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

Mon Oct 19 12:07:45 EDT 2009

I agree, you might want to organize a walking tour of the neighborhood. We
got tremendous response to some of the walks we did.
Paul Bourdon
Southborough

On 10/19/09 12:48 AM, "Wilson, Linda" <Linda.Wilson at dcr.nh.gov> 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 the
>  m.
> 
> 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/
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> 
> 
> 
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