[MassHistPres] busy-body neighborhood-nazis and control freaks

Sat Oct 17 17:10:56 EDT 2009

Hi Carol,

Thanks for your input.

Harvard has a single commission that functions both as a Historical  
Commission and a Historical District Commission. I am chair.

We have two local historical districts: Shaker Village and the Harvard  
Common.

Still River would be a natural choice for a new district, based on its  
history and density of antique houses, some of which date back to the  
1600s. The subject has really been avoided for about 30 years though,  
due to purported opposition from the residents. I wonder, though,  
whether the nay-sayers are still in the majority, or if they are just  
unusually vocal. Others have quietly voiced their support to me.

That said, we're really not very close to trying to get this through!  
There are other projects that I consider more urgent for us,  
currently, though the recent flurry of activity might force us to  
change priorities.

--Jonathan

On Oct 17, 2009, at 4:33 PM, Carol Carlson wrote:

> Jonathan:
> I finally found Still River - I had no clue where it was, but  
> followed my nose to Harvard and see it is listed on the town's web  
> site as a 4 century old village.   Sounds very interesting, and I  
> may have to make a trip to Harvard one of these days.  However, from  
> what I'm reading, it appears that Harvard has an appointed  
> Historical Commission but not a Historic District Commission.   From  
> what I've seen, there is a huge different between the two.  Does  
> your Historical Commission have the duties and powers of a LHD, and  
> if not, what would be the point of creating (via town meeting vote I  
> presume) a historic district in Still River?
>
> I think your last paragraph is right on the mark, and is about all  
> you need to say in response to such negative and hurtful words from  
> a townsman.
>
> Best,
> Carol M Carlson
> Bedford, MA HDC
>
> Jonathan Feist wrote:
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Things are getting uglier here. A member of the aforementioned  
>> disruptive contingent has now called us "busy-body neighborhood- 
>> nazis and control freaks" in the local paper. Actually, he probably  
>> means everyone on this listserv, in that categorization, besides  
>> just Chris Skelly and I (and might I mention how honored I am to be  
>> so-grouped with Chris...).
>>
>> The actual text of the letter is appended below. Pretty much all  
>> the facts are deeply twisted, beyond the offensive language used.
>>
>> I'm getting some feedback from others on the HC that I shouldn't  
>> respond, personally, as it will appear as tit-for-tat, and sinking  
>> to his level. I'm not enough of a politician to know exactly what  
>> to do, in practical terms of what would yield the best result,  
>> though I already drafted a pretty lengthy response. Any thoughts?
>>
>> I actually think that such rhetoric makes the writer seem like a  
>> crackpot, and I'm actually not particularly offended, personally.  
>> But I think it is exceptionally bad form, and it needs to be called  
>> out.
>>
>> --Jonathan
>>
>>
>> =======
>>
>> Letter to the Editor, Harvard Press, October 16, 2009
>>
>>
>> Residents against Still River historical district
>>
>> On Oct. 6, a group of Still River residents attended a meeting of  
>> the Historical Commission. We had seen evidence that they had been  
>> discussing a historical district for Still River. Chairman Feist  
>> tried to poo-poo our concerns, saying that discussions were very  
>> preliminary and that nothing would happen without Still River  
>> input, even though he felt it would be good for us—e.g., promising  
>> to spare us from 40B development.
>>
>> However, meeting minutes for 2008 and 2009 record discussions about  
>> a historical district, none involving input from Still River. In  
>> May, the minutes noted that “we are now in the initial phases of  
>> educational outreach,” (Oh, really?). In February, the minutes  
>> summarized a meeting with Chris Skelly, director of local  
>> government programs at the Mass. Historical Commission. Skelly  
>> advised patience, plus partnering with the schools to increase  
>> understanding of Harvard history—in other words, plant the seeds in  
>> the children and wait for them to influence the parents.
>>
>> Here is some actual input: Still River does not need, and as far as  
>> I can tell, does not want a collection of busy-body neighborhood- 
>> nazis [sic] and control freaks running our affairs. We live in our  
>> corner of Harvard because it is friendly, relaxed, and mutually  
>> trusting. We do not seek exploitation as a historical destination.  
>> Harvard’s bogeyman, 40B, is not deterred by a historical district.  
>> Do not try to scare us, to patronize us, or to pander to commercial  
>> preservationists in the name of Still River.
>>
>> But do come by some day for some fresh produce, for a swing through  
>> our conservation land, or for some conversation in our quaint post  
>> office. Come to admire St. Benedict’s Abbey with its view of Mt.  
>> Wachusett. Not everything you will see is as preciously pickled as  
>> in Williamsburg, but we love it anyway.
>>
>> Fred Hinchliffe
>> Still River
>>
>> =====
>>
>>
>> ================================
>> Jonathan Feist
>> jfeist at charter.net • 978-772-4864
>> Blog: Delights and Processes http://blogs.townonline.com/delight/
>> Writing about Music http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/
>>
>> ******************************
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>>

================================
Jonathan Feist
jfeist at charter.net • 978-772-4864
Blog: Delights and Processes http://blogs.townonline.com/delight/
Writing about Music http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/

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