[MassHistPres] Vinyl Siding a Historic Church

[steve chooljian]

Here in the Bradford section of Haverhill we've got the quintessential white church with steeple overlooking a green common, the centerpiece of the Bradford Common LHD.  The church wants to vinyl side over the old clapboards, in part because of a botched stripping years ago that has made it difficult for paint to adhere to the clapboards, and in part because of a belief that vinyl will minimize long term maintenance costs for the small congregation with limited means.  They want to strip and repaint corner, window, frieze trim, etc.  They might consider new wood siding or Hardie-plank or a proper strip, repair and repaint of the existing if the price was right.  I'm interested in any grants or programs that might help bridge the gap between proper preservation and the indignity that is being contemplated.  The church claims that it has researched grants but is not interested in conditions/restrictions that will "tie their hands."      

Steve Chooljian - Haverhill Historic Commission