[MassHistPres] Town Pound preservation

[Harnden Tavern]

Hello -

Please excuse cross posting if you receive this on another list - since time is of the essence, I am trying to collect information quickly here....

I am wondering if anyone can help me with resources and information regarding the following situation:

Our town is fortunate to have the remnants of a fieldstone Town Pound (15' x 18') still extant.  It was built in 1814 and is located on private property in our National Register Historic District.  The current owners have decided that this structure is a dangerous eyesore.  They have made arrangements to have it removed from their property.  This work has actually already started and  some of the wall has been disassembled, although the rocks have not yet been removed from the property.  The owners have been notified of the town's concern about losing this landmark and work has temporarily ceased.  They have given us 48 hours to remove "that pile of rocks" from their property.  The owners have owned the site (house, yard and Town Pound) for a couple of years and they have stated to our town's Historical Commission in the past their distaste for this structure being on their property, but this is the first time they have actually taken action.  They claim the local Historical Commission has not been responsive to their concerns when, in point of fact, they never authorized the Town to perform any specific work on the property.

My questions would be:  1.  Can such a structure be moved?  What type of professional does this work?  How much does it cost?  Can such a job be contracted out so quickly?

2.  The Town is considering having town employees move the rocks to town property - but this would, by necessity, be a random dumping of the rocks in a new location.  The town does not have on hand the expertise to disassemble and reassemble the Pound.  Is there any point to this?  Would there be any historic integrity at all to trying to recreate the Town Pound at a new location with the same rocks, albeit in a random manner?

3.  The rocks have already been moved quite a bit, although the footprint of the Pound is still evident.  Has the historical integrity of the site already been damaged beyond redemption?  

4.  What other options do we have?  

Ironically, the land containing the Pound was given to the Town in 1814, but for some unknown reason the town chose to sell the land and Pound back into private ownership in 1911.  

A local newspaper story can be found at:  http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_12198099  Not surprisingly, I would dispute some of the facts as laid out by the owners.

Terry McDermott
Curator
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.



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