[MassHistPres] Help with old barn

[Dennis De Witt]

When Brookline built its new Lincoln School (a Graham Gund building  
which worked out OK), there was a large mid-19th. C. carriage barn  
and estate house on the site, which had been a private school.  Both  
were retained — albeit the estate house with an amputated wing.  The  
house became the first home of the Brookline Music Schools (which up  
to then had occupied ad hoc space in the town's schools), in exchange  
for a long term lease and a substantial  investment by the Music  
School in the house.

The Carriage barn was moved and attached to the new school as a  
lunchroom, with its interior painted white and some inevitable  
changes -- but the bones are still there   It has been a popular  
success.  The two old buildings still have a dialog going with each  
other -- and with the new school.

It might be worth taking a look at, as an example

Dennis De Witt
Brookline


On Mar 28, 2008, at 10:49 AM, Ken Coyle wrote:

> The town of Abington purchased an old dairy farm several years  
> ago.  The Selectmen and School Comm.are now talking about buiding a  
> new school on the site.  On the property is an old post and beam  
> construction barn that members of the Abington Historical  
> Commission feel is of historic significance.
>
> Here's my question.  Is there anyone out there that could look at  
> the barn and tell us if it's worth saving.  There seems to be a  
> push to say that it is in disrepair and that it should be  
> demolished.  The AHC would like to find a barn expert(s) to visit  
> the site and  give us a determination on the sturdiness and safety  
> of the building.  Armed with this information will can approach the  
> Selectmen and building inspector and work toward getting the  
> building and site listed as a historic site.  Worst case scenerio  
> we would be given a chance to find someone to take the barn down  
> before a wrecking ball does.
>
> Any help that anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Kennth Coyle
> Abington Historical Commission
> KCOYLE1786 at aol.com
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