[MassHistPres] cobbler's shop

[Carol Carlson]

Jane:
Under what arrangement did the Town accept the building - were there any 
conditions?   If your town has Town Meeting vote, after gathering all 
structural information, I would bring it to the voters and seek funding 
for the costs which will be incurred.  Have every structural need and 
it's necessary funding ready to present, in minute detail.  Along with a 
time table.  Someone is bound to ask!!   You might not get all you seek, 
but you might get some.  And if not, you have publicized the property 
and the desire of the Commission to restore the old shop.

Jack has some great suggestions, too.  Good luck!

Carol M. Carlson
Bedford, MA HDC


Jack Authelet wrote:
>
> Jane,
>
>  
>
> You have already made one major decision that is very much in your 
> favor, and that is to ask for help and suggestions when in unfamiliar 
> territory.
>
>  
>
> My humble suggestion, which has worked many times over, would be to:
>
> 1.       Do you research. When was it built, by whom, anything you can 
> find to build a case for saving the structure.
>
> 2.       Bring the public on board. Use your local media, web page, 
> whatever means you  have to share the story, publish photographs, 
> build the case for preservation.
>
> 3.       Establish ownership (municipal or a non-profit group) for tax 
> purposes.
>
> 4.       If the structure is eligible for National Register listing, 
> it might quality for matching funds.
>
> 5.       Invite local contractors -- those with expertise -- to join 
> you in your project, giving them recognition for donated time and labor.
>
> 6.       Set up a special fund to which the public can donate, make 
> memorial gifts, whatever.
>
> 7.       Establish an end use for the structure when the restoration 
> is complete.
>
>  
>
> I believe your chances for success improve each time you are able to 
> broaden the base of people willing to 'buy' into the project with 
> their time, talent, donations, whatever.
>
> You can make this work.
>
>  
>
> Jack Authelet
>
> Foxborough Town Historian
>
>  
>
> *From:* masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu 
> [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] *On Behalf Of *Jane Lowell
> *Sent:* Monday, May 25, 2009 10:36 PM
> *To:* masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> *Subject:* [MassHistPres] cobbler's shop
>
>  
>
> The Town of Mendon was deeded a Cobbler's Shop by a 40 B developer.  
> It was built c. 1850 and the Mendon Historical Commission would like 
> to restore it.  The roof needs shingling, although no daylight can be 
> seen, there are panes missing from the windows and there is a slight 
> amount of rot on the floor boards, a couple of rafters, and one 
> sill. It is a two story structure consisting of the main shop and two 
> rooms with dirt floors below.  The floor joists seem ok.  All of us on 
> the Historical Commission are new at this.  Of course funding is 
> almost nonexistant.  Does anyone have suggestions on how to proceed?  
> We really don't want to make any grave errors.  Regards, Jane Lowell, 
> Mendon Historical Commissioner      
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> ******************************
> 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
> ********************************
>   
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/private/masshistpres/attachments/20090525/787f441c/attachment.htm>