preservation & people (pm newsletter), winter 2003

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.


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


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.


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


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


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


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.


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


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

preservation & people (pm newsletter), winter 2003

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