[MassHistPres] Lenox Reading Garden

Thu Dec 14 12:45:58 EST 2006

You should check the terms of the gift of the land.  If it was for a 
particular purpose, the library cannot just sell it for another purpose 
without a judicial proceeding.

The HDC may also be able to prevent any construction on the site if you take 
the position that the historic landscape is essential to the historical 
nature of the adjoining buildigxns & the district as a whole.

J. Worden
Arlington HDC

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: <masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu>
To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 12:00 PM
Subject: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 10, Issue 10

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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Lenox HD Garden Threatened (Suzanne W. Pelton)
>   2. Re: Basement windows (Marcia  Starkey)
>   3. Re: Basement windows (Dennis De Witt)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 15:15:56 -0500
> From: "Suzanne W. Pelton" <sw.pelton at verizon.net>
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Lenox HD Garden Threatened
> To: Masshistpres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Message-ID: <D84CC85F-2DA0-4E5E-85C3-E7C2CA97BA41 at verizon.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; delsp=yes;
> format=flowed
>
> Lenox residents are up in arms about the recent announcement of the
> purchase and sale agreement entered into by our private not-for-
> profit library and a local realtor.
>
> To pay down substantial debt incurred during extensive restoration to
> its building, the Lenox Library Association elected to sell its
> reading garden, a beautiful piece of open land adjacent to the
> library in the center of our Historic District.
>
> The library is housed in the town?s former courthouse, built in 1816.
> When the county seat was moved from Lenox to Pittsfield after 81
> years, Mrs. Adeline Schermerhorn donated the building to the town for
> a library. In 1928 the adjacent lot was donated to serve as a reading
> garden. The building is an architectural jewel by anyone's measure
> and is enhanced by the open space around it.
>
> The Library Association met with the Select Board in April to notify
> them of their need to raise funds and a newspaper article reported in
> August that the library might sell the reading garden. Then suddenly,
> the sale was announced.
>
> Citizens to Save the Library and Reading Garden was organized to stop
> the sale which won't close until Jan 30. Residents are not inclined
> to see an office/apartment building cheek-by-jowl with this historic
> architectural treasure.
>
> -Mass Historical Commission was not consulted before the sales
> contract was signed.
>
> -The Attorney General was not notified before the contract was signed
> but has been contacted since
>
> -The sale was not posted--just presented as a "done deal"
>
> -The citizens committee is trying to figure out if "eminent domain"
> is a viable solution ?can anyone out there comment on this approach?
>
> Other suggestions are welcome.
>
>
> Suzanne Pelton
> Lenox Historical commission
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:07:40 -0500
> From: "Marcia  Starkey" <mdstarkey at crocker.com>
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Basement windows
> To: "Anne Forbes" <aforbes at rcn.com>, <slater at alum.rpi.edu>,
> <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Message-ID: <001301c71efb$4cb0aca0$663dfa9f at Marcia>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> Marvin used to make a window with true-divided-lights and a storm panel. I
> tend to think that the human eye sees what it expects to see much of the
> time. Has anyone found that there is a relevant study that would tell us 
> how
> much this applies to a single pane outside a tdl window? My reaction is 
> that
> I can't accomodate the dark color screens, but I have little trouble with
> the single exterior panes as they don't block the muntin view at most
> angles. This question has arisen in living history museums where its
> important to understand how much the visitor moves back and forth from 
> past
> to present and how that affects what non-verbal lessons the environment is
> trying to convey. Marcia Starkey, Greenfield
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Anne Forbes" <aforbes at rcn.com>
> To: <slater at alum.rpi.edu>; <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 4:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Basement windows
>
>
>> Ralph--
>>
>> I haven't seen all the responses that have been sent to you, but you 
>> might
>> check to see if the Marvin "Ultimate" window could be adapted for this
>> purpose.  The Acton HDC recently reviewed a double-hung, double-insulated
>> window in this line, and found it pretty acceptable for type of situation
>> you describe, where there is no existing sash to preserve.  This window 
>> is
>> all wood, with wood exterior muntins in a "putty" profile.
>>
>> Good luck.
>>
>> Anne Forbes, Acton
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: <slater at alum.rpi.edu>
>> To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>> Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 3:51 PM
>> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Basement windows
>>
>>
>>>> I suggest that you contact the North Bennet Street School and find a
>>>> graduate from their preservation carpentry program who may live in
>>>> your area.
>>>>
>>>> The program is a two year full time program and this is exactly what
>>>> they are trained to do.
>>>>
>>>> Check out the web site at www.nbss.org.
>>>
>>> Thanks for all the good suggestions. The key I may have left out is
>>> that although Springfield recommends retaining original materials and
>>> windows, we are moving to a position that says "if the window looks
>>> appropriate, replacement is allowed under the appropriateness
>>> category".
>>>
>>> We are looking for a double-insulated window since this will allow
>>> the exterior grids to be prominently displayed without the addition
>>> of a storm window. Since there is currently no existing window, there
>>> is nothing left to preserve.
>>>
>>> So I'm basically looking for a Marvin, Anderson, etc., preferably
>>> wood, that will be able to go into these holes. All we've seen so far
>>> are whte vinyl, and since the foundation is painted black, this will
>>> look ridiculous.
>>>
>>> Ralph Slate
>>> Springfield, MA
>>>
>>> ******************************
>>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
>>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE
>>> WHOLE LIST.
>>> MassHistPres mailing list
>>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>>> ********************************
>>>
>> ******************************
>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE
>> WHOLE LIST.
>> MassHistPres mailing list
>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>> ********************************
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:52:19 -0500
> From: Dennis De Witt <djdewitt at rcn.com>
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Basement windows
> To: MHC listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Message-ID: <D8BFB625-6C43-444E-BE2B-0B6F6C2B4840 at rcn.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Maybe its a matter of perception.  While I think storm panels are
> great for 1/1 on new construction, due to a building inspector's
> error we had 6/6 Marvins with storm panels put in an addition and we
> felt that the result was very unsatisfying -- looking like IG with
> internal muntins.  Even someone who had been inclined to support it
> in theory was less enthusiastic with the visual effect.
>
> For cellar windows, I agree with Charlie.  Go to Brosco aka J&B.  Its
> the original thing.
>
> Dennis De Witt
>
>
> On Dec 13, 2006, at 4:07 PM, Marcia Starkey wrote:
>
>> Marvin used to make a window with true-divided-lights and a storm
>> panel. I
>> tend to think that the human eye sees what it expects to see much
>> of the
>> time. Has anyone found that there is a relevant study that would
>> tell us how
>> much this applies to a single pane outside a tdl window? My
>> reaction is that
>> I can't accomodate the dark color screens, but I have little
>> trouble with
>> the single exterior panes as they don't block the muntin view at most
>> angles. This question has arisen in living history museums where its
>> important to understand how much the visitor moves back and forth
>> from past
>> to present and how that affects what non-verbal lessons the
>> environment is
>> trying to convey. Marcia Starkey, Greenfield
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Anne Forbes" <aforbes at rcn.com>
>> To: <slater at alum.rpi.edu>; <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>> Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 4:27 PM
>> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Basement windows
>>
>>
>>> Ralph--
>>>
>>> I haven't seen all the responses that have been sent to you, but
>>> you might
>>> check to see if the Marvin "Ultimate" window could be adapted for
>>> this
>>> purpose.  The Acton HDC recently reviewed a double-hung, double-
>>> insulated
>>> window in this line, and found it pretty acceptable for type of
>>> situation
>>> you describe, where there is no existing sash to preserve.  This
>>> window is
>>> all wood, with wood exterior muntins in a "putty" profile.
>>>
>>> Good luck.
>>>
>>> Anne Forbes, Acton
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: <slater at alum.rpi.edu>
>>> To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>>> Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 3:51 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Basement windows
>>>
>>>
>>>>> I suggest that you contact the North Bennet Street School and
>>>>> find a
>>>>> graduate from their preservation carpentry program who may live in
>>>>> your area.
>>>>>
>>>>> The program is a two year full time program and this is exactly
>>>>> what
>>>>> they are trained to do.
>>>>>
>>>>> Check out the web site at www.nbss.org.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for all the good suggestions. The key I may have left out is
>>>> that although Springfield recommends retaining original materials
>>>> and
>>>> windows, we are moving to a position that says "if the window looks
>>>> appropriate, replacement is allowed under the appropriateness
>>>> category".
>>>>
>>>> We are looking for a double-insulated window since this will allow
>>>> the exterior grids to be prominently displayed without the addition
>>>> of a storm window. Since there is currently no existing window,
>>>> there
>>>> is nothing left to preserve.
>>>>
>>>> So I'm basically looking for a Marvin, Anderson, etc., preferably
>>>> wood, that will be able to go into these holes. All we've seen so
>>>> far
>>>> are whte vinyl, and since the foundation is painted black, this will
>>>> look ridiculous.
>>>>
>>>> Ralph Slate
>>>> Springfield, MA
>>>>
>>>> ******************************
>>>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
>>>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY"
>>>> TO THE
>>>> WHOLE LIST.
>>>> MassHistPres mailing list
>>>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>>>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>>>> ********************************
>>>>
>>> ******************************
>>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
>>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO
>>> THE
>>> WHOLE LIST.
>>> MassHistPres mailing list
>>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>>> ********************************
>>>
>>
>> ******************************
>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO
>> THE WHOLE LIST.
>> MassHistPres mailing list
>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>> ********************************
>
>
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>
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