completing this Local Initia-
tive Technical Assistance Grant, SPT will
be eligible to go on to the Local Initiative
Challenge Grant of $35,000.
As 2003 gets underway, Preservation
Mass hopes to continue reaching out to
even more communities in whatever
capacity that is appropriate. Please con-
tact Preservation Mass (617-723-3383) if
you would like the opportunity to meet
with us to share working solutions for
local preservation efforts. The challenge
this year, in the face of tight budgets and
even more limited resources, will be to
work smarter with the resources we do
have. We look forward to hearing from
you!
Elsa Fitzgerald is Special Projects Man-ager for PRESERVATION Mass. She isalso a member of the Preservation Coali-tion of Massachusetts and Chair ofPRESERVATION Mass’ Historic Dis-trict/Historical Commission Committee.
John David Powell first contacted
PRESERVATION Mass in early Decem-
ber 2002, looking for an intern project
to become involved with during his col-
lege vacation in January 2003. John
David is a senior secondary
education/social science major at Birm-
ingham Southern College in Birming-
ham, Alabama. He started out taking economics classes
in college before deciding it wasn’t the direction he
wanted to go in. Since then, John David has used his
experiences working with children at a North Carolina
athletics camp and his tutoring and mentoring in nearby
schools to make a leap into teaching. He will begin stu-
dent teaching in the fall of 2003.
The official title of his intern project is “History in the
Public Setting” and, we thought, what would be a more
appropriate project for his internship than editing and
updating our Historic School Report! John David was
very interested and enthusiastic about taking on the
School Report for his project. In addition to editing and
updating the Report, his internship required that he keep
a journal of his experiences and write a research paper
which correlates with the subject matter he encountered
during the project.
John David spent the month of January diligently
editing the School Report, improving both the quality of
its content and enhancing the images and graphics. He
worked in an organized and efficient manner and pro-
duced work of superior quality. We are grateful to John
David for devoting time and energy to the Historic
School Report.
Interested in volunteering for PRESERVATION Mass?We’re always interested in receiving volunteer assistance!Please contact Sarah DiSano, Program Coordinator at617-723-3383 or email [email protected].
PRESERVATION Mass initiates grant for the Springfield Preservation Trust
Elsa Fitzgerald
Volunteer Spotlight: JOHN DAVID POWELL
ADVOCACY:&OUTREACH
Winter 2003, Preservation & People 5
The Worcester Historical
Commission (WHC)
was formed in 1977 pri-
marily to preserve the homes on historic
Massachusetts Avenue, a neighborhood
developed by Worcester philanthropist
Stephen Salisbury III at the turn of the
century. The prime impetus for the for-
mation of the WHC was an attempt by
Easter Seals of Massachusetts to buy the
cornerstone house of the district at 201
Salisbury Street for use as its local head-
quarters. This would have required the
front yard to be turned into a large park-
ing lot, in addition to other unsightly
modifications. A petition to defeat this
plan netted 150 signatures and resulted in
a lawsuit, after which Easter Seals decided
not to proceed. Several years later the
house again became a single-family home,
as it remains today. In 1977 the WHC
was also chosen to administer the Massa-
chusetts Avenue Local Historic District
(LHD). Later, in 1993, another LHD was
formed in the Montvale Road neighbor-
hood. The WHC is hoping to develop at
least one more LHD in Worcester in the
near future.
In addition to administering the LHDs,
the WHC also enforces the city’s six-
month Demolition Delay Ordinance,
which applies to all MACRIS-listed,
National Register and State Register prop-
erties. The demo delay has resulted in
some controversy but also in a few
“saves” over the past three years. Most
notably, the delay was in part responsible
for preventing the demolition of an aban-
doned five-story Art Deco former furni-
ture factory in the heart of the city’s
newly-designated Arts District. The own-
ers applied for demolition to avoid main-
tenance costs after not receiving any
viable offers for the building. The Com-
mission, in front of a room packed with
City civic and political leaders, arts pro-
ponents, and developers, voted unani-
mously to not waive the demolition delay.
The resultant publicity, if not notoriety,
attracted a developer who bought the
building for more than twice any previous
offer and plans to convert it into mostly
market rate apartments. A second save
came when the 1891 Quinsigamond Vil-
lage Baptist Mission Church was sched-
uled for demolition to create a parking
lot. The demo delay waiver was denied,
and this delay allowed time for Preserva-
tion Worcester to raise funds to move the
church, obtain land for it from the City,
secure permits, etc. It was moved onto a
new foundation a quarter-mile away in
Wray Square, where exterior restoration
is now in progress.
Other projects the WHC has been
working on over the last two years
include the development of a website on
the Community Calendar of the Worces-
ter Telegram & Gazette, writing detailed
guidelines for new construction and alter-
ations in the LHDs, expanding public
awareness of our activities and Worces-
ter’s history by holding its monthly meet-
ings throughout the city’s quadrants, and
building a close working relationship with
other City Departments, Community
Development Corporations, and other
local historical organizations. The WHC
believes it should be concerned with, and
involved in, every aspect of Worcester’s
history, architecture, and archeology.
Michael R. Theerman, M.D. is Chair ofthe Worcester Historical Commission.
The Worcester Historical CommissionMichael R. Theerman, M.D.
As part of our continued effortto build relationships with localcommunities through preserva-tion advocacy and partnerships,each issue of Preservation &People will now showcase theactivities, projects and issues ofa local Historical Commission.Local Historical Commissionsare often the first line of defensein the struggle to preserve ourhistoric and cultural resources.These commissions, made up ofconcerned volunteers, work hardto protect their community’sheritage and deserve recognitionfor their efforts. If you are inter-ested in showcasing the work ofyour local HistoricalCommission in Preservation &People, contact Sarah DiSano at617-723-3383 or email [email protected].
201 Salisbury Street, Worcester. Photo: M. Theerman.
6 Preservation & People, Winter 2003
It’s a pleasure to be with the new, revi-
talized Preservation Mass and with my
good friend Jim Igoe...I’m impressed by
the new energy, sense of mission, and
accomplishments by all of you. You’re
returning to the heart of preservation by
strongly supporting preservation at the
local level. Among other things, you’ve
created the Massachusetts Preservation
Coalition so that leaders of local and
regional preservation organizations can
share strategies and tactics on a monthly
basis. Very importantly, you’re leading the
effort to gain a state tax credit for preser-
vation rehabs in Massachusetts. In doing
this Massachusetts will be joining 23
other states that have such tax credits.
Why do we care about, and work so
hard to save, and put to productive use,
waterfronts, historic buildings, neighbor-
hoods, and surrounding countryside and
farmland? For me this starts with a per-
son’s basic reaction to the world…what
one feels "in the heart." Let me share with
you a few moments in my life when my
response "from the heart" led me on the
path of historic preservation.
[T]here was the day on the 1877 Bar-
que ELISSA, a 170-foot three-masted
square-rigger that in the 1970s was await-
ing the wrecker’s jaws in Piraeus, Greece.
First a handful of volunteers and then our
citywide preservation organization had
undertaken to save and restore this hulk.
We dreamed of reviving a part of Galve-
ston’s maritime past: an operational
square-rigger with authentic ties to Galve-
ston, as ELISSA had carried cargoes
‘round the world, including to and from
the Port of Galveston in the 1880s. Our
motto in this effort seemed to be "Fools
rush in where wise men fear to tread." We
bought the hull for $40,000. Our mar-
itime expert estimated restoration costs at
$250,000; but we had overlooked that he
was an expert in ship models, and had
never made the transition to full-scale
ships. Nearly $4 million and 8 harrowing
years later, we had one of the finest oper-
ating 19th century cargo ships in the
world. ELISSA’s new life included sailing
in Operation Sail in New York Harbor in
1986. In Galveston, its historic exhibits
tell Galveston’s maritime story to tens of
thousands of people each year.
In moments like these, one does
respond from the heart. At the same time,
there are common themes running
through these responses. Why preserve?
• Because we value the superb crafts-
manship and materials from past times.
We find it senseless and abhorrent to
destroy these. We want to use them to
enrich lives today, for learning and for
homes, shops, offices, and recreation
within vibrant neighborhoods, down-
towns, and waterfronts.
• Because we value links to past genera-
tions. History is long. Our lives are
short. We value the continuity and
dimension these links give our lives.
• Because mountains, fields, forests, and
waterfronts are important to us, includ-
ing the imprint and structures of human
beings over the decades. These together
form a living landscape, of beauty and
character.
• And finally, because working together
to protect, restore and use these special
buildings and places creates friendships
and teamwork that are immediate and
special. Preservation brings people
together.
Each of you here today could relate
your own moments like these. Those
times when you realized that a building or
other place had personal value to you.
That something was irreplaceable. Worth
protecting. Worth fighting for. From
those moments come preservationists. We
also know this is no time to rest on our
laurels. The world is changing rapidly. We
face exciting times, but also critical chal-
lenges now and in the years ahead. Let
me highlight…these challenges and how
preservationists are taking action.
First, we must redouble our effort to
inculcate preservation as an ethic that is
understood and embraced by all Ameri-
cans…How do we awake in people a
greater appreciation of historic structures,
waterfronts, neighborhoods, and country-
side? As always, local organizations are
the frontline in attracting people to
2003 Annual Meeting at Historic Arlington Street Church in Boston
On Saturday, January 11, 2003,PRESERVATION Mass held itsAnnual Meeting at the historicand recently restored ArlingtonStreet Church in Boston. Wewould like to thank our memberswho braved the frigid tempera-tures to join us that day for aninspiring speech by Peter Brink,Vice President of Programs for theNTHP, followed by our businessmeeting. We would also like to
thank Goody, Clancy & Associ-
ates, Lee Kennedy Co. Inc., and
the Arlington Street Church for
their generous sponsorship of this
event. We’ve reprinted here high-lights from Peter Brink’s motivat-ing speech about the importanceof historic preservation.
Peter Brink, VP of Programs for the NTHP
Winter 2003, Preservation & People 7
preservation…But as television, with its
several hundred channels, radio, print
media, and the Internet become more
and more pervasive, it is also critical for
preservation to be more visible and per-
suasive in media all across our coun-
try…Finally, our opportunity is here.
The Ad Council accepted the
National Trust proposal as one of their
three new Public Service Campaigns…
Starting at the end of [January] and con-
tinuing for 3 years, the Ad Council will
distribute the Public Service Ads to
28,000 media outlets across the country,
including TV, radio, newspapers, maga-
zines, and the Web. The estimated value
of these ads is $32 million annually.
This will be a campaign to change the
national ethic for historic preservation.
Our goal is that this visibility and mes-
sage will support preservation efforts
across the country. We’re delighted that
Preservation Mass is a top-tier partner
in this PSA Campaign and that your
logo will be appearing in all ads in the
Massachusetts market.
Second, we must intensify our efforts
to manage sprawl and institute policies
and practices that foster Smart Growth
and sustainable development. Central to
this effort is fully establishing that
preservation-based revitalization of
existing communities IS Smart
Growth…Fully livable cities and towns
also reduce the flow of people and
development sprawling out into our
countryside and farmlands. Every addi-
tional household attracted to a city, ulti-
mately means one less household going
into the sprawling surroundings.
…Let us strengthen and heal neigh-
borhoods rather than decimate them. To
do this, we need, among other things, to
finally pass a historic homeowners assis-
tance act. This bill builds upon the suc-
cess of the existing Federal Rehab Tax
Credit for income-producing properties.
With simplified procedures it could pro-
vide a 20% tax credit to assist existing
and new homeowners to rehab inner-
city properties. In addition, we need to
take advantage of the recently passed
New Markets Tax Credit, to use its gen-
erous incentives to revitalize, rather
than demolish, distressed neighbor-
hoods. And, right away, we can all uti-
lize the "Tool Kit" of successful tools for
saving and rehabbing inner-city housing
produced recently for the National
Trust Northeast Office.
In looking at these future challenges,
I leave you simply with one of the
thoughts from David McCullough’s
address at our national conference in
Providence. McCullough, speaking
about his recent book, John Adams,
took us through the tumultuous times
of the American Revolution and the
slow establishing of our new govern-
ment. He concluded that, at the time
one is acting, there is no such thing as
the "foreseeable future". We are never
sure what awaits us in the months and
years ahead. But what we do know is
that the qualities of dedication, belief,
and action exhibited by our early lead-
ers are ones that will stand us in good
stead today. We value passionately his-
toric buildings, landscapes, neighbor-
hoods, and communities. We look
forward to working together to protect
and support them fully in the years
ahead.
Thank you.
Sally Zimmerman and Elsa Fitzgerald Claudia Wu and Wendy Nicholas
Cara Metz and Jim Igoe
Anthony Consigli and Jean Carroon
Jim Igoe, Sam Knight, Cara Metz and Bob Kuehn
8 Preservation & People, Winter 2003
Whitehall, the summer home of Frederic and Evelyn
Bartlett in Beverly, MA, is threatened by demoli-
tion by the owner, Henry Bertolon to construct a
40 lot subdivision. The 30+ acre property includes the Geor-
gian Revival style mansion house designed by Little & Brown
in 1909 and the c.1790’s Foster House, which retains exten-
sive significant Federal period interior woodwork in pristine
condition. The Foster House was used as an art studio by the
Bartletts, who constructed the attached barn as an art gallery.
Frederic and Evelyn were both painters active in the 1920’s
and 30’s. Their works are in a number of museum collections.
Despite the presence of a Preservation Restriction on the
exterior of the Foster House held by the Beverly Historical
Society, Bertolon has applied for a demolition permit for all
the structures on the property including the Foster House. The
Beverly Historical Commission imposed a delay on demolition
until June 4, 2003 under Beverly’s Demolition Delay By-law.
There is extensive documentation on the property, including
the original construction drawings and accounts at the SPNEA
Archives, and numerous photographs taken by architectural
photographer Steven Brooke for a book on the Bartletts pub-
lished in 1989. The Bartlett’s winter residence, Bonnet House,
is operated as an historic house museum and community
resource in Fort Lauderdale by the Florida Trust for Historic
Preservation (www.bonnethouse.org). For further information
please call the Beverly Historical Society at 978-922-1186.
sponsors of this legislation. The goal of
this act is to provide an economic stimu-
lus for the redevelopment of commer-
cial and residential real estate
throughout the Commonwealth. Mod-
eled after a similar Federal program,
and created to work in tandem with
that program, the Massachusetts Real
Estate Investment Act provides a 30%
state tax credit for reinvestment in a
building that is at least 50 years old.
Similar programs have been implement-
ed throughout the U.S. and have had
significant impacts in saving historic
structures while creating jobs and stimu-
lating the economy. A comprehensive
study of a similar tax program in Mary-
land, implemented in 1999, indicated
2,454 jobs were created over a two-year
period. During that same period the
total output in the Maryland economy
was increased by $260.5 million and
wages increased by $81.6 million.
The AE Coffin Press building in New
Bedford, on the cover of this issue of
Preservation & People, and Canal Place
III in Lowell, shown on page 9, are just
two examples of the many potential
projects across the Commonwealth that
could become a reality if such a tax
credit were implemented. The Act will
generate significant reinvestment in the
cores of our historic downtowns and
motivate owners of older homes to
rehabilitate their property - increasing
property values and creating jobs. This
legislation will fill the "gap" – making
marginal financial projects into econom-
ic success stories for many communities.
This bill will be debated in the new
legislative session (2003-2004) and the
Coalition will be working hard in 2003
to lobby for this Act, so that property
owners across the Commonwealth will
be offered an incredible incentive for
rehabilitating older buildings.
The Massachusetts Real Estate
Investment Act helps save the best of the
Commonwealth’s past while working
for a bright economic future. Please
help by writing, emailing or calling your
Senator and State Representative and
asking them to support this important
legislation. To find your legislators and
their contact information, visit
www.state.ma.us/legis.
For more information about the
Massachusetts Real Estate Investment
Act and to view a copy of the Act as
filed with the legislature in December
2002, please visit our website:
www.preservationmass.org.
Whitehall includes the c. 1790’s Foster House with attached art gallery (street level), and the 1909 Georgian Revival style mansion house on thecliff above. Photo: Courtesy of the Beverly Historical Society.
Historic Whitehall in Beverly Threatened with Demolition
Massachusetts Real Estate Investment Actcontinued from front cover
Winter 2003, Preservation & People 9
PRESERVATION Mass recently approved
three new Directors. We are honored and excit-
ed to have Bob Bernstein, Jean Carroon and
Louis Miller on the Board—they are an invalu-
able addition to our team!
Bob Bernstein is Senior Vice President of
Government Affairs for ML Strategies LLC, the
strategic consulting firm associated with the
Boston based law firm Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Fer-
ris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., where he develops
and implements legislative and regulatory strate-
gies for clients together with representing client
interests before the Legislative and Executive
Branches of state and local government. He is a
former Massachusetts State Senator, serving
three distinguished terms representing Central
Massachusetts. During his six years in office,
Bob chaired several committees, including Insur-
ance, Criminal Justice, Energy and Election
Laws. Bob sits on the Board of Directors for sev-
eral charitable organizations including Jeremi-
ah’s Inn, the Jewish Healthcare Center,
Worcester Community Housing Resources, Inc.,
and the Central Massachusetts Housing
Alliance, Inc.
Jean Carroon is a Principal and Director of
Preservation for the architecture firm Goody,
Clancy & Associates, overseeing the firm’s ren-
ovation projects of landmark structures and
coordinating the preservation/conservation staff
involved in each. She has been involved with
several noteworthy projects, including Boston’s
Arlington Street Church and Trinity Church,
and the Ayer Mansion, one of two extant resi-
dences designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Jean
began her architectural career at Shepley,
Bulfinch, Richardson and Abbott, followed by
seven years at Ann Beha Associates, and estab-
lished her own architectural practice in 1994,
Jean Carroon Architects. The entire firm joined
Goody Clancy early in 2000. She is a member of
the American Institute of Architects, the Boston
Society of Architects, the Association of Preser-
vation Technology, and the National Trust
Preservation Forum.
Louis Miller is a partner in Choate, Hall &
Stewart’s Real Estate Department and specializes
in the acquisition, development, permitting and
financing of commercial real estate, both locally
and nationally. Louis served as counsel for sever-
al significant real estate transactions, including
the redevelopment of the Liberty Tree Building
(a 1994 Ten Most Endangered Historic
Resource) on Washington Street, Boston, and
the leasing of the redeveloped building to the
Registry of Motor Vehicles. Louis sits on the
Board of Directors for several charitable organi-
zations including The Freedom Trail Founda-
tion, for which he is currently serving as Chair.
He is also a member of the Boston Bar Associa-
tion and the Real Estate Finance Association.
Welcome, Bob, Jean and Louis, to the
PRESERVATION Mass Board of Directors. We
look forward to working with you!
PRESERVATION Mass Welcomes Three New Directors!
Bob Bernstein
Jean Carroon
Louis Miller
Canal Place III, Lowell. Built in 1908, the two attached millbuildings were historically known as the Bigelow CarpetCompany’s Wool House/Scouring Building and the WoolWashing Building. The properties are listed on the Nationaland State Registers through their inclusion in both theLowell National Historical Park & Preservation District andthe Locks and Canals Historic District. They are also NationalHistoric Landmarks by virtue of their being in the Locks andCanals district. They are also within the Downtown LowellHistoric District, a local historic district that places themunder the jurisdiction of the Lowell Historic Board.
10 Preservation & People, Winter 2003
I n recent months there have been several arti-
cles in the press regarding an important, yet
rapidly disappearing, historic and cultural
resource in the Commonwealth: the barn. Once a
quintessential aspect of New England life, landscape
and vernacular architecture, old barns are all too often
seen as yet another "white elephant" in terms of 21st cen-
tury agricultural technology and the loss of many small fami-
ly-operated farms throughout the state. Furthermore, due to
ever increasing pressures to develop in rural areas, barns and
other agricultural features in many Massachusetts communities
are being razed in the name of sprawl. While there are preser-
vation-minded barn owners who do try to maintain and pre-
serve their historic barns, doing so is often an arduous task, as
it can be difficult to secure funding for restoration work,
and/or find contractors willing to take on barn projects, as
they are sometimes seen as cumbersome structures to rehabili-
tate.
Despite the obstacles facing barns today, they are worthy of
preservation. Recently, PRESERVATION Mass has had the
good fortune of coming in contact with a number of people
who recognize barn preservation as a key issue for the 21st
century. In particular, we’ve established a relationship with
Sumner E. Perlman of Lexington, a lifelong resident of Massa-
chusetts. Sumner’s love of barns goes back to his childhood
when he spent many pleasant hours in his grandfather’s barn.
Through this interest in barns, Sumner developed a book,
Barns of Dennis, Massachusetts, which he published in 2002.
Sumner’s diligence, enthusiasm, and passion for barns is com-
pelling and we feel strongly that Massachusetts’ barns need
many strong preservation advocates. As a result, PRESERVA-
TION Mass is interested in establishing a barn preservation
committee, composed of individuals from Williamstown to
Provincetown who are interested in discussing barns and
developing strategies for barn preservation advocacy. If you
would like to participate in a barn preservation committee,
have ideas about barn preservation advocacy, or know about
barns in your community that are currently threatened, please
contact PRESERVATION Mass at 617-723-3383 or email
[email protected]. We welcome your input and
participation! With your help, we hope to develop greater
awareness, and ultimately more preservation, of this important
resource.
Sumner Perlman’s barn book, Barns of Dennis, Massachu-
setts, is available at the Harvard Coop, the New EnglandMobile Book Fair, and selected bookstores on Cape Cod for
The Barns ofMassachusetts:
An important and endangered resource
Sarah DiSano
Barn at 2 Upper County Rd., S. Dennis. Photo: S. Perlman
Winter 2003, Preservation & People 11
Seniors & StudentsPhoebe Mason Bruck
Richard C. Garvey
Grace G. Hoag
Theresa Mitrowski
Francis E. Park
Cathy Wickwire
IndividualMelvin E. Clouse
Linda M. Cox
Barbara George
John K. Grondalski
Steven A. Kesselman
Richard J. Lundgren
Philip Cryan Marshall
Roger Reed
Sara Rosenfeld
Helen Soussou
Michael R. Theerman,
M.D.
Family & OrganizationJohn Althouse
John Anderson &
Heather Champigny
Renee M. Landers &
Thomas L. Barrette, Jr.
Walter Hoeg, KingstonHistoric Commission
J. Donald Lennerton Jr.,
Leicestern HistoricalCommissionWin Fitzgerald, SudburyHistorical CommissionJacqueline C. Tidman,
Westborough HistoricalCommission
SponsorLawrence C. Bauer,
Solomon + Bauer
Architects Inc
Robert Cruickshank
DonorCaleb Loring, Jr.
David & Christina
Sullivan
Arrowstreet, Inc.
Ed Callahan, Feeley +
Driscoll
Diamond & Co. Inc.
Hinckley, Allen & Snyder
LLP
Levine, Katz, Nannis &
Solomon, P.C.
National Development
Pressley Associates, Inc.
Tishman Construction
Kathy Abbott
Mrs. Martina Albright
James Alexander
Joan M. Angelosanto
Shary Page Berg
Mrs. Jean Allen Bird
Mrs. Charles B.
Bradshaw
John K. Bullard
Douglas Butler
Richard M. Candee
Maurice F. Childs
Bruce Cohen
Kay Flynn and Dan
Coughlin
Eric E. Dray
Edward J. Dwyer
Corliss Engle
Elsa Fitzgerald
Pamela W. Fox
Jack Glassman
Anne Grady
Marian R. Halperin
Martha Hamilton
John R. Harrington
William B. King
Sam and Anna Knight
Waldo Lyon
Judith B. McDonough
Heli Meltsner
Wendy Nicholas Dorsey
Janis Porter
Katherine J. Robinson
Joe & Maggie Rosa
Joseph Peter Spang
Frederick A. Stahl FAIA
Marcia D. Starkey
Howard Van Vleck
Victor J. Walker
Wesley T. Ward
Lowell A. Warren, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Bradford
Wetherell
Charles P. Wilkinson
Claudia S. Wu
Solomon + Bauer
Architects Inc.
Edward Bellamy
Memorial Association
The Fleming Charitable
Trust, II
Halvorson Design
Partnership, Inc.
Membership contributions – November 2002 – January 17, 2003
Year-End Appeal 2002 Contributions(as of January 17, 2003)
Please indicate your choice of Membership Category:
Individual/Personal: Corporate:�� Benefactor: $1000 - 5000 �� Benefactor: $5000 or more
�� Patron: $500 - 999 �� Patron: $2500
�� Sponsor: $250 - 499 �� Sponsor: $1000
�� Donor: $100 – 249 �� Donor: $500
�� Contributor: $50 – 99
�� Friend $35 - 49
�� Seniors/Students: $20
Join Preservation Mass! Our strength lies in the working partnership we have forged with people throughout the Commonwealth. W ewelcome all people and organizations who care about the preservation of our historic and cultural resources.Our goal is to encourage the weaving of these resources into the social and economic fabric of Massachusettslife in this new century.
� 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