[MassHistPres] house with preservation restriction destroyed by fire

[james hadley]

Dick Cavett's house burned to the ground in Montauk, NY. It was part of a National Register Historic District consisting of 7 houses designed by McKim, Mead and White in the 1880's, (a clubhouse building that was part of the group burned some years ago.) It had the usual NRHD constraints on modifications, but after it burned there were no restrictions on a replacement. The Cavetts were determined to duplicate it (and we managed to do so for them.) The decision was not universally supported however. Many thought a replica to be inauthentic (and indeed it was, because it wasn't the original, and contemporary materials and methods were used in the framing, hidden from view.) 
Nevertheless I am constantly rewarded by the memory of the unbridled happiness of Ms.Cavett after moving back into that house, and Mr. Cavett remains very much at peace and at home there today. The project received a NY State preservation award.
Equally important, the values of the other houses in the district increased substantially after the reconstruction, and awareness of the district helped generate new ownership and subsequent preservation work on the two houses in the district that were in the worst condition. I do not believe that this would have happened had the replacement been a contemporary house. 
James Hadley
Orleans, MA
    
> From: djd184 at verizon.net
> Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 14:28:50 -0400
> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> Subject: [MassHistPres] house with preservation restriction destroyed by fire
> 
> Can anyone cite an example of non-LHD building that had a preservation restriction on it that was destroyed by fire (or by any other non-deliberate cause)? 
> 
> What happened after the fire re the restriction?
> 
> Dennis De Witt
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