[MassHistPres] busy-body neighborhood-nazis and control freaks
Jonathan Feist
jfeist at charter.net
Mon Oct 19 06:51:54 EDT 2009
Shrugging off the insult seems the consensus. I appreciate your cool
heads!
To respond to the paragraph below, I do frequently go to Still River,
and the HHC has a member who lives within what would be a new LHD
boundary. Willard's corn and tomatoes are second to none. Still River
is home to the Harvard Historical Society. Several other residents
there have voiced their support for a LHD.
We really will reach out to them, and we really do not plan to force
this through without their participation.
--Jonathan
On Oct 19, 2009, at 12:48 AM, Wilson, Linda wrote:
> I agree wholeheartedly with Cindy's recommendations. Honey IS more
> effective than vinegar.
>
> I also think you should respond to Mr. Hinchcliffe's invitation to
> "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." From his description,
> Still River sounds is an idyllic place, and clearly the residents
> love and care for it. Perhaps a visit (part of which could be an
> informal walkaround of the village) could lead to conversations
> about the qualities and the places that the residents value, which
> might evolve into a dialogue about the residents' hopes and fears
> for keeping those cherished qualities safe in the future. That would
> give the commission an opportunity to open its community
> preservation tool chest, so the residents could choose the tools and
> techniques that would be most comfortable, practical and effective
> for them.
>
> Linda Ray Wilson
> NH Deputy SHPO
>
> http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu on behalf of Cindy Brockway
> Sent: Sun 10/18/2009 10:15 AM
> To: Jonathan Feist; Carol Carlson
> Cc: MHC MHC listserve
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] busy-body neighborhood-nazis and control
> freaks
>
>
> Great preservation is always a combination of the right time, the
> right place, the right people, and the right politics. It is clear
> that perhaps your "right time" is not here yet for this issue.
> Better to accomplish other agenda items and move some things forward
> in a positive way than to antagonish too many and lose ground. The
> right time will come, although sometimes the lesson is taught at the
> expense of an important property which becomes the rallying point
> for the preservation of others. I have been involved with different
> communities in some seriously difficult situations, and have found
> that responding to antagonism usually results in more bad press for
> both sides.
>
> Cindy Brockway
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jonathan Feist <mailto:jfeist at charter.net>
> To: Carol Carlson <mailto:carolmcarl at comcast.net>
> Cc: MHC MHC listserve <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 5:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] busy-body neighborhood-nazis and
> control freaks
>
> 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/
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
>
>
>
> ******************************
> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us
> directly. PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE WHOLE LIST.
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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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