[MassHistPres] Possible Historic House Purchase in Randolph

[Harnden Tavern]

Randolph's potential purchase of the "oldest house in town" is of great interest to us here in Wilmington, MA.  We actually own a first period house, the William Butters II House, that the town was able to purchase a couple of years ago with grant money to forestall a planned demolition.  The Wilmington Historical Commission has been instrumental in bringing public attention to this issue and raising money for the preservation of the building.  We have no CPA in our town to back up our efforts.

The gentleman from Randolph has the same goal for the Randolph house as the Wilmington Historical Commission has for its Butters house:  ".... our goal would be to eventually rent the house to a tenant who could maintain the house and carry out part of the restoration work, and open it periodically for historical tours."   Mr. Tucker states, as have people in Wilmington, that this could be expensive.  However, what about the concept of a long term lease?   Although we have only begun to look into this issue and can't claim to have studied it extensively, we have been told that this is what the state Dept. of Conservation and Recreation does with some of its state owned properties.  Tenants pay negligible rent, have a place to live, in return the maintain and even rehabilitate the building.  Does anyone have experience with this concept?  And if the property is leased out, is it still subject to municipal bidding regulations?  Thanks in advance for any information!

Terry McDermottCurator
Wilmington Town Museum at the
Col. Joshua Harnden Tavern, c.1770
430 Salem Street
Wilmington, MA  01887
978.658.5475
htavern at town.wilmington.ma.us
http://www.town.wilmington.ma.us/old/hist.htm
 
The Wilmington Historical Commission can also be reached at the above addresses and phone number.





----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Henry Cooke 
  To: Skelly, Christopher @ SEC ; masshistpres at cs.umb.edu 
  Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 4:44 PM
  Subject: [MassHistPres] Possible Historic House Purchase in Randolph


  Chris and all,

  The Randolph Historical Commission was contacted last week on a bank forclosure sale of the oldest house in Randolph, constructed in 1726. It is a center chimney cape, with original features from the initial construction and two sugsequent additions/renovations in 1778 and c1830. The house was purchased about four years ago by a local builder who balked at the cost of upgrades, and essentially sat on the house, perhaps hoping to have it deteriorate to the point where it would need to be torn down.  It has some condition concerns, like some rot in the north wall that is causing some sidewall buckling and floor support deterioration,  but much could be stabilized with the replacement of the existing shingles  and repairs to parts of the roof that have deteriorated from lack of maintenance.

  Realtor handling the sale it trying to work with us to insure it either goes to someone who will restore it or to the Town of Randolph. There is possibility that the bank may write it off to the Town, but we can't assume that will happen. Realtor is an old house buff, who is concerned that the house will be purchased by a builder who will buy it to tear down. Because the realtor is handling the sale for the bank. I would imagine there are limits to what he can do to make sure it goes to the "right" buyer. 

  The Commission will be meeting this evening to visit the house and discuss possibility of application for CPA funds to purchase the property.  If the Commission gets the house, we would still have to stabilize it, and restore it, and would have to find funding for that as well.  If all this came to pass, our goal would be to eventually rent the house to a tenant who could maintain the house and carry out part of the restoration work, and open it periodically for historical tours. Unfortunately, the Historical Society does not have deep pockets either. If we were successful in getting CPA funding, could this be used as a match for an MPPF grant application, or National Trust administered grant?

  In looking at all our options, are there other resources that are available to commissions without a lengthy application process?  Looking longer term, what other grants are available for restoration besides those offered by National Trust and MHC?  

  We would appreciate any advice or suggestions from those who have been down this path.

  Thanks
  Henry Cooke
  Chairman, 
  Randolph Historical Commission 
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